TKR Thank you!<

[Sheepdogn]

Thanks! Ready to get up and about but trying very hard to be good.

 

[Sheepdogn]

How important is stepping down oxycodon use gradually? Feeling good and only one 5 mg pill so far today. Yesterday was 35 mg total for the day. Too drastic a drop?

 

[Celle]

Yes, it could be too drastic. It's always best to cut down gradually, with a day or two between step-downs.

 

[Josephine]

is there such a thing as elevating too much?

Not in the least!

 

[zzevi]

I wasn't a fan of icing and elevating in the beginning, thought I was doing ok, had minimal pain that was controlled. But any stretching was hard to do, because I was swollen and when I was going for p/t and such I was working against that swelling. Don't know why but I was very antsy at the beginning of my recovery and rested a lot, but also stayed probably more active than I should have been in the beginning if anything I think I set myself back. Later on I did learn to elevate the right way, high....toes above the nose and icing became my friend and I became more content at being home and working on recovering.

 

[Josephine]

I just loved the wonderful feeling as the ice cooled down the raging furnace that seemed to have taken over my knee! I'd be really

 

[referee54]

I iced for an hour or longer at a time. Ice was my very best friend in my recovery. It helped with the swelling and with any pain issues that the pain meds did not seem to get to. I would fall asleep with the ice packs on my knees.

 

[mwetzel394]

So true, ice is the best!


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[Sheepdogn]

I use a lot of ice. It's my friend! Another question. When does your energy come back? I feel like i'm just really dragging. Just getting a shower in the morning is exhausting. I'm at 3 weeks post-surgery today. I know oxycodon makes me draggy, but i haven't had any since i took 10 mg last night before bed. Trying to stay off it during the day today to see if that helps. I need to get back to work (at home, computer work) but all i really want to do is go back to sleep!

 

[PolarBear60]

Energy drain was one of my worst problems after my first TKR -- that and brain fog. It continued long after I stopped taking the narcotic painkillers. For me, it lasted about three months or more. After my second knee? I didn't experience it at all. I attribute it to them using a spinal for the first knee and a nerve block just above the knee for my second replacement. As far as I know, that was the only difference.

In short, what that means, is the time for the fatigue and the brain fog varies with each person and sometimes with each surgery, so it's hard to offer any realistic advice other than to tell you what you're experiencing is normal and will pass. Sleep allows your knee to heal, so indulge it and sleep whenever you feel called to do so.

 

[referee54]

When does your energy come back? I feel like i'm just really dragging. Just getting a shower in the morning is exhausting.

Unfortunately, stamina is one of the last aspects to return during a TKR recovery---and you are still in the early days of recovery; your body is expending a huge amount of energy in the healing process, so you just have to ride this out for a while. Pain meds also contribute to this, as well.

I returned to teaching at eight weeks, and that was way too early, and I cam home from school exhausted!

I need to get back to work (at home, computer work) but all i really want to do is go back to sleep!

My substitute teacher would send home essays for me to grade. The pain meds gave me horrible brain fog and I could only concentrate for 10-15 minutes max at a time. You may be able to work in short bursts, but be aware that your lack of stamina and your inability to concentrate are all linked to your healing and your pain meds.

 

[Sheepdogn]

Speaking of pain meds, i don't find tramadol knocks me out (just the opposite actually), where the oxycodon i have for pain does. I'd like to switch over to tramadol (took it for months before surgery). Is there anything i need to know or do, like wait xx hours or a day between, anything like that?

 

[Celle]

Talk to your surgeon or doctor about changing to Tramadol.

 

[Josephine]

When does your energy come back?

Did you read the recovery articles in post #4? I guess not because in the list is one called Energy drain for TKRs. If you read it now it will explain all. And then go back and read the rest of them!

 

[KarriB]

Like others, stamina took a while and I noticed the absence of stamina as I took on new activities; returning to work part time, full time, shopping, etc. When I began lap swimming again at 8 months I could only swim 3-4 laps before tuckering out while in the past I could usually do 8-10 before working up to 20. So I'd say my energy returned fully by 9 months.

 

[Sheepdogn]

Thanks all! I had read all of the articles but it was good to hear some personal experiences. PA says i can do tramadol during the day and oxycodon at night. That should help some with my energy problems. Oxycodon really knocks me out.

 

[KarriB]

Have you seen this chart for using tramadol?

 

[Sheepdogn]

paracetemol=tylenol, correct? That looks like a lot of tylenol. I'm on 3000 mg per day (1000/8 hours). Looks like a lot of tramadol too. When i was using it pre-surgery, i'd take 50mg in the morning and another 50 mg mid-afternoon and that did the trick for me. Hoping it will work as well post-surgery as well. Thanks a bunch for posting that, it's good information to tuck away for reference. Much appreciated!

 

[KarriB]

Sure, you are further down the road and everyone is different.

 

[Sheepdogn]

I think my surgeon must be kind of light on the post-surgery meds. 3000mg/day of tylenol was what i was sent home on. Along with 300mg gabapentin/3xday, which someone on here noted was a fairly light dose. Interesting how different surgeons handle it differently. This site sure is a great resource.