What happens during/after TKR

[Irishgirl359]

Hello everyone
My Name is Colleen and I am in the Big Apple New york city. Just wanted to introduce my self and say hello.

Can anyone give me a quick synopsis of what to expect before during and after knee replacement surgery. I am driving down to Hilton Head south carolina by my parents to have this surgery done hopefully on 7/21 I have not met with the surgeon down there he comes highly recommended. My first appt is on 7/9 I had an appt with a surgeon here in new york last month he took xray and said i totally need my knee replaced he was amazed i walked in to his office with the looks of my knee on the xray. I decided to go down south to be near my parens opposed to having it done in the city i live alone and i would have to go to a nursing home for a month , I felt it was better for my mom to take care of me then some strange 300 pound oderly flipping me over like a pancake to care for me.

Thanks for listening I will keep e1 posted on what is what.... Thanks again :thmb:

 

[Gringo]

Re: Newbie

sounds like me, re: the x-rays and horrible knee. In my case, I flew to Houston and spent two and a half weeks there getting a knee replaced. I flew home again two days after the doc took the staples out.

All of the questions you have asked so far are here on the forum. You just need to read some of the threads. We have people here who have not had the surgery yet, and tons of people who are days, weeks, months, and years after. I am two months past the worst knee, with the other knee scheduled for two and a half months from now.

I love the new knee. I am doing things I could not do for thirty years, no fooling. I wish I had gotten it replaced years ago. But I was "too young".

Funny. Now I am 58, and am younger than I was three months ago.

 

[Josephine]

Re: Newbie

Hi Colleen and welcome to BoneSmart! I can do little more than echo Gringo's comments. There's a huge store of information in the two knee forums. Happy reading!

 

[Max Wallace]

Re: Newbie

Welcome!

I would suggest building up you Quad muscles and just have you legs and upper body as strong as possible before surgery and this will greatly help with the recovery. It's always nice to have help after so you don't rely solely on strangers. After surgery don't miss your pain meds and if the initial ones don't give relief try something else. Pain control is very important so that the PT can get the most out of the new knee.

Good luck!

Max

 

[stives]

Re: Newbie

Hi Colleen, and welcome to the forum. As the others have just said, there is loads of information on the various threads to read. If you can't find answers to your questions, you only have to ask and we'll all be trying to help you!

You are lucky to be able to go and stay near your parents, as you could do with a bit of tlc for the first few weeks, and family are the best!

Let us know how things go, and keep posting. All the best.

 

[loggon]

Re: Newbie

The key to a recovery is pain meds, elevate and ice ice ice also
don't try and be superwoman in your physical therapy. Some have and they pay with pain and slip back in recovery. Take it slow and easy and you will be fine. PT does not have to be painful.

You will find lots of advise on here. It is a great site.

Good luck and glad you are going to be near family it helps.

 

[Irishgirl359]

Re: Newbie

a question about pain meds

i have been taking 10/325 hydro for years to get me by with this nasty knee I fear i have built up amuntiy to them and when i have the replacement i wont get pain relief anymore do they give you stronger stuff then the 10/325 i have been taking about 3 day for years i am so addicted to them and cringe of the thought of withdrawing from them when this is all over...

 

[Texas]

Re: Newbie

Hey There, Welcome. I am glad you will be with your Mom. You will need her for a il while. But you will be just fine. If you have had that much pain, you will be happy you had this done.................Yeah not sure on that medicine, Just saying thats what they gave me after my surgery. You might want to let him know that. Please let us know how you are doing. We have all been thru it and will help as much as we can...........Hang in there wont be long now.....

 

[Motherofmany]

Re: Newbie

Hi Colleen and welcome! You have found a great site to get advice and encouragement. These people are wonderful and very caring.

Definitely let your OS know about the meds. There is stronger stuff out there, just be careful, with me it was too much. Was an ibuprophen girl myself and that dalaudin (?) drip was way too much! Tried to go home before my time.

As much as you are able, try to build up your quad muscles. There is a link on here that shows exercises (wish I could find it for you) that will benefit you. Do the press downs where you sit in a chair and press your knees down, tightening the muscles and hold for 5 seconds, 2 sets of 10. Then extend your leg out and do the same again.

There are the step ups, where you stand to the side of a stair and step up with your bad knee then step back down with the good one, heel first. Work your way up to 25.

The lunges are good too, just make sure to hold it 5-10 seconds.

There are also the 'touches', best done on the arm of the couch. With these you stand, then bend like you are going to sit down and barely touch your bottom on the arm and stand again. 2 sets of 10 each.

These are just a few simple exercises that will help build the quad and can easily be done at home. The stronger the quad and upper body strength, the better your recovery.

Anything you can do in a pool is also wonderful and doesn't stress the knee.

It's great you will have family helping out. You will really need them the first few weeks.

Keep some good books close and finish any outstanding projects that may distract you before your surgery. Afterwards you'll be focused on recovering and PT which takes a lot of energy. Will need to rest, elevate knees and ice a lot.

