Revision TKR Third and final surgery all done

[kayow11]

@Jockette,
Unfortunately, it is a gamble and you never can be sure. I know that you and I both do a lot of research before we chose our physicians, but even sometimes those things go awry.
And then if there ends up being a problem, they kind of throw you in the dump and act like they hardly know you. They immediately get very defensive.

 

[Jockette]

Many only like textbook recoveries. I can’t believe I am my surgeon’s first patient to have a problem.

 

[kayow11]

Now that I have just finished using Oxycodone, I realize I am more painful on that 5 week old knee. I guess the med was helping more than I thought, even with half a 5 mg tablet.

My back pain has been my primary complaint the past 10 days. Chiro thinks he finally got a good adjustment today, so we will see tomorrow, how it feels. The past 3 nights have been terrible mostly due to left low back pain, and knee discomfort since it is almost impossible to lay on my sides to help my back feel better.

For several days now, I have also had a weird stomach bug causing bloating and some nausea, along with intestinal problems. That system has always been challenging for me to keep healthy, despite my nutritious diet.

I also realized that going downstairs backwards, and using the railing of course, is much easier on my knee and faster than one step at a time, which also seemed to bother my hip some. Just thought I would share that. We live in a split entry home, so stairs can't always be avoided.

Just some current thoughts and updates. Too many problems to deal with lately .

 

[Jockette]

I know, it’s so annoying to do “this” to help one aspect, but in turn it upsets another part of our body.

I have herniated discs in my lower back and arthritis higher up as well as in my neck. Sometimes it’s hard to keep them all happy!

I have an adjustable bed, I keep the foot part flat and use my elevating wedge at night, and I raise the head of the bed just a little to take the pressure off my lower back.

And the past few months I’ve been putting both legs up on the wedge, even though it’s designed for just one keg, which is putting stress on the wedge and it’s starting to split.

I don’t know if the hospital will sell me another. They sent this one home from the hospital with me.

I’d love one designed for both legs. I’m considering a loung Dr. but I’m afraid my body won’t like it’s angle after a year on the wedge I have. My knee is such a drama queen and extremely particular about every angle. I would love to just raise the foot of the bed and ditch the wedge (it doesn’t enhance my room decor) but my leg is very uncomfortable with that angle.

Decisions, decisions!

 

[sistersinhim]

I found that taking a probiotic helped a lot after my surgery. They might help you.

 

[kayow11]

@sistersinhim, I have taken probiotics here and there, but thanks for the reminder to take it daily.

@Jockette, I also could try the wedge, (it's not a lounge DR.) in my bed. Both legs would fit on it I think.

What was the meds combo that has been mentioned for pain relief on this site? I don't remember since I would gloss over that info because I didn't need it. I don't want tramadol since that is still a narcotic, but OTC stuff.

This back issue along with the knee so fresh, has put me over the edge a bit in what I feel I can handle.
And not sleeping much at night is wearing me down, I have been feeling like a rag

 

[Jockette]

What was the meds combo that has been mentioned for pain relief on this site?

@Celle , can you help her with this? Thanks!

 

[kayow11]

@Jockette ,
you are a year postop now right? I feel bad that you are still this uncomfortable. I know that my first knee which is a little over 10 months old, still needs along of work, but I thought that was due mostly to the abuse it has experienced from my other knee situations which started when she was only 3 months

I am assuming there are plenty of you out there that are still having issues at one year or longer, right? If that is the case, I feel rather concerned and discouraged for my situation. No one knows what the future holds, so I can't worry about the "what ifs" I guess.

 

[Jockette]

I don't want tramadol since that is still a narcotic, but OTC stuff.

@Celle

 

[Jockette]

Yes, some of us are still struggling at a year or more. That happens.

Just because it might happen doesn’t mean it will happen, so you need to have faith that yours is going to heal like it should, like most replacements do. There are many more happy endings than unhappy ones.

And there’s a reason some have an unhappy ending. In my case, I had a partial, a Patellofemoral replacement. It has its own unique possible issues.

I suspect I have a patella mal tracking problem. For the moment, it’s something I can live with. I don’t know how long I will feel that way.

I am not yet ready to have a revision and start from square one in recovery again. I’m sure you know the feeling. But you had an issue that you needed to fix. Mine is currently workable.

 

[Celle]

What was the meds combo that has been mentioned for pain relief on this site? I don't remember since I would gloss over that info because I didn't need it. I don't want Tramadol since that is still a narcotic, but OTC stuff.

The medication combination is Tylenol plus Tramadol.

Tramadol is a synthetic narcotic that is much weaker than the narcotics you are given initially. It's a useful step-down drug from the heavy-duty narcotics. You would need to wean off it gradually, as you do most drugs.
It's not OTC, but has to be prescribed by a doctor. Some PCPs are willing to prescribe it.

Here are the charts for Tylenol plus Tramadol. The first is for 4-hourly doses and the second is for 6-hourly.

It's about 5 weeks now since your surgery, so you may be able to manage with just Tylenol. My surgeon stopped my narcotics at 4 weeks and I managed well on Tylenol.
The correct therapeutic dose is 2 x 500 mg tablets (1,000 mg) 4 times per day (4-6-hourly) to a total of no more than 4,000 mg in any 24 hours. Check any other medications you are taking, to make sure that there is no Tylenol (Acetaminophen) in them. If there is, factor that amount into your daily calculations and reduce one or two of your other doses accordingly.

