TKR Yorkimom is ready to go...LTKR
- Thread starter Yorkimom
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gr82cu2
post-grad
Oh gosh Anne, sorry I wasn't here. I wonder what could have happened? Maybe you slept is an odd position or something. The back of the knee pain is really, really painful. Do you think it is muscle pain or hamstring tendons? I went through about a week or 10 days of really painful hamstring tendons and worried it might be tendonitis. I did a lot of quad sets trying to stretch them and it did eventually get better. Let us know what your PT said. Hopefully they were able to help you.
@Yorkimom
I can't explain your sudden pain at the back of the knee but I am thinking that now might be the time for a bare minimum of gentle PT, and lots of rest, ice, elevation and regular pain medication. You can ice teh back of your knee, too.
Often, you can get pain that tells you that you did a bit too much the previous day.
I hope your PT gave you some relief, but I can't help thinking that you are expecting too much of your knee at this early stage. It is early to be wanting to do straight leg raising on a regular basis. Heavens, I can only do one lift about twice a day and I'm a day ahead of you on the recovery trail.
I'm not going to PT at all yet, and won't be for at least another two weeks. I'm just doing a few simple exercises and moving around the house. I can already feel that my knee is bending a bit further, and I'm not working at that, just doing a few heel slides and concentrating on reducing the swelling.
I can't explain your sudden pain at the back of the knee but I am thinking that now might be the time for a bare minimum of gentle PT, and lots of rest, ice, elevation and regular pain medication. You can ice teh back of your knee, too.
Often, you can get pain that tells you that you did a bit too much the previous day.
I hope your PT gave you some relief, but I can't help thinking that you are expecting too much of your knee at this early stage. It is early to be wanting to do straight leg raising on a regular basis. Heavens, I can only do one lift about twice a day and I'm a day ahead of you on the recovery trail.
I'm not going to PT at all yet, and won't be for at least another two weeks. I'm just doing a few simple exercises and moving around the house. I can already feel that my knee is bending a bit further, and I'm not working at that, just doing a few heel slides and concentrating on reducing the swelling.
OP
OP
Yorkimom
graduate
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@PuppyLove, @marmora, @gr82cu2, @kneeper, @Celle thank you for your encouragement. I did decide to go to PT and as soon as I hobbled in with my walker they commented that I didn't look or act like myself. My therapist was very gentle, but did have me do the exercises. But she did say if it was too much, not to do it. She did apply some pressure when I had my leg straightened, but gently, and the same with my bending. Then of course they put me on the ice machine. Believe it or not I was feeling better during PT. Of course the ride home was painful like usual. Having my leg down for 20 minutes just makes it seize and when I first try to move it to get out of the car, it just locks and is so painful. Once I stand on it and take a step or two i'm fine. The doctor's office called and I described everything to her and told her that the therapist didn't think it was a blood clot as it wasn't red or warm, etc. We talked about the pain meds and I told her that a I had cut down pretty good on them and she thinks that is the problem. I take oxycodone 5mg. 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours. I had cut them down to 1 pill every 5-6 hours along with 1 extra strength Tylenol. I told her that I was afraid of how long the doctor would let me continue on the meds. She said that at 6 weeks if you are still taking 2 every 4 hours, then you are using too much. She said I am fine and should increase the meds. So since yesterday I am taking 2 every 4-6 hours and am feeling much better. I just know I don't ever want to go through a day like yesterday. Once I got home from PT I did nothing but sleep and I slept good last night too.
