TKR The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

[Josephine]

I got the doctor to write me up 100mg Tramadol plus Paracetamol in between if needed.

You'll find it much more effective if you take the paracetamol with the Tramadol. The first enhances the second nicely. I mostly took 1 Tram/2 para every 4 hours (x4) during the day and then last thing at night took 2 Trams to see me through the night. A routine that came highly recommended by the excellent sister when I was in hospital.

 

[Ms.fixit]

Poor baby..I'm with the others, you are in pain because it isn't being managed properly, not because of your brace. Call the patient advocate/ patient relations department (and let your surgeon and floor nurses know you are doing this). Usually any move that might lead to litigation produces what you need. Also you can call your GP and have them intercede on your behalf. You need serious drugs for this pain. I was on dilaudid, Ketamine and oxycontin and
eventually bumped down to percocet. By the 8 week mark, I was off the narcotics completely but I desperately needed that relief at the start. Good luck!!

 

[Solar Cycles]

You'll find it much more effective if you take the paracetamol with the Tramadol. The first enhances the second nicely. I mostly took 1 Tram/2 para every 4 hours (x4) during the day and then last thing at night took 2 Trams to see me through the night. A routine that came highly recommended by the excellent sister when I was in hospital.

Thanks Josephine, I'd already mentioned this to the staff here but they didn't recommend that. From tomorrow I'll be doing just that, as I feel my pain could have been better dealt with by doing the above

 

[Solar Cycles]

So Solar, did you manage to catch a few Zzzzz's? Well I haven't either have you been given the nod that your going home tomorrow? I'm sure that will be a big relief I hope you've been armed with a good range of exercise material to take home with you. Mine, like the food was shocking...A4 sheet of paper with 4 pictures on Check the library on here for some good advice or google TKR exercises. Hopefully your be better prepared, enthusiastic & raring to go! Here's to us both getting some sleep tonight...I'd like to win the lottery too

I managed an hour or so, so that's a start I guess. I got my post op exercises on the very same A4 paper Lol. The swelling I have is quite horrific and I've been icing 30 minutes 3-4 times a day.

 

[Solar Cycles]

Poor baby..I'm with the others, you are in pain because it isn't being managed properly, not because of your brace. Call the patient advocate/ patient relations department (and let your surgeon and floor nurses know you are doing this). Usually any move that might lead to litigation produces what you need. Also you can call your GP and have them intercede on your behalf. You need serious drugs for this pain. I was on dilaudid, Ketamine and oxycontin and
eventually bumped down to percocet. By the 8 week mark, I was off the narcotics completely but I desperately needed that relief at the start. Good luck!!

i think the brace did contribute to some of the pain, but your right the pain meds weren't sufficient overall.

 

[60mom]

I wish I had known my OS was stingy in the pain med department. Just never assumed pain would be an issue. I worked labor and delivery and we were in trouble if we didn't keep a patients pain controlled. I do have to say my pain was very well controlled in the hospital it was just taken away way too early once home. I have decided that next knee I am making an appointment with a pain specialist prior to the surgery so that if OS doesn't come through I have a back up plan. So I would suggest maybe getting a pain specialist now unless you think your GP will help you out if you can't get your OS to step up to the plate. It could just be the nurses though in the hospital but that just shocks me as we are suppose to be patient advocates. Also most docs now have standardized orders and they usually have multiple types of pain meds available because it is not a one size fits all. If those don't work you are suppose to call! Also if your pain is not managed your not going to give the hospital a very good review. Patients do look at that when choosing a hospital, or doctor.

 

[Solar Cycles]

I'm having a bad one tonight, I've had 100mg Tramadol and 500 mg Paracetamol combined but sadly it's having no effect. I think this is down to the swelling, lord knows how I'm going to manage at home.

 

[Solar Cycles]

Just endured the worst night yet for pain, none of my meds are touching the pain and I'm seriously questioning whether I'm fit for discharge whilst in this much pain.

 

[Mutley]

Hi Solar Cycles.
Sorry to hear you've had another shocking night for pain It's the pits I'm afraid. I'm allergic to nearly all pain meds so relying on Ibuprofen & Paracetamol wasn't a good start to my recovery. They did give me Oxynorm (OxyCodone hydrochloride) which isn't fantastic but did/does keep the pain at a certain level.
I think your best bet is when you know your being discharged, get someone to make an emergency appt with your GP & get him/her to write you up a prescription of something STRONGER that will hopefully work. Also, once your home you can get that leg elevated MUCH HIGHER while icing, & ice for an hour, back, front & sides of knee. I found 2 bags of supermarkets own brand/cheap brand frozen sweetcorn works a treat! It moulds beautifully to the knee but wrap in a tea towel 1st! One bag on your knee, one frozen in the freezer..sorted!
Very annoying that the hospital HAVEN'T bothered to manage your pain effectively

 

[Solar Cycles]

Hi Jaki, it's on my to do list tomorrow for GP appointment, jut had my first stumble this morning trying to pack my case. I yelped like a puppy and I'm still grimacing now. I haven't had my leg elevated once whilst here so I need to elevate aplenty back home.

