20 days post PKR - Anyone feel this way?
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi All - this is my second time posting. I posted a week after my surgery and your responses really helped. All of the discussions are really helpful. Anyway, it's been 20 days since my PKR on left side. On the day of surgery I also sprained my left ankle because a nurse told me to walk after the nerve block in my leg hard been completed.
Last week I had my first pt session. I cried through most of it and I am not normally a crier (or at least I wasn't). I find myself crying at least once a day in private. Not sure if it's the pain, frustration or me just feeling sorry for myself. I know, there are people worse off than me.
The sprained ankle is really making pt tough. My therapist has to redo the program because the exercises hurt my foot too much. I can do what she gives me, but when I get home I am finished for the day. Too tired and in pain to do anything.
My knee feels like a weight is tied to it and I get random pain that just shots through it. Is this normal?
Sleeping is still hard, but getting a little easier. My therapist recommend that I use a full body pillow when sleeping. Has this helped any of you?
i guess I'm asking if what I am experiencing is normal? Is the heaviness I am feeling the swelling? Does the swelling come and go? It seems to be better sometimes. I have stopped for using the walker ano moved onto cane. When should I stop using an aid?
i'd appreciate any advice. Thanks! I hope each of you are experiencing less and less pain
0 likes, 16 replies
sarah87162 sandybug
Posted
Just 3 weeks ago is very early days.
It does get better
Take care and keep in touch
Sarah
sandybug sarah87162
Posted
dorothy41374 sandybug
Posted
sandybug dorothy41374
Posted
irish_linda sandybug
Posted
sandybug irish_linda
Posted
RethaT sandybug
Posted
I never had the depression or crying after my surgery but my sister had the crying and the doctor changed her medication and that is what was causing hers.
As far as pain and swelling, my doctor required that I use a walker with only 50% weight on my new knee for 6 weeks. He says that what my knee has been through, he treats it as a broken bone and if you'd broken a bone you'd be in a cast for 6 weeks! He said if I listen to him, I wouldn't have any issues. I didn't have any bruising, swelling was manageable, and even though I couldn't wait to put the walker away, I really have done well. It amazes me to hear all the exercises that people are doing so quickly! Especially you with a sprained ankle! I would say take some time to heal and quit pushing so hard. I still had exercises to do and did them religiously but they were sitting leg lifts and knee bend exercises while sitting or laying. I started using a stationary bike some at 3 weeks which I think helps my knee the most. I really started out slowly with this because it felt like I was ripping my knee apart with the first few rotations. Now I'm doing about 4 miles a day. This is my 10th week and I think I would be doing amazing if my left knee didn't hurt so back. Back to surgery on December 17th to get that one fixed too!
Hang in there and maybe change meds for your mood but I think you need to take it a little bit easier and ice alot. You really are in early stages and I think what you're describing is normal.
Good luck and keep us posted!
martinarvelo RethaT
Posted
sandybug RethaT
Posted
RethaT martinarvelo
Posted
RethaT sandybug
Posted
terri59470 sandybug
Posted
How awful that you have your ankle to deal with as well as your knee, as if you didn't have enough on your plate!
I would say that everything you're describing is par for the course. I'm on day 26 from left TKR, and almost 8 months out from the right (when I'm talking about knee symptoms, I'm talking about the most recent one).
I also get shooting pains through my knee - scares the cats half to death if they're sitting with me when it happens cos it makes me squeal! My knee/leg/foot is still pretty swollen, and the degree of swelling varies. If I've done too much, or not elevated and iced enough, then I know about it!
I go for physio and occupational therapy twice a week and make sure that I work really hard, and yep, when I get home that's me done for the day, really worn out.
As far as using walking aids goes, I'd say that you'll know when the time is right to discard it. There are times I can manage without in the house, sometimes I kind of "forget" that I should be using it and find that I've walked into another room without it, but conversely I wouldn't yet try and use the stairs without it. You'll know when it's time. A lot of it will be down to confidence, but also, when you're out and about, you might find that you want to hang on to it for a bit longer, as it alerts people to the fact you might need a bit more time or space to manoeuvre.
My knee and leg also feel heavy, but it will pass.
I've been fortunate with my sleep this time around, although the past couple of nights have been a struggle. Again, perfectly normal. The same with the crying - not as bad as first time around, but I certainly have my moments!
I haven't used a full-body pillow, but I do use a fair few pillows in an attempt to get comfy on bed - that's one of my biggest challenges. My leg had been bent with arthritis for many months prior to surgery, so now I'm battling to try and get it to straighten, and in bed is the place I find it most difficult (and painful!!). So I end up propped in some odd positions, just trying to get comfortable!! So all in all, I think everything you mentioned is perfectly normal.
Here's to a happy, healthy recovery, and do keep popping on here - I find it helps loads xx
sandybug terri59470
Posted
Simmons516 sandybug
Posted
martinarvelo sandybug
Posted
sandybug martinarvelo
Posted