TKR RTKR Done Looking Forward to the Future
- Thread starter jul
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United Statesjul
member
Thanks jeano you make a lot do sence. I'm ok though i read through some of these stories and they make me feel that is don't have it so bad.
Thanks tired wife that makes a lot of sense.
It's good to be able to relate to people who know what you are going through even if you have the best support behind you. I have tried to rest on the weekend but can't seem to sleep the pain isn't bad I just can't seem to sleep all night. I wake at 5.30 on a week day for work get home at around 5.00 at night anyone would think I would collapse on the bed but I don't but physically I feel very tired.
Thanks tired wife that makes a lot of sense.
It's good to be able to relate to people who know what you are going through even if you have the best support behind you. I have tried to rest on the weekend but can't seem to sleep the pain isn't bad I just can't seem to sleep all night. I wake at 5.30 on a week day for work get home at around 5.00 at night anyone would think I would collapse on the bed but I don't but physically I feel very tired.
marmora
post-grad
@jul
Sleep patterns really change for most of us after our TKRs.
I am waking at least twice a night, can't get to sleep before 12:30 even though awake between 6:30/7:00 am most mornings.
At week 7, rarely taking naps during the day - which as your working isn't possible for you.
Not getting to sleep, tossing & turning, waking up every 1-2 hours, waking with the lark, etc. Seems to be a "normal" part of the post-op TKR.
Take care,
Cathie
Sleep patterns really change for most of us after our TKRs.
I am waking at least twice a night, can't get to sleep before 12:30 even though awake between 6:30/7:00 am most mornings.
At week 7, rarely taking naps during the day - which as your working isn't possible for you.
Not getting to sleep, tossing & turning, waking up every 1-2 hours, waking with the lark, etc. Seems to be a "normal" part of the post-op TKR.
Take care,
Cathie
@jul read this thread again about Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it? Unfortunately sleep problems are very much a part of recovery. Nap as much as you can during the day and don't worry too much about not sleeping well at night. This too shall pass!
At about 6weeks after the first knee I started getting back to my normal sleep pattern (head hits pillow, die for 7-8 hours, wake refreshed). My sleep is not nearly as disrupted this time but it still ain't right.)
HerbM
senior
Lot's of people have agreed that you should take the pressure off yourself to "do more" and so do I.
Just your family losses are enough to make someone tired. It's can't be easy for you so do try to relax (your body and your expectations), breathe, and move only as much as is comfortable (or absolutely necessary.)
Please do not compare yourself to others when you can avoid it -- only you can complete YOUR RECOVERY.
One more practical idea: Have you investigated the availability of some type of "handicap public transportation" in your area?
Driving is difficult for you but so is ordinary mass transit (MTA). In my town, there is a van that comes around specifically to pick up people who would have a hard time even getting to and from the MTA without assistance.
Perhaps something like this can take you all or part of the way to work (maybe just to the MTA would help?)????
You will likely never find out about this with investigating -- you might need a form from your doc, similar to the ones we must submit (here) to get a special handicap license plate or placard.
Do your best to Relax, Breathe, and Rest.
Just your family losses are enough to make someone tired. It's can't be easy for you so do try to relax (your body and your expectations), breathe, and move only as much as is comfortable (or absolutely necessary.)
Please do not compare yourself to others when you can avoid it -- only you can complete YOUR RECOVERY.
One more practical idea: Have you investigated the availability of some type of "handicap public transportation" in your area?
Driving is difficult for you but so is ordinary mass transit (MTA). In my town, there is a van that comes around specifically to pick up people who would have a hard time even getting to and from the MTA without assistance.
Perhaps something like this can take you all or part of the way to work (maybe just to the MTA would help?)????
You will likely never find out about this with investigating -- you might need a form from your doc, similar to the ones we must submit (here) to get a special handicap license plate or placard.
Do your best to Relax, Breathe, and Rest.
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hi @jul When I was in the worst of my weird sleeping/not sleeping at night I tried to think of as a couple of night time naps. 
Still annoying, but if you don't *expect* to sleep in big stretches it might help psychologically. 
