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PKR Seven Weeks Post Op

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I called the Y around here and it costs $100 to join and then $60 a month. They don't allow "pay as you go". Oh well...I'll check out the high school pool, but I don't think they begin public swims until the 3rd week of Sept.
I think most of us were "snow jobbed" as far as what to expect post surgery. I was told the recovery lasted 6-8 weeks! Yeah, right! He did however say that partial recoveries were not really any easier than total replacements. I think maybe my incision is smaller than totals. It's only about 5-6 inches.
I'm worried about school too. When I was at my GP last week, she said she would write a note if I needed more time. I couldn't do that unless it was really bad. I guess I'll find out.
 
I have two totals and my incisions are 5" on right knee and 5 1/2" on the left. Well, 6 to 8 weeks to be reasonably mobile and to drive. I think that's what constitutes "recovered" for some surgeons. Most OSes have not had a PKR or a TKR----so they really have no first had knowledge of what recovery is all about. This is why folks need to learn to advocate for themselves, do research, find a forum like this. Self-education is the best thing when having what is considered "elective" surgery.

I'm truly sorry you were unaware of the longer recovery time for this. I'm sure it has completely disrupted whatever long range plans you made .
 
I asked my OS if I could return to the classroom at eight weeks---which is where I would be after my surgery and recovery---through Winter Break. I would start teaching the day school resumed.

Well, I was excited, and ready, but my knee was not, and I have to tell you that I can honestly say that, by returning to school that soon, I slowed my recovery tremendously.

My OS had good intentions of allowing me to return to school at eight weeks, but I know now that I should have waited.

I understand how you feel about leaving the kids with a sub, but I also have to tell you that if you return too soon, you may end up sitting out more days than you would like and you may slow down your recovery.

Even though partials have a smaller incision, the effect on the surgery is basically the same, and the time for recovery is basically the same as well, based on what the body is going through in recovery.
 
Judy, you can say that again! The ladies I met at PT and I all agreed that it would be nice if the surgeons and the therapists knew what we were going through. I feel like people who have not experienced it, expect us to be good by this stage of recovery. With other types of surgery (not orthopedic) this length of time is more than enough to be feeling good. I wouldn't have believed it either.
 
Hi Laurie,
So true! I think that is why I had TOOOOOOO much company this past Friday. (until 10:30 PM!) I think that people mean well, and figured 3 weeks is plenty of time to recover from ANY surgery. I hope they never have to know what it is all about first hand.
I hope all works out for you and your return to work. I honestly thought that I'd be skipping back by now. Oh wow, what a FOOL I was! :rofsign:
 
I didn't find this forum until about a week or two ago. Before that it was helpful to talk to the other women I met at therapy who were always there at the same time. I kept saying (and they agreed) we needed a support group.
I didn't know about the depression and loss of sleep that is so common. I still struggle with both. I was sure there was something wrong with my healing even though the doctor and therapists said everything was OK. Thank heaven for Ambien! The depression will just have to take care of itself, I guess.
 
Hi everyone,
I am envious of your exercise, but I have been warned by my OS and Physio to wait for my 6 week check up. Tell a little secret in the last few days have stopped the car for a short walk in the National Park. Can any one tell me how long the stiffness lasts?
Seem to have found a O/K way to sleep in the last week, I put a pillow between my two legs so when I turn over in the night there is a cushion protecting my left knee. Seems to work for me as I cannot sleep on my back.
By the way I live in Australia and if anyone needs a great OS, I can recommend mine. Guess its a bit far!
 
When was your surgery? Have you done any therapy for your knee at all yet? Just curious...here in the US it seems everyone begins therapy right away. Are things done differently in Aust?
I can't help with the stiffness question yet. I'm at 12 weeks and still have considerable stiffness, however it's not as bad as it used to be.
 
Hi Laurie,

My surgery was 18th July 2012. Yes Physio was commenced the next day. After being discharged from hospital you are sent home with exercises which you have to build up over the next 6 weeks. At week one the OS asks that you see your Physio 2 times a week.
It is discouraged to do any other physical exercise until the 6 week check with OS.
Hence my wanting to do more, although having said that, to be honest for the first 3 weeks I don't think I would have wanted to even though before surgery I was fit and only 47 kilograms.
I am one of the lucky ones I have not needed any pain relief since the second day in hospital, so I consider myself very lucky after reading all the posts.
 
i am now almost eight weeks, 5 days post op and start work on my 9 week anniversary. every day gets a little bit better. however, i have a round ball of swelling on the outer side of my lower knee cap. i have a PKR on the inner knee. my OS at my four week post op said it might be scar tissue. i have been massaging it, using an upward motion. while i still have some slight swelling in other parts of my knee, this area is the first to complain if i am on my feet too much. i continue to ice and elevate, although this week was rough with a funeral and lots of house guests. anyone ever have anything like this? although the pain has calmed down considerably, this little golf ball is the source of most of my discomfort these days and i am wondering if this is normal?:sos:
 
