TKR The other TKR, on August 25th

[Jockette]

I couldn’t pick my leg up myself for several weeks, but as my leg settled down and healing progressed, I could. I did not work on leg lifts at all, and I was able to lift my leg myself in time.

Try not to worry, this is normal and temporary.

 

[Bengalady]

@Jamie Thank you. Yes I live alone; my cousin is staying here this week.

 

[Bengalady]

@Disney Mom
Thank you. Wow, I almost put up another post, because I kept having crying spells all day for like two days in a row. That’s ok now, I guess sometimes we can only take so much.

 

[Bengalady]

@babycatcher
Thank you for your response, and taking the time to read my entire thread.
Yes, I’ve thought of journaling, probably good idea.
I have a goal in that in two years from now, I will do a 5K. Walking, not a run. It would be nice to see how I get there !

 

[Bengalady]

I’ve been wondering if my pain meds are really doing any good. It doesn’t seem like much of a difference, yet I’m on a strong one, Percocet 10/325 every 4 hours. It’s as needed, but I just take it round the clock, and one if I wake up at night. It seems my level goes just to a 7 from an 8, and takes an hour to kick in.
Many years ago, after a surgery, I was prescribed morphine, but got very nauseous from it. Therefore, it’s listed as an allergy for me.
It’s a combination of pain and numbness ....I can’t seem to get in any comfortable position. I will discuss with home health nurse, but this has me so tired and frustrated. I want something more, or different.....yet, don’t want to be doped up or nauseous.
I don’t know, we shouldn’t have to put up with pain. (I do ice, but it seems that the ice itself even hurts).

 

[Dizzy]

@Bengalady I, too, found icing was making things angrier. It was suggested to me to keep the ice packs in the fridge instead. I did but my knee still wasn't happy. So now I am only using cold face cloths. It does seem to calm down the nerve impulses but not sure I'm getting anywhere with the swelling even though I'm still elevating. A work in progress... !

 

[Disney Mom]

Bengalady...the pain gets better very slowly. I think at about 5 or 6 weeks I could tell a noticeable difference. Looking back though you can see the small progress....you just can't see it while going through it. I also felt the pain medicine didn't help much but just kept taking it. I was getting 5 mg percocet every 4 hours. I am not just taking one before bedtime. My surgery was june 22. My pain is by no means gone but it is a lot better. I think everyone on here can relate to crying. You just take so much and finally break down. It will get better...hang in there!

 

[Bengalady]

So, even though I don’t think the meds really helping, and thought maybe I should have something else........just realized it’s the Holiday weekend. My first post op is on Wednesday, and I’ll have two pills left on Monday. Home health nurse teacher doctor, whom said to “taper down” now.
Funny, I thought I needed more. Well, I won’t freak......maybe listen to more meditation tapes.
I’ve been through this before, but interesting that I forgot everything. I guess that’s a good thing !

 

[Bengalady]

teacher ? The nurse reached the doctor.

 

[Bengalady]

Is anyone doing any kind of “alternative “ measures for pain control ?
My first thought is acupuncture......but probably not a good idea at this time ? (2 weeks). I’m trying my best to think positive, meditate.....not working well.
Reiki? Massage therapist ? Also, CBD , but how do I know where to get a pure brand ? I’m new to a church nearby, I’d call them for a blessing, but don’t want to reach out since I’m new.
I don’t see how I can get better, do exercises, move, ect. if I’m in constant pain.
Doing all the traditional methods.
TIA

 

[One Trick Pony]

Pain. That's the big issue, isn't it? How to lessen the pain long-term. Long-term pain isn't really resolvable. Just managed. The only thing that really helped with that major pain early on was drugs. I took Percocet 10/325. Took it continually in the beginning for about 2 months. Then slowly weaned off after that, and added in Tramadol 50mg as I lessened the Perc. Took Tramadol prn for the next 5-6 months, along with ibuprofen. Slowly needed less Tram. until able to stop that after 8-9 months. I found that icing & elevation did help with discomfort of swelling, but didn't do much to help with intense pain. So it's a multi-pronged approach that works, and needs adjustment as time goes on. A little less of this, a bit more of that... Always adjusting. It's really exhausting just trying to figure out how to adjust the meds over time. But has to be done. Also the Doc wants to get you off the heavy-hitter drugs ASAP. So that premature rushing doesn't help things.

One thing I didn't try, that I would if I ever go through this again, is a TENS unit. That can work wonders on muscle pain, of which there is plenty after a TKR! I think it could be helpful for the intense quad pain that goes on and on and on. I've used it for other muscular pain, and it's been helpful in the past. I don't know why I didn't think to use it during TKR recovery. They're so inexpensive now that it's worth a try.

Then there is a certain amount of just learning to accept and endure some pain. Some have a naturally higher threshold for pain than others. I am NOT one of them - but I had to learn to live with at least some amount of constant pain, because you just can keep yourself drugged up enough, for long enough to get through this without acceptance of some amount of pain every day. That's a hard pill to swallow, but there it is.

Anyway, think about trying the TENS unit. I've read others on this forum have had positive results with it during their TKR recovery. I wish I had given it a try during mine.

