Revision TKR Revision Completed...Ready to get back to my life...<

[Jebsw]

That sounds pretty much like what I do/did. The thing is, you can only do what you can do. I'm sure in the long run it will be fine. Your surgery is so very recent, I bet just about everything is hard. But that's for now, not forever.

 

[KneeAware]

Yeah its been hard but like you said I just had it done a few days ago, I'm sure it won't stay like this for too long.

 

[KneeAware]

I have come to the conclusion that this is NO fun! I am doing this with very little pain medication and its so tough! The exercises hurt, the getting up and down hurts, the hurt hurts. Any suggestions from anyone will be appreciated....I am using ice and trying to elevate once in a while and I am taking it easy. Thank goodness the bulky bandage is gone and only a nice slim water proof one on there now. When I had the dressing changed yesterday I was very disappointed to see I had staples and not the absorbable sutures like I had the last time. Silly I know to be disappointed but I was and now I am nervous about having them removed...

 

[Jebsw]

I'm sorry it hurts so much. Can you remind me, please, why you aren't taking more pain medication? I tried to find it in your thread, but must have missed it. Regardless, all I can do is empathize and wish you well. The staple removal pain is fleeting, and a lot of people on here say it didn't even hurt. (I thought it hurt a lot, but only as it was happening.). Continue to take it as easy as you can.

 

[KneeAware]

The pain medication really hurts my stomach....to the point where its worse than the knee! I have tried different ones and have taken Zantac but it hasn't worked...been taking the pain meds with food and drinking lots of fluids but my stomach really protests so I am trying to do it without anything...been trying to get an appointment with my FD but to no avail because someone mentioned a pain patch, the OS that did my knee last Wednesday said no, we will try Toradol first.

I hope you are correct about the staples being removed, I am such a whussy when it comes to that...anything else I can handle and take in stride expect for when it comes to the wound care...lol! Yup, I know, big wimp!

 

[Lori-M]

Tessa, I'm so sorry you're having so much pain and that you can't take anything. I remember the early days and they weren't any fun with pain meds! It sounds like you're doing everything you can do and I really hope the doc find a pain med that won't upset your stomach! As for the staples, I had those and was anxious about their removal too. Turned out to be a non-event. My OS' nurse whipped them out quite smoothly. I heard from my SIL though that my BIL's staples from his hip replacement were a different story. I've come to the conclusion that a lot depends on the "operator" of the staple removal tool! I'll be praying that your "operator" is skilled and caring!

 

[Jacky48]

Tessa, whussy you are not! Nor are you a big wimp! You just been through major surgery, and the second one this year to boot! Cut yourself some slack, because you are trying to do all this without pain meds, holy moly now I feel like a whussy there is no way I would have attemped to do this with out some kind of pain relief! I hope you start taking something soon before you drive yourself over the edge! Please be kind to yourself, you are so soon out of major surgery. You and your knee need tender love and care for now!

Stay well and stay positive my BoneSmartie friend!

 

[KneeAware]

Lori-M

I saw the Dr this afternoon and its no pain meds for me for now...the threat of an ulcer and with the blood thinners I am taking, its just not worth it. Until I am finished with the (Xarelto) she won't prescribe anything...sooooooooo its a matter of carry on, keep my chin up and remember that each day it will feel better...

Oh I do hope the one wielding the *staple removal tool* is quite adept at it....I almost fainted last time just have the dressing removed the first time, hahahaha! Yesterday I was much better with this (the first dressing change on the right knee), I think I was just so so happy to get that bulking one off.

 

[KneeAware]

Jacky48

You know I didn't even think about it as two major surgeries in 6 months...those bilateral peeps are super human! I'm not trying to do this without pain medication, I would take whatever was given me if I could...I just can't ! Time for me to learn how to meditate, me thinks, :D.

 

[Jacky48]

Awe man I so feel for you Tessa, however meditation in an excellent avenue and lots of ice!

 

[Josephine]

I am icing the knee about 95% of the time when I am laying or sitting down

That's good

I am not elevating the leg because my surgeon is dead set against it and he asks that his patients don't elevate. I did try to elevate once though but it hurt even more...