@Celle I don't think the PT exercises had anything to do with it, at least not this time. I hadn't been to PT since Friday and this happened early Monday morning. Thanks again, Anne
@Celle I don't think the PT exercises had anything to do with it, at least not this time. I hadn't been to PT since Friday and this happened early Monday morning. Thanks again, Anne
gr82cu2
post-grad
I'm glad you are feeling better with being back on more meds. I know what you mean though about being scared how long your OS will let you have them. You wonder if you should take the full script as prescribed and be a lot more comfortable but then are you taking a chance they won't let you have more and you'll be cold turkey with nothing at all? My doc was (and his PA was) weird about the whole thing in my opinion. In the paperwork they had given me it pretty well indicated that they would not under any circumstances Rx a script after hours, on weekends or EVER after 8 weeks post op. They sent me home with 90 5mg oxycodone to take 1-2 every 6 hours. If I had taken them 2 every 6 hours I would have ran out in 11 days. Instead I only took 2 at a time on 3 occasions that I remember when I first got home. Then I alternated them, 1 at a time, every 6 hours with Tramadol to make them last. They lasted 4 weeks. But, there was no way I could survive at that point on Tramadol alone. So, I called and asked for something stronger. They refused more Oxy which I found reasonable. I probably didn't need anything that strong at that point. So, they gave me Hydrocodone but not without a fight from me. They insisted I shouldn't be needing anything that strong at 4 weeks. Really?? Let's cut off your bones and pound some metal in them and see how you feel about that then? LOL!! I've decided with this next one if they send me home with 90 Oxy again whether I'm out or not I'm going to call at around 2 weeks and say I am just so I can have a stash if needed. I still have around 25 or 30 hydrocodone I'm hanging onto just in case. I hate, absolutely hate that I was made to feel like an irresponsible kid or some sort of junkie or something. Good Lord, the last thing any of us needs in our life is to get addicted to pain meds so we naturally don't allow ourselves to become hooked because um, we're adults! We're dealing with enough as it is. I'm really scared with this next one since I can no longer take Celebrex. I have a feeling it is going to be a lot more painful at least until I'm off the blood thinners and can go back on Aleve to control the inflammation. Anyway, sorry to ramble on your thread. I'm really happy you feel better today. Hang in there! It should start getting better for you soon. (((hugs)))
marmora
post-grad
Anne @Pumpkln
Good to hear that you found your PT session good and comfortable and that you felt better after the session.
Also pleased for you that you were able to get your medication sorted, so that you are comfortable and no longer have a bad night.
As Janet @gr82cu2 said, we are made to feel guilty when looking for additional or stronger pain relief. And made to feel thankful, when we do mangE to get a repeat or new prescription.
It's the same here in Ireland, all the world-wide OS's must have gotten together to write a
Pain Medication Charter to be used in all countries.
Take care,
Cathie
Good to hear that you found your PT session good and comfortable and that you felt better after the session.
Also pleased for you that you were able to get your medication sorted, so that you are comfortable and no longer have a bad night.
As Janet @gr82cu2 said, we are made to feel guilty when looking for additional or stronger pain relief. And made to feel thankful, when we do mangE to get a repeat or new prescription.
It's the same here in Ireland, all the world-wide OS's must have gotten together to write a
Pain Medication Charter to be used in all countries.
Take care,
Cathie
OP
OP
Yorkimom
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@gr82cu2 Hi Janet. No need to worry about rambling on. I completely understand what you are saying. I have been reading so many times in Bonesmart about a doctor not extending meds. I am very fortunate in that my OS is very understanding. I think I forgot that in reading everyone's stories. I went back and looked through my medicine log from my last surgery. While I only took 1 Oxycodone every four hours, except for when I had PT and then I would take 2, I also had OxyContin twice a day... one at night and one in the morning. My OS said that they won't allow them to prescribe it anymore. So I guess with taking 2 at a time I am not taking too much as that is all I am taking except for Gabapentin at bedtime. This is a med for nerve pain. I had my surgery on December 3 last time and the last time I took meds was February 2, so my doctor is generous with meds as long as you don't abuse them. One thing is that you are lucky that you were prescribed 90 at a time. Here they will only prescribe 60 at a time. If you took 2 every four hours, that only lasts 5 days!!!!! You mentioned that you also have Tramadol. What is that?
@marmora Hi Cathie! I was surprised that PT actually did help. I'm not going to lie that it was a little painful but I was in pain when I got there so all in all they were gentle. I am so glad that I did change PT's. They push you, but not to the point of pain and are very encouraging and caring.
