TKR Ten weeks later . . .<<'

[zzevi]

Yes, we have to be thankful for the husbands that hang in there for this long haul mines been so-so. Think there like us thinking that the whole thing doesn't require the time for recovery that it does.
Your posting just made me realize I didn't realize totally what I was getting involved in, so in turn how could I expect my husband to be all knowing, and to be everything I needed him to be. ( not to total forgive them, but this posting got me thinking as I haven't always been happy with my husbands lack of empathy and help along the way. A let's face it sometimes a guy just doesn't get it. )

 

[Mireille]

Speaking of husbands, mine tells me today that I just have to go back to doing the normal stuff so I could recuperate more quickly. How in heck woukd he know? He hasn't had one? Who the heck does he think he is? I held my tongue, a really big feat if you know me, , and just calmly told him he should go on Bonesmart and read. I also thanked him for being supportive. Passive aggressive? For sure. He's really a sweet and caring guy, he worries about me. He just doesn't have any idea of what he can do to make me better. I tell him only my knee can decide when I'm better.

Spouses, can't live with them, can't live without them.

 

[Cratchit]

@zzevi I don't think anyone realises just what a big deal this knee thing is. Even those who have had the op years ago seem to have forgotten what this post op period is like. Not many weeks after my TKR a neighbour who had had a PKR years ago was quite scathing of my need for crutches at that stage. I was very restrained that day but it did knock my confidence a bit (which was probably better than knocking him into the middle of next week!) as l thought maybe l wasn't doing as well as l thought. Now l realise that everyone is different and heals in their own way and their own time - usually!

@Mireille Oh good grief, was he serious?! Did he really believe that would help? Total admiration for your response!! Do you think these guys want to speed up our recoveries for our sake or is there an ulterior motive i.e. dinner and a clean house?!

I can't really complain about mine as he makes all the right noises and mostly the right moves. But l do think there's an element of him thinking that this has gone on for long enough now and l should be making bigger strides. He would never say that but sometimes l see that look creep across his face. Or maybe that's just me projecting my thoughts onto him? He's a good guy, the best. Don't now that he'd cope so well with a TKR though - a cold's bad enough!

 

[Cratchit]

I`m 14 weeks post op and my scar is still hypersensitive. Has anyone experienced similarly and does anyone have a remedy for desensitizing it? It drives me mad especially at night.

 

[L.I.T]

@Cratchit,
My phone must have had it's own TKR, because yesterday an alien decided to take IT over. Yay for factory resets....but now I have to get everything set back up.

My scar isn't too hypersensitive yet (although the medial part of my knee is)... BUT I bought something called kelo-cote, as I am prone to forming hypertrophic scars. It's supposed to form somewhat of a silicone-ish coating on top of the scar. I wonder if something like that would put enough of a barrier between your scar and clothing to help. I think the brand name "scar-away" may be the same thing. Mine was NOT inexpensive, however. But since my scar is on top of a very used and stretched joint, I wasn't willing to take the chance. Just a thought if no one else has any ideas. Good luck!

 

[Cratchit]

Finally got the internet back! So, I had an appointment with my OS today which I brought forward from the end of Feb because of the pain I`ve been having. I developed osteoarthritis in the knee as a result of a traumatic injury which ultimately caused valgus deformity of my lower limb. The TKR brought my lower limbs back into alignment but my muscles and soft tissues now have to learn a new way of walking again - and they aint happy! So that`s what the pain is. Apparently this kind of pain is typical of traumatic TKR; those who haven`t had trauma don`t have this kind of pain. It can take a while to settle down but it will settle, eventually.

At least I know the cause of it now which is very reassuring. Onwards and upwards!

 

[L.I.T]

Woo hoo

Glad you found an answer. I'm impressed with your surgeon - most would just tilt their head and give you the look of pity!

I'm sorry you have the pain, but am thrilled that it's "normal" and should have an expiry date!

 

[KarriB]

I'm glad it's not tendinitis. Some recoveries take a bit longer, but having an answer is better than worrying or wondering.

 

[Cratchit]

@L.I.T My surgeon is lovely and takes time to go through images etc to back up what he's saying. His part of this experience cannot be faulted. I don't have to go back unless l have any concerns - or unless l decide to have the other knee done. Erm . . . No!

