TKR Plenty of pain and trouble sleeping.

rls16

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Hello, new to this forum, I am 10 weeks post right total knee replacement. Stiffness, pain, lack of energy, trouble sleeping. Just started using a JAS for extension. Fatigue! This process has been So much harder than I ever thought because I have a pretty high pain tolerance but this has been more than I ever expected.
 
Hi and Welcome!

Yes, this recovery was a lot more than I was expecting! However, most what you wrote is very common to all of us.

Except the brace, not all of us need that. How are you doing with it?


I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines. They should address most of your issues. If not, ask away.

Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:
rest
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​


4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

6. Access to these pages on the website

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.
 
Also, please give us the date of your surgery and we’ll put it in a signature for you.
 
rls16: I can relate, I am almost 8 weeks out, and it’s still difficult, sleeping patterns are so inconsistent. I looked back at my notes and my surgeon said to wait till 4 mos post op before everything would be alot more normal. Only 2 more months to go! Hang in there.
 
Yes, I was doing better for a bit. Now back to low sleep again (3.5 weeks). I feel I will be ready to return to work soon but not until I get my sleep together. Thanks, Pumpkin on those extension links. I will work on that this weekend!
 
Hi rls16. You seem to be progressing normally. Sleeplessness and fatigue are almost compulsory for a few months. After 4 months I'm beginning to get back to normal. Really not a lot we can do about it.

We may have some control over pain and stiffness, by continually reviewing our pain meds, and controlling the exercise (no PT, just getting on with life

You'll be fine, try to be patient, there aren't any short cuts, but there are long cuts
 
Yes, the first few months are tough, but then you are at month 4-6 and things brighten up and your knee works a lot better! Patience is tough but necessary. Just curious, what is a JAS?
 

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