It's done...today

Hope you have a good journey home, and can relax and concentrate on your recovery!

I left hospital with codeine ,ibuprofen, and blood thinning tablets when they ran out I went back on naproxen and tramadol 

I'm still taking percocet and norco, along with ice. I am 7 weeks post op this coming Monday. I continue to be amazed (and envious) at your progress.

What type of PT will you be doing? I find that some of my exercises help with the pain, mostly the Nustep (sit down stepper).

Codeine or co codamol every 4 hours for a week then every 8 hours with paracetomol in between at four hours if needed. Ibrobrufen every six hours gradually just took at night or in the night and morning and then night only. Everyone different but important to manage pain to get sleep and to do exercises properly. Don't be a hero just follow your instinct. I kept a clear written plan and record of my tablets and it was great when I started dropping them down to zero. I I am 8 months and can't remember when I went to zero but just knew I didn't need them. As the muscles get stronger and everything repairs you sense it. But occasionally I still took a painkiller before going to gym or for Physio or massage and even now I have an odd one at night if it feels stiff or uncomfortable.

I was discharged with paracetamol only,(but it was a lot later than you . .over a week . . ) and survived on that until I could see the specialist again two weeks later, when i asked for something stronger, and he finally (under pressure) gave me tramadol. it was fine for me, but is not for everyone. some people get bad side effects.  If you do start to get bad pain, don't just suffer it. . . it's counter productive really. 

This is very good advice. As Mary has also said different drugs suit different people.

 

Well I was surprised that the physio at the hospital never really talked about any exercises and wasn't around to talk to me about it before my discharge. They send a little printout before the op with about 6 basic exercises on it, but not much info about how much, how often and how to progress, so I am using this much more comprehensive pamphlet from Berkshire NHS http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/patient-information-leaflets/total-knee-replacement-exercises---physiotherapy%20October%202014.htm

i will definitely do the water exercises at my local pool once I'm cleared to get my wound wet, cos I love the water (and I don't have a shower so I'm fed up with strip washes).

The hospital usually give you this but a follow up appointment with a Physio as well and about 4 or 6 sessions depending. So you just need to do the ones on the leaflet until you get or go to the appointment . There are lots of online exercises but it's best to actually be advised by an nhs or private Physio at first so you do it in the right way and time.

In the "why" section it says by next working day. I suppose that means Monday?

They won't allow any outside links.  you can try a private message though . .I think it's OK there. 

I was just saying that the hospital physio didn't talk about exercises at all, I thought they might come back before I was discharged but they didn't. There was a a bit of paper in my pre-op info that described a few exercises, but no info on when or how often or how to progress.

i found the 'information and exercises' pamphlet from Royal Berkshire NHS much more useful as it had exercises for 'Discharge to 2wks', exercises from week 2 to 4 was etc. plus it had water exercises and I plan to get back in the pool as soon as my wound is ready.

i don't have access to a NuStep, I've never seen one, from googling it, don't think many have made it over the pond to the UK.

Should have gone through the exercises with you BEFORE leaving the hospital!

Never mind. Thank goodness for the internet not to mention this Forum!

You mentioned 'when you get back in the water'. Do you go privately?  Jean

It's interesting all the different experiences each of us on this forum have had, along with so many of the same ones.

I am grateful for my PT, even though I often "hate" what they have me do! lol

I am a visual and experiential learner, so it helps me to have them show me how to do some of the weird things they come up with.

Have u seen any useful exercises on U Tube?

I mean that I love swimming and I'm a regular at my local pool, so I want to get back there as soon as I can. But I can also do some of these exercises as well as get back into some swimming.

"They won't allow any outside links"

This is not true - there is an FAQ section linked at the bottom of every page in the forums that explains moderating and the policy on links which we do allow. 

Regards,

Alan

Hi again

I wondered if the exercises wee ones that  you had been advised to do or had discovered for yourself.

I have an annulat rear between L4 and L5 and bulging discs in the lumbar and cervical spine.

I have been advised by one dr to do Pilates yet the physio said that that s too 'adventurous. I agree.

 

Sorry about that then . . Mea culpa. . should read all the instructions!

No, I actually did not think of that. What a great idea! Thank you. The only thing I checked out on you tube after my surgery was watching a TKR surgery.

I tend to jump right in myself! lol i only happened to read it after clicking on the "why" in red after the note about review.