Knee Replacement - Pre-op, Post-op tips to share?
Posted , 15 users are following.
Hi everyone,
My name is Jan and I am having my left knee replaced next month, total joint replacement. I will also have the right one done but probably not until next year.
Can anyone share any adivce? Tips? Things you thought of after your operation that you wished you had thought of before the op? Things to do in advance - or any shock surprises things you did not expect afterwards? Good and bad?
How active are you in the first week or two? Is it OK to rest with your leg up, and then do your exercises in between, or are you expected to be up moving all the time? And how did you manage to sleep at night? I read you are not meant to put a pillow under your knee. How were you able to sleep comfortably?
Really, anything you can share would be helpful - even including the pain, good or bad - it just would help put my mind at ease a bit if i could know what to expect from those who have been through it. It is probably not as bad as my imagination is.
I am very nervous. I broke both my knees when I was 19 (in 1979) and have had 9 or 10 surgeries since then - 4 or 5 just to fix them, and then more ti keep them ticking over and those ones were keyhole surgery which was a doddle - but I am remembering the pain I felt when the did the original ligament repairs and what not - the 4 or 5, they were very painful surgeries/recoveries - and I am very anxious remembering it - so anything to put my mind at ease is a good thing - even if it means knowing the cold hard truth!!
So please - share away if you would - I would be so grateful.
I should add I have become extremely sedentary - so have put weight on - and I know that will impede my recovery.
0 likes, 53 replies
PenceJan
Posted
Wow everyone - thank you so much for your responses - I asked for the cold hard turht - and now I am broicking it!!! HAHAHA I really feel so overwhelmed - but I knew it was not going to be an easy op.
I just hope and pray I am up for a good recovery - I just mentioned to John I also have very bad arthritis in both feet, so good strong power walking, for any length of time is difficult. I just hope they have the strength to get me throuhgh it. I am doing my best now to eat healthily and just bought a bike that I can ride for a few weeks now which will hopegully help something.
Oh my - you all sound so strong and brave and positive. I feel quite the opposite right now. lol But hopefully as it all soaks in I will rise to the occassion!!
I will be hanging around these parts for the forseeable future, so can i just say its nice to "meet" all of you, and to know there are people there who will understand what I am going through. . . thats very helpful.
Continued strong recoveries to you all!
xx
jenny80029 PenceJan
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PenceJan
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Hi everyone
I hope you all are doing good today. Nice to not have that oppressive heat - for those in the UK (At loeast!) Where is everyone from? I am interested as will be interesting to compare care/treatment methods. I am an American, but married a Brit and have been living in the UK for the last 16 years.
Anyway - update - I had a call from the Surgeon who wants to reschedule my surgery - for the second time - because he thinks it is too risky, as he is on holiday shortly after and he wants to be there in the early days - so I appreciate that. But then want to do it week after next!!! And my head is not ready yet!! Nor is my house!!!
She said if I wanted to change it, i can but the next slots will not be until August/September!!!
BUT..... Part of me thinks this may be a blessing in disguise. I have long been worried about, and even more so now, after hearing how grueling the physio and recovery / ability to sleep, etc., was. I think I mentioned I have very painful arthritis in my feet, so walking is very difficult, and my feet are actually more painful and weaker than my knees. Unfortunatly they cannot do foot replacements yet. I did consider Oscar Pistorious Blades at one point. lol So my concern has been - will I be strong enough to attack physio - am I likely to over burden the other bad knee for lack of good phsyio, or too good physio and over use - if it gets damaged, then what..... and all of these councerns are made DOUBLY bad because of the excess weight I have acquired over the past few years as I became more and more sedentary.
My thinkin is - this could give me a chance to get in MUCH better shape than I am in now. I jut got a beautiful new bicycle which will only help strengthen my knees, and can be my "feet" for me. Also time to shed as many pounds as possible.
I have been through it all - I know I could "manage" as I am - but I know it is going to be hard, extra difficult with the weigt, and much harder to get the very best result possible.
<sigh> So I have a very big decision to make. As I also have Fibromyalgia - forgot to mention that little nugget - I am sadly pretty used to pain of some sort, somewhere most days - so I could tolerate the delay. As long as nothing snapped, or I fell, or injured it.
Sorry such a long post - thinking out loud really but would value your opinions.
What would you do?
