The other side :)

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DWA

junior member
Joined
Oct 21, 2009
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Age
75
Location
Massachsuetts
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Male
Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to let you all know that I am now 1 week into "the other side" with my new left knee. The entire experience was so much better than I anticipated! I had no pain because of a femoral nerve block for the first 24 hours and once it wore off, the meds I am on have really taken care of any pain. The highest I have been is a 3 - except during PT where it can go as high as 10, but only momentarily. I am just so thankful that it has been such a positive expericent so far. For those who are still in the "waiting mode" please feel free to ask me any questions about my experience. I hope I will be able to help you get through yours!:D
 
DWA,
So glad that everything is doing well for you. And I hope that PT get less painfull. I still can get to a 10 in PT. But I think that I may finial be getting to where I need to be so I can be done with PT. Keep up the good work!!!! And I am sure you will very helpful to a lot of the in waiting people.
 
That's wonderful! Hope it continues that way!
 
Hi DWA, so glad to hear you are doing so well..so good to hear that when one is waiting.
I have 62 days to go and am feeling better about it all...thanks to the information on Bone Smart and one of our members who had surgery with the same doctor I am scheduled with.
Was your surgery a PKR or TKR? was it "Minimally invasive", meaning the quadriceps muscle was not cut? What kind of anesthesia besides the nerve block?
Take care, rest and ice, as all here say and I am sure you will recover rapidly.
Best wishes!! Marquesa
 
My surgery was minimally invasive I believe. There were 2 small incisions above and below my knee for the "GPS" device to be inserted and then it was computer guided. It was a TKR. Scar is about 5 inches.
Does that sound like what you are having?
 
Also, I had both the nerve block and general anesthesia - tolerated both without problem and was surprised to wake up without any pain. Didn't really believe it was over.
 
Also, I had both the nerve block and general anesthesia - tolerated both without problem and was surprised to wake up without any pain. Didn't really believe it was over.

Hear! Hear! That was me too. My husband couldn't believe how quick they can do TKR now a days. From the time I went into preop, 7:30 to back in the room, 10:00 he thought he'd be able to get a nap in.
 
Hi DWA. Glad all went well and you are pain free. I had a partial on 05/11 with the same anaesthesia. It wasnt till a cpl days later I felt any pain. It came on quite suddenly and really took me by surprise for a few days, however more manageable now.
Was wondering how you know what yr pain level is number wise?? Hope you make a good recovery. Best wishes. Janey
 
DWA.....glad to hear your pain level is good. I too only reached about a 3 and during PT I think once I got to a 5. I always took a pain pill one hour before Pt and that really helped. Keep up the good job!:thmb:

Janey...the number scale is hard to describe but I bet if you ask Jo she might have a chart showing the pain level and how to relate your pain to numbers. The best way "I" can describe it is 10 being a pain you can not stand and brings you to tears. And by each lessen step of pain drops you down a number. Does that make any sense to you?
 
We have a pain system that is rating it from 1-10 with 10 being excruciating. I think it is used in most hospitals throughout the US. I hope you are doing well!
 
Hi DWA im so glad everytthing is working out for you.....thats terrific.........good luck yo you........)i would still take it easy tho.......)
 
Hi DWA, so glad you are doing well. Yes, I will be having "minimally invasive" surgery, meaning they do not cut the quadricep. and a femoral nerve block with general anesthesia...so hope my experience goes as well as yours has.
So here I go with the questions...

Did you do a lot of pre-op exercise to prepare for the surgery?
How do you feel now and what kinds of meds are you taking?
Do you sleep well ?
When did you first start to feel any discomfort and when do you see your doctor next?
Do you know what kind of prothesis you have?

Thank you for the post. It is very encouraging for all of us who "are in line"

Take care and do rest regardless of how you feel. Your body has been through a lot.
Best wishes.
Marquesa
 
Hi Marquesa, I'm not sure of the brand of knee that I got. Maybe a Stryker? I did some exercises before - tightening the muscles above my knee and leg lifts. I really didn't feel any pain until the 2nd day and even that was not much because of the medication. I am on oxycontin, tramadol, and vicadin. The Oxycontin I take in the morning and evening, the tramadol, 4 times a day and the vicadin for break through pain - so I really only use it about an hour before PT. The most pain I get is with the PT but it only lasts as long as she holds my leg in the position causing the pain. I would say she gets me up to a 10. My main problem now is range of motion. I have gone backwards and am determined to get myself back on track - so I'm working on that. Best of luck to you! I know the waiting is the worst and this site is very helpful to get you through it!
 
Very, very few surgeons cut the quads nowadays. The statistics show it to be very counter-productive to good outcomes and not worth the micro-mms of extra access the surgeon obtains which, often as not, don't help much at all anyway.
 
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