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66 days post op after bilateral TKR's

Posted , 7 users are following.

lyn32416
lyn32416

Greetings from Sydney. This forum has assisted me to understand some of the awful stuff we go through after surgery and to know I am not alone in feeling downright horrid some days. Today is a great one though.

I ceased heavy pain medication a couple of weeks ago and that was a mistake. I am back on Norspan 10 mg patches and can now do all my exercises and achieve a few hours sleep before I need to top up with a Tramadol.  I've lost 12 kgs in weight simply because my appetite diminished but now I'm trying to eat 3 meals a day and include protein at every meal instead of nibbling and feeling like I want to sleep all day.

I am allergic to many pain medications (unknown until post op) so pain was a big issue for me. If you are contemplating TKR's or have already had them, then get your pain medication stabilised and physio will be so much easier. I have also found hydrotherapy (pool walking) to be a god-send. Today is the first day post op that I feel any where like normal. I was a fit, energetic 63 year year old before my op and I hope to return to that state with much improvements in my knees, in the near future. I believe I will be looking at 6 months recovery time before I can resume a "normal" exercise program of spin, walking, boxing and weights.  

No one tells you about the pain, the depression, the disruption to your life, especially not your surgeon. Just be patient, eat well, try to get a walk in each day or a swim and stay positive. At nearly 10 weeks I can see the light at the end of that long tunnel.

Best wishes

Lyn

2 likes, 31 replies

31 Replies

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  • linlee
    linlee lyn32416

    Posted

    You and I are almost identical! My surgery was March 18 with manipulation on April 27. I went off my pain meds a few weeks back also. Although there have been a few times I thought about taking them. I was shocked by the pain after surgery and the recovery. My Dr said for the first 3 months I will wonder my I did it! That should have been a hint to me that this was not going to be easy! I to have lost 20 lbs. Between the pain meds and just being in pain I had no appetite. I have good days and bad days. Some days my knee feels so thick I can barely do my at home exercises. Then other days it's pretty good. I think between week 8 and 9 is when I turned the corner. My other knee needs to be done in a yr. Up until recent I wasn't going to do it. My bend now is 108 and my straight is 0. This forum has made all the difference in my recovery. Hard to explain to my husband what I'm feeling. Every one on here has been there done that! Good luck in your continued recovery. It's nice to hear from someone at the same stage I am. Have a great day Lyn. Linda
    • lyn32416
      lyn32416 linlee

      Posted

      Hi linlee. Yes, week 9 I too started to feel like I'd improved. I saw my surgeon's assistant yesterday and he was very happy with everything except my right leg straightening. I am a public patient and had my op done at a large teaching hospital in Sydney for free. My surgeon is a athlete's specialist and I was VERY lucky to have him do the operation with assistant from some brilliant young registrars.

      The young Assistant said it's a matter of building up the quads so I'm giving the quad exercises as much time as I can. I must say the weight loss feels amazing. I am going to keep it off! Stay well and nice to hear from you.

    • tom67073
      tom67073 lyn32416

      Posted

      Hi lyn,

      Leg straighten will get there, during my pt today he pushed down on knee and was able to be almost 0 I am at 11 without pushing.

      I also started lying on bed face down with leg over edge and let gravity do its thing, I do this for about 5 to 6 mins twice a day, yest it's uncomfortable but seams to help.

      Again thanks

      Tom

    • lyn32416
      lyn32416 tom67073

      Posted

      Hi tom

      Tks for tip on straightening! Gonna try this today. I reckon we just have to keep plugging away at it. Many health professionals have never experienced this brutal, painful operation so they are giving advice without experience. I do not expect sympathy, just empathy, and the small effort I put in each day with my exercise is not a lot to pay. I have increased my pain meds today because my night was uncomfortable. This isn't a race for me, rather something I want to get through and return to a normal life. Some days I wish I hadn't got both knees done but they were both stuffed so I say, for me, "let's grin and bare it." So glad to be here with you kind folks! Happy Sunday from sunny, cool Sydney. Tks again tom.

    • tom67073
      tom67073 lyn32416

      Posted

      You are welcome, and I say thank you to everyone, this forum is one of the highlights of my day.

  • annekhc
    annekhc lyn32416

    Posted

    Hello Lyn! You are a brave soul!!!

    I am just a few days less in days out from my tkr (left only), and am experiencing such a similar recovery struggle. Meds that help the pain leave me so nauseous, even with a med for that; after a week or so of usage as prescribed I cannot tolerate the full dosage so cut back to pre-physio and night time use only. Ice is near and dear to me as a help in pain relief.

    I have difficulty pushing through pain in home excersizing. At physio I will push through trying to get the extention and flex, and will push through afterwards to get some errands accomplished.  I assume this may be why I am going backwards now in extending and flexing on my own when measured at physio. I;m afraid I will not have made the progress I want by the time I return to work in 3 weeks. and am not so confident I am up to the demands of my job. I have not pushed myself up to now to return to work before I was physically recuperated as fully as possible because I don't want to undermine my recovery..  But it is not progressing as I hoped...

    • lyn32416
      lyn32416 annekhc

      Posted

      Hi Anne

      I saw a MD at my hospital today. He said for me to not expect TOO much too soon. I believe, except for injury or damage incurred post op, i am healing at a satisfactory rate. If you are concerned you should perhaps seek further input. Good luck and keep updating us.

    • annekhc
      annekhc lyn32416

      Posted

      Thank you Lyn!  This forum is a wonderful resource for encouragement and validation.
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