PKR Zab’s recovery thread.

[zab]

I will try and post a pic

 

[zab]

No didn't work

 

[Lindylee]

Maybe it's a reaction to the adhesive on the dressing? It sounds like a blister. I've had problems in the past blistering at the edge of a dressing. I wouldn't pierce it as that will put it more at risk of infection. Might be worth getting checked as soon as you can to be on the safe side. They may need to use a different dressing,

 

[NavyGunns]

@zab, the bruising is normal. Keep in mind that bruising will extend away from the surgical site due to gravity pulling the blood away from the area. I had bruising and discolorization that extended all the way to my ankles. Yellows, reds, purple, you name it. All goes away in time.

I agree best not to mess with the area. If it is painful and hot, then go to emergency room as it would be sign of infection. If not painful or hot to the touch, then probably okay to wait till you see your OS tomorrow.

 

[NavyGunns]

@zab, see if the information in the following link helps any with posting pics:

https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/uploading-a-picture-in-a-post.14731/

 

[Lilli215]

Wouldn’t take any chances with it, got to be so careful with infection risk. Are you near a hosp A@E, perhaps they could check it out for you. Hopefully it will go away as fast as it developed.

 

[Celle]

@zab - Yes, you're right to leave that blister alone. If it pops on its own, cover it with a clean, dry dressing.

It may be what's called a fracture blister, due to swelling from the surgery. Those are uncommon, but not unknown. We've had a few people on BoneSmart who had them. They usually cure themselves, given time and a reduction in swelling. So, spend plenty of time resting, elevating and icing today.

Or it could be the result of a skin reaction to the adhesive in the waterproof dressing, in which case the dressing will need to be removed and your skin washed carefully.

Either way, your surgeon does need to be aware, so contact him/her first thing tomorrow.
In the meantime, if your GP's practice is open today, perhaps you should go there if there are any signs of the blister enlarging , or if more blisters develop.

If you could post a photo, that would be helpful:
Uploading a Picture in a Post

 

[zab]

Maybe it's a reaction to the adhesive on the dressing? It sounds like a blister. I've had problems in the past blistering at the edge of a dressing. I wouldn't pierce it as that will put it more at risk of infection. Might be worth getting checked as soon as you can to be on the safe side. They may need to use a different dressing,

Yes it does look like a blister you could be right, I will try and get it checked out today, thanks.

 

[zab]

Day 10 - Had first follow up with OS today, nurse removed my dressing and removed stitches on the wounds on my shin and upper thigh where the electrodes were during the op, actual knee wound was glued I think and looks good said she it was looking very good and healing nicely, she advised me the blister/sore I mentioned before was common it is caused by the swelling/reduction in swelling as it swells then reduces when you ice and elevate.

OS was happy with everything ROM 95 & 0, showed me the post op x-rays, advised me to start physio asap now to regain ROM and strength but listen to the the knee and don't over do things.

Had an hour and a half drive there in the crappy Perth traffic, and an hour back with a fair bit of walking too so knee was a bit unhappy by the time I got home, iced and elevated for 30 minutes all good now.

So all in all going OK, I haven't needed any walking aids since day 5, not had to take any opiates just Panadol so really pleased with that, I would have liked to have gone back to work Monday but OS said no unless I really had to, so going to take another week off and if I'm honest I think that is the right decision the knee swells easily still. Just blooming bored.

 

[Lindylee]

Wow, that all sounds great. Don't overdo things now. It's easy to get carried away when you're bored. Can you find something to do to occupy your mind?

 

[NavyGunns]

@zab, work after barely two weeks? Are you crazy? I went back to work after 4 weeks. First week back (week 5 post op) was from my home office, the next week (#6 post op) alternated office and home, week #7 was full time in the office. I have an hour+ drive to and from the office. I found that transition tolerable mainly because I have primarily a desk job and was able to elevate and ice whenever needed. Not knowing what you do for a living, I would strongly recommend you reconsider going back to work so soon, at least not full time.

You are at that point in time where you think you are well on your way through recovery, which also means you are at a higher risk of over doing it. Depending on how much you over do it, you are bound to experience some setbacks which you will need to expect.

Don’t be in too much of a rush just yet. Your knee is still tender and easily aggravated.

 

[maryo52]

It's always nice to have a good check up with the surgeon as there are so many bewildering experiences with TKR. You're through the acute healing period. The next 3-4 weeks there is improvement every day. The tissue are still raw and will rebel with any amount of overdoing. The ice and elevation is still important, and 30 minutes is only enough time for the cool to penetrate, not enough for it to have much effect on the inflammation. My minimum icing time is 60 minutes. As good as you feel, it's still 50 weeks until you're knee is fully recovered.

 

[zab]

Wow, that all sounds great. Don't overdo things now. It's easy to get carried away when you're bored. Can you find something to do to occupy your mind?

Well so far I've been watching Netflix not a big TV watcher but I'm on series 6 of Sons of Anarchy having never watched an episode!! However a mate has dropped off one off his beloved guitars so with the help of youtube I plan on being the new Eric Clapton by the end of next week!

@zab, work after barely two weeks? Are you crazy? I went back to work after 4 weeks. First week back (week 5 post op) was from my home office, the next week (#6 post op) alternated office and home, week #7 was full time in the office. I have an hour+ drive to and from the office. I found that transition tolerable mainly because I have primarily a desk job and was able to elevate and ice whenever needed. Not knowing what you do for a living, I would strongly recommend you reconsider going back to work so soon, at least not full time.

