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TKR Sarah Jane's Summer Journey and Fall Frolic

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SarahJane

supremo
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Hi, everyone. My total knee replacement was Tuesday, four days ago. The doctor said it took about an hour. I ended up opting for general, because I was nervous and wasn't sure how I'd react to the sounds of the operation if I was only partially under. They made me get up and walk right in the recovery room. 80 feet. Got transferred to a private room and then had to do pt again. By then some of that wonderful surgical pain medicine had worn off, and I didn't walk as far or as uncomplainingly as before. Great nursing care. PT not up to the excellent standards of the nursing staff.

I was really concerned about being sent home after only one night in the hospital because of safety concerns at home. I did too well at walking for me to qualify for rehab, but they finally let me stay another night so I could have more pt. The pt came about 10:30, near the end of that dose of pain meds, and i couldn't finish the entire session. He wanted me to keep going and I refused. The nurse asked me what my pain level was, and I said 7- the highest I'd ever rated it. The pt said he'd come back in half an hour. I said that I didn't want to do our last session until the person who was bringing me home could be there. He said that wasn't necessary because he'd spoken to the person on the phone.

More to come. This is talking me forever to type with one thumb!

Sarah Jane
 
Welcome @SarahJane! You did it! Sorry about the pain. Sometimes you really have to be insistent about getting the pain meds on time! As for the PT, they can't make you do it. If you want to wait for a friend or family member to be there, they should honor your request (as long as it's not going to be after hours or anything.). Good luck to you! Please continue to post updates and to ask any questions you may have. We're here to help you through this journey!


Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart®
 
Hi @SarahJane - My surgery was on Monday, the day before yours. I'm sorry to hear about your pain as well. I went home the same day as surgery, so I've been doing PT with a very inexperience therapist.. Me.. (hahaha!) :rotfl: Just following the instructions as best I can and listening to the knee of my patient - which is pretty easy to do.. :snork:

All kidding aside, I have my first official PT appointment on Monday. It will be my first time out of the house since surgery, and I'm having my husband take me. I'm hoping I have a therapist who is willing to listen to me. It will be good to get the professional guidance and feedback, I think. I'll be sure to report back!

This is a great place for support. Glad you found us!! Why are you having to type with just one thumb?
 
I am going to tag @Pumpkln so you can get some reading materials.

Be easy on the knee. Hurts don't do it. Ice rest elevate. Xxx good lucks.


FaithMitchmommy
PKR December.1,2014
TKREV MARCH.2,2015
 
Wow. So many replies already.

The nurse gave me my pain meds and I zonked out. Lunch came and someone said the pt would be back at 1:30.

My bed at home is very high and I use a step stool to get into it. I was worried about doing that safely at home. My friend surprised me by going to Home Depot, buying lumber and then making a special stand for me to safely get in and out of bed. She dropped it off late Wednesday night. The pt went over it with me very briefly the next morning. He didn't raise the hospital bed to match the height of the one at home. He was ok with sending me home to practice on my own. !!! The second session, when my friend was there, was much more thorough and educational. I told my friend it was better because she'd been there.

Discharge went well. My friend had a car with a good-sized door, and with the seat moved as far back as it could go I was able to get in and out comfortably. I'm really bad at estimating distances, but once my friend had dropped me off at the closest curb, I still had to walk 150 feet or so to get to my place. She was so sweet. She'd brought along a beach chair with arms in case I needed to stop and rest! I was able to make it without the chair, but took two brief standing rest breaks.

My friend had insisted to the discharge planner that I'd have a 3 in 1 commode delivered that day, not Friday as they had it scheduled. She'd also insisted that the home health care nurse come the very next day. Everyone should have such a great advocate!

I don't remember much of the rest of the day. I practiced getting in and out of bed with the walker and the stand. There were two bunches of flowers with no notes. I'm guessing that one was from the cat and fish sitter and another from a friend who'd picked up a drinking cup with a screw top lid, and handle. As well as an essential medical emergency remedy: dark chocolate. I was so touched.

