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TKR Starting my journey on the other side

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Snorkelgirl welcome and send you warm and encouraging thoughts for a speedy recovery. Ducktape is right it was almost as if a switch was thrown at 3 weeks. Now at 7 weeks I am doing water aerobics 2-3 times a week and PT 2 a week. I love my new knee.:yahoo:
 
For me, the switch was thrown at about 4 weeks. But then, another switch got thrown at 8 weeks! And yet another one at 12 weeks!!! Now I'm waiting for maybe another switch to get thrown at 16 weeks ... lol! Funny how it seems to be 4 week increments. But it gets much, much better. Today I took my first business trip. I walked through airports, dodging clueless people, and sat on a plane for 1.5 hrs. Walked around in our So Cal office all day, and now am in the hotel getting ready to ice and elevate, but more out of habit than possible necessity.....? Yes, it gets better :)

Roger
 
Great to hear from folks a few more weeks out. Those success stories are just what I need to hear right now. I have my first outpatient PT tomorrow (well it's 1 in the morning, so I guess it's today) and I'm just dreading it. I haven't met the person before so I don't have a sense yet of how much I must be prepared to defend myself.

And I made a dumb decision a few doses ago to try to reduce my pain meds just a wee bit. Everyone seems so shocked at the high dose of narcotics I'm taking (20 mg Oxycodone every 4 hours) and I gave into the pressure to try to reduce the dose and allow a bit more time between doses. That was 12 hours ago and I'm still paying the price despite going back up to the max dosage. I read that once you get behind on the pain control it takes an inordinate amount of effort to get back on top of it. Lesson learned. And why was I listening to all these people who have never experienced joint replacement instead of you guys? :umm:

Roger, thanks for all the info around returning to work. Looks like you had about 11 weeks leave, is that right? And Whimsy3, great to hear about your return to water aerobics. I've been doing water aerobics for a couple of years and can't wait to return!

:SUNsmile:
 
Snorkelergrl,
I actually took 8 weeks leave from work. When I returned, I was on a full schedule, but was able to work from home 2-3 days/week. That made it a bit easier. It would have been tough if I had to go into the office every day. If you can swing it, we recommend 12 weeks off from work.

Roger
 
Sorkelergrl
You are not even one week post surgery - don't worry about reducing your meds right now. I am four weeks out tomorrow and still taking my meds on schedule along with a second med for when pain gets intense, mostly after PT. Much better for your body to stay in a happy place than bounce up and down between happy and pain. Earlier this week I tried to lower my meds and spread them out and surprise, it didn't work - too soon and now two days later I am still trying to get back to level. My first week I way over did it because I felt good and made my knees swell which reduced my ROM and my function. For now you should just be resting, icing and elevating. Work on taking it easy.
Stacie
 
Hey, Snorkelergrl,
Just a quick thought when I was looking at the picture of your neat walker.
Have someone swap the front legs of the walker. They should pop right off. That way, the wheels will be on the inside, and the width of the walker should be reduced by an inch or 2. You'll be able to get through tighter spaces. Just a suggestion.

Cheers,
Roger
 
Great advice Stacie and thanks for the walker modification reminder Roger. I'd read about that idea before I had a walker and it didn't seem like it would make that much of a difference. After being out and about today, I see how every 1/2 inch can make a big difference!

Went to the first outpatient PT and it was so much better than the hospital class! She pared down the 12 exercises the hospital had given me to just 5 that I'm to do 3 times a day. She made sure I didn't get above a 5 or 6 on the pain scale too. I'm still not sure what all the numbers mean, but I had an unassisted ROM of 71 and an assisted ROM of 94.

I slept most of the day away attached to my ice machine and it felt great! :sleep:
 
Ducktape said:
After about 3 1/2 weeks post op a miracle occurred, my ROM increased, pain decreased, swelling decreased,
Click to expand...
Hi Ducktape, That's fantastic...way to go! :yay:

Ducktape said:
a wonderful best friend who has helped me through
Click to expand...
Terrific! We all need one of those! :friends:

Ducktape said:
once I can drive and get around I will feel better
Click to expand...
Yes I'm sure that's true, you will feel more capable and independent. Not being able to do what you want to do, must be so frustrating....I'm about to find out! :dancy:

Ducktape said:
I am now feeling the benefits of my knee replacement
Click to expand...
Great Stuff!! :ok:
 
Snorkel girl, how is your pain? Constipation? Make sure you drink an over abundance of water! It will make you have to get up and pee, but it helps flush out all the gunk and will help with dehydration! I was so dehydrated my legs especially were so dry, I was rubbing vitamin e oil all over my body and the pain pill make you thirsty! I'm in my 6th week and my skin is not dry anymore. I take 2 hydrocodone 10 mg in the morning and afternoon and that's it, except when I go to PT I take the percocets then. I never thought I would get past the pain, constipation and dehydration but I did! Oh and Popsicles are my new addiction!
 
