TKR Sharp pain 9 months post-op

[KarriB]

I can imagine that glue could be hard on skin, but staples are no fun coming out. Not sure which I'd rather.

 

[violinone]

Well 5 weeks out. Rash is gone!!!Surgeon and dermatologist think it was from the glue even though I didn't have it with right knee. Very relieved to say the least. PT going really well. I am on the bike (trainer) 15 min in am and 15 at night.RM 122/0 Of course doing all my exercises twice daily. Very little swelling but if I am up at all for any length of time particularly standing boy I get stiff and sore and have to sit or lay down.

I was so hoping to keep our youngest grandson over Christmas but I just don't think I am up for that yet. Hope I am making the right decision. He is 2 years old. I have gotten use to being able to nap whenever etc.
I go back to teaching in 2 weeks. I am sure it won't be pretty the first several weeks.
Merry Christmas!

 

[referee54]

I was so hoping to keep our youngest grandson over Christmas but I just don't think I am up for that yet

That is a very wise move. I certainly understand how you feel, but there will be more Christmases, and you made the correct decision.

At this stage of recovery, you need a great deal of rest!

I go back to teaching in 2 weeks. I am sure it won't be pretty the first several weeks.

Try tao get as much rest as you can when you go back to the classroom, and try----try, try, try---to eliminate all trips to the office, etc.

Can you take ice packs and ice and elevate during lunch and planning periods?

I returned at eight weeks, and I can tell you that I was exhausted at the end of the school day.

 

[KarriB]

My plan was to go back at 8 weeks, but that didn't happen. I needed 12 weeks and a phased return. I went back to mornings only for 6 weeks, which kept me pretty much just in the classroom. I'd go home in the afternoon to elevate, ice and nap. Even at week 12 I was exhausted. The first few weeks just getting ready and getting to school wore me out.
I agree with Tim, try to sit as much as possible and if you can find a way to elevate through the day that would be great. Have some dinners in the freezer or get take out, chances are you'll be too tired to cook when you get home.
Congrats on the great numbers!
:candle::merry christmas::candle:

 

[violinone]

Thank you both for your input I will certainly take your suggestions. I teach elementary music and will be preparing for programs in the spring so for some of the grades I can sit and elevate. I will plan to wait to start square dancing early February to say the least
Yes planning on icing during break time and lunch. Fortunately my husband loves to do the cooking so I can come home and rest!
Wish you all a Merry Christmas I will be in touch .

 

[KarriB]

Sounds like you have a plan! I had a stool and other places to sit spacer through my 1st grade classroom. Music, gym and other specials were in the pm so the sub took them to specials. Enjoy the last few days of your break!


:merry christmas:

 

[violinone]

I tried so hard to do everything right having all my dental issues resolved before surgery but now the tooth that I had worked on prior to surgery is giving me fits. I am so nervous about infection!!! Called dentist Saturday when I started having pain and he said he was afraid that the nerve would die and that he thinks I will need a root canal. Told me he doubted that there was an infection in tooth but just in case he put me on a round of amoxicillin. I had some here that I take before dental apts for right knee replacement. plan to get in to see him tomorrow.
My question is my surgeon prefers not to have any procedures for least 4 month following knee replacement. I know I will take antibiotics before treatment but so worried because it is so close to having this surgery it will greater the chance of infection. I do not see how I can go on though with pain and greater chance of tooth getting infected because of food etc getting trapped for I have a gum recession there that he tried to fill prior to surgery.

 

[referee54]

My goodness---you are having a rough time with this---I will tag @Josephine so she can help give you the guidance that you need.

 

[New England Librarian]

Hi @violinone that certainly is a challenge! But you are probably not the first person ever in this situation, so there's bound to be some precedent. You should of course also call your OS, as you are still very much under his/her care at only 6 weeks out. Good luck!

 

[skigirl]

The exact same thing happened to me!! I called the nurse at the OS office and she told me what antibiotics to take. It turned out fine, so don't worry too much. I am sure it will all work out for you.

 

[violinone]

Thank you it is good to hear about someone else going through this though I hate it for you! Good part is my 6! Week check up is tomorrow with my O.S so I hope he can shed some light. Thanks so much!

 

[referee54]

I am glad that you meet with your OS tomorrow---that will help you get some of the questions answered.

 

[swmrgirl]

I'm so glad you posted about your root canal. I'm having a root canal I two weeks. My TKR is further along than yours, but I'm interested to hear what your OS says. Good luck to you.