The commode was delivered. My friend watched me getting out of bed, using the walker to get to the bathroom, getting on it, getting off it and then back to bed.

I'd asked another friend to spend the night, and was comforted by her presence.

A friend just came over, so more later.

PS clues to one thumb temporary cell phone typing can be found at T--36 hours post above.
 
Welcome to the other side! Glad to hear you are doing well, and are well taken care of by your friends.
Here are the articles Angel1976 asked me to post for you.

First are the BoneSmart mantras ....
- rest, elevate, ice and take your pain meds by the clock
- if it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physiotherapist - to do it to you
- if your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again
- if you won't die if it's not done, don't do it
- never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can go to sleep!
- be active as much as you need to be but not more than is necessary, meaning so much that you end up being in pain, exhausted or desperate to sit down or lay down!

Next is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) thread.

And here are some very crucial articles
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Activity progression for TKRs

Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling

Home physio (PT) and activity progress: suggestions
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

And then some wise words from members who have shared their experiences ...
Where are you in recovery?? (TKR)
Five “P’s” of knee recovery
TKR: work “smarter” and not “harder”
Recovering a knee - from one who knows!
It's never too late to get more ROM!
It's worth the wait for ROM
 
Hello and welcome to the other side. Xx to you. Good luck. Don't let no one hurt you. If it hurts don't do it. It's your recovery take it slow. I use my good leg under surgical leg to relive pressure to get in/out of bed etc. must be nice to have good friends. Xxx


FaithMitchmommy
PKR December.1,2014
TKREV MARCH.2,2015
 
It sounds like you are surrounded by loving friends--which is just great. Some of the home health aides who come to your house are really not very well trained. Be sure that no one tries to make your knee bend by pushing on it. Not only does it hurt, but it is counterproductive since it makes the knee swell more. Right now, you need lots of rest.
 
thanks, @skigirl. This forum has shown me that I can stand up for myself and question things that don't seem right.

I wrote a paragraph on swollen knee, possible contributing causes, etc.and the computer ate it, I talked to someone from my OS' office, who was calling to see how I was doing. She thought I should be elevating the knee higher than I am at night. So I'm trying to rearrange the pillows and have a friend getting me another body pillow,

Does anyone else have issues with sliding and toppling pillows? I have to move the tower if I sit up to take a drink or use the computer... Right now I really wish I had rented a hospital bed. Trouble is, I have no room for one. How long does this period of elevation generally go on? I'm not sure I have the money or space for wedge pillow. I have an old-fashioned full bed and mattress. With ice packs and medicine journals and that thing with a tube you use for breathing (helps reduce chance of pneunomoia), real estate's getting scarce!

I haven't seem any discussion of this breathing thing here. Do all OSes and hospitals provide you with one?

Sleep has been elusive. Thank you, whomever set up the Game Room in the social area. Perfect entertainment for my 1-3 second attention span.

Hope my fellow sparklers are doing well.

Sarah Jane
 
Hi @Sarah Jane and welcome to DS. Glad to meet you in the social area and glad you are doing well. Seems like you have some good friends which is what you need at this point. Do you have PT coming to the house? Seems like you have everything under control. I am surprised that the hospital wanted to send you home so soon, but I am certain that each state and hospital have their own guidelines.

When I had my surgery, I was doing PT well, but when PT said they wanted to discharge me day #4 at 5pm, I said I can't go home, I am afraid of those people in my house. I was really anxious about the amount of stairs I had outside and inside as you were apprehensive about your high bed. So I went home day #5. Please keep us posted and hope you are able to manage your pain level is manageable. Take care of yourself. :loveshwr::loveshwr:
 
When you say breathing tube thing, do you mean the tubes that can be placed just inside the nose. Thus allowing you to breath a purer oxygen. If its that I had it as I had a family bad apnea attack post operation. They assess if its needed.