Today I did absolutely nothing. I slept off and on all day and it felt good to just lay back and relax. The only problem now is that with taking 2 pills, I really can't concentrate to read. After a few lines, the letters just all run into each other.
Overall I think I am doing well. Especially when you take into account that I have been alone since day one. I came home from the hospital on Sunday and then starting Monday I was alone. Joe is so busy at work right now and just can't leave the job. He calls me just about every hour or so. And of course Marc works too. My neighbor did bring me breakfast and take Rusty out for me the first week, but then she was busy with company from out of town. Marc did manage to come home around 2 from work last week so that helped.
I told Joe is they had known I would have been alone so much they might have made me go to a rehab. I didn't want to do that and after the first week I was able to get myself something to drink and something light to eat. If I really ran into a jam, there are several neighbors I could have called. So it worked.
I hope you both have a good night. Anne
@marmora Hi Cathie! I was surprised that PT actually did help. I'm not going to lie that it was a little painful but I was in pain when I got there so all in all they were gentle. I am so glad that I did change PT's. They push you, but not to the point of pain and are very encouraging and caring.
Today I did absolutely nothing. I slept off and on all day and it felt good to just lay back and relax. The only problem now is that with taking 2 pills, I really can't concentrate to read. After a few lines, the letters just all run into each other.
Overall I think I am doing well. Especially when you take into account that I have been alone since day one. I came home from the hospital on Sunday and then starting Monday I was alone. Joe is so busy at work right now and just can't leave the job. He calls me just about every hour or so. And of course Marc works too. My neighbor did bring me breakfast and take Rusty out for me the first week, but then she was busy with company from out of town. Marc did manage to come home around 2 from work last week so that helped.
I told Joe is they had known I would have been alone so much they might have made me go to a rehab. I didn't want to do that and after the first week I was able to get myself something to drink and something light to eat. If I really ran into a jam, there are several neighbors I could have called. So it worked.
I hope you both have a good night. Anne
PuppyLove
graduate
Anne, I'm glad you're doing better. I have been feeling much better after the PA gave me a new med regimen. I think I'm sleeping a bit more, too. Sweet dreams!
PuppyLove
graduate
That's a great picture ( and we won't tell Rusty)!
gr82cu2
post-grad
What a sweet picture of you two! Love it!
I wonder who "they" is that said your doctor can no longer Rx Oxycontin. That strikes me as strange. Maybe they don't carry it in pharmacies anymore? I think it is one of the drugs that get pharmacies robbed. It seems like you are doing ok without it though now that you increased the oxycodone.
I'll admit when they wrote me an Rx for 90 oxycodone I was shocked. I think they did to avoid getting called again real soon for a refill. Whatever, it worked out well for me. They gave me Tramadol too and suggested I alternate the two so I would take an Oxy, 3 hours later a Tramadol, 3 hours later an Oxy......it did seem to keep the pain waves from peaking too bad. I had never heard of Tramadol until I came here to BS. I've researched it and am still confused as to whether it is narcotic or not. Once place says it is and one place says not. It has Tylenol in with it. The FDA changed the classification (to more restrictive) on it at some point since my surgery but from what I've read it's hard to get hooked on it. From my experience it isn't a whole lot better than taking a couple of Tylenol for pain relief but you do ingest less Tylenol by taking the Tramadol. I have never felt the narcotic buzz from it, sleepiness, lack of concentration or anything. It says for moderate to moderately severe pain but there is NO way Tramadol alone in the early days after this surgery would cut the pain. It's fine for me now though with what pain I do have. I take one or maybe 2 a day depending on how I'm feeling. A few days I've taken nothing other than Tylenol and Aleve. I think at this point I've resigned myself to knowing my OS will not write anymore pain Rx's and I just have to live with whatever pain I do have and try to alleviate it with OTC stuff as best I can. Knee #1 will be happy when knee #2 gets it some pain meds, LOL!!