Since Tylenol doesn't remain in your bloodstream for longer than 4-6 hours, you do need to take it regularly, to keep up the pain relief.

 

[mlwreader]

’d love one designed for both legs. I’m considering a loung Dr.

@Jockette I purchased the Lounge Dr. in the extra wide size to accommodate both my legs - I really love it. I don't use it at night, but will often use it for an afternoon nap. It cost around $90. I think its well worth it.

 

[mlwreader]

For several days now, I have also had a weird stomach bug causing bloating and some nausea, along with intestinal problems. That system has always been challenging for me to keep healthy, despite my nutritious diet.

@kayow11 I second your comment. And I really had a hard time on all the meds after surgery - after a few days on the percocet I had horrible vomiting, and it all got me so backed up I swear I still am not right. And I take a probiotic daily. I wonder if you weren't having a stomach bug, but a reaction to the meds.

 

[mlwreader]

I know that my first knee which is a little over 10 months old, still needs along of work, but I thought that was due mostly to the abuse it has experienced from my other knee situations which started when she was only 3 months

@kayow11 I am just under 8 months and my knees are by no means recovered. I don't have any pain when walking, but I still have a lot of stiffness in both knees in the morning and after sitting for a while. And my right knee does not like stairs at all, and it can really hurt sometimes. So I know I still need some recovery. I wonder if I will ever have totally pain free knees. And I wonder if anyone who has had this surgery ever is completely pain free. I am always struck speechless at the thought of these folks who report hiking miles at three months and things like that. I still can't go for more than 1.5 miles. We are all different, but I truly am beginning to think that the medical profession has sold us a bill of goods as to what kind of recovery is possible after a tkr. Compared to where I was before surgery, I'll take where I am now any day. But totally pain free in my future? Not sure if that will happen. We shall see. Meanwhile, I am enjoying finding out all the things I CAN do now, that I couldn't do before surgery.

 

[Hood1980]

@kayow11 I’m so sorry you are having problems with pain meds. I do too. Have you tried other Rx pain meds? I apologize i am sure you have covered this, but I have only made it about half way through your thread. I’m seeing many similarities. I got pain relief with Dilaudid and no stomach issues, when taken with food, but of course we are all different.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[kayow11]

@Hood1980,
I was on Oxycodone for the first 5 weeks, which was 4 days ago, then have not used anything else. The Oxycodone helped a lot, but had to get off it. Sure don't want to start an addiction or dependency on an opiate.
I would like to find an OTC that at least works some.

Post revision, I have to honestly say I do have less pain overall, than after the other TKR's. But also, I am not doing regular PT or at home exercises either, which have really flared me up whenever I have done them.

My biggest concern is my bending, which is so limited. My 10 month old knee has never exceeded barely 100 degrees. Sure hope I get more than that when it is all said and done. Still some squishy swelling in that old first knee that I will consult with my surgeon about when I see him this coming week.

It seems my back is slightly better this morning though, after my chiro adjustment yesterday, and today I will do some strengthening exercises to help support that. My back has been my primary pain problem the past 10 days. This problem stemmed from my crooked knee 6 months ago.

 

[Hood1980]

Sorry to hear your back is causing you pain, but happy your “newest” knee is doing so well. I certainly understand about the malalignment causing pain elsewhere. As you are aware my out of alignment knee is causing horrendous foot and ankle pain. I usually just take Tylenol, it used to be ibuprofen, but Josephine really warns against it, because of the potential for gastric bleeds. Whatever I take I always take with food.

 

[SusieShoes]

I suspect that having swelling still in your right knee is what is impeding its bend. If you could find out what's causing that, maybe you find a way to resolve it. Then again, another few months might make a big difference. My left knee (cranky ingrate) still had some minor pain at ten months. Not like yours, but still intermittent and annoying. Now, two months later, that pain is gone. Completely. In fact, it happened mostly in the last, 11th, month. I have no clue what healed in there, but something did.

Interestingly, at least to me, ice was often more effective at relieving immediate pain than Tylenol. I used both. But I really like the way ice numbs pain in a swollen joint.

And backs... Sorry yours is acting up. Taming a back is a lot harder than taming a knee!

 

[kayow11]

@mlwreader, you may be right in that my stomach and intestinal issues could be from my Oxycodone withdrawal. I probably didn't go slow enough. I was only on half a 5mg. tablet this whole time, then dropped down to a quarter tab for only 2 days, then stopped. I did call a pharmacist and ask this, he said it could be.

But now it is 2 days since I had any Oxycodone, and my stomach issues are just slightly better. I will just deal with it as is, as long as things don't get worse. If it is med related, it could take a week per the pharmacist.

I also am so stiff with both knees. Hopefully this will improve as time and healing continue.

@Celle , thanks for the OTC meds info. I can always try the Tylenol alone.

 

[kayow11]

@SusieShoes , thanks for your input. I will just keep doing what I should be for my knee health, my they both are so temperamental with everything. And yes, I have often thought that the lack of bed could be from the continued swelling. I will see what the surgeon says this week. It will be my first postop visit with him, instead of the PA. I really want to give him a hug since I am still so thrilled that my knee is STRAIGHT!

I wonder if lack of icing delays healing of my knee? I haven't been able to do much of that with back pain and laying down/elevating, for the past 10 days.
Do I have to lay down and elevate to get ANY ice benefit?