Posted , 10 users are following.
I am 5 days out after surgery and still in a lot of pain. A bit discouraged because the dr told my husband after surgery that it was just a partial and recovery should be a piece of cake. Now I'm reading that recovery is not much different between total and partial? Starting formal PT today, have been icing, resting and using the bending machine at home along with pain meds but feel like such a baby after my husband says "but the dr said"
As far as I can tell it was still a pretty big surgery so at least part of my pity party is warranted.
Would love to hear from others going thru this
0 likes, 16 replies
ducks-hat ellen49890
Posted
Hi Ellen. I am now two weeks post op and the pain has subsided quite a bit. I had a total replacement but I'm sure the pain the pain must be similar to a partial. At five days I was in lots of pain but from about the seventh or eighth day the pain lessened quickly, if not completely. Obviously everyone is different and I am quite young for a knee replacement at just under 61, perhaps that makes a difference too. My meds are Gabapentin, Dihydracodiene, Amytriptlin, Paracetamol and Ibroprufen, not sure of the spellings. Never mind what the doctor said, they can only generalise and what you feel is what you feel. Hang on in there, it is not an overnight fix, it is sometimes long and hard going I am told. Have faith though, you will get there. Incidentally, I have also read that a partial replacement is more complex that a total replacement, again though only what I have read. Good luck with your recovery.
ellen49890 ducks-hat
Posted
Thanks much!
ducks-hat ellen49890
Posted
dee38339 ellen49890
Posted
Any invasive surgery is painful especially the knee. So partial or full replacement you need time to recover and for your knee to heal and it doesn't happen overnight, carry on with ice and painkillers and of course exercises.
denisek64 ellen49890
Posted
Hi I had partial on the 6th Sept I'm still in pain and having trouble bending my knee also can not lift my leg up can from Sitting with a lot of effort but not from lying down. I have physio tomorrow and dressing off tomorrow every one is different go with what your body is saying don't rush. Hope you feel better soon ps I'm on tramadol 8 a day plus naproxen and Zapain good luck
Guest ellen49890
Posted
Partials are NOT easier, just different, in recovery. I have the best PT guy EVER. He listens n troubleshoots. No one knows how bad this recovery is except the knee recipient and then, EACH and every one of us experience different things. But all of us experience pain,swelling,tightness to varying degrees. I had a lot of scar tissue to break up.
Families add to the distress of patients recovery because of what they hear the doc say. Just calmly talk to ur helper. This forum and a friend who went thru it, stopped me from going cuckoo.
Count the achievements,no matter how small, push thru the setbacks-there are many, and do you due diligence in exercises EVERY DAY in small frequent amounts. At the end of a year +/- you can breathe with it all behind you. I have full extension and flexion and climbed ladders to rebuild my porch roof in July. It took 6weeks with working full time. I celebrated! Pre surgery and knee pain, it would have taken 5 days-remodeling houses is a hobby-but i have FINALLY transitioned from beating myself up how long it takes me to do things right NOW, and celebrate i can still do them, just DIFFERENTLY!
I wish you a speedy recovery!
ellen49890 Guest
Posted
Thank you so much, I know the drs say it was only a partial but I'm thinking if you mess with bones and joints it's going to hurt! Thank you for the encouragement!!
I'm sure I will have many more questions!
jenny80029 ellen49890
Posted
The knee is the largest weight bearing joint you have. Any sawing and drilling of it is going to be quite some rehabilitation,
Surprised your surgeon said it would be a piece of cake! Maybe he has experience of people coming in and giving him such feedback, however, everyone is different.
Are you on pain medications, and if they are not enough then get more quick...you need them to do all the exercises which are important for you to do,
Hope you feel better soon.
ellen49890 jenny80029
Posted
Thanks Jenny, might not whack the hubby just yet he has been around for 40 years and I almost have him trained! Plus he just had rotator cuff surgery in Feb so he understands the pain part. I'm typically not a whiny person but this has me making some weird noises and using some words that are entertaining even to me!
Yes I have oxy and hydrocodone that I am alternating every 2 hours. PT starts today so that should be fun . Thanks for the encouragement and stay tuned!
jenny80029 ellen49890
Posted
😁😃
Yes, keep us posted.
Hopefully you will have a good physiotherapist.
Where are you? I am in UK..six months post op TKR.
You may like to go to my profile by clicking on the image next to my name. I kept a journal of my own knee replacement journey, and I have been told by several people they found it helpful to read, or skim through. It was written to convey the need for patience, something our culture in the western world is not really geared up to! It has a lot of useful suggestions and information. It needs skimming as long!
Blessings to you for a good recovery!
ellen49890 jenny80029
Posted
CHICO_MARX ellen49890
Posted
I had a full TKR. From what I've read from others here, it's true that there doesn't seem to be much difference in recovery from a full or partial knee replacement. I could be wrong but I haven't heard much to the contrary.
"But the doctor said..." Screw the doctor. This is YOUR recovery and everyone is different. Discouragement can come in the form of Post-Operative Depression...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-post-operative-depression-604195
Jedi Mind Trick. Kick its butt out the door.
Just remember is not to compare your recovery to that of anyone else. There are no rules here. Get rid of all expectations. This is YOUR recover and yours alone. OWN IT! Then you'll be able to beat it. Time, patience, strength.
cynthia89958 ellen49890
Posted
There was a man at physio I met who said he never had pain from his TKR and he appeared to have no swelling and a perfect flexion! He is most definitely NOT the norm and it is hard to believe, watching a film of the surgery that anyone could not feel pain after. Others report pain at first but later seem to forget how bad they were, maybe the meds take away the memory. I recall every bit of pain as not well medicated! My pain became more manageable with time. Any kind of knee surgery can be painful and difficult. Hope you soon notice things improving and ignore well meaning but ill informed comments.
ellen49890 cynthia89958
Posted
Thank you, I have always been able to stand a lot of pain but this dang thing is like a horrible toothache that the pain meds will dull but not get rid of 😚 Had my first PT session today and thank goodness I didn't see any overachievers - pretty sure I would of had to smack them or something!
Have decided to try and look at this with a bit of humor to keep from crying and hopefully this will just be a memory soon. In the meantime, thanks for the encouragement!!
Oldfatguy1 ellen49890
Posted
You bet it was big. Lots of cutting, chilling, bleeding and rehabbing. Can't imagine a Dr being so tactless and mean. I've never had a partiall but in my 5 complete rehabs I've shared gym time and equipment with a number of people who had PKR's and never saw any of them suffering much less than I was. Just don't let ANYONE abuse you mentally or physically. Take your time and do it right. Nothing worse than someone who hasn't been through it trying to be the expert and cheerleader.
Join this discussion or start a new one?
New discussion Reply