TKR Patience Is A Virtue

[TLH Photo]

I am a few days behind you (3 Feb.) and I too had to learn patience. It wasn't easy until I found this site about four weeks ago. I worried and stressed over ROM until folks on here basically told me to relax and the numbers will come. Last week (8 weeks) I finally reached 111 degs. of flex and fluctuate between 5-8 degs. extension. I had some issues with my PT who insisted in mashing down on my knee to get it to extend. About two weeks ago, we nearly came to blows. At that point I told him that "no means no" and of course his reply was "it will never straighten out." I was hot!!!! I finally switched and have great female PT that is working on hamstring massages and slowly, my leg is starting to straighten - not in leaps and bounds - but it is working. It beats being mashed to heavy pain. I see my OS Thursday and I am hoping for a good report. It sounds like you are on the right track. You keep on keepin' on and you'll get there like the rest of us.


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[skigirl]

There is a mild pain reliever as well called Tramadol. You can drive while you are taking it. You can ask your doc about it.

 

[sanflo1309]

Well if patience isn't needed for my post recovery it surely is needed for my company who is denying my short term disability after six week because my doctor allowed me to do PT at home. Now I have to write a letter of appeal. They don't realize how they are adding stress to my recovery and I don't understand what study the are using to determine a person should be ready after six weeks. To return work regardless if their job is sedentary. We still have to get to the job.

 

[icep707]

Oh boy , I just read your whole thread. You have done amazing. I had my tkr on February 10. It does take patience. Now you have to deal with your job. Just when you were beginning to recover nicely. I use a electric heating pad in morning and than I wrap it tight with a ace bandage in the morning to loosen it up. I real dont need it but I like the feeling plus it loosens it so that I can do PT. Your ordeal with OPT was classic , the ole scare tactics. Fortunately you had bonesmart to guide you through that !. Also I have a ice therapy machine but I havent used it in 4 weeks . I got a old school , cloth like bag with a screw cap on top where u insert ice cubes. I fill it and place on knee and secure with my trusty ace bandage. Work GREAT ! .very inexpensive . Also a great flexion exercise is to stand in front of stairs , place recovering leg/foot on a step and gently bend knee back and forth. Even better after you heat your knee. Best of luck !!

 

[Jozilla]

I went back to work at eight weeks. I only worked 3 or 4 days a week for the first month then back to five days. Mine is a sedentary job but it is still hard. Not so much knee pain but exhaustion has been my major problem. My company started a policy that they will fire you if you are disabled more than eight weeks. Nice of them. Fatigue is a major issue. I did very little at home thankfully have a great hubby and daughter. Glad you are appealing your short term disability. It is such a shame we have to waste our energy on these matters. I wish you the best and hope this is resolved soon!


RTKR - 9th December, 2013

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[sanflo1309]

I had a long disgusting conversation with my occupational health area at my company. Bottom line when I go back to my doctor I am going to request if he will release me to work so I can get some pay. I believe all things work together for the good of those who love God! So I have put them (my company) in His hands. I have 37 days before I retire so I will go back to work and count my days and there are so many wonderful things happening in my life I have no time to devote to negativity. My son is getting married! I have 3 trips in June in which 1 will be in Vegas! Thanks for the idea of the heating pad. I will get one. I had a good session with a personal trainer who is close to my house. Thanks Bonesmart Family for all of your support. Just one quick question. How long will it take for my left side of my knee to feel real! Not like rubber

 

[icep707]

Holysmokes Sanflo , you are only 2 and a half months out. !! Im 2 months out. Is the left side painful ??? If so , ice the heck out of it . Maybe some extra strengh tylenol. From what I have read that rubber/ numb feeling may never go away than I also read maybe 1 year. I severed a finger tip years ago, fortunately they reattached it . It just now has normal feeling to it and that happened 7 years ago. With that said , a severed finger tip and a TKR are by no ways comparable. The trauma the knee sustains during surgery is brutal . Ive noticed changes with my knee daily as oppose to weekly, so you never know how soon that numb feeling will be around . My knee is very slightly numb all around but painless. Thank God!! Hey , Happy retirement. Best wishes. Iceman

 

[skigirl]

Given your situation , I would do exactly as you are doing--it is too much to risk compared to 37 days!!! Just make sure you come home and rest---just eat frozen dinners for 37 days and you can clean your house AFTER you retire!!

 

[kneeper]

I think it took a year or more for that numb feeling to go away for me. I still have a little area of decreased feeling--not really numb-- and it is only rarely noticeable.

 

[sanflo1309]

Well it's been awhile. I am reaching my 5 month post-recovery. Up until today I had light stiffness but today was a little rough with the thunderstorms and I kept a heat pad on for a couple of hours now my leg feel like a stiff board (not only the knee). I still can bend it but the doctor said looked like I was only 90 degree when I was at 100 last month. Sometimes I wish I had a different kind of PT who would of really worked with my knee gently but oh well.I am using my cane less and going to try going up and down the steps normally but with it being so stiff today I had to really hold on the railing. I returned to work it was rough for a while but I adjusted for the days I went in. I calculated how many days I needed to take off to keep my retirement date in June so I only have to work a total 10 days out of 30 days. So I am grateful for that. My exercise routine has been slacking so I need to get back serious about that. I did write an appeal and thank God they reversed their decision and approved my claim from the day they denied it up until the day I return. So I got paid for those days. Thanks for the encouragement. I am looking forward to the day when the swelling is gone for a while I believe I will be able to bend better.

