knit2tog
senior
I am coming along although I wish it would move along faster :smile2:
TKR Put the right knee in...and then the left.
- Thread starter gertie
- Start date
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gertie
post-grad
@Pheebs52 Well, I'm resting a lot and taking things slowly and as we all know that's key. And I think this OS is just really good at what he does. And the hospital was good at staying on top of pain control, which I needed in the first 48 hours, which let me get over that initial hump. How are you?
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gertie
post-grad
The poop fairy made an appearance! Yahoo! I added Miralax and warm prune juice to the twice daily colace and that seemed to do the trick.
I also just learned a little lesson about getting behind on pain meds. Fell asleep mid-morning and hadn't set an alarm so missed my 10 a.m. dose--woke at 11 when the phone rang. My knee doesn't hurt when it's not moving so I wasn't wakened by pain. But when I got up to go get the pain meds, my knee let me know it didn't like getting behind. But this somewhat unmedicated pain is still better than the medicated pain I had in the 1st 48 hours. Pain pill plus 2 tylenol now on board, back on couch with knee elevated.
I've had a steady stream of visitors/caretakers since I got home which is lovely and supportive--and exhausting. A friend is coming tonight but I'm on my own today and welcoming the quiet time. 2 weeks from now when I'm feeling more energetic but still unable to drive I'll probably be going batty but right now, bliss.
I also just learned a little lesson about getting behind on pain meds. Fell asleep mid-morning and hadn't set an alarm so missed my 10 a.m. dose--woke at 11 when the phone rang. My knee doesn't hurt when it's not moving so I wasn't wakened by pain. But when I got up to go get the pain meds, my knee let me know it didn't like getting behind. But this somewhat unmedicated pain is still better than the medicated pain I had in the 1st 48 hours. Pain pill plus 2 tylenol now on board, back on couch with knee elevated.
I've had a steady stream of visitors/caretakers since I got home which is lovely and supportive--and exhausting. A friend is coming tonight but I'm on my own today and welcoming the quiet time. 2 weeks from now when I'm feeling more energetic but still unable to drive I'll probably be going batty but right now, bliss.
PolarBear60
Former BoneSmart staff member
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Your recovery seems to be going well. My OS cleared me to drive at three weeks after my Right TKR, so you may not be out of the driver seat as long as you think. Every recovery is different, and it all depends upon how long you need opiod pain meds and how long until you feel you can safely operate the vehicle. I did take it slower with the right knee than the left even after I was cleared to drive. (I was cleared after two weeks with my left knee.)
Keep up the good work.
Keep up the good work.
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gertie
post-grad
@PolarBear60 Yes, I think recovery is going well. I have to keep reminding myself that I'm less than a week out of surgery. Your experience re: driving is encouraging although I have a vague memory of my OS saying 6 weeks. We'll see.
PolarBear60
Former BoneSmart staff member
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Six weeks is the standard time they give. Mine told me that, too. Then, when he saw me at the first followup, which turned out to be three weeks, he cleared me to drive. It all depends upon how he assesses your progress. There may be some local laws involved, too -- I don't know.
I didn't drive right away, because the knee didn't feel quite right, and for the first week, I only drove locally (within 2 miles of the house). As the knee felt stronger, I expanded my range to PT (40 miles one way).
Your experience may be the same or different. I know my dad was cleared by his doctor to drive at about three weeks, too.
I didn't drive right away, because the knee didn't feel quite right, and for the first week, I only drove locally (within 2 miles of the house). As the knee felt stronger, I expanded my range to PT (40 miles one way).
Your experience may be the same or different. I know my dad was cleared by his doctor to drive at about three weeks, too.
Pheebs52
big-cheese
@gertie, I am experiencing what I believe would be called an average or typical recovery, leaning toward the tortoise side in some areas, but not all. In other words, it's nothing like yours, but yours seems to be rather exceptional! I enjoy reading about recovery superstars anyway; no hard feelings, lol!
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gertie
post-grad
@Pheebs52 And I might well be a fast starter who then stalls out. We'll see. I've read a lot of threads recently so I don't remember if you were someone who had been dealing with mobility limitations because of the arthritis--I think if that's the case it can affect recovery and I was pretty mobile up to a month or two prior to surgery. It's only been in the past couple of months that ROM was affected and my right knee was my "good" leg during my hip replacement recovery so it got pretty strong.
Pheebs52
big-cheese
Well, I hope you don't stall-out @gertie, but this recovery can take a lot of twists and turns over the course of a year.
I was fairly immobile for roughly 6 months prior to TKR due to a torn meniscus and then arthroscopic surgery, so that may be having an effect on my somewhat dismal flexion. Thankfully, my extension isn't bad, and despite my crummy flexion, I am fairly functional at this point. I know the flexion will come....eventually.
I was fairly immobile for roughly 6 months prior to TKR due to a torn meniscus and then arthroscopic surgery, so that may be having an effect on my somewhat dismal flexion. Thankfully, my extension isn't bad, and despite my crummy flexion, I am fairly functional at this point. I know the flexion will come....eventually.
