TKR TKR February 16

[Gauthier01]

Well, Dr. Called and I am scheduled for TKR on right knee Nov. 16.

 

[Gauthier01]

Correction: Feb 16.

 

[Jaycey]

@Gauthier01 We will get you added to the February group and have your signature updated as well.

 

[Gauthier01]

Thank you!

 

[Susie-Q]

Congrats on getting your surgery date! It will be here before you know it!

 

[Gauthier01]

Thanks. Jitters starting after reading some horror stories about pain

 

[InkedMarie]

Thanks. Jitters starting after reading some horror stories about pain

Not everyone has pain or horrendous pain.

Marie

 

[Jockette]

There will be pain, but your medical team should work out a good plan for you to keep it at a manageable level.

One very important way to not have more pain than is to be expected is to be very careful with the list of exercises you will probably get. Most of these are a standard list that everyone gets. While movement is good for your freshly healing knee, that movement must be gentle. Gentle stretches and short walks around your home are all that is needed in the early weeks.

Don’t let anyone, especially a PT, bend your knee for you. Too many of them bend it further than is necessary, which will increase your pain and swelling.
Saying no to therapy - am I allowed to?

Regaining our ROM does not require forceful bending or painful exercises.
Regaining our ROM is more about Time than repetitions of a list of exercises.

Time to recover.
Time for pain and swelling to settle.
Time to heal.

Our range of motion is right there all along just waiting for that to happen so it can show itself.

In the general run of things, it doesn't need to be fought for, worked hard for or worried about. It will happen. Normal activity is the key to success.

Best Wishes!

 

[beachy]

If you stay ahead of the pain by taking the meds, icing and elevating properly you will have a good recovery. Can't stress that enough. Set an alarm for the meds whether you feel like you need them or not. Constantly... Not sometimes....ice and elevate. Do that for a week or two and you will have a great recovery. I've done it twice and it works

 

[beachy]

And try reading some of the recovery stories that don't have horrendous pain.
Its surgery and not a small one. But, the combo of ice, elevating and meds will keep you comfortable.

 

[Mrs Knee]

I had a TKR on 9/12/22. You will get through this it just takes time.
Couple of suggestions:
Get a good ice machine (I got mine on Amazon). It is invaluable. Get small frozen water bottles instead of ice and rotate them out with new ones I am 20 weeks out and still use my ice machine st least once a day.

Secondly, I found sleeping in a recliner was SO much easier than the bed. Easier to get up at night and much more comfortable for the knee. I think I didn’t get to the bed till about 7 weeks. Now I am a stomach sleeper so that also made it hard.

Take your pain meds as directed especially right after surgery. My meds said take 1-2 every 4-6 hours for pain. I tried to take 1 every 6 hrs and the pain got away from me. You don’t want that. Make sure you drink lots of water and maybe prunes to prevent any constipation.

I hope you have a great recovery and just know others are rooting for you.

 

[Gauthier01]

Thanks so much for the encouragement! I needed that

 

[beachy]

Come visit us in the recovery forum after you surgery!

 

[Layla]

Hi @Gauthier01
Stopping by with best wishes for your surgery tomorrow.
Please join us on the healing side once you're home resting comfortably and feel like sharing an update.
Hope to hear from you soon!