Thanks everyone!!!
karen14697 PenceJan
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I live in the beautiful N Georgia mountains in a gated resort area. It's been a bit of a struggle since my surgeon is in Atlanta, almost 2 hrs away. His office uses the internet which helped me get prescriptions ( but husband still had to drive down, early on, for anything narcotic), I was able to get quick answers to questions, etc. My TKR was Feb 16th and I have finally turned a corner. I have very little pain or swelling anymore.
If a window of opportunity opened, I say " go for it" however, loosing weight beforehand is a big plus. Having your spouse on board is critical. You will need the help!
Pray or meditate about it and if the timing is right go right ahead! At least your physician sounds like they want to be here through the worst and that's a great thing.
I wish you well and will keep you in my prayers. 🔜😇
jenny80029 PenceJan
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clive45466 PenceJan
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Ask what knee joint you will get ask for the triathlon version.
Good luck
Good healing
jan01779 PenceJan
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Chico and Johns replies are spot on and we are all differrent and find our own way. Sounds like you have been through a lot whcih will stand you in good stead.
If you can loose a few pound sit wlll help but mu surgeon advised re diet as you dont wan tto lose any muscle tone you have. Its difficult with a painful knee but do the prep as much as you can even if its the gentle pre-op exercises given. My surgeon advised me to exercies in the pool , it was difficult getting in but it did help, (I had already had physio hydotherapy previously in the lead up to needed TKR so used them), But there is a lot on on line re pre-op gentle exercises if repeated sets done will help maintian or build a bit. As others have said a clean unprocessed diet, hydration imporant.
Not sure if you are having GA or epidural with sedation . Had mine under the latter and dont remmeber a thing apart form iodining the leg! Modern anesthetics drugs are designed for the brain to block out the memoery its amazing.
Post op recovery is hard you will have sleepless nights but keep up the pain meds regualrly and do the exercises your given and look on line. For me the pain got better at 8 weeks but we are all different and have varying thresholds.
Prepare your home environment to be unclutterred and in between exercising ( it takes over your life) do stuff you like read, listen to music watch a comdey film , make a voodoo pin cushion of you physiotherapist when you retun from a session ....to be honest my physio wasnt too bad apart from the push downs.
You been through a lot sothat in itself is goop preparation, it will not be easy but gets easier and I am sp grateful for mynew knee.
Keep us posted as to how you get on and use this Forum so great tips and also a lot of humour !
jan01779
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LindaSue PenceJan
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Hi Jan and Friends! My name is Linda and I am having my knee done (partial) on the 26th of this month and recently found this Forum which has been a godsend. Jan, thank you for such a terrific post which included many of the questions I have. And thanks to everyone here who have provided such informative answers...I have been closely following this thread and many others and will be posting questions of my own as soon as I can absorb what I've read so far. To be honest, I'm feeling quite overwhelmed between trying to arrange work and my house while setting up PT, visiting nurse, meds, tests, etc. Please tell me I'm not alone... Many thanks, Linda
jenny80029 LindaSue
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😊 there is a lot of useful information around! But you will be glad you are prepared...well, as much as one can be! Are you in UK, or elsewhere?
PenceJan LindaSue
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I am hoping this is the turning point for me in many ways. And I am quickly trying to get my head around all the possibilities and eventualities - and hope for the very best, and do the best I can. I have too. But its pretty scary.
Be great to have someone going through it around the same time as me. Good luck to you and also good luck on information finding. The only dumb question is the one left unasked - and there is a wealth of wisdom here.
CHICO_MARX LindaSue
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You're not alone. EVERYONE goes through this. You feel "overwhelmed" because you're trying to process all of this simultaneously. Make a list of the things you have to do pre- and post-op. Prioritize. Check them off one by one. Never look at the whole list at the same time. ONE BY ONE.
I don't really know the difference in pain/PT/rehab between a partial and full knee replacement but we have a few people on the Forum with partials. You can get specific help with your op by making sure you put "Partial" in the title of a new Discussion.
Meanwhile, click on my picture and then "See All Discussions" for posts that may be helpful regardless of the operation. Just remember to take a deep breath, relax and finish your checklist. Eat healthy and hydrate; be strong.