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gertie
post-grad
Day 5 already. Not quite as bendy today--PT lady was just here--different person--she didn't seem too bothered by my slight regression in bendiness (in the 90s so I wasn't bothered at all). But I do get tired of this constant emphasis on making progress. I'm only 5 days into recovery! I'm doing well. Grump.
Gorgeous day so I'm hanging out on my back porch. A friend might visit later but it's fine if she decides not to drive down. I think this is a good day for napping.
Gorgeous day so I'm hanging out on my back porch. A friend might visit later but it's fine if she decides not to drive down. I think this is a good day for napping.
I don't know why the PTs measure your bend so often. I know it's one way they can show the insurance companies their work is effective, but there's so little difference between 90 and 95 degrees that it's not worth worrying about.
MY TKRs were never measured in hospital. I have never had the ROM of my left TKR measured at all and my right TKR was only measured once - the day I was dismissed from PT.
My surgeon doesn't measure. He looks at my knee and say "Show me what you can do." He maintains function is more important than the numbers.
MY TKRs were never measured in hospital. I have never had the ROM of my left TKR measured at all and my right TKR was only measured once - the day I was dismissed from PT.
My surgeon doesn't measure. He looks at my knee and say "Show me what you can do." He maintains function is more important than the numbers.
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gertie
post-grad
@Celle I'm sure it's about accountability either to the insurers or the doctors or both. She had me flex and hold 5 x and measured each time--all readings were between 93 and 98 and then she dithered about what to put in the report because that would be the # they'd look at next time and expect me to exceed. When I said something about maybe needing to back off so swelling could go down (if bendiness doesn't keep progressing) she said they'd just want me to take more pain meds. Makes me crazy. At least she didn't push on me and she let me find my own stop point. But everyone around here, friends included, has drunk the Kool-aid about window of opportunity and needing to push through pain and so on. And while I'm ranting--on the one hand we're told to take more meds so we can push through the pain of PT and then we're told we can't have any more pain meds because of the opioid crisis. Aaargh.
Recording a ROM as 93 degrees is just plain ridiculous. A tiny difference in where she puts the goniometer can result in a difference of 5 degrees or more.
Remember that it's your knee. You are in charge and you can ask for whatever treatment you think best. If you don't want to be measured every time, say so. Your PT works for you, so you don't have to please her.
Saying no to therapy - am I allowed to?
Remember that it's your knee. You are in charge and you can ask for whatever treatment you think best. If you don't want to be measured every time, say so. Your PT works for you, so you don't have to please her.
Saying no to therapy - am I allowed to?
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gertie
post-grad
@Celle It sounds good to say I could say "no" and I know that's the advice given on here but in reality, it is very hard to do and when I've tried usually ends up in an argument that I don't win. Why don't you want to be measured? We need to measure you to... I try to explain. Well, you need to keep pushing... I try to explain. Well, ... And so it goes. Meantime I'm on pain meds and not at my best.
Don't try to explain. Don't waste time debating it. You don't have to justify your stance.
Just say it's your knee, that's your wish, and you don't want to discuss it further. Then say nothing else. Don't give her access to your knee. Keep it covered up. If she persists, tell her to leave.
Could your husband or helper be there to back you up?
You'll never win an argument with the PTs because they are so indoctrinated with the philosophy they use.
Just say it's your knee, that's your wish, and you don't want to discuss it further. Then say nothing else. Don't give her access to your knee. Keep it covered up. If she persists, tell her to leave.
Could your husband or helper be there to back you up?
You'll never win an argument with the PTs because they are so indoctrinated with the philosophy they use.
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gertie
post-grad
I'm sorry you don't have any support on this. But remember it's your knee and you are in charge. It's your job to speak up on behalf of your knee, to protect it.
I don't like that she mentions pushing through. That's a definite no-no.
You may have to just tell her to leave and not come back, if she persists in trying to persuade you.
You don't need her anyway.
My surgeon does not allow any formal PT at all for the first month after surgery and all his patients do well.
I don't like that she mentions pushing through. That's a definite no-no.
You may have to just tell her to leave and not come back, if she persists in trying to persuade you.
You don't need her anyway.
My surgeon does not allow any formal PT at all for the first month after surgery and all his patients do well.
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gertie
post-grad
Thanks Celle. It will be a different person each day I think and I need to have the service come to help with getting the waterproof dressing off, etc. so I can't fire them yet. "Pushing through pain" is the standard line here. But no one has yet put hands on me and that would get a clear "no" from me.
When does the waterproof dressing have to come off? Mine stayed on until I had my stitches removed at the surgeon's office.
Stick to your guns and continue to say what you will allow and what you won't. The PTs will probably write down that you are "un-co-operative" or "non-compliant", but so what? You're not at school any more.
Just hold on to the thought that it's your knee and your body and "no means no."
Hugs!
Stick to your guns and continue to say what you will allow and what you won't. The PTs will probably write down that you are "un-co-operative" or "non-compliant", but so what? You're not at school any more.
Just hold on to the thought that it's your knee and your body and "no means no."
Hugs!
