My TKR surgery is in 6 days & I'm terrified!

Debi, you've got this.

Anxious or curious about how things will go is normal. Remember to be your own advocate and to ask whoever is going with you to be an active advocate for you when you're too groggy to speak for yourself. 

Do not be afraid to tell the staff you are feeling very anxious. They will help you feel as comfortable as possible. 

I was worried about pain management because I have an allergy to some of the primary pain management drugs used here. I talked to the surgeon's office ahead of time and expressed my concerns and the nurse recommended a strategy for dealing with it and noted my chart. 

My advocate reiterated this once I was out of surgery and again in my patient room to make sure they were managing my pain effectively and in a way that wouldn't cause an allergic reaction. 

Once you're home and on oral pain meds, if they're not working, do not be afraid to call the surgeon and ask for a different mix. I had problems with my oral pain med once home. My husband called the surgeon's office and they worked with us to find a different mix that worked for me to be comfortable. 

Yes, you'll have some discomfort, but do not consider suffering a great deal of pain to be an option. Be an advocate and enable someone to advocate for you. If you are in the USA, make sure that your advocate's name is on the HIPAA privacy list on file with the hospital and the surgeon so they can speak on your behalf.

And finally -- try not to focus on the horror stories you may read or hear. Every TKR is unique. Expect that you will have a great outcome. Your mental attitude is a huge part of your healing and recovery. 

Stay connected here. We're here to support you. (By the way, I'm having my 2 knees done 8 weeks apart. I'm on Day 36 post op of Knee #1.  Knee #2 will be done on 10/27, so I'll be right there with you!)

Sending you encouragement!

Nora (in Ohio)

Hi Debi. It's understandable that you're scared. It's a huge operation! I don't know where you are living (I'm in Toronto, Ontario). For my TKR, I had a spinal, a nerve block in my leg, AND was in a light sleep where I didn't hear anything that was going on. I was not intubated. I woke up with absolutely zero pain due to the blocks, and in fact had no pain until the following day. To cope with that, I had a PCA pump (I pressed a button when I needed meds through the IV). That was for 24hrs. The nurses also brought me oral meds every 4 hours. My pain was extremely well controlled in hospital. Going home.....oh yeah....it hurt like heck.....and I often thought..."why did I do this to myself?"  BUT.....I took my meds every four hours those first few weeks, especially before exercise or PT.  And you know what? Every week, it got better! I'm now just over 10 months post....best thing I ever did.  It'll be terrible in the beginning, but know that you'll be in a better place after.  You're booked for this surgery for a reason. Good luck, you'll be fine!

Oh!!! I forgot to add.....get an ice machine!!! You will be needing one for the swelling and the pain. It REALLY helps!! 

I know how u feel. I had my first TKR in December 2016.

I begged for the surgery my knee was so bad. My other knee was as bad as the first and I dreaded the 2nd one.

I will not lie to u, it was awful. It took 6 weeks and all of a sudden I find myself forgetting my TKR. (I have other medical problems). Again it was the 2nd best thing I have ever done.

The first TKR was the first.

Remember, u have a lot to look forward once the surgery is over.  There is sunshine on the other side.

Good luck

Hi, Debihearn!  I have been following this blog since May 2016, just a few weeks after having a right TKR.  I don’t post often but feel compelled to share with you a few thoughts and lessons learned.  First, stay ahead of the pain.  Don’t wait until you are feeling too much pain to take the meds.  And don’t be afraid to ask for more.  Make sure you get the pain meds in you before you go to physical therapy.  Also, follow the instructions of your therapist but also listen to your body.  You know when it is too much and a good therapist will support you and also provide you encouragement.  One thing that totally blindsided me with this whole TKR experience was the amount of work and time it would take me to get the degree of bend back. Also, 1 1/2 years later, although I feel much much better, my knee gets stiff.  The surgeon says healing may take 2 years.  It can be different for everyone.  I will have my left TKR early next year. You mentioned being under for the surgery.   I did not have general anesthesia but had a spinal and was given drugs in an IV.  I didn’t feel anything, was not awake and my leg remained numb with a nerve block for a day.  In the hospital for 2 days but it was not bad at all.   I am sure you will do well and I pray that you have a quick recovery.

Debihearn, I'm checking back in on you. Today may be your surgery day or close to it.  I am thinking about you. Expect a positive outcome! You can do this, and we're here to support you!

Hello I hope your surgery went well. A few things that helped me. I know your in a lot of pain right now I am so sorry for you right now I went through it 10 weeks ago now both knees but would like to tell you a few things that just helped at this point in your recovery. 1-get you a thing that goes behind your bed and comes over it with a handle on it they might of had one in the hospital you can rent them from medical supply for 40.00 a month. 2-have someone go to walgreens and get a handle that goes under your bed mattress and comes up with a upside down u shape on it cost about 35.00 it will help you pull your way to side of the bed. 3- walgreeens toilet seat handle that goes to the back of a toilet don't put it on toilet because you can also use it to get up from the couch or a chair. 4-get a nitro walker with wheels and a seat because it will keep you moving and have a seat to carry things or if you need to sit down its there, great walker but my wheel kept coming off, might of been my fault not putting it on right. 5-get a really soft blanket to put in the middle of your knees when laying on your side. 6- oh on the thing above your bed you can put a rope through it and put a loup in the end to help you lift your leg that was a great help. 7- I had a ice machine which if you have someone to change ice is great. 8-if you have ice jell bags get you a pair of soft pants put knots in the end and put ice bags in legs or a shirt something with arms it keeps bags together and if you need to keep them in place you can rap them with the rest of pants or shirt to keep them in place easier to keep up with in bed. 8-shower put an outside rug like they use in front of stores so you don't slip i put them all around my bathroom you can get at sams. 9-get a chair for shower with arms very important. 

The pain was the worst pain I have ever had in my life I am not going to sugar coat it. It starts getting better about 5 weeks out. You will get depressed because you want to recover fast but its not a fast thing at all. It feels like rubber bands around your knees. One thing is as you can with clean hands massage your incisions very important to help with scare tissue. They have this cup thing that helps with that to.  I am here for you if you need a ear. Hang in there! Do you know what kind of implant you got? Oh there is still pain standing at 10 weeks too but walking gets better. If I can help you understand you pain I will try.

@Debihearn,

I believe you are also planning to travel to your daughter’s in Arizona for Thanksgiving. What I wanted to tell you is that I’m now 6.5 weeks and really feel I’ve turned a corner. My biggest recovery tool: my youngest coming home from grad school for a visit. We had not seen him since last December. I feel so much better and I attribute some of that to the morale and emotional boost I got from seeing my son. 

Wear the support stockings they gave you when you were released from surgery, take some empty ice bags that you can get the flight attendants to add ice to, and GO if you are feeling up to it. It may be just the “medicine” you need to get to see your daughter and give her a hug. ❤️

Thinking of you as you are recuperating. 

Best,

Nora

I'd like to hear how you're doing! I'm 17 days post TKR in left knee, 4 months post TKR right knee, so just got past the first two weeks which I think are just really difficult. 

My TKR was 9 days ago. I'm doin ok. Got a rocky start when my home health Nurse took my sutures off two days ago & it started bleeding & wouldn't stop. After 15 min of pressure she had to reapply sutures. I went back to Dr yesterday & he removed sutures & put a wound Vac on for a wk. Still doing PT w/ minimal pain & ready to be on the road to recovery!