surgery done Yahoo

[misscheer]

HI
Thanks for all the advice before surgery it sure helped alot. I had the surgery on June 23rd it was done in 45 minutes I couldn't believe it, I was sitting on the bed with my knee bent in the afternoon. One day one post op I had the nerve block removed, the catheter removed and the iv and pain meds removed did not use the pain meds day of or day one psst op. I have taken oral pain meds when needed but feel great. I am just a little frustrated because the way I am I think recovery is right away and I will be bending and flexing my knee and walking normal and not stiff. So what is normal and what should I expect during my recovery.I did a lot of soul searching during my hospital stay I only stayed three days and told myself I did not need to be a hero and I would recover fine and it takes a long while. I am the type who thinks I should be a hero and be up and the fastest tkr patient to heal. So this is what I need help with slowing down and taking one step at a time so if anyone can help I would appreciate it. I just want to know what is normal what to expect and help to slow down. thanks in advance

 

[hess]

Congrats!!!! You're on your way. I too am the hero type. I don't like being down. I tried to cut way back on my pain meds too soon, only to find that I was really hurting myself. I was not able to do as much with my PT because I was already sore. I get really excited about little successes. My PT says that we are cutting down a tree limb by limb, and not the whole thing at one time. When I remember this, I feel so much better about my successes.

That is the only advice that I can give right now....take you pain meds!!! Don't try to be the hero, this trick doesn't work!!! Best of luck to you!

Hess

 

[lgobrien]

Ditto on what Hess said. I think most of us have tried to cut back on the pain meds only to find out we need them to endure and progress in PT. If we just sat there, we could probably get by on little or no pain meds, but what we HAVE to do is to make sure we get a GOOD work out with each of our PT sessions.

Keep up with the pain meds, the PT, icing and elevation and like Josephine always reminds us... we just had MAJOR SURGERY that involved sawing, drilling and hammering... we aren't going to feel 100% over night or for quite awhile, for that matter. It just keeps getting better though.

I think on day six I had a melt down and was so disappointed in how slowly the recovery was coming. I cried and cried! I wanted to be SuperWoman! So, I guess instead, we're normal. But boy, is that a good thing to be!

Laurie

 

[Josephine]

No heros here - not in terms of doing without pain meds or the odd fit of the blues, anyway! But you are ALL superwomen in my book!

 

[misscheer]

HI
Thanks for the advice. PT came today and could not believe how well I was doing with the stairs and walking. I have 100% flex whatever that is the exercises went well I did take pain meds before and iced right after which is what I plan to do every time. I will work hard in pt and just need to be told that it is a slow process and not to get discouraged. So the more you tell me not to be discouraged the better I will be. thank you again and any other help will be appreciated

 

[MumzOil]

Hello everyone....it's the swelling that is getting to me! I am 9 days post-op.... TKR....had the 28 staples removed today...finally got to shower....but feel sooooo stiff from being swollen....ice doesn't seem to make much difference. My leg just feels soooo achey. I think it is my veins...the doctor told me today with the knee being swollen, it acts like a tourniquet for the lower leg, so I have put on the TED hose. That does seem to give some relief. My upper thigh still is sore from the tourniquet used during surgery. I've also started taking 1 pain pill every 6 hours instead of 2....I'm afraid I am going to run out! Any advice or encouragement would be appreciated. Thanks! Kathy

 

[hess]

Hello everyone....it's the swelling that is getting to me! I am 9 days post-op.... TKR....had the 28 staples removed today...finally got to shower....but feel sooooo stiff from being swollen....ice doesn't seem to make much difference. My leg just feels soooo achey. I think it is my veins...the doctor told me today with the knee being swollen, it acts like a tourniquet for the lower leg, so I have put on the TED hose. That does seem to give some relief. My upper thigh still is sore from the tourniquet used during surgery. I've also started taking 1 pain pill every 6 hours instead of 2....I'm afraid I am going to run out! Any advice or encouragement would be appreciated. Thanks! Kathy

Kathy,

I'm 18 days out, and I'm still achey. I take my meds, and ice, and eventually feel better. I too tried cutting back on pain meds, and finally called the doc about this, and I was told to take the medicine. I need this time to get comfortable and heal. I will begin to feel better on my own, so I won't need so much medicine. They will not leave me without!