You are at that point in time where you think you are well on your way through recovery, which also means you are at a higher risk of over doing it. Depending on how much you over do it, you are bound to experience some setbacks which you will need to expect.

Don’t be in too much of a rush just yet. Your knee is still tender and easily aggravated.

Hey @NavyGunns I'm all good I had planned on 2 weeks but happy to take 3 I'm an IT manager so desk job but an hour each way commute which I'm not looking forward to, plenty of time to elevate and ice whilst at work though.

 

[Lindylee]

@zab Learning guitar is more productive than watching Netflix non-stop, that's for sure. Let us know how you get on - we'll come to your first concert

A 2 hour drive in addition to sitting at a desk sounds a recipe for disaster to me, but what do I know?

 

[NavyGunns]

@zab, I too have an hour or more commute each way. But I found even that first week working from home was a challenge, especially day 1. Sitting at my desk, I got so wrapped in things, I forgot to make sure I elevated my leg. Spent that first day with my foot on the floor. Paid for it that night. Spent the rest of the week truly using my laptop as a laptop! Worked from my recliner, leg elevated on cushions, cryomachine on. Knee much happier. Couldn’t take pain meds other than Tylenol during the day as they made me groggy, so that was also a challenge.

 

[Rick951]

@zab I also had a PKR, Went back to work after 4 weeks. I was able to Ice when necessary, but it is not the same as being at home. My drive time to work is almost an hour. If I had it to do over again, I would take another week off. The other issue for me was the exhaustion, Between work and healing all my energy was gone. There were times I was falling asleep either while driving, or at work. In retrospect it was not a good decision on my part to go back to work that soon. Just my two cents....
Good Luck on you recovery!!! Sounds like you have the tough part behind you.

 

[zab]

It's always nice to have a good check up with the surgeon as there are so many bewildering experiences with TKR. You're through the acute healing period. The next 3-4 weeks there is improvement every day. The tissue are still raw and will rebel with any amount of overdoing. The ice and elevation is still important, and 30 minutes is only enough time for the cool to penetrate, not enough for it to have much effect on the inflammation. My minimum icing time is 60 minutes. As good as you feel, it's still 50 weeks until you're knee is fully recovered.

Thanks @maryo52 I am seeing improvements each day, and ice and elevate when I need to, I tend to elevate very often but have to disagree with 60 minutes icing, ice was a great addition to pain relief early on and I believe it really helped me avoid using any opiates, but now I'm past that acute pain phase 30 minutes is plenty long enough icing reduces blood low around the wound something I want to avoid as much as possible to aid the healing process. Reduced blood flow = reduced healing time if you see my reasoning and everything I've read and been told backs that up.

First PT session in an hour lets see how that goes

 

[sistersinhim]

@zab, you don't have to quote a whole post to answer someone. Just come down to the bottom of the page and start writing. If you want to call attention to a certain person put a @ right in front of their user name with no space in between. See how I did yours?

now I'm past that acute pain phase 30 minutes is plenty long enough icing reduces blood low around the wound something I want to avoid as much as possible to aid the healing process. Reduced blood flow = reduced healing time if you see my reasoning and everything I've read and been told backs that up.

@Josephine, is this true?

 

[Josephine]

It's true!

 

[zab]

Day 16 - Well had my first PT session yesterday took along my exercise schedule from hospital and he was happy with what I was doing just introduced two additional exercises with the aid of rubber bands one each for extension and flexion the bands were used for control of what was happening not resistance he was quite clear there will always be a reaction from the knee post PT but it shouldn't be a prolonged reaction, he advised we need to push each exercise to get the full benefit but in pushing the pain should never go beyond a 3 on a 1-10 scale. One issue I will have that will hinder my recovery a little is I'm a sweller even after my last scope in 2017 I had to have 2 aspirations at 4 and 5 months post OP due to excessive swelling just something I will need to deal with using regular icing and elevating over the coming months. Because of this the PT emphasised the need to keep on top of the PT exercises to prevent muscle memory loss but complete return of ROM may take a while. He's keen for me to get in the water ASAP but wants to discuss this when we meet again in 10 days just wants me to continue with the current exercises until then. I like to work out in the gym and he advised absolutely fine to start upper body weights but to try and use pin loaded machines (which I hate!) rather than free weights as loading/unloading barbells and dumbells will inadvertently put unwanted pressure on the knee.

As for everything else still off work I am scheduled to return to work next Tuesday so 3 weeks and 1 day post OP, I'm going to see how the weekend goes and make a decision however I only really have the option of an additional couple of days off until the Thursday as my colleague who has been covering my position is going on a few days leave.

Pain is fine still taking Paracetamol 4000mg a day but considering reducing but think I may wait until I return to work, I have to say I didn't have much faith in Paracetamol before as I'd taken it for various headaches, back pain etc before without much effect but it really does work for me for this type of injury.

Sleep is OK, I feel I slept better the first week I just seem to stir more often now but at no point have I experienced prolonged periods awake at night time but I haven't napped during the day at all. I'm beginning to find I can sleep on my side now but only for short periods, if I'm on my left (operated side) I tend to have my right leg beyond my left sort of recovery position style, if on my right I need the duvet between my knees as a cushion.

Started getting the odd weird sensation in the knee guess it's everything like nerves etc fixing itself, can sometimes come as quite a surprise I will be sitting with the leg elevated and 'things' just start happening pinging sensations and twitching not particularly painful just odd!

I think I'm happy with my progress but I get frustrated with it though and can get bored easily, I just need to keep focused on it is a means to an end and that hopefully 12 months from now I will hopefully be just as active maybe a little more so but without the pain in the knee and also without the lack of confidence in the knee.