And don't fight the napping impulse during the day.
Oh and could you please make a signature with your surgery date? It helps a lot when Josephine and other staff are trying to advise.
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/how-to-create-a-signature.14728/
Still annoying, but if you don't *expect* to sleep in big stretches it might help psychologically. And don't fight the napping impulse during the day.
Oh and could you please make a signature with your surgery date? It helps a lot when Josephine and other staff are trying to advise.
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/how-to-create-a-signature.14728/
jul
member
Hi I am till working my way around on here and have just been shown how to put a signiture now I would like to thank all th people who have taken the time to stop by and read my post and for given me the support that you have it has made a lot of difference in the healing process and understanding the whole ordeal.
To @kneeper @Jaycey @Pumpkln @Roy Gardiner @vallee @Celle @happymum @tiredwife @marmora @referee54 @Lovestoread @kneesrus @Shortie @Phil75070 @Nana moon 27 @Jozilla @jeano @HerbM
I wanted to make sure you knew that Ihave said thankyou but could work out until now how to do it personal so thankyou for our support I hope this works.
To @kneeper @Jaycey @Pumpkln @Roy Gardiner @vallee @Celle @happymum @tiredwife @marmora @referee54 @Lovestoread @kneesrus @Shortie @Phil75070 @Nana moon 27 @Jozilla @jeano @HerbM
I wanted to make sure you knew that Ihave said thankyou but could work out until now how to do it personal so thankyou for our support I hope this works.
jul
member
I am checking in while at work. The weekend flew and I feel like i didnt get much rest due to lack of sleep but @kneeper makes sence in saying try for naps rather than a big sleep which I will do.
I have been feeling a bit light headed and not much of an appitite I do feel a bit hungry but dont knwo what I feel like to eat. I think also the light headedness can be due to be a bit tense from the driving and lack of sleep so may I need a massage around my kneck and shoulders. I tried a couple of leg lifts a few min on the bike and knee bends on the bed it was fine I think I have to try ad do some more.
What I would like to ask people though is that I havent been able to ice as much as most people on here will this hinder my healing process.
Jul
I have been feeling a bit light headed and not much of an appitite I do feel a bit hungry but dont knwo what I feel like to eat. I think also the light headedness can be due to be a bit tense from the driving and lack of sleep so may I need a massage around my kneck and shoulders. I tried a couple of leg lifts a few min on the bike and knee bends on the bed it was fine I think I have to try ad do some more.
What I would like to ask people though is that I havent been able to ice as much as most people on here will this hinder my healing process.
Jul
marmora
post-grad
@jul
Hello,
It's about 7:35 am in Melbourne on Monday morning & 22:35 Sunday night in Dublin.
Thank you for your "thank you" !
Appetite will come back slowly, but do make sure you do it something to avoid light headed ness .
Ice - I know I need & use it still ( mine was 17 July) Ice to reduce swelling as also as great pain relief.
At the moment, have leg/knee elevated toes above nose, lying on the couch watching telly and have on my icy and cold Cryo cuff and the relief and comfort of the icing to the knee is nearly addictive.
I would ice several times a day for at least an hour, but I am not back working like you are.
And I will ice when going to bed at night and fall asleep with the Cryo Cuff on, sometimes during the night when I wake up, most nights will refill the Cryo Cuff with more icy cold water and back to sleep again.
That's my ice story and what I am able to do because I am at home.
You will have to work out an ice system that works for you and your time schedule.
As to your question will it hinder your recovery, my answer is I don't know.
But, I feel that it will improve your recovery experience.
Cathie
Hello,
It's about 7:35 am in Melbourne on Monday morning & 22:35 Sunday night in Dublin.
Thank you for your "thank you" !
Appetite will come back slowly, but do make sure you do it something to avoid light headed ness .
Ice - I know I need & use it still ( mine was 17 July) Ice to reduce swelling as also as great pain relief.
At the moment, have leg/knee elevated toes above nose, lying on the couch watching telly and have on my icy and cold Cryo cuff and the relief and comfort of the icing to the knee is nearly addictive.
I would ice several times a day for at least an hour, but I am not back working like you are.