I went back to taking my pain meds regularly, and when I began to feel better, began using Ibupofen alternately. This seems to work for me.

Don't give up, it will work for you. I'm still waiting to get to the "I'm really glad I did it" point, but I'm sure it will be coming soon. PT is going well, and I am trying to get out more. True, there is a lot of stiffness, and swelling, but it does not compare to the pain that I had before! If you think about the pain that you have left behind, this might help to put things into perspective!

Good luck to you and keep us posted,
Hess

 

[JenniferG]

Congratulations ladies!

 

[Nursepair]

Hi Kathy, don't cut back on your pain meds, you need them at the moment. Why not call your OS office or your local GP and ask for a repeat prescription?

I am 5.5 months out now, the pain does go away I promise. I had a lot of swelling causing me not to be able to get good ROM, having an MUA on 7th July for that, I have NO JOINT PAIN in my knew knee now, it feels great!!

 

[misscheer]

Thanks so much for all these posts I feel normal. I thought it was not normal to have stiffness glad to hear it is normal. I am taking it slow and plan to use this time to slow my life down. I was always one to be on the go from the morning until I fell into bed at night. Thought I had to do it all, I am slowly liking all the help and not having to do much but take care of myself. Thanks so much for everything I plan to keep reading these posts and see how normal I really am.

 

[Josephine]

Hello everyone....it's the swelling that is getting to me! I am 9 days post-op.... TKR....had the 28 staples removed today...finally got to shower....but feel sooooo stiff from being swollen....ice doesn't seem to make much difference. My leg just feels soooo achey. I think it is my veins...the doctor told me today with the knee being swollen, it acts like a tourniquet for the lower leg, so I have put on the TED hose. That does seem to give some relief. My upper thigh still is sore from the tourniquet used during surgery. I've also started taking 1 pain pill every 6 hours instead of 2....I'm afraid I am going to run out! Any advice or encouragement would be appreciated. Thanks! Kathy

No - do NOT cut back on you pain meds! At 9 days you need them and are going to need them for many weeks to come. You make your doctor give you more when your stock runs out. If you don't have proper pain control then you will get excess swelling and stiffness - it's a reaction to the pain.

And never mind if you think the ice doesn't work - just do it anyway and elevate. Perhaps you're not icing enough! There is a great mantra on here "ice, ice, ice - elevate, elevate, elevate".

 

[knee]

HI
Thanks for all the advice before surgery it sure helped alot. I had the surgery on June 23rd it was done in 45 minutes I couldn't believe it, I was sitting on the bed with my knee bent in the afternoon. One day one post op I had the nerve block removed, the catheter removed and the iv and pain meds removed did not use the pain meds day of or day one psst op. I have taken oral pain meds when needed but feel great. I am just a little frustrated because the way I am I think recovery is right away and I will be bending and flexing my knee and walking normal and not stiff. So what is normal and what should I expect during my recovery.I did a lot of soul searching during my hospital stay I only stayed three days and told myself I did not need to be a hero and I would recover fine and it takes a long while. I am the type who thinks I should be a hero and be up and the fastest tkr patient to heal. So this is what I need help with slowing down and taking one step at a time so if anyone can help I would appreciate it. I just want to know what is normal what to expect and help to slow down. thanks in advance

You sound great! I guess each day, set a goal for yourself..meet it and celebrate..your attitude isa remarkable...and the un needed pain meds..I am in the shock stages of finding out I need the surgery...so way behind you in the learning curve. I am just so pleased for you...and proud of you for going for it. I need to get to that point!