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TKR The other TKR, on August 25th

@Bengalady - I was lucky as it worked for me after the first session, I had injections for nearly 5 years prior to surgery eventually the knee got too bad so my surgeon opted to do the replacement.
 
Thank you. I do need a replacement, but I’m trying to hold off until I complete my rehab for my revision on the other knee.
I’ll do what I have to though, regardless.
Thanks for responding.
 
I used injections with great success for a couple years before TKR on my left knee. I wanted to try them on my right knee but my insurance stopped covering them. Instead, I had TKR. I think I could have successfully postponed surgery a bit with them, but I didn’t want to spend $900 only to have to pay for OOP of surgery sooner than later.

I think it’s worth a shot. (Pun intended haha)
 
@JennyLynne

Wow, thnx for mentioning the insurance thing, I’ll have to double check on that. Makes my decision to have the surgery before the end of the year when at least some of OOP paid. Hate that part.
 
I had a cortisone injection last week on my other knee, and just started the gel injections, first one this morning. First time with the gel. Trying to hold off awhile so my revision could heal, although it’s doing better. I have some pain at night, but pain is greatly diminished (was on oral prednisone for a week).
My issue is that I can not stand the grinding, crunching, clicking noise when I walk. It scares me, because I think something worse is going to happen.
Doesn’t the gel help with this ?
You should see me walking, trying to concentrate on bending my revision, and trying to keep the other knee straight hoping not to have it “click”. Not exactly working right. My mind can’t exactly multitask in this manner.
Will it subside, or is this something I just have to get used of ? Never had the clicking before. Uuggh
 
Difficult decision right now. TKR on left, on August 25th.

It didn’t turn out the way I had expected. In hospital right now. I can’t even lift my leg up or move it by myself. Go to bathroom with a walker, with assistance. Took a fall yesterday because I didn’t use walker .....my fault. No damage done.
Ok, here’s my dilemma. Both my surgeon and his assistant state I should go home, with home health support. The physical therapist here, and the hospitalist doctor feels I should go to a rehab facility.
It’s up to me. I’m kind of scared, as I have few steps to go up, but I think more scared of a rehab facility. I wouldn’t want to go there too long, but with this Covid, if someone there has it, I’d be quarantined for two weeks !! I need some opinions, so I can make this decision. FYI, I do trust my surgeon.
 
I say to go home. Why put yourself in the middle of all those extra germs. Home is the safest place for you. Going up a few steps will be OK for you. I had six to go up and my ride stood behind me to make sure I didn't fall backward. I did just fine. So will you.
 
@sistersinhim
Thank you, I believe you are right ! I trust my surgeon, and will follow his advice on this.
I’m just scared of getting around.
 
Are you recovering on your own or will someone be with you or able to check in on you for the first few days? They may have suggested rehab because you fell.
But most of us who recover by ourselves (or with a little help for the first few days) handle it well.
 
The other TKR, on 8/25th.

Please help, some encouragement, advice. Has anyone had a nerve block along with anesthesia? It seems this nerve block has not wore off yet. Besides extreme pain, plus my leg looks like an elephants leg. However, the worse is that my leg is paralyzed. I can not move it at all on its own. It won’t listen to my brain telling it to move. My therapist said with passive ROM, it will eventually get better.
I’m so depressed and scared that this is it now. My surgeon and other healthcare professionals state this is all normal.
This one is the worst out of the last two on my other knee. I didn’t expect this to happen at all. Has anyone experienced this ? Please tell me it will get better. Also, anything I can do, besides what my therapist told me ? I am doing the rest, ice, elevate. Percocet every four hours.
Right now, my brain wants to bend my knee....and it’s stuck straight !
Cried myself to sleep last night.
* Moderater please put a new title, not sure how to do this.
 
@Bengalady Congratulations on your new knee, :flwrysmile: Nerve block can take several days to wear off, mine took about 5-6, although I didn't experience extreme swelling, I'm sure once swelling resides your leg will begin to move again. Use plenty of ice :ice: keep it elevated, if you can with the help of pillows with your toes above your nose this will help with the swelling.
I have reported that you request a title change and your new dates will be added to your signature too.
Are you back home? And have you got assistance? :console2:
 
@Bengalady here are the recovery guidelines, although you have had them before it saves you scrolling back to look for them :flwrysmile:

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:
rest
elevate
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)
don't overwork.
3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.
4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these
the BoneSmart view on exercise
BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy
5. At week 4 and after you should follow this
Activity progression for TKRs
6. Access these pages on the website
Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications
Wound Care In Hospital


The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
 
Sometimes it takes a while for your leg muscles to get back into action. Your surgeon is right, that although it doesn't always happen, it is within the range of what is considered "normal." Movement will return once things settle. Just be sure you are very careful when moving about at home. I'm assuming from your posts that you live alone....is that correct? If so, make sure you ALWAYS have your cell phone with you (especially on a nightly trip to the bathroom) and use your walker. Move slowly and pay attention to where your feet are at all time so you are balanced and stable. This will pass....hang in there.
 
Hi! I had a TKR july 01 and it took 3 weeks for my quad to work. It was weird and a little unnerving but eventually it just started working. I was unable to lift my leg at all for 3 weeks. My Pt said it was very normal for your quad muscle to just take a break after such a big surgery. So yea it is normal and will come back with time.
I am scheduled for my other knee in Oct, am not looking forward to the inital weeks again, but am looking forward to my knees being better. Just let your knee guide you. I did PT for 8 weeks amd very little at home, I am now doing great but somedays My knee tells me to chill. Listen to you knee and be patient.
 
That is a terrible feeling when your mind won’t make your leg lift up- when I got my knee done, my husband was in the hospital , so I came home to an empty house and could not lift my leg up to go to bed- I actually started to have a panic attack-
I had to calm down and make my robe tie lift my leg up, so I totally understand how you feel - it will get better , hopefully soon for you - this is a tough surgery; but you are tougher- I read your previous posts and you have been through a lot already.
wishing you a speedy recovery this time. Hang in there, better days ahead!
 
Bengalady....i had a nerve block in my leg and also the epidural block in my back prior to my tkr in June 2020. It took me 3 weeks to be able to move that leg! I was worried as well and i would strain and grunt and sound like one of those guys serving tennis balls....haha. I would have to have my husband pick my leg up to get it on the bed. I used a sheet that I rolled up and used as a leg picker upper to help myself. I would even put it around my foot to lift my leg onto pillows for elevation. It hurt to lift it when I eventually could but kept working on it. It was literally one of my exercises from pt. I said all that to tell you to keep working on it. You will be able to lift it a tiny bit at first but it will get better. Took me 3 weeks and even then getting it on the bed was quite painful and I had to force myself to do it. Now I can do it no problem. Once you start doing it even a little it gets better faster.

I do still have some numbness in my calf in a certain area that isn't great but it is getting better too. When I shave my legs it feels weird and like I'm shaving something frozen. Good luck and don't give up. I had many tears shed during that time.
 
@Bengalady just read through your entire thread. Seems like you’ve really been through it. I really hope you have a smoother recovery this time. I’m doing very little and had mine on 12th August. Feeling lazy but trying to calm that feeling down and just chill out. I’m being productive by crocheting and this keeps me still so I can elevate and ice while making stuff to give to other people. I wonder whether some people on here might benefit from journaling. It can really highlight just how far you’ve come while giving insight into your own healing process - particularly if you need a second knee done as you have.
 
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