And I will ice when going to bed at night and fall asleep with the Cryo Cuff on, sometimes during the night when I wake up, most nights will refill the Cryo Cuff with more icy cold water and back to sleep again.
That's my ice story and what I am able to do because I am at home.
You will have to work out an ice system that works for you and your time schedule.
As to your question will it hinder your recovery, my answer is I don't know.
But, I feel that it will improve your recovery experience.
Cathie
HerbM
senior
Don't feel bad for the icing you do NOT do (that's just more pressure you don't need) but instead work to do all the icing you are able to DO.
Take any opportunity for 10 minutes elevation or ice, and for those naps as well (sometimes you can do all of this at once.)
If you are stuck at work with too much trouble to go get ice and apply it, consider those "instant cold packs" and an ace bandage to tie on the packs ANYTIME (at least when seated.)
If you can load the freezer at work (or home) with quality ice packs or get a cold therapy machine (and keep it full of ice) then just run it wherever you are able (at work, when you go to bed, etc.)
Don't pass up a good opportunity to do good things for yourself but once the time has passed be unconcerned with any you miss or couldn't do.
Remember to do what you ARE ABLE to do practically, and ignore the rest comfortably and with peace of mind.
jul
member
Hi
Today my anxiety level is up and down I did feel good this morning as my sleep wasnt to bad last night a couple of un interrupted hours but then the rest was on and of. These 5.30 wake ups are so hard as Im not a morning person really (well that early any way). I try to get on here as much as I can but to read all the positive things after TKR as sometimes I get a little worried when you think have I done the right thing but I know I have as I wouldnt have been able to keep going on my knee the way it was. I dont think like that much more earlier I think its the fact that the other needs doing. I havent been to PT so not sure what my ROM is but I do try to do litte excises here and there and pop on my bike which I can get fall rotation and try with the seat down a knotch every now and then I think i only have a couple of the wholes to go so will be interesting. I am righting this at work as I havnt had a lot of time to get on here by the time i get home I just want to rest eat tea and go to bed. I was a bit like that before as my knees were so bad so i think its a bit of a pattern that i need to get out of as well.
Today my anxiety level is up and down I did feel good this morning as my sleep wasnt to bad last night a couple of un interrupted hours but then the rest was on and of. These 5.30 wake ups are so hard as Im not a morning person really (well that early any way). I try to get on here as much as I can but to read all the positive things after TKR as sometimes I get a little worried when you think have I done the right thing but I know I have as I wouldnt have been able to keep going on my knee the way it was. I dont think like that much more earlier I think its the fact that the other needs doing. I havent been to PT so not sure what my ROM is but I do try to do litte excises here and there and pop on my bike which I can get fall rotation and try with the seat down a knotch every now and then I think i only have a couple of the wholes to go so will be interesting. I am righting this at work as I havnt had a lot of time to get on here by the time i get home I just want to rest eat tea and go to bed. I was a bit like that before as my knees were so bad so i think its a bit of a pattern that i need to get out of as well.
marmora
post-grad
Hi Jul @jul
Good Morning from Dublin & Good afternoon to you in Melbourne,
The early wake - ups are hard especially when you've had broken sleep during the night and then heading out to work.
Making good progress with your bike with full rotations and lowering the notches down.
That along with little exercises and general moving about day to day all helps in recovery.
Exercise, biking, working, getting to/ from work, activities of daily living, eating, sleeping etc.
Means that you need more than 24 hours in a day to get through it all !
Take it one day at a time and know all of us here have had ups/downs daily, even hourly.
There is no common road map for TKR.
Take care,
Cathie
Good Morning from Dublin & Good afternoon to you in Melbourne,
The early wake - ups are hard especially when you've had broken sleep during the night and then heading out to work.
Making good progress with your bike with full rotations and lowering the notches down.
That along with little exercises and general moving about day to day all helps in recovery.
Exercise, biking, working, getting to/ from work, activities of daily living, eating, sleeping etc.
Means that you need more than 24 hours in a day to get through it all !
Take it one day at a time and know all of us here have had ups/downs daily, even hourly.