 

[Bengalady]

@ One Trick Pony
Thank you for your response.
I don’t know why I get in these predicaments a lot. Ive been on Percocet 10/325. It says q 4 as needed.
Home health Nurse said take it around the clock. Couple times I had to take in middle of night.
I called the surgeons office because doing this, I thought I’d run out sooner than later. I was told I could just call it in. (Of course just spoke with medical assistant, not doc.)
Well, low and behold, I only have a few left, and didn’t realize it was a Holiday weekend. Would they give me anything ? No, I should taper down. After only 2 weeks ? Crazy. I have appt. Wednesday.....they will hear about this.
luckily I have a few 5/325’s from my precious surgery that I’m taking.
I do have a TENS machine that I’m using a lot....it helps some.
Meditating.
I know I’ve been through this before, but someone...please tell me this gets better ! Along with this pandemic, I’m so depressed.

 

[kneeper]

I'm glad you have an appointment coming up and will be able to discuss pain management.

I was so lucky that my surgery was at a time where my doctor felt able to write pain med prescriptions for my first 6 weeks. The prescriptions were for about 2 weeks at a time and then I'd talk to the nurse and they'd adjust according how I was tapering etc.

 

[KnitChica]

Would they give me anything ? No, I should taper down. After only 2 weeks ? Crazy.

I, too, was told I needed to taper down & be off narcotics by two weeks post-op for my current right TKR! Unbelievable!

So, at 2 weeks & 6 days post op, I’m currently on Tramadol which somewhat manages by daytime pain but does very little for my nighttime pain. I had Norco four tablets (5/325 mg) left from those first two weeks and took two tablets each the past two nights. My pain was so much more bearable & my sleep felt somewhat restorative! I have no more Norco left for tonight & I can already tell that the Tramadol isn’t going to suffice for tonight....not going to be a fun night. I’ll definitely be making a phone call in the morning!

I, too, have been through this previously (a year ago) with my left TKR but it doesn’t make the pain any easier. I totally understand your frustration & depression.

 

[Bengalady]

@KnitChica
No, it doesn’t make it anymore bearable that we’ve been through it before. Well, I left message with doctor this morning, and they did prescribe the Percocet 10/325, thank god. The thing is.....and this happened to me before, it was a weekend and holiday, but that should be no excuse. That on call doctor, I don’t think he realized I was just two weeks out. For some, this may be ok.....but for most, no.
I too had some “leftover” Tylenol #3 from a pain doc previously. Better than nothing, but didn’t really work.
I just found out that my insurance pays for Acupuncture. I read an article that this helps after knee replacement tremendously!!! Waiting for authorization on this. I’ll post back, how this works out.
Yes, discuss with your doctor. If we’re in pain, we can’t do a damm thing ie exercise, move, ect. to get better.

 

[Bengalady]

Would they give me anything ? No, I should taper down. After only 2 weeks ? Crazy.

I, too, was told I needed to taper down & be off narcotics by two weeks post-op for my current right TKR! Unbelievable!

So, at 2 weeks & 6 days post op, I’m currently on Tramadol which somewhat manages by daytime pain but does very little for my nighttime pain. I had Norco four tablets (5/325 mg) left from those first two weeks and took two tablets each the past two nights. My pain was so much more bearable & my sleep felt somewhat restorative! I have no more Norco left for tonight & I can already tell that the Tramadol isn’t going to suffice for tonight....not going to be a fun night. I’ll definitely be making a phone call in the morning!

I, too, have been through this previously (a year ago) with my left TKR but it doesn’t make the pain any easier. I totally understand your frustration & depression.

@KnitChica, above post.....name didn’t come out.

 

[Bengalady]

@KnitChica No, it doesn’t make it anymore bearable that we’ve been through it before. Well, I left message with doctor this morning, and they did prescribe the Percocet 10/325, thank god. The thing is.....and this happened to me before, it was a weekend and holiday, but that should be no excuse. That on call doctor, I don’t think he realized I was just two weeks out. For some, this may be ok.....but for most, no.
I too had some “leftover” Tylenol #3 from a pain doc previously. Better than nothing, but didn’t really work.
I just found out that my insurance pays for Acupuncture. I read an article that this helps after knee replacement tremendously!!! Waiting for authorization on this. I’ll post back, how this works out.
Yes, discuss with your doctor. If we’re in pain, we can’t do a damm thing ie exercise, move, ect. to get better.

 

[newlybionic]

I hope acupuncture works for you. I’m glad to hear that your OS did order pain medications for you. Two weeks post op is too soon to be without pain meds.

 

[Bengalady]

@newlybionic Thank you. I don’t mind tapering off, but give me something to taper with.
Appointment today went well, I did voice my opinion on this, and I was reminded not to wait until last minute for meds. That is true, but still......plus the answer I was given by the “on-call” doctor, was not right. Anyway, I got a tee-shirt !
I asked for two, after all I did have two surgeries and I didn’t get a tee-shirt before.
They said no. :(

 

[Bengalady]

I want to wake up without pain
I want to take a walk without an aid
I want to get back to the Y
I want to swim, I may even want to swim more than I ever did before, or at least in a long time.
I want to get on a horse. I may not be able to ride as I’d like to, but at least get on the horse, go for a stroll.
I want to take a hike
I want to dance.
I always say, “Dance while you still can”.
I can’t, and it’s killing me inside.
Trying sooo hard to think positive, it’s not working.
Tell me this will pass
I need to believe that it will.