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I feel really depressed and fed up. I am in great pain most of the time and not sure what to do.i am doing all my excercises and trying hard but not getting anywhere.knee not straightening and very painful. Any advise? xx
3 likes, 26 replies
lynn08926 sue29174
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Feeling low is so common after this difficult operation. So common, in fact, as to be normal.
Really early days for you. Your physio is extremely important, so please make sure you keep up with pain relief. Elevate the leg whenever possible and ice the knee regularly. My husband iced my knee for ten minutes every two hours for weeks. It was a great relief.
I experienced the whole range of emotions - feeling anxious, lack of concentration, felt like I was on the outside looking in when with family and friends, very tearful.
I am speaking as someone who is nine months after first TKR, with the second knee looming on the 18th March. Hope the second knee will prove easier.
Any more help/advice you need, just give me a shout!
sue29174 lynn08926
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lynn08926 sue29174
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In fact, when I saw the pre op nurse yesterday for my op next week, she looked at me as though I was nuts when I told her what an emotional wreck I was.
Please remember, it is a very slow recovery and everyone heals at different rates.
Keep in touch. You'll get tremendous support from this forum.
petemorris sue29174
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It's very early days for you just now....I've gone from the depths of depression, to other days feeling ..."Well actually I'm making progress"....It's swings and roundabouts. Yes it does hurt. Keep taking the pain killers was the advice I was given. Don't try to wean yourself off them, too early. That's what you've got them for! To ease the pain.
If you're managing to do the exercises, that's great, but don't force that either. Just do the best you can. Oh and don't forget the ice and 'elevation'. It does work.
I also took a small cushion to bed with me, and put it between my knees. That helps a lot. Don't fret too much about straightening your leg...That will come with time. I'm still struggling with my bend though (10 months later)...It's waay past 90 degrees but still nothing like I can bend the other (good) knee.
I did write a blog, from about 5 days prior to the operation and during the early days, documenting how I felt and a sort of chronicle of my personal progress. I'f you'd like to read it let me know, and I'll send you a private message with the link.
Chin up gal
sue29174 petemorris
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Jeanette1604 sue29174
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i think it's such a big op to go through mentally and physical and your life is put on hold not to mention the lack of sleep and constant pain, we can only take so much. Stick with it and cry if you need to. I'm a week past you and today I feel much better than yesterday
sue29174 Jeanette1604
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caroline46398 sue29174
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sue29174 caroline46398
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ozcat sue29174
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Wake up - take 2 paracetamol and 5mls oramorph, then do five of each GENTLE knee straightening exercises in bed... Then bend knee over side of bed to get up. walk to bathroom. Then walk downstairs, havē coffee while sitting with leg elevated and a packet of frozen peas on top of knee and another underneath knee. REST 20-30 mins. THEN AND ONLY THEN do full set of exercises as painkillers havē had 40-50 mins to kick in and take effect. Then put the peas back on for 10-20 mins, have some brekky and take an anti inflammatory..
I would then try and repeat the process twice more during the day... some days I did, some I didn't. But thē most important things were/are: give the painkillers 40-60 mins to work and never give up!
Listen to what we all say and then use the bits to help you find what's right for you!
susan20089 sue29174
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sandi17096 sue29174
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martinarvelo sue29174
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sue29174 martinarvelo
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sarcee50 sue29174
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martinarvelo sarcee50
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sue29174 sarcee50
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sue29174 sarcee50
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