There is no common road map for TKR.
Take care,
Cathie
jul
member
Hi @marmora (Cathie)
Good evenin in Dublin and goodmorning from Melbourne,
They are very hard especially when sleep in not geat and I supposetha makes the anxiety go up ad down like i does.
I dont get on the bike as much as I should but i'll get there.
I suppose all the daily activities do play a part in the exicises but I do feel so lazy but thats just me I suppose.
I am at work now and I am a bit tired as my knee was a bit sore last night so I tried to ice it a bit through the night so that also makes a broken nigts sleep. I try not to take to much meds as I drive as the moment to work but i think I might start the public transport as te driving can be very tiering.
I seem to be a bit negative dont I I'll have to try and start to be more posative I think.
Good evenin in Dublin and goodmorning from Melbourne,
They are very hard especially when sleep in not geat and I supposetha makes the anxiety go up ad down like i does.
I dont get on the bike as much as I should but i'll get there.
I suppose all the daily activities do play a part in the exicises but I do feel so lazy but thats just me I suppose.
I am at work now and I am a bit tired as my knee was a bit sore last night so I tried to ice it a bit through the night so that also makes a broken nigts sleep. I try not to take to much meds as I drive as the moment to work but i think I might start the public transport as te driving can be very tiering.
I seem to be a bit negative dont I I'll have to try and start to be more posative I think.
HerbM
senior
You don't seem negative to me.
You seem to be facing a lot of issues, with health AND with life (e.g., work).
Sometimes, life is hard, and we aren't going to be really cheerful about all of that all of the time.
Is there any chance your Public Transit has some sort of door to door special service for those with physical issue?
I think it is for sleeping that the "cold therapy machines" may show their best. Once you get them setup, you just go to sleep and they last for hours.
I went to sleep quite a few nights with those "knee wraps" I bought on Amazon as well -- they don't last as long as the machine but they do better than any other 'freezer wraps' I have ever had.
You seem to be facing a lot of issues, with health AND with life (e.g., work).
Sometimes, life is hard, and we aren't going to be really cheerful about all of that all of the time.
Is there any chance your Public Transit has some sort of door to door special service for those with physical issue?
I think it is for sleeping that the "cold therapy machines" may show their best. Once you get them setup, you just go to sleep and they last for hours.
I went to sleep quite a few nights with those "knee wraps" I bought on Amazon as well -- they don't last as long as the machine but they do better than any other 'freezer wraps' I have ever had.
jul
member
Thank @HerbM I have to remind myself of that I think just as you think your over one then another smcks you in the face I must be a bi numb to it now.
The knee raps sound great I just have an ice pac that I try to put on when I can I havnt been able to at work much as i have clients coming and it looks a bit silly.
J
The knee raps sound great I just have an ice pac that I try to put on when I can I havnt been able to at work much as i have clients coming and it looks a bit silly.
J
HerbM
senior
Here are the knee wrap I bought (a little pricy at $40) https://www.amazon.com/Elasto-Gel-Cold-Wrap-3-9-Pound/dp/B000S5GKHY/?tag=ate362da-20
There may be better or cheaper ones available but these have worked extremely well for me on knees or hip (or my wife's hand/wrist).
They are 2 feet long so even with my size I seldom need to scrimp.
If possible, just tell the customers you are recovering from surgery and apologize for the odd look and then ignore it. (I have however had very poor results trying to WALK more than a few steps with these cold packs.)
There may be better or cheaper ones available but these have worked extremely well for me on knees or hip (or my wife's hand/wrist).
They are 2 feet long so even with my size I seldom need to scrimp.
If possible, just tell the customers you are recovering from surgery and apologize for the odd look and then ignore it. (I have however had very poor results trying to WALK more than a few steps with these cold packs.)
Silly is as silly does (putting on Forrest Gump's Mother's hat.) it is sometimes difficult, awkward, and inconvenient to ice the old knee, I know. But I promise you I didn't feel silly last weekend when I sat through Mass with a freeze pack pressed to my knee, because I was a whole heck of a lot more comfortable and could walk out of the church without limping.
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