 

[Jamie]

This happened to me too. I had a pocket of infection below a tooth that was probably there before my TKR but it was hidden in the xrays and my dentist didn't catch it in the pre-op checkup. So I had my TKR with the infection still there. About 3 weeks into recovery I knew something was wrong with the tooth as it was starting to hurt. I held on until my 6 week checkup withe OS and received an okay to go have it checked out. I needed a root canal which was done about 1 week later. It was the root canal from hell because of the location of the infection pocket and I was very, very fearful of problems afterwards. But....absolutely no problems! Root canal was done. Cap was placed. And the tooth and my knee have been fine since then. And that was years ago.

So, talk with your surgeon and see if he will agree that at 6 weeks it's okay for you to have any needed dental work done.

 

[Josephine]

My question is my surgeon prefers not to have any procedures for least 4 month following knee replacement.

Well he can 'prefer' all he likes but emergencies do happen!

now the tooth that I had worked on prior to surgery is giving me fits. I am so nervous about infection!!! I know I will take antibiotics before treatment but so worried because it is so close to having this surgery it will greater the chance of infection.

The stop worrying. The evidence that dental infections have anything to do with periprosthetic infections is so scant even the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the American Dental Association (ADA) have declared it to be more myth than fact as you can read here
Evidence insufficient to recommend prophylactic antibiotics for dental procedures
Periprosthetic infection: Mayo Clinic study shows that dental procedures are not a risk factor

And as it happens, these kinds of infections contribute nothing to the development of PPI as you can read here Peri-prosthetic infection - also known as late onset infection.

What saddens me most is that there are literally heaps of surgeons and other types of doctors who know nothing about these statements and remain in ignorance, giving their patients information which is out of date and therefore faulty.

I will plan to wait to start square dancing early February to say the least

At 8 weeks or thereabouts? I do hope you're not serious. Your energy drain will still be at full throttle, you may still be experiencing pain and swelling and if this be so, square dancing is absolutely guaranteed to make everything flare up!

Unless, of course, you're just teaching and not dancing! But even then I'd caution that it would still be a tad early. I know I couldn't have done anything like that for either of my knees!

 

[violinone]

Wow! thank you all for the replies I do feel much better reading these post! Plan to read the article after replying. Question about square dancing. I teach grade school kids music and kindergarten dances for their open house. Much I just need to teach and demonstrate but they add the skipping, even if I have to stand in I can walk as they skip
Saw Dentist and OS today so big day especially having to drive 100 miles to see OS
Dentist confirmed no infection so he highly recommended a root canal for nerve is dying and need to save the tooth. He suggested talking to OS and stay on antibiotic till I decide to have root canal.(not excited about being on an antibiotic till 4th month following surgery)!
OS said that 4 month rule means elective procedures like wait for teeth cleaning. Said he prefers waitin till 4 months after surgery(not sure why) didn't understand that other than the healing aggression? BUT if it is something I need to have done get it done. Make sure I take my antibiotics b4 and after. So I hope this info can help for some of you needing answers. I believe I will have RC next week and just stay on antibiotics till then for I certainly do not want an infection in there!
Good news 6 weeks out 125/1 Going back to school tomorrow with hopes to doing full day with the option of half. I will see how things go. My right knee I went back at 6 weeks and no lie it was tuff, did ice on breaks and lunch and made sure I didn't have extra duties or apts after school until closer to 10 weeks.
Hope this helps!

 

[newlybionic]

Good luck going back to work. I'm sure all your students will be happy to see you. My OS choose 6 months as his arbitrary cutoff for dental procedures. My dentist has told me he will give me antibiotics for EVERY visit from now on.

 

[violinone]

Wow 6 months! It is so hard to know what to do. I am still on antibiotic since no infection in tooth I am going have the root canal done next Thursday and pray it will go well with no reaction!!

 

[Celle]

I just had a root canal 2 days ago. It didn't hurt that day, but it's hurting now. I'll be going back to the dentist on Monday, if the pain hasn't subsided. I'm hoping the pain is just the last licks from the dying nerve, but it does have me a bit worried.

 

[violinone]

Oh my I hope you do not continue to have issues with it! Did you take antibiotics before? Was the tooth infected or just the nerve? I will have mine Thursday still taking antibiotics even though no infected tooth. Just playing it safe.