LindaSue jenny80029
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LindaSue PenceJan
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Oh Jan, I am so sorry for all you have been through. I have also experienced similar life situations in recent times and am wondering where I will draw the strength through to get through this process. I am no stranger to surgeries either but to be honest have never experienced the level and length of pain post-op I am reading about here. My last surgery was arthroscopy (same knee) to fix 2 torn menisci plus I had microfracture only to come out with even worse pain. (I did change surgeons.) I am so grateful for everyone's honesty as in most cases strictly informational sites describe what to expect in general. Those that have been in the "trenches" and have managed to reach the other side as well as those that are still there help us newbies become much better prepared than any factual website or even doctor ever could. I am deeply appreciative to all of you and know I will have many questions.
Jan, we will get through this together! I am sorry you are going through this, but I am grateful to have found a buddy!
LindaSue CHICO_MARX
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Hi Chico Marx...thank you so much for reply as well as your helpful suggestions. I already have a detailed to-do list created but have very little checked off yet. Prioritizing for sure. Regarding pain- I have actually read that the pain level with a PKR can be similar to those with TKRs (although of course everyone is different) but the length of recovery is uslaly shorter. My biggest fear with pain control with this type is surgery is my intolerance for opiates due to severe nausea and vomiting. My last surgeon (who performed my arthroscopy) had me try Nucynta which is techically an opiate but supposedly doesn't have the same side effects. It seemed to work "ok" but I only took it for 2 days as the pain was manageable with Tramadol. So more research is needed to find something I can take longer term if this one doesn't hold me through early post op and rehab. Headed over to read through the discussions as you suggested. Thanks again!
jenny80029 LindaSue
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Take a peek at my profile and maybe visit it as part of your research! I have devoted one of the pages to my own story. I spent a lot of time writing it, but it kept my mind occupied! Also includes expressing my own frustrations and struggles!...I needed to sort my head out! Writing helped. It is very long. Skim reading recommended!
LindaSue jenny80029
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CHICO_MARX LindaSue
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Tramadol is actually an opioid, albeit a mild one. Are you intolerant of ALL opioids? Some people have bad reactions to hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco) and Codeine but can handle oxycodone better since it is not codeine-based. Combined with Tylenol, it goes by the name Percocet. Tramadol is also called Ultram, so don't be fooled. The addition of a muscle relaxer like Flexeril can also be helpful.
Unfortunately, there is no set prescription (LOL) that works for everyone. It's all trial and error to find the combination, dosage and dosage timing that works for you. This process usually starts out with a lot of screaming and wailing but subsides over time as you: a. find the right combo; and b. get further past the surgery. No easy answers here on the med side...unless you go right to Fentanyl and stay unconscious for two months. Not recommended.
LindaSue CHICO_MARX
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Hmmmm Chico...I'm not sure why, but I can take Tramadol (Ultram) which I discovered after my tummy tuck. (I've lost about 85 pounds and had lots of loose skin.) I also took it for my carpal tunnel surgeries. But these are not surgeries on bone. Also, my former surgeon told me that Tramadol wouldn't cover the pain enough after my arthroscopy and microfracture which I had last November which is why he recommended Nucynta. But I only took it for 2 days (with Zofran) as the pain was "bearable." So perhaps Tramadol can be used in addition to or in between Nucynta doses. I have never been able to take Vicodan or Percoset...major nausea and vomiting. I think another chat with the surgeon who is doing my PKR is in order. Thanks again for your help.
CHICO_MARX LindaSue
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Nucynta (Tapentadol) is a moderate strength opioid generally equivalent to oxycodone...so it's stronger than Tramadol but weaker than morphine. You may also tolerate it better since it is not codeine-based which may be the problem you had with the other meds. Understand that Tapentadol is pretty potent with a HUGE contraindication with alcohol. You could literally stop breathing. Even some OTC meds (ex: NyQuil) contain alcohol so be careful. Before you put ANYTHING in your mouth, even from a doc, do the research especially on drug interactions. Stay safe.
LindaSue CHICO_MARX
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My guess too that without the codeine base is why I can tolerate Nucynta. That said, I only took 1 pill a day for the first 2 days after my arthroscopy. Actually, the actual arthroscopy painful was tolerable, however the microfracture was what really hurt. But that pain was pretty much covered by Tramadol. Oh yes, I do know about the alcohol contraindication. I don't drink at all, but will surely watch the OTC meds...thanks for the reminder.