@KarriB There may well be an aspect of tendinitis as the poor things have been tweaked and twirled in all kinds of directions and are now being pulled in another way and expected to work a differently after all these years of being set in their ways - the leg certainly isn't taking to the adjustment quietly! But l'm glad it's not that per anserine bursitis that l had wondered about. Having an answer is definitely better even if it hurts!

 

[Cratchit]

I did a stupid thing yesterday, l pulled out a drawer which flew out more quickly than l expected and the edge of it hit square onto the middle of my wound. It hurt - a lot. Over the course of the afternoon the knee became more swollen and painful again. It knocked me for six. There doesn't appear to be any damage other than a bit of bruising but wow, it did hurt!

 

[KarriB]

I bet! After returning to work I tried to be extra careful, but 1st grade desks are right at my knee level and I did ram into a few. Not fun at all!

 

[ferddword]

Finally got the internet back! So, I had an appointment with my OS today which I brought forward from the end of Feb because of the pain I`ve been having. I developed osteoarthritis in the knee as a result of a traumatic injury which ultimately caused valgus deformity of my lower limb. The TKR brought my lower limbs back into alignment but my muscles and soft tissues now have to learn a new way of walking again - and they aint happy! So that`s what the pain is. Apparently this kind of pain is typical of traumatic TKR; those who haven`t had trauma don`t have this kind of pain. It can take a while to settle down but it will settle, eventually.

At least I know the cause of it now which is very reassuring. Onwards and upwards!

Good to hear that OS was able to provide the reasons for the pain. I also had a valgus deformity so my muscles and tissues are figuring it out also! Happy though to see it straight again. All the best for your recovery!

 

[Spex10]

Walk tall @Cratchit! I've got to work on my gait too according to physio. Also to stop thinking about it and just live. Easy for her to say but when she distracted me I found that I was walking much better. She told me not to overthink what was going on.
There will be stiff sore days but these will become fewer and fewer. That'll apply to you too!

 

[Mireille]

@Cratchit So glad you got an answer and are moving forward. It is so much better not to wonder and stress about something being wrong. Peace of mind is healing! Enjoy your day!

 

[Cratchit]

Indeed it will apply to me @Spex10! At the moment I still have to consciously think about lifting my foot and landing heel first and then rolling over onto the ball of my foot. I also have to remember to bend my leg as apparently I walk straight-legged and list to the right. The cane enables me to walk tall and to lift my leg properly. And to park in decent spaces . . . ;)

Thanks @ferddword All the best for your recovery, too!

 

[Cratchit]

@Cratchit So glad you got an answer and are moving forward. It is so much better not to wonder and stress about something being wrong. Peace of mind is healing! Enjoy your day!

Me too! My maxim is always 'if in doubt, check it out' because even if it turns out to be nothing, the reassurance given is invaluable. That`s what I tell our mums and new doctors anyway!

 

[Cratchit]

So, today`s distraction therapy - another trip to the dentist! This time was for root canal work and closure of the tooth which has been open since the 13th May last year when I developed a penicillin-resistant abscess following root canal work on the same tooth. So closure of the tooth is a test really. If the abscess, which is still present and extending up into the sinus but which consists mostly of scarring at the moment, becomes an issue again the tooth will have to be re-opened. Good thing is I`ve never been scared of the dentist and actually finding the prodding and drilling of the numbed area quite soporific. I didn`t nod off today but I have done so previously.

This healing lark really is a long drawn out process! So exhausting though - came home from the dentist and slept all afternoon. Just need to sleep all night now and then I`ve got it sorted! At least the knee has enjoyed the rest

 

[Spex10]

Yikes! Sounds awful. You poor thing.

 

[Mireille]

Ouch, I'm so terrified of dentists. It's a phobia. Good luck!

 

[Cratchit]

@Mireille Aw, it must be horrible to have a phobia of the dentist. I`m fortunate that despite being from an era when dentists were paid for every filling, extraction etc (they must have made a fortune out of me) I have never been afraid of them. Just as well!

@Spex10 the dentist says I am 'atypical'. I already knew that!