 

[sanflo1309]

Also my doctor told me if I go to the dentist to let them know I had knee replacement surgery so that they would give me anitbotics to prevent a possible infection and needless to say the same notification at the airports.

 

[icep707]

I flew 2 weeks ago , no problem at all , not 1 peep from any machines , wands , etc. I pre boarded online and got a aisle seat. That was very cool, however my flight was only 1 hour and 20 minutes. No problem with knee at all. My ears popped and got a little nauseous. As I rarely fly. The airports run very efficiently. As for the dentist , the antibiotics should and will be taken . Dont forget to keep exercising, bicycle is great, even heel slides and my favorite, use the stair. You must bend that knee, you dont want to develope scar tissue !!!!!!! Best wishes Iceman

 

[ChubbsterPT]

There is a mild pain reliever as well called Tramadol. You can drive while you are taking it. You can ask your doc about it.

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[ChubbsterPT]

There is a mild pain reliever as well called Tramadol. You can drive while you are taking it. You can ask your doc about it.

Hi I am a little surprised that skigirl put Tramadol as a mild pain reliever as the maximum dosage at 50mg is 8x50mg. I found they are the only relief that work. Mention Tramadol to anyone in UK and most will tell you horror stories of family and friends that had real weird episodes whilst taking it. You are not even supposed to drive when using it.
However I do not seem to suffer these symptons. They work well but I lost my appetite initially and lost 7kgs in 4 weeks. Whilst I don't have trouble driving if I sit at home I will nod off very quickly. I wouldn't ride my motorcycle even if I could! I am not up on the meds some of you guys are taking and part from OxyContin after the op that was the strongest I had as oral medicine. I take Tramadol on time and getting on for eight weeks in I have dropped the night time dose as I am sleeping well. ChubbsterPT 18/04/14 TRKR.


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[sanflo1309]

Even though I am stiffer than normal I am able to bend my knee. It is the muscle in the back that is extremely sore and makes it painful to bend and walk. I do have Tramadol so I am going to get on a routine and beef up my exercise on a regular basis. I got laxed. I had to read some threads to know I have not regularly iced my leg. Going back to basic and I am going to add regularly reading threads on this site. I found a better product to use for icing from one of our comrades so I am ordering and can hardly wait to start using. Also I am going to go back to my weekly massages and have my therapist concentrate on stretching my hamstrings. Thanks ICEMAN for the continued encouragement.

 

[Celle]

Hi I am a little surprised that skigirl put Tramadol as a mild pain reliever as the maximum dosage at 50mg is 8x50mg. I found they are the only relief that work. Mention Tramadol to anyone in UK and most will tell you horror stories of family and friends that had real weird episodes whilst taking it. You are not even supposed to drive when using it.
. .. . . . Whilst I don't have trouble driving if I sit at home I will nod off very quickly. I wouldn't ride my motorcycle even if I could! . . . . I take Tramadol on time and getting on for eight weeks in I have dropped the night time dose as I am sleeping well. ChubbsterPT 18/04/14 TRKR.

Is this correct, @Josephine @Jamie ?

I've heard of the odd example, but I don't think that, generally, people have weird reactions to Tramadol.

 

[skigirl]

My doc gave me Tramadol as a "step down" drug. They were 25 mg. I took two or three a day at most. I did find that I was more tired when I took them---especially at night, I would drop right off. But, I did not have any unusual effects from them. I had a script for 50 and still have a few left five years later!!!

 

[sanflo1309]

My doc also prescribe tramadol 50mg. I haven't had any issues with the medicine. I have started taking on a schedule because I am having issues with stiffness. So I am iceing more often and taking ,the meds along with exercising.

 

[sanflo1309]

I am so happy I have Bonesmart for this journey. I have to keep reminding myself I am only 4 months out. I am not doing out patient PT but home exercise. I have begun to regularly ice a minimum of once a day. I do the bike from 15 to 30 minutes most morning and some other strengthen exercise. Soon as I get off the bike my legg get stiff as a board when I walk. I am still using the cane because I feel I am not shifting my weight as I should and I am putting more weight on my good side. So I am experiencing lower back aches. Lately I am having trouble getting comfortable at night so there is new found lack of sleep. I question whether I should have stop PT then I come to this forum and my spirits are lifted and encourage that I have to have patience, this is a journey. So thanks to everyone that contributes you may not realize how your story may just be the one that keeps a person from depressed thoughts and moods.

 

[sanflo1309]

Well it's really been a while since I posted anything. I am 7 months post surgery my recovery is progressing. I am in the tight rubber band stage where the left back of my knee hurts. I can bend it and I am occasionally doing the bike. I did sign up for arthritis swim class twice a week hoping it would help speed up my knee feeling normal. Well that did not work still stiff at times and sore most of the time. Now I am experiencing extreme pain on the left side of my right foot. It started after I had spent a a week of not walking with the cane. I was wondering could I have caused this. I am going to the doctor tomorrow to see what is wrong. I guess my recovery is going to be long. The swelling is down considerably so I was wondering why It still hurts when I move or after I have set for a while when I get up it is painful.