Ready to get rid of the pain

[carolinagirl]

I am sooo happy I found this forum! The information has been so helpful.
I am 49 years old and have degenerative arthritis. I am scheduled for a total knee replacement of my right knee July 3rd 2008. This year I will celebrate my independence from pain! I am nervous, but excited. I need both knees replaced, but my orthopedic surgeon recommended that I not have them both done at the same time. I was diagnosed with arthritis when I was in my thirties. My father suffered from the same. I tried for years to get him to get his knee replaced but he would not. Now here I am sitting in the same boat.
The last 5 or so years, I would have my good days and my bad days, but
for the last 8 months it has been all bad days. The pain has become unbearable. I had arthroscopic knee surgery in November 07 and January 08 due to torn meniscus. I think those surgeries kicked my arthritis into high gear.
I have been doing the pre-surgery exercises to get a jump start on the Post op PT. I am just getting over surgery for a heel spur on my right foot on April 4th 08!!! I want my life back! Even walking outside to get my mail is too painful. I work at the hospital where my surgery is to be, but I sit at a computer all day, and getting up and moving around is soooo painful. I have two precious grandsons who are 9 and 4 that I want to be able to play with again. Right now all I do is come home from work and go straight to bed.
My husband has been such a blessing! He takes such good care of me. He is so excited about me getting my new knees! He really helps me to keep my spirits up. When our grandsons asked me what I wished for my birthday wish this year (it was in March) I told them I wished for a new pair of knees!
I have a question, since I sit at a computer all day, (I can get up and move around when needed and am lucky enough to be able to leave if I get tired,
what are your thoughts on returning to work 3 -4 weeks post op?
I know each person heals at different paces, and when I asked my surgeon about it, he said depending on my recovery and therapy he did not see why I could not return to work. I am really looking forward to not having this pain anymore. I know I have a long and difficult road to travel, but I want my life back too much to not give 100% to my rehab.
I am so thankful for these wonderful forums. Reading about everyones victories and their struggles helps enlighten me to what I am about to face.

 

[referee54]

My best to you---good luck and work hard in PT---surgery, unfortunately, is the easy part. You will, however, enjoy the successful transformation of your life when you go through PT---. You will be amazed at how good you can feel.

On returning to work---I teach, and I can have a "desk job", I guess---although I am very active within my classroom. I took me just a little under eight weeks to return to the classroom...and that was with a limp. One of my fellow English teachers refered to me as "Festus"---the guy on the old Gunsoke series... Three to four weeks may be pushing it, although I had a bilateral and not a sigle done. You will know when you are ready---bu a warning, when you do return, you will be amazed at how worn out you will feel for a while. Remember, you are undergoing major, major surgery. They are going to do some serious cutting, sawing, and drilling to your body. It needs to heal.

Our thoughts and prayers will be with you.

Tim C.

 

[carolinagirl]

Hi Tim,
Thank you for the prayers.
I tend to think I can "bounce back" sooner that I really can. I was out for
3 weeks with my foot surgery and worked 3 weeks from my w/c. With that
particular surgery you are totally non-weightbearing for 6 weeks.
The kicker is I had the same exact surgery January 26 2007 on the same foot! That time I went back to work after 2 weeks. I have about 5 weeks vacation acrued and I also am using my short term disability this time.
I am hoping that I can be set up to work some from home.
Even my supervisor has told me not to push it to return to work. I won't, but
was just wondering how everyone else did time wise.

 

[referee54]

My biggest problem in returning to work was the one thing that everybody warned me about---I had trouoble sleeping---it wasn't really painful, but it was like restless leg---I could never get comfortable. Even my OS tol me that they are not sure why this happens. Everybody I spoke to who had a TKR said the same thing---sleeping was like looking for the Holy Grail.

I went back to school on about 2 1/2 hours sleep the night before--I then took some Ambien for ten days and got my sleep schedule re-arranged. Trust me on this one---almost everybody I know who has had a TKR said sleeping is a #$%^$#@!!

Tim C.

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Carolina -

Loved the title of your post - I too am soooooo ready to get rid of this pain!

You are scheduled 11 days earlier than me. You will have to keep me posted. Your return to work is one of my big questions as well. Like referee I teach and am very active in my room. We start back to school up here on 8/13 so I will have about 4 weeks to pull it together - I am hoping to get back full time right away. I finally told me principal (via email - so who knows when he will open it ). He is a great guy. Should be know issues. Sounds like your job is also cooperative.

