Revision TKR Sondrals’ Revision

[sondrals]

Right now it’s 3:32 in Alaska. Cold here too. I’ve spent the night with two comforters and a hooded sweatshirt. The ice machine makes me super cold

 

[jaybird]

5:40 in lovely Alameda, CA.

Sondrals, did you have a spinal? I found that I thought I had to pee all of the time right after I got home, but as the remains of the spinal disappated, things returned to normal.

 

[Macknit]

6:00 AM in Bend, Oregon Mountains; it was 2:35 AM when @Sara61 asked the question....Luckily I slept through the night last night, so my time isn't that now!

The Spinal really affected my bladder...even 3-4 days later I had a few incontinence moments just before I hit the toilet , which is not a problem I usually have. The nurses warned me at the hospital that was why I was also having to go so much. I'm not sure, but where they place the spinal must be the same nerve...or very close to the bladder control one!

I hope you're hanging in there and holding up to this early recovery @sondrals. Is some helping, since bf couldn't get off of work? Prayers and Peace!

 

[Pattikakes]

Congratulations. So glad you are on your way to a total recovery and a new life full of adventures. Can't wait to join you in Jan. when I have my second knee done. Recovery is not easy but the future is bright! Take care.

 

[sondrals]

@jaybird I had a femoral nerve block and general anesthesia. I’m not sure why I have to pee so much but I’m barely making it there most times as I can’t move very quickly!

@Macknit my bf is off Wednesday-Friday so
It fell in a way that he’s home the first 3 days I am. I think my friend is coming to hang out Saturday-Tuesday. My biggest concern is I’m keeping him up all night which I feel terrible about.

I also feel a little guilty I haven’t started my exercises they gave me yet, but I can’t seem to stay awake and thought the rest might do me good.

 

[Jockette]

I also feel a little guilty I haven’t started my exercises they gave me yet, but I can’t seem to stay awake and thought the rest might do me good.

Walking is the best exercise right now (though not to excess!) and your frequent trips to and from the bathroom are all you need right now.


Regaining our ROM is more about Time than repetitions of a list of exercises.

Time to recover.
Time for pain and swelling to settle.
Time to heal.

Our range of motion is right there all
along just waiting for that to happen so it can show itself.

In the general run of things, it doesn't need to be fought for, worked hard for or worried about. It will happen. Normal activity is the key to success.

 

[Celle]

Until better bladder control returns (and it will!) don't wait until you feel you need to go to the toilet. Make timed trips every hour or so, gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits, until you reach about every 90 minutes. Some people also use Depends, or some other brand of adult incontinence product.

This is only a temporary phase, so try not to stress about it.

With frequent walks to the bathroom, your knee will be getting all the exercise it needs, so don't worry about needing to start exercises as well.

 

[sondrals]

Struggling with keeping my pain under control this time. They gave me 5mg percosets that have 325 acetaminophen in them. I took one last night and one this morning. Finally I just took 2 extra strength Tylenol 1000mg total, which seems to have done way more for me than the percosets have. Plus the Tylenol doesn’t make me feel loopy or sick to my stomach so I may just stick with them if they continue to work.

getting around a little better but sure can feel it on my left knee. Hopefully that’ll get better as well. They gave me a cpm machine again so using that and tried to do my straight leg lifts. Epic fail. My leg just sat there like a lump. Maybe tomorrow

 

[Macknit]

The bathroom bit is also because of the amount of fluids we get pumped with in the OR and afterwards...at least that's what the nurses were telling me!

I'm glad to hear bf is with you for the first days here!! It's interesting to hear how the Tylenol seems better than the Percocet!? I only get sleepy on Tylenol, so I take it at bedtime!

I hope your next few days are improving! I'm not sure I'd do too well with my second this soon, because my TKR still barks at me!

 

[sondrals]

Yeah it’s weird how the Tylenol seems to do more for me than the percoset, I think part of it is the percoset make me feel so awful that I’ve been unable to take a full dose.

I’m not sure how well I’m doing. My first is pretty unhappy with me but other than some swelling and mild pain, it seems ok. Just been icing it as well. Not like I can change my mind at this point lol so I just have to deal with it.

 

[Sara61]

I'm so gobsmacked how anyone deals with a bilateral in the same year- I suppose if both done at once pain is the same for both knees but you are so brave having it done just months apart especially now knowing what you do. On the plus side soon you will have 2 perfect knees when the rest of us will someday in the future be going down the same path all over again.
Hang in there, as you know it will pass just let everyone help you soon you will be looking back saying

 

[sondrals]

My cousin called to check on me yesterday and said I was brave too. I said maybe
just stupid

I got over emotional about my bf having to do so much today. But he’s not complaining despite being woken up very hour last night. I had him get me fresh ice right before he laid down tonight so I am hoping he can get some sleep tonight. I can make it to and from the bathroom by myself I’m just not exactly quiet about it lol.

My boss dropped by my paycheck and a little surprise Christmas bonus! I didn’t expect anything like that because he’s been so generous with my time off.

This time around my stomach seems more delicate. I don’t seem to want to eat much. Everything just seems blah. So far the only thing I’ve really enjoyed is canned fruit, peaches and pears. Had a little chicken soup but it was just ok. Interesting how different things are.

 

[Helizabug]

Not like I can change my mind at this point lol so I just have to deal with it.

This is what’s eating me right now. I’m glad I had the surgery, and my recovery seems to be following a good path, but I’d like a break from the debilitation. I just want to go see a movie with some friends, snuggle with my husband, or do something to help someone else.

