Question Jo

[calling_all_angels]

Jo can you explain how Compartment syndrome happens? and will icing fix it?? I just can not find anyplacement of my knee that does not cause me pain. It has been a week now and I keep thinking that the pain has to settle down soon doesn't it?? Jo, it is wearing me down.
^i^

 

[Judles]

Oh Calling! So sorry to hear about your
Discomfort!!! :(
Can you jack up your pain meds & ice & elevate tonite? Hope you get the relief you need soon!

 

[Jamie]

Calling, please see the PM I sent you just now. ....Jamie

 

[calling_all_angels]

Judles,
I am taking a Lortab 5/500 every 2 hours and some times even have to double that to be able to sleep 2 hours. I do not want to sound like a baby and I know that it can only get better. But first I have to be able to put weight on it and work it. Which I can not seem to do at this point. And I am scared it is going to make recovery longer.
^i^

 

[Josephine]

Compartment syndrome is an acute condition and a medical emergency. When the swelling reached such a point that the skin cannot stretch enough to accomodate it, that is CS. Some other symptoms are pins and needles and pallor in the leg and/or foot below the swelling. If you are concerned about this, ring your doctor or surgeon now and get advice.

However, CS doesn't happen that often with joint surgery. It's more often a hazard where there has been extensive injury, maybe a crush injury, to the limb.

Sounds to me more like you need an adjustment of your pain meds. Why are you on Lortab instead of Percocets? Perhaps the Lortab just isn't working for you. That does sometime happen.

 

[calling_all_angels]

Jo,
Percocet does not like me. Or My body does not like it. this tourniquet pain just will not give up and leave!!! I use the Ice machine on it, I even use the machine on the back side of the leg trying to find some relief. I go in this week to Doctor so I am going to have to see if I can have a few minutes of his time.(I never get to see Doc just PA. Only time I ever see Doc is the just before surgery) My Hubby said just let it go. You are done now it has got to start getting better soon. Maybe he is right but dang Jo I want to understand what happen. But I guess it really does not matter. Thanks for all your help.
I Will Walk Accross The Street Tomorrow And Light A candle For You.
And You Know I will be praying for a fast recovery.
^i^

 

[Jamie]

Just curious Calling...your surgery was March 6th....only 9 days ago. What activity did you do yesterday and today?

 

[calling_all_angels]

I got up to go to the lady room. Changed into some fresh sweats. Took some pain meds had a cup of cocoa. Then got in chair with ice machine on and read Sunday paper. I got some hugs and kisses from my Son's 3 children they were in the big town up north where Daughter-in-laws parents live. They helped them cut some trees down. So they stopped on their way home to say Hi & Bye. And beside getting up to use the lady's room and get somthing to drink I do not do much. I do leg lifts in my chair and ankle pumps. It just hurts to much to even get up. So I do not move any more then I need too!! Do you think I need to MOVE IT, MOVE IT Jamie? Do you think that the pain would leave if I move more???? I am going to try and go accross the street tomorrow and light a candle for Jo-Jo.
^i^

 

[Judles]

*And I'm going to say a prayer for you that YOU feel better, Calling! Are you putting yourself last again???? You have to take better care of yourself!!!!

 

[calling_all_angels]

Judles,
I can honestly say my Hubby has really been good watching over me after this last knee.
I think seeing me in never neverland for 3 days while I was in the Hospital put a big scare into him. I have always been the strong one. Always able to take care of everything with no help from anyone. And so I think this shocked him.
So Judles thank you for being here. Sometimes I just need to talk to someone.
^i^

 

[Jamie]

Nope, Calling, I don't think you should MOVE IT. You need to take it easy at this point and do exactly what you wrote that you did today....mostly nothing. I wouldn't worry about crossing the street tomorrow. Just say a prayer for Jo while you're in your recliner. God will hear you just fine from there. Only thing I didn't see in your post was sleep.....do it whenever you can and keep that leg elevated and iced so that it's above your hip. Have hubby make your meals and drinks. I do think the pain will get better with some time.

 

[Judles]

That's what we're here for Calling!!! ;)

 

[calling_all_angels]

Ohhhhhhhh Jamie that is the funny part of my new life. I sleep for a hour or so and then I am awake for 2 hours or so and then I sleep again and then I wake again. I have been doing this since I got home. It is all so upside down LOL But I guess you would not call it sleep it is more like naps. If I can nap for anything over 2 hrs I get really excited. But with my whole leg so swollen it is hard to really rest for very long.
^i^

 

[Jamie]

You didn't say before that your whole leg is swollen. That could certainly make a difference in the pain....swelling hurts! Even more reason for rest, ice and elevation. Actually, I think your sleep pattern of a few hours here and there is probably pretty normal at this stage. Seems I recall lots of naps and corresponding periods of being awake in the middle of the night and on the forum!

How does your incision look? And....any fever?

 

[Josephine]

Judles,
I am taking a Lortab 5/500 every 2 hours and some times even have to double that to be able to sleep 2 hours. I do not want to sound like a baby and I know that it can only get better. But first I have to be able to put weight on it and work it. Which I can not seem to do at this point. And I am scared it is going to make recovery longer.
^i^

Angel, I just noticed this - who told you you could take them every 2 hrs and then double it to sleep? That's not right, I'm sure.

Now you ring your doctor or OS NOW and talk to him. And don't exert yourself until you get their advice.

 

[Buckeye]

Calling,
Oh my goodness. I sure hope you will be feeling better very soon. You really should call your OS first thing in the morning, especially with so much pain and swelling. Keep us posted. Hugs, Kathy

 

[TCHarp]

Yes, you need a CPM machine and you need to get into it. Passive movement works well on swelling and pain. Keep the ice on that thing. You are newly out of surgery, get pain meds adjusted and stay in that machine with the ice. On my first LTRK I used ice for nearly a month.

TC Harp

 

[Jamie]

TC, icing can go on much longer than a month with a TKR. I iced regularly (especially at night) for almost 4 months and sporatically for 9 months. It all depends on the person and the amount of swelling going on. I had frequent soft tissue swelling and needed to ice my knee for quite a while.

 

[Jamie]

Calling.....how are you feeling today? Better, I hope!

 

[Judles]

I was thinking the same,Jamie!........How ARE you,Calling!