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Knee Infection* The girl with the two fake knees

Of course I had to keep my fellow replacies in mind!

Still doing pretty well at 6 hours or so post surgery. Pain is managed and maybe a 1 at rest and a 3 when moving it around. Left knee is a 0!!! Scott came to visit and got me Subway for dinner, since they tried to serve me a plateful of peas and potatoes with gravy (both scourges of the earth as far as I'm concerned!) I'm taking advantage of the catheter and drinking my water. Just got all the vital sign monitors off but still have a cannula for oxygen in my nose. It may accidentally have an unfortunate accident in the night though. :)
So, no complaints really, just can't wait until the raw pain wears off and for when I can go home!!!

Baby knee 1 is 10 weeks 5 days old.
Baby knee 2 is 7 hours old!!

Jen

Could someone change my thread to "After waiting 20 long years....I finally have 2 normal knees!!"? Thank you!!
 
Congratulations on the new knee! I'm glad the surgery has gone well. Try to sleep in between the hustle in the hospital.
 
Sounds like you are happily on the new side! Congratulations and hope the pain stays dull!
 
I'd take advantage of the catheter as well! I had one without and one with, I preferred the catheter to the bedpan!
 
Got up to walk for the first time today. PT said I did well, but it seemed like so little!! Have to get my quads firing again and it will be better. Huge bruises, but I expected that. I'm exhausted, so I hope to get some sleep this afternoon.

So far, so good.

Jen
 
It great to hear how well you're doing! Those quads will get going before you know it! Hoping for a painfree day for you!
 
Hi Jen,
Congratulations on your second new knee.

I hope you continue to do well.
 
So you don't have to go back to the beginning of your thread, he eerie is the recovery reading list again.
First are the BoneSmart mantras ....
- rest, elevate, ice and take your pain meds by the clock
- if it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physiotherapist (PT) - to do it to you. exercise only gently
- if your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again
- if you won't die if it's not done, don't do it
- never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can go to sleep!
- be active as much as you need to be but not more than is necessary, meaning so much that you end up being in pain, exhausted or desperate to sit down or lie down!

Next is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) thread.

And here are some very crucial articles
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs

Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Activity progression for TKRs
Heel slides and how to do them

Extension: how to estimate it and ways to improve it
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling

Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity

Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?
 
Thank you for the well wishes. Today did not go so well as far as pain management. I didn't have anything from 6am until 245pm. It was due to a mix up by the pa, who ordered oxycontin and held everything else. Well, he wrote it incorrectly so my nurse had to get that fixed and it took a while. They are busy, busy up here. Got the oxycontin around 3 and it didn't help much (was at an 8 and it took me to 7). Got the other meds prescribed again and got them at 4pm. Feeling better, but still at a 5/10. It's hard to move or do exercises with this pain. And I seriously can tolerate pain. This was bad.

Catheter coming out soon, so I'll be getting up to use the bathroom from now on, which is what I need to do, even if it hurts.

Hoping the day ends better!!!

Jen
 
I'm sorry that it took so long for them to get your medication schedule sorted out. Stay on top of getting them on time and you should finally get your pain under control.
 
Ugh! Did you see the PA? I hope they stay on top of it now.
 
Might ask for IV Tylenol. I had that when I first woke up in severe pain and it worked within minutes to where there was no pain at all for a while. Recovery room nurse said it works better than the Tylenol tablets - and it does.
 
Any IV medication will work much quicker than anything taken by mouth. It doesn't have to be digested than into the blood stream.
 
Yes, I needed an IV push of toradol in the first 24 hours to get me over the hump, I felt better in minutes.
 
Hurray Jen, so glad that you came
Through your surgery so well, now on to the healing!! At least now they are both done at that is all you have to do now....
Sorry to hear about the lack of pain meds, remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease! Squeak loudly till you get what you need!!
Wishing you all the best on knee number 2!!!
Blessings,
Lene'


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum
 
You should have raised Cain! That's inexcusable for you to have gone that long without meds. Keep after them and make sure you make them keep that pain level way down.
 
Got up to go to the toilet, and it was bad. I like that people help, but sometimes I just need to figure out what will hurt the least. I have trouble using my left leg as the main leg, preferring to use my right. Holy pain...it's fine once I'm where I need to be. Got to the loo, got up awkwardly and painfully. Made it back to the bed to put on some undies and a new gown. Stood up once more and it seriously felt like it dislocated. Meanwhile, my iv had inadvertently pulled out and there was blood everywhere. Finally got cleaned up. The nurse had locked the end of my bed so I couldn't raise my feet, stating that it's better for knee patients,to have them flat. Ummm, no!! I can't sleep like that. So she called the PA and confirmed not to unlock the bed. I don't need a new iv thankfully. I have pillows for my knee now. I'm miserable and my pain is at a 9 right now. Ughhh. Can't wait to talk to the Dr. or PA tomorrow to give them a piece of my mind.

It is so painful to get up from sitting and walk. I think I just have to learn how to use my left more now. But, oh man, does it hurt.

Laying down to try to get some sleep and do my quad sets.

Thank you for all the kind words.

Jen
 
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