Okay, now I’m crying, maybe for the second time only since the surgery, so I feel lucky.

 

[sondrals]

@Helizabug i feel the same way, like I just need a break from all this sometimes. i try to stay positive but this has been really hard and to throw the second leg into the mix makes me sometimes feel like this is never going to end.

 

[sondrals]

It’s so weird how different each surgery is. This time around I’m super sick to my stomach, last time I ate everything in sight. I can’t get comfortable, it hurts so bad to have my leg out straight so I can’t get comfortable at all. I hate the cpm machine this time, last time it was my respite. I feel like I’m doing “worse” this time and it’s really getting me down. I have my PT eval next Wednesday, I really love my PT lady, so maybe that will make me feel better. I’m ridiculously tired but unable to get comfortable to sleep. My brain feels stupid. I feel like I should be doing more better by now. But then I remember I had surgery 3 days ago

 

[sistersinhim]

That's true, your knee is a newborn infant and needs lots of TLC. You have had two major surgeries in less than 4 months. Your body is still recouping from the first surgery and now you have this one to add to that recovery. This knee could have been much worse than your previous knee and that's why the pain seems more intense. Don't overdo, just rest, ice and elevate and take your pain meds as prescribed.

 

[sondrals]

@sistersinhim my surgeon said this knee was way worse than the first one. He actually said it was one of the worst he’s ever seen. In what way he meant that, I don’t know.

Tried to do heel slides got maybe two inches, still can’t do a straight leg lift. Been doing my ankle pumps, quad and glute squeezes. Getting up to pee and get something to drink. Then icing and elevating between cpm sessions. I’m already bored.

 

[Celle]

I can’t get comfortable, it hurts so bad to have my leg out straight so I can’t get comfortable at all. I hate the cpm machine this time, last time it was my respite. I feel like I’m doing “worse” this time and it’s really getting me down.

You know, it's not necessary to keep your leg completely straight - that's too painful for most of us. It won't hurt your knee's eventual extension if you sleep with it slightly bent.
Have a look at this photo from our article Elevation: the do's and dont's . It shows the leg well supported, but very slightly bent:

Since you hate the CPM machine, stop using it. Most surgeons don't use them any more anyway and, while they may increase your ROM slightly at first, they make no difference at all to how your ROM ends up.

You're only a couple of days into a year-long recovery. That's far too early to be working at exercises. Right now, your knee is getting all the exercise it needs on your frequent walks to the bathroom and back.
Your knee can't bend until some of the swelling goes down and you won't be able to do a straight-leg lift for at lest a few more days. It took me a week before I could do that.

You know from last time that there's no need to rush to get ROM (Range of Motion) because it can continue to improve for a year, or even much longer, after a knee replacement. There isn't any deadline you have to meet:
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR

And it's not exercising that gets you your ROM - it's time. Time to recover, time for swelling and pain to settle, and time to heal. Your knee has the potential to achieve good ROM right from the start, but it's prevented from doing so by swelling and pain. As it heals and the swelling goes down, your ROM (both flexion and extension) will gradually increase.

Your job right now is to rest, ice, elevate, take your medications on a regular schedule, and just take little walks around your house.

 

[sondrals]

@Celle thank you again for being the voice of reason. I am currently laying on my side with my knee slightly bent and it doesn’t hurt but I will try a less stringent pillow situation tomorrow.

I really wanted to like the cpm because it gave me such comfort last time but I think they want me to progress too fast in it. I may forego it tomorrow or at least back it down. They want me to go up 10 degrees everyday in bend and down 1 degree in straight. Since the machine started at 50 I should be at 80 today, 90 tomorrow but it’s just too much. I don’t remember getting this instruction sheet before but it kinda is stressing me out.

I broke down and cried tonight, both knees hurt, I want to help my bf do things, I’m frustrated by feeling debilitated. I also am not super looking forward to my friend coming to help tomorrow. She means well and really wants to help but she is a Chatty Cathy and I’m already exhausted.

I’ve been trying to think of a few positive things a day so I don’t end up super depressed. Today my bf loaded up dinner onto a cookie sheet and brought it out to my place on the couch so I could “help” season it all and make dinner. Doing that probably took longer and dirtied more dishes than just doing it himself but less his heart for making me feel included.

 

[Celle]

I really wanted to like the cpm because it gave me such comfort last time but I think they want me to progress too fast in it. I may forego it tomorrow or at least back it down. They want me to go up 10 degrees everyday in bend and down 1 degree in straight. Since the machine started at 50 I should be at 80 today, 90 tomorrow but it’s just too much. I don’t remember getting this instruction sheet before but it kinda is stressing me out.

They're expecting far too much of your knee so early in recovery. Most surgeons don't expect 90 degrees of flexion until 6 weeks post-op.
Whatever they expect, remember this; It's your knee, not theirs. You are the only one with the right to say what happens to it. Other people may advise, but you have the right to decide whether or not to accept that advice.
Saying no to therapy - am I allowed to?

The best advice I can give you is to listen to your knee and the messages it sends you. Pain is a warning sign that you're doing more than your knee is ready to do, so back off and be more gentle with it.

Your knee is going to recover on its own schedule, not on someone else's one-size-fits-all schedule.

I'm sorry you're feeling frustrated at still being in recovery - or at being in recovery again. Having two knee replacements one after the other does make for a long time in recovery, but it's going to be worth it in the end. It would make anyone get a bit stir-crazy.

It was sweet of your boyfriend to let you help with preparing the meal - full marks to him. You will be able to do more as time passes, so try not to feel guilty for not being able to do it just yet.

Hang in there. Things are going to get better.