I seriously don't know how surgeons have this notion. Any 2nd year student nurse knows the efficacy of elevating a swollen or pain leg! I'm curious it hurt more and think that might have been due to the way you were elevating it. Would you have a look at this article and tell me which method you used? Elevating your leg to control swelling and pain

I get up and move around or try to once every hour or two, its just been a little over 48 hours since I have had this done so I am not yet ready to do much in the way of housework although I have tried to do a little, just some laundry and dishes. PT, I am doing my exercises three times a day and will start with a physiotherapist next Friday.

That's far too much and you are causing yourself a lot more pain and swelling by doing that. You need to read this article again as well Progression of activity for TKRs

I am taking Ketorolac (Toradol) 10 mgs every six hours

The pain medication really hurts my stomach to the point where it's worse than the knee!

I'm not familiar with Toradol but found these two interesting and totally conflicting comments in a Google search
Ketorolac is used for the short-term relief of moderately severe pain and should not be used for longer than 5 days (US National Library of Medicine)
Ketorolac is not a narcotic and is not habit-forming. (Mayo Clinic)

I saw the Dr this afternoon and its no pain meds for me for now. The threat of an ulcer and with the blood thinners I am taking, its just not worth it.

But another thing I found is this "Ketorolac belongs to the group of medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)" which means it is like ibuprofen, diclofenac or naproxen, all of which are particularly MILD pain killers.

This also explains why you have been having such a rough time with it. Besides which, no-one should be prescribed NSAIDs when they are on blood thinners. Most ill-advised.
And neither can you go without any pain meds at all - that's so cruel its criminal and totally unnecessary. You can have narcotic or narcotic-like drugs like Tramadol, codeine and hydrocodone. None of these have effects on stomachs like NASIDs do. But you need something! I despair of your doctors, they are not treating you sensibly or kindly at all.

 

[KneeAware]

Awe man I so feel for you Tessa, however meditation in an excellent avenue and lots of ice!

Ice is my best friend right now...

 

[KneeAware]

This also explains why you have been having such a rough time with it. Besides which, no-one should be prescribed NSAIDs when they are on blood thinners. Most ill-advised.
And neither can you go without any pain meds at all - that's so cruel its criminal and totally unnecessary. You can have narcotic or narcotic-like drugs like Tramadol, codeine and hydrocodone. None of these have effects on stomachs like NASIDs do. But you need something! I despair of your doctors, they are not treating you sensibly or kindly at all.

I have had Tramacet and Tramadol they do a different kind of number on me...Codeine I cannot take as I have had an adverse reaction to it....I will get through this even though the exercises are the absolute worse but it has to be done I don't have a choice in the matter...

I asked the doctor if there is anything at all that I can take to try...she says she will have to research it...that was enough for me to almost run, yes r.u.n. screaming from her office....lol!

 

[Lori-M]

Hang in there T! I wish there was more you could do/take. I'll keep my fingers crossed your doctor's research finds you a miracle!

 

[KneeAware]

Thanks Lori...I am hoping she can come up with something as well....

 

[KneeAware]

...ice isn't working much either, just makes my knee ache now. I am getting very good at whining though...most of the time its silent cause no one wants to listen, lol!

 

[Motorcycle Meemaw]

Tessa, I am so sorry you are in so much pain. That has to be simply miserable. I hope they find you something soon to take.

 

[KneeAware]

Tessa, I am so sorry you are in so much pain. That has to be simply miserable. I hope they find you something soon to take.

Thank goodness, my knee isn't paining as much this morning....it manageable! Stiff and swollen still but much better!

 

[KneeAware]

Josephine, is it possible to get this thread title changed? I am not longer wondering if I am ready for the 2nd knee replacement...

 

[Lori-M]

Thank goodness, my knee isn't paining as much this morning....it manageable! Stiff and swollen still but much better!

So glad to hear from you; I wasn't sure where you were in relation to the hurricane mess back there. And very happy to hear you're feeling a bit better!