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OMG This has been SO hard!

Posted , 13 users are following.

mary81398
mary81398

I am 4 1/2 weeks post TKR L knee.( 65yrs old)I had no idea things would be so tough and painful. I am taking long acting painkillers morning and night and panadol osteo during the day. I was so pleased to find this group discussion. Everyone says not to compare progress but i feel like i need a chart of normal variation just to check i'm somewhere within normal! OP was 9th NOVEMBER 2018. I don't see my surgeon till 21st DEC. I phoned my physios before i had surgery and they said they couldn't see me until i had seen my surgeon post op!! TASMANIA AUSTRALIA. Anyway i'm doing sit stands, now walking daily 500m icing and resting but i feel like every day is a slow punishment. ROM 90+ in the shower am but decreases during the day despite icing elevating etc. I'm using 2 crutches lightly to make sure i'm not putting stress on anything else. I have a pilates reformer bed and have done two VERY light (2 red springs)leg work sessions mainly controlled stretches. I Plan to do this alternating days. Thank you for a site to vent. My hubby is a GP who's been trying very hard to be helpful, but not really too empathetic, and my dear daughter is 5mths post double lung transplant, so i really don't want to whinge. Honestly i could cry most afternoons at the thought of another poor nights sleep and the prospect of facing another day!

THANKS for listening!

1 like, 31 replies

31 Replies

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  • jule93059
    jule93059 mary81398

    Posted

    DEE, once her wound is healed the pool is great for her. Of course, her surgeon needs to ok this. I'm an RN also, trauma/flight 30 yrs. As soon as i got the ok, i was in that pool and that was the catalyst for my healing and improvement.

    • mary81398
      mary81398 jule93059

      Posted

      Thanks JULE. I'm filing all info! I'm VERY compliant with physio and all exercise. Years of pro skiing!

    • dee53186
      dee53186 jule93059

      Posted

      JULE yes I completely understand the fabulous benefits of the pool, once the MD gives the ok. That was also my biggest contributing factor to successfully wrapping up and maintaining my healing last time.

  • melissa34582
    melissa34582 mary81398

    Posted

    Hi Mary, I am 8 weeks post op TKR. I remember being in your shoes not long ago. I was crying and whining when is this going to get better?? I was so miserable and couldn't sleep for nothing! I was so tired and so much pain and difficulty. I came home from hospital and started in home PT right away then out patient PT. I am on my final week of PT now. Just hang in there, there is a turning point where things start improving and thing start getting easier. I felt like my turning point happened over night. PT is very important to work on getting you bend and extension right. Again just hang in there better days are coming soon!

    Good Luck!

    Melissa

    • mary81398
      mary81398 melissa34582

      Posted

      Thank you for replying! I'm doing everything..i just had NO IDEA!! I've had R ACL reco, artificial half joints in both feet, then revised to full sylastic joints,followed by bone graft (hip) and fusion L foot done twice because the plate fractured and they did it again with extra bone retrieved from my heel..can you believe it, the second plate has fractured again, BUT NOTHING compares to this.

      whinging again. The bottom line is i wasn't prepared at all fot this journey.

  • ann18637
    ann18637 mary81398

    Posted

    Hi Mary yes it's hard at first never known pain like it now I'm 7months post op what pain? " booked my second knee in March next Yr, yes you think I'm mad but now no meds no pain a little stiffness and am very aware it's not my knee yet but compared to the arthritic pain pre op it's worth it. Just be positive this site is all about people's experiences with tkr some bad some good. Sleep depravation was the worst for me being retired helped although I care for 2 grandchildren one of which has autism and they've actually helped me by making me do things I felt I couldn't. I applied voltarol behind knee before bed took, paracetamol pillow under leg and slept that way. Had to invest in a light duvet for the weight on my knee. Chin up you'll get through it c

    • mary81398
      mary81398 ann18637

      Posted

      Thanks! I have two sets of twins in the mix! 5 and 9. I've put all that on hold. Dear 9yo Finn looks at me lovingly "still broken?"

  • pam09145
    pam09145 mary81398

    Posted

    I can remember thinking, will I ever get a full nights sleep. It takes awhile, just be patient. Keep doing the post op exercises, they really help with flexibility. It is easier to use a walker. Know it will get better , but it takes time. Good luck. I am 20 months post op ltkr, planning on having rtkr in February.

    • mary81398
      mary81398 pam09145

      Posted

      Thanks. I'm increasing the walking all the while saying/knowing i'll never get the R done. So funny everyone here seems to have thought that...boy will i look after that R knee!

    • mary81398
      mary81398 pam09145

      Posted

      Thank you! I can't believe i'll ever forget this!!

  • sharon_59801
    sharon_59801 mary81398

    Posted

    Dear Mary...Its a new operation for you....And yes it hurts...I am 2 years post op...My knee is great now and im walking....But honestly it took me well over a year to have no pain....The doctor's told me to walk...walk..walk...I found doing stairs helped enormously...When i couldn't sleep.I wrapped my leg in a nice warm blanket and took 2 Mercyndal. So keep moving a bit every day..give yourself time. It is so worth it in the end to be able to walk. God bless...

    • mary81398
      mary81398 sharon_59801

      Posted

      Thanks Sharon. Yes i will have to be patient. That doesn't come easily to me.

  • jenny61596
    jenny61596 mary81398

    Posted

    What you are feeling is quite normal, I had a lot of pain for about 7 weeks then it quite suddenly improved . I didnt do a huge amount of physio to start with because of pain levels, basically just kept bending and straightening knee , and got full movement. Sleep is hard but if I couldnt sleep at night I watched Netflix and slept when I could. I found my partner tried but didnt really understand the pain level involved with this op. You have to have had it to understand !! I went to water aerobics at about 6 weeks and that was good . Not long and you should start to feel better! Good luck

    • mary81398
      mary81398 jenny61596

      Posted

      Thanks Jenny. It's so good to hear from people who understand! Agree, unless you've had this 0 idea!!

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