Hinged Joint Revision Complete, recovery continues

[Dhare63]

Hang in there, this too shall pass. Just keep working through the problems and not settle for a less than appropriate outcome. I hope the blood work is the gate to release!

Do take care and keep posting!

Dawn

 

[Jozilla]

I think your doctor is doing the right thing getting your blood levels correct. Even if you have to stay an extra day or two. I did not have transfusions but have been working on getting my levels normal for over five months now. It is important in your long term recovery to give you strength and a great start. Take care and keep letting us know how you are doing!


RTKR - 9th December, 2013

 

[Pumpkin]

Everything normal, going home today !


Sent from my iPod touch using BoneSmart®

 

[kneeper]

Happy recovering in the comforts of home.

 

[DogLoverx3]

Yey for going home ........ and just because they're new, here are some other 'excited' emoticons for you xoxox

 

[Jozilla]

Yes - great news!


RTKR - 9th December, 2013

 

[Pumpkin]

Home with pain meds on time!

 

[Celle]

Glad to hear you are home at last.

Having those blood transfusions may have been a temporary setback, but now your body will be in much better shape to recover.

You know the mantras - Rest, Ice, Elevate, Medicate on schedule, and only exercise gently.
Best wishes!

 

[RunA42K]

Good news Chris, so glad you are home now and ready to start the recovery and claim your life back again!!

 

[Pumpkin]

@bottomshollow ,
Yes, I would like my thread changed to: Recovery Ahead, Revision Complete.
Please show I have changed from TKR to Revision on my thread.
Happy Easter!
Thanks for all your support,
Chris

 

[bottomshollow]

per your request,@Pumpkln. Hope things are going well for you. Keep us posted. You know we care!

 

[busylizzie]

Knee scar looks great. I never get to see mine so early on. They always cover them up with a waterproof dressing in theatre. Sometimes it has to stay on until the stitches come out.

 

[Pumpkin]

Knee scar looks great.

Thanks, it looks even better today, hoping the staples come out this week. Doing OK, sleeping a couple hours at a time, up and walking around here and there, doing basic exercises, eating well, following mantra, pain OK, but need to ask for some tramadol, I need something other than the valium they gave me in addition to the oxycodone. My history with valium is fainting and or hyper activity.
Hospital experience was less than stellar, late with meds, did not answer call button, one time I had to call the main switch board and they had to send a person up to find some one to help me. Makes it hard when you cannot depend on your caregivers, my husband stayed there 16 hours a day, and I kept a close eye on those pain medications, hitting the call button before they were due. Previous TKR meds showed up on time, I never had to call for them. Hospital survey will give me an opportunity to express my disappointment with the hospital.
I am so happy to be home finally where I can relax and feel safe.
I have one of those blue wedges, it is working great, I have someone who needs it when I am done, they have a chronic condition requiring they elevate frequently. Glad it will not be gathering dust in the closet.

 

[patient 99]

Recovery Ahead, Revision Complete.

Hi Chris, has it sunk in yet? Its all done my friend. Well except for the small matter of recovery but as you said you know so much more this time round, its got to help. Are you managing to sleep OK?

Thanks so much for taking the time to think about my knee at such an early stage in your own recovery. If I was a bit nearer to you I'd repay the favour by making you a lovely cup of tea with yummy chocolate cake. Its the thought that counts <wink>. Make sure you report regularly on your progress. Carol

 

[Pumpkin]

lovely cup of tea with yummy chocolate cake.

Thank you for the yummy treats!

 

[busylizzie]

Great news your hubby was able to stay with you most of the time. We don't have that in the UK on the NHS only private patients. Hubby gets shooed away at the door, can't even come with me to my bed. Next time I see him is post op at the twice daily visiting (a couple of hours at the most each time). If they keep you in recovery or you have to go back there ( I had to when spinal line fell out first night) you can't have visitors. I can't do private hospital on NHS any more I'm classed too high a risk, it was good whilst I could.

Private hospitals around us have no ICU and can't treat you if you have major complications. My original TKR was going to be done in private hospital on NHS but surgeon transferred me to NHS one without telling me because of my allergies. When I found out I wasn't pleased and refused to go. Hence I had to find a new surgeon and hospital for it. I've always had trouble with the pain meds coming late. On one occassion they were so late that I began to have withdrawal symptoms despite using the call button.

Your recovery seems to be going well. Glad you're following the mantra. Just give it time

Best Wishes

 

[Pumpkin]

Home health PT was gentle, gave me some good ideas for exercises, and some self massage, ROM is coming along nicely at it's own pace. Called for my post op visit, it will be April 30th, and my Valium will be replaced with something I tolerate, most likely tramadol.
@busylizzie , sorry to hear you husband cannot be with you more after surgery, used to be like that here, but they found people do better with family around, also extra eyes and ears for the nurses.
When my MIL had her second hip replacement (after a fall), I walked into recovery and sat with her, it made a big difference, so they let me stay after trying to shoo me out. I used to work at that hospital so knew where to go and how to look like I belonged there.
Now resting, icing, elevating, and had my medication on schedule.

 

[busylizzie]

Yes, I've had a few ops in a private hospital before and it makes a big difference having somebody with you to help you both physically and emotionally. The mobile reception and Wifi aren't great at the hopital I'm at now. The building is very old. I think there were 24 beds on the open female ward with the bathrooms quite a walk away. No single en-suite rooms there like the new modern hospitals. They are starting building work on site but i don't know what they are building. Single rooms are good if you can have frequent visitors but can get a little lonely if not.

Also the food is a lot better if you are well enough to eat it!

 

[Pumpkin]

Hopefully you will only be there a few days for your custom revision. At least with 24 beds you always have someone to talk to, or to call for help if you need it.
Tramadol is waiting for me at the pharmacy, it will be picked up tomorrow morning.
Sore now from my PT this morning, so am going to only do part of the exercises each day, and less reps.
I have been eating like a horse since the surgery, slowing down now, other wise I would gain quite a bit in a short time.

 

[busylizzie]

I was in 5 days for the original TKR, 8 days for the first revision and 12 days for Stage 1 (IV antibiotics) so I reckon it will be 5 -7 days hopefully this time. We don't have rehab here. Glad you got your tramadol. I always have trouble sleeping with it. It makes me extra alert but does help with the pain although I have to limit the doses. You seem to be improving all the time. Remember the mantra, and slowly slowly does it. Glad you've got your appetite back. I was told to eat plenty of protein as it aids recovery. I don't know if its true!