Legin THR Sep 14
 
Just read your thread. Welcome! It is a big deal what we have to get through immediately post op. For me the worst time was the week waiting for surgery, followed by the week post surgery. After that you are on the roller coater with ups and downs and plateau but at least going forward.

I read your post which referred to your two anonymous bunches of flowers. You said you cat and dog sitter must have bought one. BUT i read it as your cat and dog must have bought them for you and instead of laughing I welled up with tears!! I am 10 days post another op and this is an example of "post op blues' so don,t be surprised at this weird and wonderful journey. All the best for the days to come.
 
My PT lady showed me how to take my body pillow, turn about a third of the end under, and thus make a very decent wedge to slide under my leg. Seemed so obvious after she did it - don't know why I didn't think of it. Oh, wait, I'm on drugs, that's why.
 
@copsham, that is adorable. I only wish that Rose, the cat, and Guildenstern, the betta fish, were that demonstrative and resourceful. Turns out that the same person left on vase in the living/dining area, and a pink floral teapot with pink and white flowere thes in the bedrm.

@Legin, I finally found the name of what I was talking about: an incenbosrd,tive spirometer. I had a general, maybe they might not require them for epidural, spinal, and nerve blocks.

@chestnc, great to meet you on the boards! Together, we make up quite a group over there st the games. Does the RA on your signature line mean you have rheum-however it spells itself= arthritis? If co, corry. I have a couple of cousins who have it. Not fun!

@Slainte, what a clever idea.
 
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I read a lot about the spirometer before surgery but never saw one afterward. I think it's become a doctor preference item like so many other protocols. As I understand it, it's designed to keep you taking deep breaths to keep your pulmonary system fully engaged after the surgery.


Jean

LTKR (Stryker Triathlon): 21 April 2015
Right Knee Arthroscopy: 25 July 2006
Left Knee Arthroscopy: 10 February 2005
 
They send you home with the incentive spirometer because you are charged for it. It's supposed to help with expanding your lungs and getting the mucus up that collects during general anesthesia thus decreasing the risk for pneumonia. As long as you're taking deep breaths, not a smoker and moving around periodically you can probably ditch it. If you're still coughing up mucus or smoke or are prone to respiratory infections you may want to continue to use it for a few more days.
 
@Gigi32, thanks. I do get bad colds that settle in my chest and plague me for weeks. I started to feel a little something in my chest the other night, and was concerned that I was more susceptible to some bronchial crud since my sleep is so intermittent and I'm dealing with all that comes with a week post-surgery. I started using it a couple of times, and felt better. Today I'm fit as a fiddle. A fiddle with a broken bow that's being glued together, but fit nonetheless.

PT coming any minute now. I hope soon, as I took my pain meds about 45 minutes ago, and don;t want them to wear off.

The thrill is gone. I had a couple of hours where I was REALLY GRUMPY and ANGRY at the MEDICAL PROFESSION. Probably exacerbated by early morning rumination about seeming indifference of family members.
I know that emotional swings are normal for us "posties," but how long does this period of blindly homicidal rage at the modern medical system for inflicting this on me last?

In other news, I've discovered another cool use for long scarves. I used one as a leg lifter when I was having trouble bring my operated leg up to bed level. I would place it so the middle of the scarf went on to the bottom of my foot. If I couldn't lasso my foot, I'd place the scarf on my good foot and use a little toe and foot action to help drape it over the injured leg's foot

Maybe we should set up a new thread: Bonesmarties' guide to DIY and hacks forgracious post-surgical living.
 
I think the emotional seesaw depends on your circumstances. I was never angry, just sad and overwhelmed with my predictament. I was in a wonderful facility, great nurses/PT, and supportive family, but I would cry at the drop of a hat. If a nurse just asked how I was doing, I'd break out in tears.
 
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