TKR TKRsharon

[TKRsharon]

Hi everyone. I hope I am doing this correctly. I had a right TKR 4 years ago and this group helped me get through a very rough time and I am forever grateful. I am having the right knee done April 3rd, (new surgeon) and I am glad to have you all again.
I have a question about ice machines. Can you recommend one you liked and why or tell me which one you used and did not like and why?
Anyone have one knee done with the robotic device and the other one not? Was there a difference? I'll ask one more question now and save the rest for next time - has much changed in 4 years with pain medication and management?

 

[mendogal]

Welcome back @TKRsharon !

Ice machine - I was loaned one 20+ years ago for my ACL reconstruction and loved it. So buying one was my first order of business after scheduling my first TKR.

The Bregg polar ice cube is a relatively inexpensive option. What I especially like is, after filling to the fill line with water, instead of adding ice you can add 4 16 oz bottles of water you've frozen. Keep another 4 or 8 in the freezer. When they thaw, swap them out.

Pain stuff - Besides oral meds, I was sent home with a narrow catheter into my thigh that was connected to a little pump that delivered a steady preset amount of local anesthetic until it ran out between post op day 3 and 4. Easily removed by me at home. It helped a lot! The anesthesiologist inserted it in preop, guided by ultrasound.

 

[TKRsharon]

mendogal,
Thank you so much for that info! I am doing research on the ice machines I I will look into your suggestion. I was not advised to get one the first time, in fact, I had no idea they even existed when I had my first surgery.
That catheter/pump sounds interesting and I will talk to the surgeon about it.
In what part of the country are you? I am in New York, on Long Island.

Thank you for for your help.

 

[mendogal]

@TKRsharon Hello Lawn Guyland! Waving from 3,000 miles away in a little town in Northern California so I traveled an hour to get my TKR in Santa Rosa - but I was born and raised in Brooklyn. Yes after 51 years away I still have the accent and attitude when it’s needed!!!!

 

[Jamie]

@TKRsharon … a LOT has changed in the medical world since your last surgery! Robotics are more common and can make a difference in the surgery and recovery. Surgeons now sometimes forego the use of tourniquets during surgery, so possibly a little less pain there in recovery. But the biggest improvement is that now most surgeons use a pain cocktail that is injected into the incision tissues right before closing. This can give the patient 2-3 days of reduced pain. The only down side to that is that people make the mistake of thinking surgery was no big deal and then overdo it in those first days home.

Ice machines are a pretty straightforward machine, so there isn’t really all that much difference from one model to the next. You might want to hold off to purchase a new one until we get our Recovery Shop store launched in the next 2-3 weeks. Insiders Club members will get a discount on any items purchased through our online store. If you opt to purchase or borrow a used one, just be sure and get a new pad. They don’t tend to age well and we recommend that you get a new one of your own to use with an older, used machine.

 

[TKRsharon]

Jamie,
Thank you for all that great info. You put my mind at ease a bit. I am still so anxious about this, especially since my first was an awful experience. I am in so much pain now and my mantra is that the pain after the surgery will be "healing pain" - getting better.
What exactly makes the robotics better? I was thinking that maybe it's because the prosthetic is made to fit the individual instead of the other way around? Also, do you think there is less soft tissue damage?

Thank you in advance for helping me and answering the millions of questions I will ask.

 

[Jamie]

The robotics help a surgeon make cuts in a very precise and controlled manner. There is often pre-surgery computerized imaging that creates a custom implant. Many surgeons feel this is better for the patient than choosing from the wide variety of off-the-shelf configurations for the prosthesis parts. The bottom line, though, is still the same. The skill of the surgeon is your most important factor in having a successful surgery. This is because there is still a lot of manual balancing of the knee to ensure it works properly. There can be a little less soft tissue damage with robotics. But soft tissue pain post op is more a factor of how much work must be done with the knee and how long it takes the surgeon to complete the procedure. This is why we recommend that people not wait until their knee is totally trashed before getting the replacement. Once you’re bone on bone, things are not ever going to get better, only worse.

Bring on the questions! That’s what we’re here for.

 

[TKRsharon]

Still wondering..... has anyone had one knee replaced the "traditional way" and the other one done using robotics? Can you pleas share your experiences? I also have a question about tourniquets. Who has has an experience with one and then without and can you tell me how each impacted your recovery.
Thanks

 

[Layla]

Hi Sharon,
How about we change your thread title to reflect those topics? It may draw more attention / response if we do.

Something like - "Traditional TKR vs Robotic & Seeking Tourniquet Feedback"
@TKRsharon

We can always change it back again, once you receive enough feedback...if interested.

 

[TKRsharon]

Thank you for your feedback. That sounds like a good idea, but I'm thinking it might shrink my pre-op audience even more. I have and will have so many questions. I don't want to bother someone by switching my thread title back and forth. The group seems "quieter" than it was my first experience. I'll try not to be impatient and see what happens. i really am depending on the group to get me through, as they were so wonderful and comforting the first time around. I see some of the same moderators, and I remember how they ,Jamie especially ,was so great.
Thank you in advance for all yoe support. It is so good to know that when you are in the thick of it, you can reach out into the darkness and find a kind, reassuring voice to get you through.

 

[Layla]

Hi again Sharon,

It is so good to know that when you are in the thick of it, you can reach out into the darkness and find a kind, reassuring voice to get you through

We' re here 24/ 7...lights never go out.

Your decision to leave your thread title as is sounds good. Please understand though, it's not a problem for us to switch it. It takes only seconds if you do change your mind after a time.

It may be temporarily quieter as we are transitioning to a paid subscription. We are focused on giving a higher level of service to our subscribers. We're still here for the community, but are dedicating more time and resources to those supporting the site. We appreciate all who've been part of the journey and thank you for your confidence and dedication to BoneSmart. It is greatly appreciated.

 

[Jamie]

Thanks for the kind words about the work we do here on BoneSmart. Helping people is truly our passion and we enjoy hearing of the success that members have had.

There are studies that reinforce the fact that surgeons who opt not to use a tourniquet have less post-op bruising and muscle pain (from the constriction). So not using one can help in recovery. But not all surgeons go this route. Usually a surgeon will want to be sure he can get in and out of the knee as quickly as possible if no tourniquet is used. It won’t have any impact on the success of the joint replacement.

I agree with Layla that a change in your thread title to get input from other BoneSmarties may help, so please consider allowing us to do that for you. After all, we DO want you to get the input you’re looking for.

As for the forum being a little “quieter” these days, our participation is actually pretty constant. What you may be seeing that’s different now is that our BoneSmarties are tending now to be more focused on getting questions and concerns answered than just chatting among each other. That has changed over the years.