Keep me posted on your progress - I would love to read all about it.

Marianne

 

[carolinagirl]

Hi Alaska TKR,

My hubby and I took a cruise to your BEAUTIFUL state last September.
All I can say is WOW! I wish you all the best on your journey to freedom of pain! You will be in my prayers. I will try my best to keep you posted on how things are going.

Hi Referee!
It is so nice to meet all of you. Thanks for the heads up about sleep.
I am currently on Lunesta, but only take it when needed. The pain meds I am on now make me drowsey, so I have not taken it in awhile. Hopefully it will
do the job. Restless leg? OH BOY! My hubby suffers from that and that poor dear will sometimes "walk" 20 miles in his sleep! It keeps him from getting a full nights sleep, in fact I can hardly remember when he has slept all night without waking up. How long does this sleeplessness usually last?


As I mentioned before, I had foot surgery 4/4 and spent 6 weeks in a w/c.
I first walked again May 13th. My knee muscles are still tight and sore.
The left worse than the right. When I stand up for too long, my calf muscles
REALLY protest! In fact it hurts to push on the quad muscles above my knees.
I have been really working on the exercises. I have been lucky, as
one of the PT techs, from where I went for therapy is now working in my department at the hospital and he has been a blessing, in helping me prepare.
I code outpatient surgeries at the hospital and actually get to sit in on
procedures now and then, but I don't think I want to watch one of the TKR
operations. I have had alot done surgery wise , but this one has me a little anxious. I did however log on to a medical web site and watch the procedure.
Now doing that has it's pros and it's cons.

My OS asked if I wanted an epidural, for the surgery. NO! I am a big chicken when I am the one on the table!!! I don't want to know a thing. But one good thing, the staff are like my extended family, and that helps to ease my
anxiety. In fact my daughter-in-law is an RN there as well.
This is most certainly an emotional rollercoaster. I am so looking forward no more pain, but I am apprehensive about the road to get there. I just remember the bible verse "THIS TOO SHALL PASS". I plan on making my journey as pleasant as possible. I know it is going to be tough, but I can't wait to be one of those posting, saying, I walked today without pain!

 

[Josephine]

Hello, CarolinaGirl, glad you found us! You'll not only get information here but support and encouragement too.

First thing strikes me about your situation is how you say you husband is 'excited' about your new knees, well just make sure he reads these threads as well so he doesn't expect you to hit the road running when you come out of hospital!

Secondly, I wouldn't be so quick to refuse the epidural. There are many benefits like a looong pain-free period when you wake up. Yes, that's right - wake up. Because the other benefit is that the anaesthetist can give you a sedative that will make you just as unaware of the proceedings as would a general anaesthetic with only a fraction of the risks. Much the safer option and much more comfortable.

 

[carolinagirl]

Hi Josephine,

Thanks for the info about the epidural. Just this morning I was talking with
my hubby about it and he was saying why not? He knows my tendency to try to "tough it out" and he thinks I should get it as well.

I guess what I meant about him being excited about my new knees is that
there is finally something being done to help me get my life back and to
live without this pain. He has been so supportive, and hates to see me in this much pain. In fact when I talk about returning to work after 3-4 weeks, he just smiles and says "let's just wait and see how you are doing". He knows that recovery is gonna take alot of time.
In fact, he is being more realistic than I am. I tend to think "oh, I'll be back
in a few weeks'!

So, I am gonna give the epidural some serious thought. Although I REALLY don't want to know what is going on in the OR. IV Sedation works very well on me. That is what was used for my foot surgery and I don't remember a thing. How long do they usually keep the epidural in post op?
I was told I would be in the hospital 4 days then coming home with the
PT coming to my house. The PT will be the same person that I will be going to
the clinic to see later as well.

 

[carolinagirl]

I have been reading where some people are sleeping in recliners.
I plan on buying a wedge pillow to use on my bed. I have also read it is
recommended to have a chair with arms to sit in to make it easier to get up and down. At this time I don't have one, so I guess I will be on the lookout for one. Our home is one level with the exception of two shallow steps
down into our den. There are 4 steps up to our front porch. I have my crutches from my previous surgeries. In fact I have just started using them again as it is too painful to walk without them. My OS asked me if I was using walking aid. He said I could use either the crutches or get a walker.
I already have a bedside commode and a shower chair. Thank goodness our
shower is a walk in. My hubby is going to install some handgrips.