Ducolax stool softener 3 pills at a time was my best friend! Don't need them anymore
 
mmm, popsicles... It's 96 degrees here today. A popsicle would be nice. :wink:
 
Ducktape thanks for checking in. Great to hear from someone who's a bit farther along. It's been a week since my surgery and a lot of its a blur. I'm still up every 2-4 hours taking Oxycodone, muscle relaxants and/or Tylenol. It seems crazy that it took 180 oxycodones (5 mg ea) to get me through this week. I love to think I'll be able to taper down some like you. I've also taken a 1/2 bottle of Miralax and 1/2 bottle of stool softeners. It took Milk of Magnesia and a suppository to finally get things moving yesterday. I'm drinking over a gallon of water a day too. Dry mouth is becoming a problem, especially when I talk for a bit--so far I haven't noticed dry skin. Was there a certain point where you noticed your need for the heavy duty pain relief lessened?
 
Snorkel girl, I noticed a big difference in everything 3 to 3 1/2 weeks post op. at first I was scared to lessen the oxycodone, for fear the pain would creep up on me, but it didnt. I was taking 2 10 mg oxycodone before PT, and then usually 1 to 1 1/2 other times. I went thru 120 oxy and 60 hydrocodone the first 5 weeks. I just take the hydrocodone now. Unless I do too much and take an oxy before bedtime. The hydrocodone makes my hyper and I can't sleep, do you have that problem? Iam going into 7th week, can't believe it, the first 3 creeped along and now it's just flying by. Still swollen and hot but no near as bad, I don't ice as much as I used to! Trust you will see the light at the end of the tunnel real soon and it feels so good! You're almost there! Keep me posted. This is a very painful surgery as well as slow recovery, you can do it!
 
I'm coming into 8 weeks post surgery and believe me, EVERYTHING gets better. I no longer take stool softeners - don't need them, I only take 1 Norco (10/325) before PT, extra strength Tylenol and 1 ibuprofen at night is all I need for the rest of the day. I still ice and elevate after I do my in home PT which are some stretches and recumbent biking (I can do full revolutions and am slowly moving up to 30 min. a day - I'm at 17 now.) I can sleep on my stomach and side and in my own bed (spent the first few weeks in the recliner.) I drive, walk unassisted, and have very little pain. I can get up and down without pain! It's been years since I could do that. I LOVE my new knee.
 
Snorkelergrl,
I was taking Percocet (Oxycodone), 7.5 mg every 4 hrs at first, then tapered to every 6 hrs at about 4 weeks. I tried to cut down further, but there was some breakthrough pain, so please be aware of this. At 6 weeks, I was taking one Percocet 5 mg only at night. At 8 weeks, I stepped down to 1 Vicodin (Hydrocodone) at night, and I went back to work then. Walking at work was difficult at first, so I continued taking 1 Vicodin at night. I was off pain narcotic meds completely at about 13 weeks. Right now, I'm just taking Ibuprofen occasionally.

Please remember that if you feel you need the pain meds, or if you have pain, then please do take them! It is important, and will help you rest.

Cheers,
Roger
 
Hi Snorkerelgrl, I am eight weeks. The doctor gave me iron supplements, stool softeners, Celebrex, and Oxycodone/apap 525/3. I took the Percocet every four hours by the clock for the first weeks. This kept pain well under control. The constipation is a very real problem for most of us, so stay on top of that. There are suggestions for this in the library. This will not be e a quick process so be patient. I am handling things pretty well but I just want it to be over! So, hang in here and know we are all in this together!
 
Two week report:

I can't believe it's only been 2 weeks since the surgery. I am indebted to all the Bonesmarties that went before me. Because of all of you good people, I was able to significantly adjust my expectations going into recovery and curb my overacheiving ways. PT is going well. I'm at 107 flexion and 0 extension and just transitioned to crutches from the walker today. I credit this to the sage advice of resting, elevating and icing (and so far being on the lucky side on the recovery route). I've had very little swelling. I am hooked up to my ice machine 12-18 hours a day. I allow myself to sleep 12 hours a day, 18 hours on PT days. I figure it's like being a baby again in some ways, relearning how to walk etc. I finished blood thinner shots yesterday so was able to resume taking NSAIDs today. I'm currently taking Oxycodone 15 mg every 6 hours or so and hope to reduce to 10 mg of the oxy once they kick in. My main fear now is being released to work earlier than the 12 weeks I was planning on! :yikes: I know I'm still in the early stages, so one step at a time.

I know there are a lot of horror stories on here about PT, but I for one have had a wonderful experience. It may just be the person I am working with. The main benefit I think I've gotten is psychological more than physical. It's really hard to trust the new knee at first and she's helped me see that I can count on my knee in ways I think would've taken a really long way to figure out on my own. She has me try things that I'm sure will hurt or be impossible and then I'm shocked that I can actually do them painlessly. :)
 
[Bonesmart.org] Starting my journey on the other side
What a great 2 week report!!!! snorkelergrl, you are doing it ALL just right. Following the BoneSmart mantras will get you a great recovery almost every time, and you are living proof! I am so happy for you that things are going so well. And what good luck that you have a great PT. I have met quite a few great PTs in my area who follow the BoneSmart way without even knowing it.

Take care and keep us posted. We love good news and we care.
 
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