Hi Kimbocats,
I have pain sometimes at the spot you describe when I do too much. It is not round like a golf ball though. That whole side of my knee seems to be numb to the touch. The skin is numb, not the inside of my knee, just the outside. You could stick me with a pin and I wouldn't feel it. I heard that there are nerves that run around the kneecap that are cut during surgery and that's why. Sorry I can't be of more help. It seems that we ask ourselves quite frequently if what we are feeling is normal.
I went back to work for one day last week. I had a workshop where I sat all morning and then went back to school to work in the classrooms for the afternoon getting things ready. I was sore that night. School starts on Tues. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Laurie
 
I am almost 8 weeks out and still have stiffness and internal swelling too. The area you have your golf ball swelling at is the area where my knee is almost always warm or hot. Medial side cool, lateral side hot. This stage of our recovery is still VERY early in the total recovery time needed for most folks with TKR. It takes a full year (more for some folks) for what is considered full recovery. I know that since we feel better at this stage than we did in the previous weeks we assume we must be almost recovered. This surgery recovery is unique. It take longer than hip replacement, abdominal surgery, even some heart surgeries. Take it easy, let your knee be the boss, and patience, patience, patience. It can be frustrating to have the knee feel and function slick as can be one day, and the next be swollen, stiff and hot. We wonder if there is something wrong. No, that is NORMAL for this stage of recovery. Don't overdue it with exercise even if you can actually do it. Your knee will get very angry. Take it a bit easier, know that you still have a long way to go with recovery, and the stiffness and swelling will gradually show up less often as time goes by.
 
Folks, it's unnecessary to use the "Reply" icon in someone's post to reply, especially when it's only the post before.
Just scoot on down to the bottom of the page and start writing in the window, okay?

[Bonesmart.org] Seven Weeks Post Op
 
That swelling is simply that - swelling.There's nothing wrong particularly, just your knee complaining because you are doing too much. It's not scar tissue as scar tissue doesn't come and go in response to heightened activity. At 7 weeks, you should still be applying the tried and tested BoneSmart mantra "rest, elevate, ice and take your pain meds"!


As for the numb area, Laurie, you are right about the nerve - it's the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve and you can read all about it here Numb area after TKR: how long will it last? where I catalogued my own for posterity!
 
Thanks for the information about that nerve. It's interesting. My numbness is similar in shape and location to yours, however my patch is smaller. I'm glad that the pins and needles I sometimes feel is due to healing. That makes me feel better about it. Sometimes it feels like someone is sticking me with an ice pick! If the numbness is all that remains, I can live with that. Just so the pain goes away and I get my movement back completely, that's what I really care about.
Thanks, Josephine
 
Thinking about you Laurie and wondering how your return to school has been. I am doing OK........not great........extra tired.......icing and elevating during my lunch and break..........going swimming after work helps but I am beginning to wonder if I will be able to continue to do this work since running seems to be a part of my job and running is not good for my new knee..........my knee hasn't caused too much pain, but the lack of sleep due to discomfort is compounding my exhaustion.......yikes!!!
 
You're welcome! But - again - it's not necessary to use the "Reply" icon in someone's post to reply, specially when that post is going to be the one right before yours. Just scoot on down to the bottom of the page and start writing in the window, okay?

[Bonesmart.org] Seven Weeks Post Op
 
Thanks for asking about my return to school, Kimbocats. I'm sorry you are having a hard time. I envy you that you have the energy to go to the pool after school. I come home and ice. I just feel sore sometimes during the day and also stiff. When I get home, I ice and elevate. When I get up after sitting for a while in the evening, I am really sore for the first 6-7 steps. The nurse at school used to be a nurse at a hospital on the ortho. floor. She looked at my knee today while I was icing at lunch. She checked the pulse in my foot, and said my incision looks great. She's so nice.
When you say that you have to run, do you literally mean run, or do you mean a lot of fast walking around all day? I couldn't run either.
I must admit that I don't do my exercises as I should anymore because I am doing more of my normal activities. I hope that's OK. (someone can let me know that) I know that if I exercise, I will just hurt more the next day, so I don't. I wonder how long I will feel the soreness and weakness.
Take care and keep me posted about your progress.
Laurie
 
When I returned to school, I cut some of my exercises down, too, as I was wearing out my knees during the day---I went to PT on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and on Saturdays I went to the gym, rode the bike, and did stretching in the sauna at times. On Sunday, I did absolutely nothing but ice and elevate.

As for the soreness and the weakness, they do take some time to subside, as you are ore active now and your knee is dealing with that, too. My knees were stiff and sore for months after my BTKR, but then, again, I returned to the classroom at eight weeks post-op and I paid for it in spades. You have to be patient and understand that recovery is measured in months, not weeks---and you will just wait it out---you will get there to the pain-free and stiffness-free days, but it may takes some time.
 
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