I wonder who "they" is that said your doctor can no longer Rx Oxycontin. That strikes me as strange. Maybe they don't carry it in pharmacies anymore? I think it is one of the drugs that get pharmacies robbed. It seems like you are doing ok without it though now that you increased the oxycodone.
I'll admit when they wrote me an Rx for 90 oxycodone I was shocked. I think they did to avoid getting called again real soon for a refill. Whatever, it worked out well for me. They gave me Tramadol too and suggested I alternate the two so I would take an Oxy, 3 hours later a Tramadol, 3 hours later an Oxy......it did seem to keep the pain waves from peaking too bad. I had never heard of Tramadol until I came here to BS. I've researched it and am still confused as to whether it is narcotic or not. Once place says it is and one place says not. It has Tylenol in with it. The FDA changed the classification (to more restrictive) on it at some point since my surgery but from what I've read it's hard to get hooked on it. From my experience it isn't a whole lot better than taking a couple of Tylenol for pain relief but you do ingest less Tylenol by taking the Tramadol. I have never felt the narcotic buzz from it, sleepiness, lack of concentration or anything. It says for moderate to moderately severe pain but there is NO way Tramadol alone in the early days after this surgery would cut the pain. It's fine for me now though with what pain I do have. I take one or maybe 2 a day depending on how I'm feeling. A few days I've taken nothing other than Tylenol and Aleve. I think at this point I've resigned myself to knowing my OS will not write anymore pain Rx's and I just have to live with whatever pain I do have and try to alleviate it with OTC stuff as best I can. Knee #1 will be happy when knee #2 gets it some pain meds, LOL!!
PuppyLove
graduate
From what I have read, Tramadol is not classified as a narcotic, but it does produce narcotic-like pain relief. If someone becomes dependent on it, it can cause withdrawal symptoms. When I took Tramadol after my THR (at about three weeks out, when I wanted to drive) I found that it made me feel a little loopy. I am planning to try it again in a few weeks.
When I had my Norco Rx filled last week, it included a notice that meds containing hydrocodone + another ingredient are now classified by the DEA as Schedule II meds and cannot include refills, or be phoned or faxed in. I think individual states also impose their own rules on physicians and prescription writing, so many Bonesmart members may be getting different info based on where they live. I really can't blame a doctor for not wanting to lose his license, but I agree that pain relief needs to be addressed in an individual manner. It is sad that we all have to suffer for those who abuse meds.
When I had my Norco Rx filled last week, it included a notice that meds containing hydrocodone + another ingredient are now classified by the DEA as Schedule II meds and cannot include refills, or be phoned or faxed in. I think individual states also impose their own rules on physicians and prescription writing, so many Bonesmart members may be getting different info based on where they live. I really can't blame a doctor for not wanting to lose his license, but I agree that pain relief needs to be addressed in an individual manner. It is sad that we all have to suffer for those who abuse meds.
Not all Tramadol has Tylenol with it. The type I take does not.
HI Anne - @Yorkimom
I'm glad for you on two counts.
One: that you have increased your pain medication again. Don't start cutting back until you find you are starting to forget to take doses.
Two: I'm glad your PT session was helpful. It's too early for you therapist to be pushing down on your knee, even if it doesn't hurt you.
Is there any way that you can elevate your leg during the journey to and from PT?
I did a long journey at about 4 weeks and I supported my leg on three pillows as we travelled. That made it much more comfortable.
I'm glad for you on two counts.
One: that you have increased your pain medication again. Don't start cutting back until you find you are starting to forget to take doses.
Two: I'm glad your PT session was helpful. It's too early for you therapist to be pushing down on your knee, even if it doesn't hurt you.
Is there any way that you can elevate your leg during the journey to and from PT?
I did a long journey at about 4 weeks and I supported my leg on three pillows as we travelled. That made it much more comfortable.
bottomshollow
Former BoneSmart staff member
PuppyLove
graduate
Happy birthday! 
gr82cu2
post-grad
Happy Birthday Anne!!!! I hope you have a wonderful day 
