TKR Recovery as an April not very patient patient!

[SusieShoes]

Thanks, lizzie! I'm tagging @Josephine to look at your meds and give you her thoughts on your pain control. She's an orthopedic nurse and surgical assistant.

I'm pretty sure the omeprazole isn't part of your pain control, though. I take that same med for gastric reflux.

Sorry you have bad connectivity! Hope to hear from you again soon!

 

[Josephine]

I'd really like to offer you some structured advice but in order to do that, I also need to ask you some questions. Are you willing for me to do that?

 

[lizziescam]

Yes of course that's fine. I'm in town today so have wifi and hopefully the engineer will fix us up soon.
And yes omeprazole is to protect my tum!!

 

[lizziescam]

Apologies to the fellas but reading the posts about ROM etc something just struck me.
Here we are, new knees installed and either PTs, physios or surgeons telling us "it should be this" or "you should be that"...whereas we are each one of us unique and individual and we do not 'fit' into neat boxes or onto hospital recovery charts.
This reminded me of when I was pregnant at antenatal class and warned that in hospital we might be expected to dilate at x cms per hour (which is not how it goes...), and if we didn't then intervention might happen.
I chose to have all 3 of my babies at home where I could progress at my bodies own pace.
As I approach my 6 week post op appointment with my surgeon I have no idea what my ROM is and if I am on target....(who's target?)
I guess what I'm asking is, why do they have ROMs ? We're not machines?
Am I just having a grumpy old lady day or am I mentally preparing to meet my surgeon ....

 

[alexthecat]

@lizziescam
You'll notice that I have merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread. For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:

• That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
• If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated
• Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.

So please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here. If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we'll get it changed for you.
If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.
How to tag another member; how to answer when someone tags you

Here are the instructions on finding your thread, How can I find my threads and posts? . Many members bookmark their thread, so they can find it when they log on.

 

[sistersinhim]

As I approach my 6 week post op appointment with my surgeon I have no idea what my ROM is and if I am on target....(who's target?)
I guess what I'm asking is, why do they have ROMs ? We're not machines?

I loved how you said this! It's so true, we are not from a cookie cutter, having the same recoveries. Staying home to have your babies had to be great! You know your body and how to react to it!

 

[lizziescam]

Hooray we have Internet
so I've been reading recovery threads and lots more and I just get more questions and thoughts popping up....

Lots of people said it would be painful but my surgeon actually said "for a couple of days", that's not even funny.
No one told me (apart from on this forum) that the pain could vary ie have good days but then out of the blue a very painful day.
If codeine isn't very effective for knee pain (and my experience absolutely backs that up) why is it offered? My GP wouldn't give me tramadol so I've had to make do and even resorted to taking pain relief offered by friends (I know that's really bad and such a big no,no and I wouldn't normally but it was just so painful).
Does anyone else HATE ice I cannot stand it and to be honest I've only been doing it since you guys say I should.....it doesn't make the pain go away and I don't really have swelling to reduce, it makes me cold really deep inside and I have to wrap in three blankets before I start. I always wrap the packs in a tea towel never put it on my skin but much prefer a nice hot water bottle!

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Jockette]

Don’t tell anyone, but I didn’t like ice either. It always made me feel so stiff. I still used it, though, until about 6 1/2 months post op. It does help if you have swelling.

I gave up my prescription pain medication at 11 days post op because I had a major vision change overnight that coincided with the day of my surgery and dilaudid did mention blurry vision as a side affect. To be honest, I didn’t think it was helping anyway, I never felt worse as it got time to take another one. I was still in a lot of pain and could only assume it was working. My surgeon told me to take Tylenol and ibuprofen alternately and I didn’t feel any worse, or better after switching to those. Eventually the pain eased up. And my vision never went back to what it was, I had to get new glasses, and no one had an explanation for me (surprise!)

I do make sure I take medications with food unless specifically told not to.

 

[lizziescam]

@Jockette ooh that makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one who isn't
Interesting about the prescription meds...pre-op lots of friends said to take all the pain relief offered but I was discharged from hospital with only three day supply!!! My GP then misunderstood me and put me on over the counter meds.

