Update on my surgery

[VikingFan]

Had my Left TKR done on Tuesday June 10 11:45am. They gave me 3 leg nerve blocks(including the femoral nerve block) and anethesia that knocked me out but didn't put me completely under. They shut off my femoral nerve block on 4am Friday morning and I was back home by Friday noon. The 'Bone Pain' was long gone by then. My range of motion was 3-88 degrees when I left the hospital. Felt great when I woke up Saturday morning. In fact part of Saturday I was walking so well I didn't need the cane(Not sure if that's a no-no or not) and I did quite a bit of slow walking around the house and a couple of loads of laundry as well. I think I overdid it a bit as both of my legs had very sore calf muscles Sunday and into today(Monday). I was/am really out of shape as a result of the condition of my left knee before surgery. My left foot is a little swollen and has started to bruise a little. I'm relying on the 20mg Oxycontin every 12 hours and am pretty comfortable. Pain is about a 3-4 when doing PT. One surprise though, apparently they discovered that I have sleep apnea when I was 'under'. I had no idea I had that condition.

 

[beachcomber]

Hi and welcome to the other side! It sounds like you are doing very well indeed! My OS assured me that I cannot actually "hurt" my knee--- but "overdoing it" might make it hurt. Just let your pain, swelling, and discomfort be your guide in terms of the walking with/without your cane. I used the crutches and cane very little in and around my house after the first few days at home, but still needed them when I started to get out and about.

Be sure to stretch your calf and hamstring muscles if they get tight and hurt. I loop a towel around my foot and pull my toes toward my body with the towel till I feel a stretch in my calf (while sitting down with my legs in front of me).

My PT showed me how to do a type of massage called lymph drainage to help with the swelling and discoloration in my leg and ankle. It can't hurt anything, and is believed to help remove the toxins and by-products of the surgery from your leg. If you would like me to send you the directions--- you need to send me your regular e-mail address. The file is too big to post here on this forum. Just PM me and I will gladly send it along.

Good luck and work hard on your PT!

 

[carolinagirl]

Hi Viking Fan,

WOW, sounds like you are doing great. It is so nice to read posts where
the recovery is going well! I hope I will do as well as you are.
Best of luck to you in your continued recovery.

 

[JenniferG]

Viking fan Congrats. I used to do that calf stretch Beach tallked about with my cane. Helped with the extension and just felt good to stretch. My OS had me go for a sleep test before surgery for sleep a[nea. I didn't have it (which I told them!) My hubby on the other hand....

 

[Weezy]

WOOOO HOOOOOO! Congrats! It sounds as if you're chugging along just great!

I'm glad to hear that everything went so well and I triple endorse the calf stretching bit. I also found that doing "toe lifts" (going up and down from a flat foot standing to your toes) while hanging onto something felt good and seemed to help the swelling in my ankle.


Weezy

 

[1jt@atime]

Hi VikingFan, I had my second tkr on the 9th so I'm just a day ahead of you. I too, was walking around the house after getting home last Wednesday but I definitely didn't volunteer doing laundry! By Saturday, I had a very tight calf and as I wrote in another post, went to the hospital to make sure it wasn't a clot and it wasn't. I do remember having a similar calf problem the first go round but not as bad as this one. The ultrasound tech at the hospital told me there is blood stuck in the leg and until your body works it out, it's going to hurt. Keep stretching and working it as much as you can as will I. It's more painful then the knee itself!

I also have sleep apnea and was diagnosed three years ago though I knew I had had it for years. My husband would hear me stop breathing through the night. I took the round of tests and was waking up 45 time per hour! That's about every minute and 15 seconds! No wonder I was always tired. I now sleep with a mask on my face that pushes air in through the nose to keep the passageways open. I hate having to wear a mask but I do notice when I don't have it so I know it works. It's quite attractive (NOT)for my husband to be sleeping next to someone like this but he's adjusted. I used to snort and make all kinds of noises in my sleep trying to get air and now my husband tells me I sound like Darth Vador with the mask! He, he.... I guess that's better then the noises I used to make. You should get it checked out once you are feeling better.
Karen