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2 Weeks Post TKR - is this normal????

Posted , 11 users are following.

Milla2017
Milla2017

2 weeks tomorrow. TKR left knee. Up until 2 days ago in absolute agony. Incredible pain, stiffness swelling. Now I can go for 4 hours between pain meds Dilaudid with some discomfort. Barely any sleep or able to eat the last two weeks. Had a stand in Physical therapist today. Very upset. She told me it was "abnormal" to have had severe pain up until now. Man handled my leg so bad 2 staples in incision came out almost completely. Sobbed with pain. Husband very upset. This has been a very traumatic experience for me. She made me feel like I am lying. Humiliated. Is there something wrong with me?????

1 like, 26 replies

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  • shari_48634
    shari_48634 Milla2017

    Posted

    Well let me tell you this is had A total knee replacement in aug and im still having problems. I'm so up set with the whole knee replacement I also wish they would have let me know that it was going to be this hard . I'm still off work still using a cane and my surgeon kick me down the road. So now my family doctor took over. They make me feel like I'm nuts. Now I'm heading to the U of M to see a knee specialist. I'm over this swelling, pain, and depression. My surgeon said I would be 100 better. I'm worse now than before surgery. So I'm hoping 2017 will be better

  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo Milla2017

    Posted

    Good God, where on earth did this Neanderthal come from.  ABNORMAL??? Has she ever dealt with TKR patients before?  there is absolutely nothing wrong with you except for the fact that your leg has been ripped open, and sewn back together again, and if anyone thinks that is not going to hurt they are both stupid and unfeeling.  Although it is necessary to push yourself to the point of 'ouch, I can't take much more than that . . " it is not necessary to cause absolute agony.  I gave up on physios quite soon, not prepared to take the pain, and although maybe I would have imporved on my 134 bend I'm quite happy with it.  so it took a little longer, but with only bearable pain.  Ask this idiot if she has dealt with many TKR patients, and if they were all extra terrestrials or something. You are perfectly normal. she is a jerk.

     

    • Milla2017
      Milla2017 martinarvelo

      Posted

      My sentiments exactly!! My husband even said that not only was she completely without any empathy, it almost seemed she enjoyed my misery. She is a very large woman, Amazon type that is either semi-professional body builder or used to be professional for a very long time. I have a post op consultation with the surgeon and x-rays on January 3. If he knows she compromised my incision he is going to blow a gasket. I was told that after all was said and done I would probably have 110-120 bend so yours sound excellent. I wish this woman could get this surgery. I have not watched a video yet but apparently it is brutal - I even have bruising on my ankle. They saw bone off, drill holes etc. etc.
  • dave63380
    dave63380 Milla2017

    Posted

    That PT is an idiot, you have to push it but not like that and not before staples are out. Unfortunately you're new to all this and assume medical personnel are somewhat capable. Bad luck. I'm 2 years post op both knees and 5 months RTHR. All is good no pain, and I hope I'm done! My Physical therapist always said if it hurts, STOP. He still pushed me to ROM 125 but it takes time. Your in pain now because of the therapist, and you really should file an official complaint, Any time you overdo it you will hurt for a few days or longer. This is a long term recovery, I hope you find a qualified therapist and stick with it. Don't be afraid to say "NO! it's your knee.

    • Milla2017
      Milla2017 dave63380

      Posted

      Dave you are exactly right! Last night and today my knee is more swollen than it has been this entire time. It is red and hot and very angry. I could only do half of the exercises today because of the swelling and increased pain. My regular therapist is here on Monday. I started the process of filing a complaint today. I called them and told them I didn't just want a phone call with a supervisor. They came me some information and I am busy drafting a thorough complaint which will go to several people as well as my surgeon will be copied. I don't want another patient to experience what I did. Have a great new year!

  • maryNH
    maryNH Milla2017

    Posted

    Hi

    ?I had TKR on my left knee Dec 16, 2016. I had it Boston Massachusetts at one of the top ortho hospitals in the USA: New England Baptist and have had a real good experience. 

    ?I will bullet points for ease: 

    *?Stay ahdead of the pain with medication.  I am on 4 mg of dilauden every 3 hrs.  I have been working on stretching out the time between doses. I am also on celebrex and tylonol.  The hospital uses dilauden and oxycodone.  The don't mess around with people suffering with pain.  If you are in pain you won't do PT exercises and you will heal faster because the pain receptors are calm.  

    ?*PT- do it till the pain tells you to stop.   Dont let PT push like that woman did, you are in control.  It can take 24-48 hrs for the muscle inflammation to settle back if you do have a tough PT session   

    *do PT exercises hourly, 5-10 reps only,

    ?*elevate, ice, as mch as possible,  and use compression stockings to prevent blood clots daily for 6-8 hrs a day. 

    ?My pain at this point is mainly muscular.  I really don't have joint pain.  The quad and hamstring muscles, (thigh muscles) have to be retrained to return to the correct anatomical position.   After years of compensation the muscle is messed up.

    ?I still have an mild ache after meds on a regular, daily,  basis although the time between dilauden doses is getting longer.  

    ?* My quad, front thigh muscle was not cut.  Just moved aside during surgery.

    ?*Showers only after day 4 of surg till cut is fully healed.   I have glue with steri-strips.  No stitches or staples.

    ?*I think the dilauden takes away the appeitite, it did for me. 

     

    It really angered me to read what you have gone through, especially with the pain issues.  Managing pain was/is such a big deal and still is today. I already have more ROM and less pain and discomfort prior to surgery.  I can stand from a sitting position much easier.   

    ?It hasn't been a walk in the park but it was a good decision on my behalf to have it done.

    Good Luck

    ?Happy New Year.  

    ? 

     

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo maryNH

      Posted

      I really wish that all surgeons could read your post.  Here in tenerife, after day three I was expected to cope on three acetominophen a day.  the first day they came to do physio at twelve O clock, all I had received for pain medication was a tablet at eight O clock.  It was not until day 18 when i was able to get to see my own doctor that I was able to get tramadol, and it made such a huge difference to ife.  the first 18 days were hell on earth. I still feel bitter about all that unnecessary suffereing two years on . . . 

       

    • Milla2017
      Milla2017 maryNH

      Posted

      Mary, thank you for your post. We share a surgery date. I had mine done at Sharp Memorial in San Diego, California. The surgery and hospital experience was excellent. Best anesthesia I ever had. Was awake and alert almost immediately in Recovery Room. No nausea. Time spent there was solely until I could move my feet after the spinal block.

      I started taking my Dilaudid every 3 hours (2 mg) today. I was a little more in control of the pain. I do feel a lot of bone pain especially around the shin area. I have a lot of burning pain which I believe is nerve pain? I elevate twice a day. I fully agree with you that my pain management is and has been my biggest impediment. I have an appointment with the surgeon on Tuesday. I know he won't have a problem with me making an executive decision about meds every 3 hours instead of 4. I am deeply concerned as to how he is going to handle my new pain prescription going forward. I am prepared to put up a fight. I am still suffering the consequences of the assault (literally) of this woman. The swelling was severe after this episode. I also have new pain twinges and throbbing on and off on the outer side of the knee cap. My regular therapist comes tomorrow morning and I look forward to see her because I trust her. I have a question. How much are you walking? Besides many visits to the restroom (not in my bedroom en suite) I walk for 5 min x4 a day. Also, absolutely no appetite on Dilaudid but I force small meals with protein.

    • Milla2017
      Milla2017 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Sounds like a nightmare. I am glad you are over that but so sorry you had to experience that. That sounds just plain nuts and medical malpractice to me.
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