TKR right 6/8/2022
Hi everyone! I made this account a few months ago and poked around a bit, but to be completely honest I didn't really want to know too much about the surgery or recovery because I was worried it would scare me off and I would never get it. I know that's terrible, like an ostrich with his head in the sand, but I am a baby when it comes to medical procedures or pain. But I'm here now 7 days past my first TKR (the other one needs to be done as well).
During the surgery I got the spinal though I was also asleep. I went home the same day. I started official PT on the 3rd day (though I'd been doing exercises at home before). I am supposed to take off my bandage tomorrow though I'm a bit scared to do that, I'm just afraid the wound won't be protected. I do have my husband and teen kids at home to help so that's wonderful.
I feel okay I guess. My leg feels so tight all the time, and now that I'm looking around here and elsewhere, I don't think I've been elevating my knee properly. I just ordered one of those wedges recommended here, and in the meantime have a contraption made of pillows to tide me over. I am hoping the proper elevating will relieve the tightness (which I assume is swelling). I have been icing quite frequently since the beginning. A question, though: When you elevate, can you ice at the same time or should those be done separately?
I think for now the worst is the lack of decent sleep. I sleep at most 2 hours at a time, and I can only sleep on my back because it's too painful to sleep on my side yet. And although I do dream, so I'm getting into that good REM sleep, I'm still exhausted all the time. Also, whenever I wake up I have to go to the bathroom, so I actually get out of bed every 2 hours. It sucks so bad.
And the compression socks! While I totally understand the reasons for them, they feel so constricting especially at night. I can't stand to have my feet covered when I sleep (in fact, before surgery I usually hang at least one foot off the side of the bed), so it's quite an adjustment.
I would say, after that first day when the pain blocker wore off, it's going okay. I wasn't prepared for the mental/emotional impact, though, so it's nice to be here looking at others' stories so I don't feel so alone.
And I am scared I won't want to get the second one done. So far, if you asked me now, I would do it. But there's a long way to go. I was really hoping to get it done in 3 months but I guess we'll see.
Hi everyone! I made this account a few months ago and poked around a bit, but to be completely honest I didn't really want to know too much about the surgery or recovery because I was worried it would scare me off and I would never get it. I know that's terrible, like an ostrich with his head in the sand, but I am a baby when it comes to medical procedures or pain. But I'm here now 7 days past my first TKR (the other one needs to be done as well).
During the surgery I got the spinal though I was also asleep. I went home the same day. I started official PT on the 3rd day (though I'd been doing exercises at home before). I am supposed to take off my bandage tomorrow though I'm a bit scared to do that, I'm just afraid the wound won't be protected. I do have my husband and teen kids at home to help so that's wonderful.
I feel okay I guess. My leg feels so tight all the time, and now that I'm looking around here and elsewhere, I don't think I've been elevating my knee properly. I just ordered one of those wedges recommended here, and in the meantime have a contraption made of pillows to tide me over. I am hoping the proper elevating will relieve the tightness (which I assume is swelling). I have been icing quite frequently since the beginning. A question, though: When you elevate, can you ice at the same time or should those be done separately?
I think for now the worst is the lack of decent sleep. I sleep at most 2 hours at a time, and I can only sleep on my back because it's too painful to sleep on my side yet. And although I do dream, so I'm getting into that good REM sleep, I'm still exhausted all the time. Also, whenever I wake up I have to go to the bathroom, so I actually get out of bed every 2 hours. It sucks so bad.
And the compression socks! While I totally understand the reasons for them, they feel so constricting especially at night. I can't stand to have my feet covered when I sleep (in fact, before surgery I usually hang at least one foot off the side of the bed), so it's quite an adjustment.
I would say, after that first day when the pain blocker wore off, it's going okay. I wasn't prepared for the mental/emotional impact, though, so it's nice to be here looking at others' stories so I don't feel so alone.
And I am scared I won't want to get the second one done. So far, if you asked me now, I would do it. But there's a long way to go. I was really hoping to get it done in 3 months but I guess we'll see.