 

[beachcomber]

Welcome CarolinaGirl--

I had an epidural and it was WONDERFUL! In addition to my knee issues I also had a herniated disc and severe back pain. I had the "something to help me relax" sedation (Versed), then had the spinal, but was asleep for the KR. I know I was awake in recovery, but don't remember anything until I was back in my room. I was absolutely pain-free with the epidural left in place for 36 hours, then switched to IV, then to oral meds. The epidural kept me so comfortable. My doc ordered a range of med level for the epidural, so when the pain broke through they were able to just increase the dosage and took care of it again.

When I look back on my previous major knee surgeries in the 1980s which involved bone grafting--- there is no comparison. Those times I had general anesthetic and when I awoke in recovery I was in TERRIBLE pain. Not so with the spinal/epidural! I highly recommend it!

Talk it over with your doctor and anesthesiologist. They have excellent sedation/pain control options now. Most here would tell you that the physical therapy after the surgery is much more painful than the surgery itself. But you have to work through that pain with help from ice and pain meds! And you will! It is a productive pain and you will get your life back.

(Insert funny story here---- When I woke up in recovery after the first of those bone surgeries with general anesthetic in the 80s I was in terrible pain, and was aware of some woman who kept moaning and crying. She annoyed me greatly and I remember wishing someone would just SHUT HER UP! Gradually as I became more aware I realized...ummmmmm..... it was me!)

Good luck!

PS. I just had arthroscopic surgery on my "other" knee to remove torn meniscus and I seem to be healing much slower than I thought I would. I sure hope it is not my OA kicking into higher gear too.... I don't know how to tell what is causing the continuing pain.... how did you know it was OA vs. normal post-surgical healing? I am now 1 month post-'scope and my knee is still very painful and swelling.

 

[beachcomber]

About the wedge pillow--- make sure it will keep your whole leg elevated above your heart, not just your knee. You are going to have swelling in your entire lower leg and ankle for a while and need to keep them elevated as well. I found that 2 king size pillows lenthwise on my regular bed worked really well for elevation and kept me more comfortable than my recliner. (better for my back too)

It is easier to get up and down with armed chairs---- that is for sure! I tried a walker at the hospital, but like you am an experienced crutch user and was just more comfortable with my crutches so stuck with them. I bought a shower chair, but never needed it. I was surprised that putting weight on my new knee hurt much less than I expected it to. It was *bending* it that was the problem!

I have been reading where some people are sleeping in recliners.
I plan on buying a wedge pillow to use on my bed. I have also read it is
recommended to have a chair with arms to sit in to make it easier to get up and down. At this time I don't have one, so I guess I will be on the lookout for one. Our home is one level with the exception of two shallow steps
down into our den. There are 4 steps up to our front porch. I have my crutches from my previous surgeries. In fact I have just started using them again as it is too painful to walk without them. My OS asked me if I was using walking aid. He said I could use either the crutches or get a walker.
I already have a bedside commode and a shower chair. Thank goodness our
shower is a walk in. My hubby is going to install some handgrips.

 

[1jt@atime]

Beach, I hope we didn't jinx you into having a bad scope! I REALLY want this scope to give you some time..... It'll work, it will! How many more days until vacay?????

Carolina, I'm with everyone else. Do the spinal. I didn't wake up at all with my first knee with a spinal but I did with the second. I was so loopy that I really didn't care what was going on. I heard some drilling/sawing and saw some Xrays on the wall but not much else. It was all good!

Karen

 

[beachcomber]

Thanks Karen,

I am officially off work for the summer now, but have a few things to wrap up on Monday, family business to take care of on Tuesday about 2 hours from here("owie" driving...) and packing to do on Wednesday and then we are off to Mexico for 2 weeks on Thursday. I think 2 weeks of laying around on a beach are exactly what my knees need right now!

I hope this scope works too. I know I was up and walking on it too much too soon and am hoping that I can "baby" it a little this summer while working to get both knees stronger and healthier. At least when it is swelling and hurts to walk-- I can stop and rest it instead of gritting my teeth and pushing on like I have had to do at school.

The swelling is mostly centered around the three incision points---- so I am hoping that means it is related to the surgery and not to the medial/patellar OA. My lower leg and ankle are swelling too. Ice and elevate!

I am so glad to hear your are doing so well this time around. You sure deserve some breaks! Keep taking good care of yourself. You are an inspiration to me. When I start feeling sorry for myself because my knees and back are still hurting I think of you and all you have been through and have still to go through and it helps to put things in perspective.