Hope this helps you some. There are plenty of other postings with great advice take time to read them and be blessed!

 

[ship4]

Re: Newbie

Hi Colleen,
Welcome to the forum! I am going to give you one suggestion as it was the lifesaver for me for my surgery. Purchase the book! It outlines pre & post surgery exercises and recovery. A basic what to expect with TKR guide. I used it like a bible....
I am 59 and just celebrated my first year anniversary post op last week from having both knees replaced at the same time. I went on an adventure ropes course on Saturday with my husband, our 34 year old son, and 10 year old granddaughter. Yes, my whole body hurts because I have not done anything as strenuous as that recently. I am so very proud of myself for doing the whole thing. Log walks, cable tight rope walking, zip lining, and rappelling.
There is life after TKR!

 

[calling_all_angels]

Re: Newbie

Hi Colleen,
It is so nice to meet you. I am glad to hear that you will be with Family
during your time of recovering. And Parents are the Best!!!
I can not think of anything to add to what has all ready been share with
you!! And Hilton head Island is a great place to be. I know I loved going
to my Brother"s home on the Island in the middle of a Iowa Winter!!!
Such a beautiful place.

 

[Jamie]

Re: Newbie

Hi, Colleen....so glad you found the BoneSmart forum. The advice you've received is excellent. If you have the time, do a little reading on the old threads. Then post if you have any questions or concerns. I'm sure things will come up as you get closer to the surgery date. I think you are smart to go where you have the support of your family. It's a HUGE factor in a successful recovery to have a good support network.

 

[Gimpy9]

Re: Newbie

Hi Colleen,
I had a partial knee replacement a couple of years ago after 8 knee surgeries. Took me awhile to find a doctor that would do the surgery. I have a life now!!! Take your pain meds on time. Write down when you take them so you don't forget, that helped me alot because when you are drugged up the mind wobbles a bit. Do all of your exercises before sugery and after. I did my PT at the facility and again at home at least one other time a day. Recovery is not as fast as you think it should be, don't get discouraged you will get there.
After surgery make them get you up and get walking, you won't feel like it, but the sooner you start moving the better you will feel!!
Good speed, happy walking - pain free

 

[Gringo]

Re: Newbie

I had a grin on my face from ear to ear the first ten seconds I was standing on my new knee, the day after my late afternoon surgery. I knew right then that this was better.

 

[Clunker]

Re: Newbie

Hi Colleen and welcome! This is a great source of info,and yes even some fun at times.I don't have much to add as others have given you great advice. Do build up you leg strength as much as possible. Also the tip, on Don't over do it on exercises after tkr is also so true,I know I know,,.Also do leg extensions and bends.You will do just fine,try to stay very positive and laugh every day.Matter of fact,here is a thought,maybe invite us ALL over to your house for a bbq,and party,and we can just all share our great wisdom with you.haha. I can arive early and stay late if you like.:hehe:

 

[Judles]

Re: Newbie

Hi Colleen and welcome! Another New Yorker here! But I definitely think you've made the right decision to have family support after your surgery! Look forward to hearing from you!

 

[tooyoungforthis]

Re: Newbie

Hello Colleen, I have been on the same pain pills for a couple of years now,The OS does give you stronger ones so dont worry in that dept. any questions just ask

 

[Irishgirl359]

Re: Newbie

Thanks everyone for the Warm Welcome:wub:

I will keep everyone posted on my surgery
I have not met up with the surgeon yet I have set up my first appt when i get down south on 7/9
but his office case worker prescheduled me for 7/21 surgery if all goes well with my tests.

I am focusing on right now the long Haul i have to drive me and my kittie Kat down south from the big apple its a 16 hour drive I dont know how my poor kittie is going to handle that long drive. When i take her in the car to get her nails clipped once a month she hems and haews the whole 10 minute drive. I do have a Suv i will keep her in the carrier until i get to the Jersey turnpike then i will let her out to roam the car but knowing my baby after the frist 20 minutes of checking out the situation she will calm down and sleep in the passager seat next to me, i will bring her blankiie and pillow so she is not so out of sorts. Thank god i have this trip with her to take my mind of the surgery its one hurdle at a time I think that is the best rigth now, My mom is 71 years old with 6 pack abs and in great shape so she will be able to help me with recovery she is a hard core german wench and will not let me get lazy and lay around and feel sorry for my self she will push me which is what i need at times i do tend to get lazy.

Once again thanks everyone for all your advice and welcome.
May god bless you all

Colleen

 

[aussie]

Re: Newbie

Welcome Colleen,

Patience, patience and more patience with your new knee, and a sense of humour never goes astray.

Ditto what everyone else has said.

 

[loggon]

Re: Newbie

Irish
Glad to hear your mom is in shape, but do not push too much or you will just lapse back a day. As Chris said Patience, patience, and more patience with your new knee and that goes for exercise, etc. You can not rush this. It takes time to heal.

Good luck and have a save drive.