My favourite pain killer is a nice cup of tea (or coffee) and a good book....I seem to do best when I'm not just sitting here thinking about my knee!!!!
I even go through all the bits of my body that are working amazingly well and say thank you for them

 

[Jockette]

My favourite pain killer is a nice cup of tea (or coffee) and a good book....I seem to do best when I'm not just sitting here thinking about my knee!!!!
I even go through all the bits of my body that are working amazingly well and say thank you for them

That is the best way to handle pain if you can!

 

[Josephine]

PTs, physios or surgeons telling us "it should be this" or "you should be that"...whereas we are each one of us unique and individual and we do not 'fit' into neat boxes or onto hospital recovery charts.

You are SO, SO right there!

I guess what I'm asking is, why do they have ROMs ? We're not machines?

'They' don't have ROMS - we do! ROM is simply our Range of Movement measurements. What you're walking about is ROM targets! They should be a big No-No!

If codeine isn't very effective for knee pain (and my experience absolutely backs that up) why is it offered? My GP wouldn't give me tramadol

It's offered because the nurses and junior doctors don't know any better! But don't you have several doctors in your GP practice? Why don't you try a different one? One of my GPs declined to prescribe it for me so I switched to another.

Does anyone else HATE ice I cannot stand it and to be honest I've only been doing it since you guys say I should.....it doesn't make the pain go away and I don't really have swelling to reduce

I rather suspect you are applying the ice pack directly on your skin which is also a great BIG no-no! You should never do that. Put a tea towel or light cloth or hand towel between your skin and the ice pack always ! There comes a point when the ice pack warms up and you can remove the protective cloth/towel and get some more cold. But never do without the interposing barrier - no freezer burn on our patients, thank you!

 

[lizziescam]

@Josephine thanks for those tips, I never thought of asking another GP to prescribe, what a good idea.
I do always wrap the ice gel packs in a tea towel but this morning I "double wrapped" ie used 2 layers before applying. Then as it became less fierce I went down to one layer. Have to say I'm getting used to it a bit now and am trusting that with all the of experience on this forum, if you say ice then I will ice!!!
Seeing surgeon tomorrow and my mind has gone blank I had many questions now I can remember none of them....

 

[hopalong61]

@lizziescam i was sent home from hospital with one of these IceBand-Knee-Brace, I have six reusable ice packs so i always have some in the freezer. It's really good and relieves the swelling and pain loads. I ice as often as i can simply because it feels good !

 

[Izabel]

.it doesn't make the pain go away and I don't really have swelling to reduce

My Surgeon only advocates ice for 15-20 minutes three times a day on the knee for pain otherwise it interferes with blood flow, but agrees longer periods of time for swelling.

 

[Mutti3]

Icing was my best friend. Had circulating ice machine, keep it on the first weeks continuous. Ice packs under the knee,and even on my foot! It worked to reduce swelling and discomfort!

 

[kneeper]

If my skin felt too cold while icing I sometimes just took the ice pack off for a couple of minutes. And I'd definitely often have to cover up with a blanket while icing. 85 degrees out and I'm under a blankey.

 

[lizziescam]

@hopalong61 that's such a neat looking device that could be the answer as I like compression and often just 'hold' my knee with one hand either side. Probably sounds a bit odd but it feels nice!!!

@Izabel I think I'm just about doing 3x day but struggle to get longer than 10 minutes...

@Mutti3 I have looked at those machines not sure if 6 weeks post op is still worth the investment, would be good to loan one!

@kneeper I was sat in the garden in the sun with icepack on knee. I move it around constantly (I have the squidgy ice ones that mold around you). Good to hear I'm not the only one who needs a blanket!

 

[Josephine]

if you say ice then I will ice!!!

Oh such power!

 

[lizziescam]

Well the 6 weeks check up went okay and according to my OS I can do anything I want!
Hmmm, I think I'll have a chat with my knee about that idea, I mean I quite fancy riding my horse, sorting out the garden, going back to dancing and starting my new stand up paddle boarding class....
But as my husband always says, 'baby steps'.

 

[SusieShoes]

Your husband is wise to remind you that your knees are still infants. You will do all those things... just not quite yet.

In fact, just keep up your slow and steady work on letting the knee heal some more and you will be amazed in a few more months just how much better it feels. Overdo things now and you will have a sore knee!