5th day TKR

Hi Melanie

I am 22 days post tkr and I had exactly the same just percerverd with ice and rest then the most bruising I have ever seen came out now it is disappearing thankfully

Rest and do what your doctors have told you to do and it will get better

Take care

Yes, this is absolutely normal Melanie.  I still sometimes feel the band around the thigh like that (I'm four and a half weeks post op).  Some people feel more pain than others but I believe it's from the tourniquet they put on the thigh to stop bleeding while they do the operation.  You should be resting for most of the time, with ice frequently (I never put ice over the scar though), and it should be elevated as you're resting.   You'll have a lot of swelling and this will go on for a significant amount of time - maybe up to a year.  I remember when I did the slide exercises when on the bed at that stage, I used a tray to make it easier to slide and also used my hands to help the leg slide up to get the bend if the muscle was uncomfortable.  Lovely to see you on here and you'll get lots of helpful advice!  Good healing to you!

Hi Melanie. Are you still in hospital? The recovery road is a long one. Be patient and try to do as much quad strengthening as you are able to. Can you flex your quads then lift your leg a little? Tight band feeling is normal. Pain is normal but controllable. If you are in a lot of pain tell your Doctor. Tramadol, hydromorphone, norspan all worked for me. I suffered a lot but it gets easier. Try to get as much help at home as possible.

Be careful of constipation. Up the fibre and raw fruit like apples and take oats/bran/prunes. Be kind to yourself but try to do as much exercise like knee bends as you are able because without proper exercises, the scar tissue builds up. Check with physio or PT. Push yourself a little bit then rest. Give it time. You will get through this. X

Hi Melanie i am 13 /14 week post op still stiff some days worst than others. Just keep doing the exercise. I didn't use ice much it made me worse, but everyone is different. Hope you soon feel better.

Hi Melanie

All par for the course at this stage. You have a long way to go my love!

As for rest, when you need it sleep. You prob won't sleep too much at night, just rest in the day. If you feel sleepy just lay down. I found at 5 days that even someone visiting wore me out!! You've had a brutal operation, you NEED rest when you can get it!

The surgeons never tell you the true facts before TKR do they? The pain, discomfort, tiredness, and the length of time these things go on for! I assumed I'd be back at work at 6 weeks but NO! Still very tired, emotional & not up to spending any length of time on my feet! Now everyone's different, you may recover quicker than I. You just don't know until you get to that stage.

So just sit back & 'enjoy' the roller coaster that is TKR recovery.

If you need any advice, or just to chat or to vent, any time, someone here will get back to you.

So ice, elevate, rest & take regular painkillers, also once the dressing is removed & the scar healing, massage your incision scar with BioOil, VitE or something bland & good for the skin, to stop scar tissue forming.

Welcome to the club!!

Marilyn

XX

Ps keep a sense of humour, you'll need it.

I believe we all underestimate the trauma we experience after a TKN. In my experience (week 6 going into week 7 tomorrow) the first 2-3 weeks were nothing short of one of my worst painful experiences. OK I will admit being a wimp when it comes to pain because I simply want to avoid it! Your week 1 experience ditto's mine.

As already mentioned by others, most likely your surgeon will have used a tourniquet on thigh to limit bleeding. In next few days you'll probably have some major bruising all the way up back of your leg. I was in hospital 2 nights and when I had first half hour physio visit on day nine I mentioned experiencing horrid thigh pain and the cause was explained to me.

I had first post-op summit with surgeon couple days ago and had a list of questions answered. My main grief being the almost relentless pain, which during the latter couple of weeks has gradually, thankfully and significantly become almost bearable. We've agreed t'other leg TKR for end of November and he promises me alternative pain-killer meds next time, although having looked them up I don't particularly fancy some of the possible side effects. For what it's worth, the choices I make next time will take into account what's been learnt recently. Firstly, if I'm in a lorra pain I intend being more ascertive and have stronger meds available strictly 'as needed' to get through the worst 3-4 weeks at home. Alongside that I'll probably follow same exercise routines limiting all stretching and flexing to the point of being 'uncomfortable - short of inflicting additional unnecessary pain'. I will also ask for physio at intervals not exceeding 7 days because a good physio can assess progress on a timely basis to determine and introduce exercise variations to work on between visits.

As a final thought. What we experience after a TKR is likely to be rather nasty - although can be different for everybody. If in doubt it's probably best to use the phone and get help from hospital or GP.

'Always looking on the bright side' xxx

Hi Melanie:

This is completely normal.  TKR recovery takes a long time to recover.  It was just a year for me on March 29 and I still feel tightness around the knee.  I was to the orthopedist just last week and he said so many complain about this.  It takes time, just do your exercises, rest and ice.  Good luck to you.  Barb

Day 5 is pretty early to think about much except rest and rom. I've been told by my doctor that for the first 5 weeks he wanted me to rest and work on my range of motion exercises. He said don't worry about getting out and walking. He said that will come naturally if you have good rom.

I'm at week 5 and still stiff and swollen. Moving much better though. I've been told this is a year long process so go easy, steady and take care of yourself.

This forum is wonderful for encouragement.

Melanie, Day 5! Phew! Hang in there.

You eso early in the process that everything is a blur right now. Take meds as prescribed. Don't wait for pain to set in. Do the exercises a couple times a day but never put yourself in pain. (Big difference between hurting and agonizing pain). Elevate and rest every chance you get. Keep water by your table /chair and bedside. Hydrate constantly. Your body and brain have been through a traumatic experience...hydration is importants t to healing. Ice at every opportu. It keeps swelling in check, promotes blood flow and really aids healing. Be patient....this is a process, not a timetable driven event. The process humbles even the most impatient, motivated, driven people. Don't let others set recovery rates for you. We are all different and what worked for your friend may not work for you. Be humble, if help is offered, take it even if you feel embarrassed. If you need help, ask for it. Keep your like as simple as possible for the next 5 or 6 weeks and whatever you do, don't let anyone push you into activities that make you feel uncomfortable.

Scroll back through the posts from Chico Marx. Chico is a good guy that's gone through a lot and has a handle on healing. Right now I believe he's recovering from another spine surgery and has been a little quiet which for a Texan is a little painful in its self, but has some great encouragement/education. As for me, I have had 11 surgeries on my leg/knee plus 30 rounds of radiation so I've also picked up a bit if insight. You will get better, you will heal but you will do it the way your body/brain allows not on a timetable set up by a surgeon or therapist. Don't get discouraged because you are hurting physically or mentally. Just stay true to the process and it will smiley happen

Pain pain pain

Sorry to be so negative but you are very much at the beginning. Try to get as much rest as possible and allow the internal wounding of your knee to heal. It's a big operation, not like other ops.

Pain.  That's what you should expect 5 days out.  Six days out...the same.  Seven days...ditto.

You have to understand that this recovery typically takes 9 months to a year...or more.  And even then there may be tightness, clicking sound, residual pain and more.  You need to level-set your expectations...like right now...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-recovery-bell-curve--563756

First thing is that you have to let go of any and all expectations regarding your recovery.  Expectations get in the way, waste valuable energy and take to down a very dark path.  Don't go there.  Rule:  You cannot compare your recovery to anyone else's...period.  We're all different, as the Bell Curve article concludes.  There will be advances setbacks and plateaus.  Be ready for all of them.  Recovery takes a huge amount of inner strength to get past it...but get past it you will.  It takes a lot out of you mentally, physically and spiritually.  We have our own special "PTSD"...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-ptsd-569521

People are here to help.  Be prepared...stay strong...