 

[1jt@atime]

Thanks for the comments but there are truly those that are far worse off then me. We are all given our lot in life and I guess we just have to figure out a way to forage through these darker spots.

Luckily I have a husband that has been through a lot with me and is still here after 27 years of a LOT of illness. He's not perfect but he's a wonderful caregiver, even on father's day. He just said earlier that the knee replacement recovery for him as a caregiver, is nothing compared to my original recovery from my car accident 20 years ago. Of course, back then he had a 3 and 5 year old to take care of also!

Starting Thrusday, I am going to live vicariously through you and think about laying on a beach in Mexico rather then in my recliner chair in the livingroom and physical therapy.

Enjoy! You deserve it!

 

[JenniferG]

Hi Carolina girl. welcome. I slept in a recliner for at least the first 3 weeks home. I don't remember now. I had 2 knees done, I liked it because it kept me from rolling alot and I needed it becuase I have no bathroom upstairs where BRs are. Obviously stairs were not happening that early in the game.

 

[Rowdy66]

Welcome Carolina, Glad You Found This Forum. I Am Almost Five Weeks Post Surgery From Btkr. I Didn't Have The Epidural And Wish I Had, The Pain Immediately Upon Awaking Is Pretty Tough Even With All The Pain Meds They Give You And My Doctor Was Very Good About Giving Me Pain Meds. I Am Still On Them And Probably Will Be For Some Time. I Would Take As Long As I Could Getting Back To Work. Sitting Will Be Harder Than You Think. I Wish You Well And Look Forward To Your Future Posts. This Is A Wonderful Site And I Am Sure You Will Enjoy It, Both The Info But Especially The Support. Rowdy

 

[Turtlelady53]

Welcome Cgirl. Your story sounds very much like mine. Both my parents had knee problems, and my mother has had bilateral TKR. Although my Dr. encouraged me to hhave one replaced at a time, I really insisted on both because I wanted to get it over with at once so am going tomorrow a.m. for BTKR. I have a government job in D.C. and a very difficult commute, taking a total of 6 trains a day and lots of walking. Everytime I get up from my desk, it takes about 5 minutes to get the knees straightened out again. My mother had an epidural with hers and was really not in any pain that first day. I am hearing similar stories from others. I had artroscopic surgery last June, and it's been downhill from there. The bad knee got worse, and the "good" knee quickly crapped out.

Anyway, enough about me. There are lots of new knees this summer, and we will all be comparing notes. Keep posting, and when you have spare time, read some of the older ones. They offer a wealth of information and good advice. Lots of humor, too!
Sharon

 

[carolinagirl]

Turtlelady,

I wish you all the best. You are in my prayers!!!

Today has been ROUGH! I am in so much pain, it is unreal. I am heading for the shower and then to bed! The Darvocet needs to kick in soon!
I had to do more walking today than I normally do, and oh boy!!! Both of my legs are screaming!
I go for pre-op Wednesday. So I guess this is really gonna happen. I have suffered for so long. It feels good to know I have a light at the end of this
"pain tunnel". I have given the epidural alot of thought and I think that is the route I am going to take. I had IV sedation and don't remember anything from my foot surgery, and they sawed and used a grinder on my foot to remove a bone spur and remove bone fragments. I just really don't want to wake up in terrible pain.

 

[carolinagirl]

I have a quick question concerning sleeping positions.
I know I will have to sleep on my back for awhile. When will I be able to
turn on my side?
I am a side sleeper and laying on my back for awhile causes it to hurt.
Just wondering, if and when I will be able to turn on my side.
Thanks.

 

[referee54]

I have a quick question concerning sleeping positions.
I know I will have to sleep on my back for awhile. When will I be able to
turn on my side?
I am a side sleeper and laying on my back for awhile causes it to hurt.
Just wondering, if and when I will be able to turn on my side.
Thanks.

Best of luck to you sleeping, period...but everybody told me how much trouble I would have sleeping---i didn;t beleive them---but I should have. I was able to TRY TO SLEEP on my side after about a week and a half...nothing worked...I would fall asleep for about an hour and then I would not be able to get comfortable until I would crash at around four or five AM. (Please also keep in mind that I had no"good knee" as I had both replaced.)

Seriously---everybody that I know who has gone through this has had some problems sleeping---I hope and pray that you do not---but a touch of "restless leg" is the norm...you just cannot get comfortable. On a lighter note, I did catch up on all of my missed episodes of Law and Order and Special Victims Unit on TBS...it is really something what you can view on really late night TV!

Tim C.