TKR Road to less pain

Charles

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Surgery on 4/18/23 on left knee, sent home next day, two weeks home health therapy. Started riding recumbent bike on day 7. Almost to the end of week 5 and feeling good with my recovery. ROM over 120 and strength returning. Looking forward for the return to work from doctor and physical therapist.
 
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Jockette

Staff member since March 18, 2018
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Hi and Welcome! It sounds like you are coming along well.

Please tell us if it’s your right or left knee and we’ll add that to your signature. :flwrysmile:

I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind all people are different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for you.“ Your doctors, PTs and BoneSmart are available to help, but you are the final judge as to the recovery approach you choose.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary

2. Control discomfort:
rest
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​
If you want to use something to help heal the incision,
BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.​

3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​
4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

6. Access to these pages on the website

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.
 

Cactus Man

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Surgery on 4/18/23 sent home next day, two weeks home health therapy. Started riding recumbent bike on day 7. Almost to the end of week 5 and feeling good with my recovery. ROM over 120 and strength returning. Looking forward for the return to work from doctor and physical therapist.
Can I ask how you would describe your pre op health and activity level? Was this your first surgery that required rehab? Thanks and this is great news
 
OP
OP
C

Charles

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Working 40hrs a week as a Diesel Technician. Have had both rotator cuffs repaired and had arthroscopic partial miniscus repair on knee several years before my TKR.
 

Layla

Staff member since November 20, 2017
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Hey Charles :wave:
Happy Two Month Anniversary! I hope you're doing well.
If you care to share the dates of the surgeries you mentioned above, we will gladly add the info to your signature.
Wishing you a great week!
@Charles
 

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