TKR Sick of Sitting

[dcoletx63]

Hey out there! I had knee replacement on my left knee 5/12 (right knee scheduled 6/16). I‘m about to lose it sitting/laying anymore! I can’t get comfortable at all! Lower back/hip is killing me! I cant wait to be able to sleep on my side again. Tried this morning but didn’t last long. Any suggestions on how to get comfortable since I have several weeks of this? I do get up every hour and move around but thats a short term fix. Appreciate any and all suggestions! Deb

 

[eliza61nyc]

Hey Deb,
Welcome to our neck of the woods.
unfortunately with a little over a week into your journey laying/sitting maybe the best thing for you. first let me ask you, how's the swelling around your knees? My first week I was still on the heavy duty pain killers and muscle relaxants. are you in a regular chair? or in a bed? any chance of you getting a recliner?

I apologize I know I've probably asked more questions than really given you an answer. I found/find that the relaxer is the best place for me to be comfortable. sleeping in a bed took a long time but I was prepared for that, I'm 12 weeks out from my TKR and I think I didn't sleep in a bed until week 8 or 9.
will a heating pad along the lower back help??

 

[Pumpkin]

@dcoletx63 ,
to BoneSmart, glad you joined us!
You might want to call your surgeon and let them know about your back and hip pain, they may be able to help you. If you are receiving PT let them know, they may be able to help you find a more comfortable position for sleeping and sitting to reduce your discomfort. To sleep on my side I had to use a pillow between my knees, with the operated side on the top.
Try and walk around your house every hour or so for a change of position. Many people find a cold pack can help with back and hip pain.

Here is your copy of the Knee Recovery Guidelines, the articles are short and will not take long to read.

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:

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rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

don't overwork.​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

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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

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the BoneSmart view on exercise​

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

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Activity progression for TKRs​

6. Access these pages on the website

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Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

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 a 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 history before providing advice.

 

[dcoletx63]

Eliz61nyc

swelling isn’t bad It’s actually gone down significantly since the beginning of this week I had an Iovera nerve block shot the week before surgery so pain isn’t horrible. Mostly taking pain meds before or right after PT or exercise and before bed. I’ve been sleeping in bed but on my back. Recliner seems to make back pain worse. PT gave me. Lower back stretch today to do.

 

[eliza61nyc]

Eliz61nyc

swelling isn’t bad It’s actually gone down significantly since the beginning of this week I had an Iovera nerve block shot the week before surgery so pain isn’t horrible. Mostly taking pain meds before or right after PT or exercise and before bed. I’ve been sleeping in bed but on my back. Recliner seems to make back pain worse. PT gave me. Lower back stretch today to do.

Awesome . That really works for me. Sleep deprivation due to uncomfortability is unfortunately a common side effect.
I had a weird phenomenon also, like one week a certain position would be great and the next week, same position would be uncomfortable. Drove me nuts.