 

[Mutley]

that's not funny at all. Nor is the fact I just typed a big PM to you & for some reason it wouldn't allow you to receive it
Well I tried to give you my words of useless wisdom! Have they said what time you can leave? If your packing your case I assume you are going today?? Maybe your just being very optimistic!
I think you just need to be back in your own home & then you can start your recovery how you mean to go on...ICE...ELEVATE...PAIN MEDS...REST....LOTS OF CHOCOLATE
Wishing you all the very best & no trying to run down the corridor as you leave the hospital

 

[Solar Cycles]

I'm waiting for hospital transport as there is no one available who can pick me up, my knee has just settled down although I only have myself to blame for not being careful enough. I can't wait until I get back home and recuperate in a more relaxing and caring environment. :

 

[Mutley]

Good evening Solar!
Just checking up on you So, in no particular order, are you pleased to be home? Did you get any sleep last night? Did you get an appt to see your GP? Are you now in possession of a good pain killer? Has the appetite come back? Let us know how your doing but hope the last 24 hours has seen a BIG improvement!

 

[Solar Cycles]

Hi Jaki, yes it's great being home but sleep s still proving elusive, although I did manage an hour this afternoon. The pain isn't as severe as when in hospital though I'm NW taking my medication on time instead of having to buzz those caring nurses. My appetite has improved today and I even treat myself to a bit of Easter chocolate. How's the recovery going at your end, have you managed to conquer the sleep demon yet?

 

[bottomshollow]

home, Solar Cycles. Over all things should be much better for you as long as you don't allow yourself to over do it. Just follow the mantra and all will be well.

When you get a chance, would you please put your surgery date in your signature, as well as what surgery you had (i.e., LTKR, RTHR) like the rest of us do? You can find the instructions here: How to create a signature. But please also remember that our membership is international and for clarity use the International Date system being Jan. 10, 2013 or 10 Jan. 2013 rather than 1/10/13 or 10/1/13. Thanks so much for your cooperation.​

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I'm also looking forward to seeing you use that avatar. Take care. We care. ​

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[landoz]

I hope things improve for you Solar Cycles when you get home and get the pain meds working for you.

 

[Mutley]

Morning Solar!
Well glad to hear that things are calming down now your at home! How's the exercising going & are you managing to get that swelling to calm down to? I had a chunk of 2 hours last night. I think that was down to the session in the Hydrotherapy pool followed by a trip round Asda! I woke up thinking it must nearly be time to get up...& it was just gone midnight Hope you have a comfortable day & not a pillow pumping night

 

[Solar Cycles]

A quick update, sleepless nights continue though reading others posts this looks like something I should get use to. ROM is concerning me I still can't bend my knee past 30-40 degrees or do any straight leg raises, is this normal?

 

[Mutley]

Evening Solar,

If you could put your op date in your signature then we know how far along or short you are

When I was " released" from hospital you had to have a ROM of 90 degrees. I endured an agonising physio session to achieve this, PROBABLY so I freed up a bed One week later & I was a crying, suicidal mess because I couldn't even do a straight leg raise However, a phone call to the hospital & an understanding member of staff said, RELAX! Take a step back, forget ROM numbers. Ice, elevate, take ALL meds ON TIME, GENTLE exercises just to keep the knee moving.

Let the trauma of the op settle AND REMEMBER, you haven't JUST had a TKR, you have had other work as well. Let me tag Josephine to come & give you her advice. In the meantime if you could answer some of the questions above, Josephine will be able to help you quicker.
Hugs & believe me when I say most of us have been where you are now. No consolation but it will get better..... Early days & all that.

 

[Josephine]

It's due to the extensor mechanism autograft I had in conjunction with my TKR, the consultant used my tendons to build it up as it was pretty shot at.

Well, this explains all! No wonder you are in so much pain.

ROM is concerning me I still can't bend my knee past 30-40 degrees or do any straight leg raises, is this normal?

Given the extra surgical procedure you had, I'm not at all surprised.

I've had 100mg Tramadol and 500 mg Paracetamol combined but sadly it's having no effect.

Why only one paracetamol???? That's daft! Take two for pity's sake. And if things are really bad, you can also take 150mg of Tramadol once in a while. I often did (as advised by my GP, of course!)

sleepless nights continue though reading others posts this looks like something I should get use to.

Indeed you will. That extra little bit of surgery will be the bane of your life for a while!