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Knee replacement setback

Posted , 13 users are following.

vickie15389
vickie15389

I had TKR on 12/18/17. While very challenging at first, I recovered very well (so they tell me) and returned to work at 6 weeks out. I gradually stopped pain meds and only used Tylenol except for the occasional norco here and there. THEN...I had a conference that I attended last week. There was a lot of walking and a few flights of stairs here and there. I didn’t feel like it was terribly bad at the time, but by day 4 the pain increased quickly and with vengeance. I went to my Dr when I returned and he drained 60 cc of fluid and gave a shot of lidocaine. That helped that day but back bad as ever now. I’m a 58 year old female. Has anyone experienced a setback such as this?  I am in so much pain and now emotionally spent as well. I could just curl up and cry and would if it may help!  Any suggestions?  I continue with ice and rest but no luck. 

1 like, 72 replies

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  • nate1990
    nate1990 vickie15389

    Posted

    ...back to work after 6 weeks is asking for problems. Meds will disguise your pain and not cure the problem. I got off meds as soon as possible except for nighttime. I found meds generally resulted in severe constipation and very poor appetite. I had quite a regime from my hospital and stopped them as soon as I could manage the pain.
    • sue64229
      sue64229 nate1990

      Posted

      Well Nate, there aren’t any medals for coming off pain meds quickly.  If you’re in pain, you need them.  As for “ disguising” the problem and not curing, I think we all know that.  They are prescribed to help you get over the operation, to aide your recovery and be able to do what you have to.  It’s fine if you’re coping without, bully for you but I don’t think you should be preaching and making people feel insecure because they need the help of pain meds a while longer.  Also, I never get constipated and have managed to put on a great amount of weight so no loss of appetite here😞. Some people are lucky and have a great pain threshold, others, not so much.  As I’ve mentioned a few times, I’m 2 yrs out from bilateral tkr’s and still take pain meds if I need to.  I don’t give a stuff who knows it.   It’s commonsense that you never abuse them.  But if Doctor keeps prescribing, I can’t see the problem.  

      So peeps, don’t feel bad if you need to take pain meds, especially if you have to get on with life like work, kids etc.   we are all different.  Do what YOU have to do not what others tell you,  you should be doing.  

  • Delboy1735
    Delboy1735 vickie15389

    Posted

    My cavalier impression when I had my first TKR was : ‘yep. 6 weeks and it’ll be back to normal.’ The facts were different. I saw my Physio and my surgeon at six weeks. From an X Ray and a demonstration to him of my ability to bend and straighten my knee he was satisfied that the op had gone Ok. My Physio was satisfied with my ability at that stage. No one said anything about working though I’m a man of independent means (I’m a senior citizen on the state pension). Work would have not been on the cards. 6 weeks was just the start. I saw both the doctor and the surgeon at 12 weeks. The Physio discharged me and my surgeon wanted to see me at six months. The number of posts I’m reading talking of expectations of medicine-man cures at  6 weeks is puzzling. 

    I’m recovering from my second op and progress, though a little slower, is going OK.

    And, and I’ll see my surgeon after 12 months and expect to be discharged.

  • vickie15389
    vickie15389

    Posted

    Received word today that I am to have a bone scan at 8:30 am tomorrow. Not really sure what that is supposed to tell. Just that they inject contrast then I have to come back in three hours for the images.  While I did attempt to go to work today (desk job) it was more than miserable. Worked thru it with pain medication but it wasn’t pretty
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