ON THE LAST LAP BEFORE FRIDAY 13TH

Posted , 8 users are following.

Hi all

I am on the way to Friday 13th and my TKR.   How I wish it were not that date though I am not overly superstitious!    At the moment I am wishing I had delayed the whole thing and transferred from Manchester to Derby where I am now living.   But hey, my surgeon comes highly recommended by other doctors and I did like him.

Getting cold feet about things a bit.   Discovered at a pre-op assessment that I am having the one consultant at the hospital who insists Warfarin for a fortnight is given in injection not tablets.  They apparently train you to give your own.   I have a needle phobia and no way can I do that.  I have worked myself into mild asthma with the worry.  However, the GP has said no problem whe will get the district nurse to do it.   Am I relieved.  You probably think I am a weimp.  Hope I never get diabetes!

I am assuming they willl give you more info when in, but certainly not in the booklets given so far about after the operation so I thought I would ask the forum.   Actually you probably know more about the answers.  I am unclear about how much you are supposed to be sitting with a raised legs in the daytime.  And is it supposed to be raised when you do and how far.   How often do you use the frozen peas.   I know I will not be able to go out for a couple of weeks because i will not know when nurse is coming, but how quickly did you get out after op - say to friends or to church  or a garden centre for coffee (in the car).  I think getting out would help mood.

I am sure you will help me.   I had neurosurgery on my spine for laminectomy and discectomy two years ago and these decisions were much simpler. This is also why I am having a general because of scar tissue.   You either lay down or stood and walked for two weeks.  No sitting except for bathroom and a chair for washing.  You did some simple exercises in bed and got up every hour and walked round the flat.  After a week you threw on a tracksuit two or three times a day and went for a gentle walk outside and came back to bed and iced.  Serious physio did not start for a month.   I have a feeling that this was probably much less painful and you knew exactly what to do.

Please help

Angela

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    hi angela,

    ​I am like you and needle phobia when I had the op done in the hospital in Peterborough I told them straight that I could not and did not have anyone to inject me and they gave me pills on my departure - stick to your guns and get pills - hope this helps.  If you don't want to leave it until you get to the hospital after treatment phone your consutans secretary and tell her hope you get on okay

    • Posted

      Hi Maggie

      I think I am happier to let the district nurse do this as the GP has offered.  It is peculiar how once something really starts to bother you things starty to unravel.   This forum is great and along with the help I first had when put on the list I shall be back after the op

  • Posted

    Hi Angela,

    What a shame you're not having your op in Derby - I could have told you all about the nursing staff, who to avoid, who you can have a giggle with.......

    But never mind that. From my experiences, the info provided in hospital it's minimal and you find out much more on here.

    Every knee is different, but the basics remain the same. When youre icing and or elevating, your foot should be at hip height or higher. You should only ice for a maximum of 20 minutes, and no more than once in a one hour period. ALWAYS ice after your exercises. I agree with Maggie re the Warfarin - phone your Consultants Secretary and explain your fears. I lost count of the number of times I spoke to my Consultants Secretary for one reason or another......

    As far as getting out and about is concerned, this really depends on your surgical outcome and recovery, and also your confidence walking post-op. After #1 in March, it was weeks until I felt confident enough to go anywhere other than Physio or my GP surgery. This time around (surgery was 10 days ago) I feel almost ready to go out in the car just for a change of scenery. Don't over exert yourself though, you WILL be really tired and get fatigued easily. Ive been out of Hospital 5 days, and I've got my Physio assessment tomorrow, and guess I'll be starting sessions next week sometime. The sooner you can start even the simplest of exercises, the better you will do.

    All the very best of luck to you, and if there's anything else you want to.ask, just shout up xx

    • Posted

      Hi Terri

      Thanks for that advice.    You become worried that you will overdo or even underdo things.   I know people on here say rest, take meds, exercise and drink fluids but I guess you worry about resting too much.

      Angela

    • Posted

      Hi Terri

      Although I am having my TKR in Manchester I have heard that physio will be in Derby.    How soon did you starft physio after op, and how often did you go.   Were you happy witth this.   Did you do any gym work with them?

      Many thanks

      Angela

    • Posted

      Hi Angela

      I had my assessment today for physio and Occupational therapy, and I start sessions on Thursday, that will be 2 weeks exactly post surgery. Ill be going twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday, 90minutes each time.

      It's not gym work as you would imagine it to be to start with, but after a couple of weeks you'll get to use the rowing machines, exercise bikes, treadmill etc.

      I imagine ill be going for a few weeks, so may well see you there!

  • Posted

    Hi Angela!

    Try to relax. You have confidence in your surgeon, which is good. You have a nurse giving you your injections of blood thinners. Also good. You have had surgeries before, so you are no stranger to all the different hoops one needs to jump through before actually HAVING surgery.

    You will do FINE!

    Your nurses will be guiding you along the way after surgery. Doc will check in, too. Each hospital / doctor/ country seems to have their own protocols before, during, and after surgery. You will be told how things go as you need to know. In my experience (TKR on left knee in June/ TKR on right knee in October) nurses and aides are the ones who will answer a lot of your questions, help you with pain medication, help you to the toilet, offer support and sympathy and come when you call.

    Staying positive and relaxed helps A LOT! Be kind to your nurses and aides, and greet them with a smile. Remember to thank them each time they come. I developed some great relationships with those who were helping me, and it made the whole hospital experience a good one for me. Also, if you are a pleasant patient the nurses and aides will look forward to helping you rather than dreading coming into your room!

    After surgery they will get you up and moving. You will have pain medication and will be a bit weak and unsteady. You will have help from nurses and physical therapy. Embrace help and embrace getting up and moving. This helps you heal, helps prevent blood clotting, and it helps you feel successful each time that you walk a few more steps than you did the time before.

    My surgeries were done by the same surgeon at the same hospital just 15 weeks apart. I had nerve blocks with each. Both experiences were different, however. My first knee (whole leg!) felt like a tree trunk filled with CEMENT after surgery. My second knee was very mobile even in the recovery room! With this second knee, I figure I am about a month ahead of schedule from how things were with my left knee. Every surgery is different. Every experience with TKR is different.

    You will be encouraged to ICE and elevate. You will be encouraged to get moving often. Stay positive, drink plenty of water to flush out anesthesia and toxins from medications. Eat well. Your body will have gone through a great deal, but your body is an amazing creation and will respond in kind to heal and allow you to feel better with each passing day.

    You CAN do this!

    Stay positive, follow discharge instructions, be careful not to fall, keep moving every hour, rest as much as you can, drink lots of water, and RELAX!

    Be sure to check back here when you can to let us know how you are doing!

    Sending prayers of calm and strength to you today!

    • Posted

      Hi Cheryl

      Heaps of advice therfe - thank you very much - and yes \I will be bavck after op.

      Angela

  • Posted

    I had to do the injections for six weeks. it was a bit of a pain, bt definitely better than getting a blood clot.  I didn't actually keep my leg up much . . nobody told me it was the thing to do, and until I found the forum, I was more focused on keeping it bent, which is what the surgeon told me to do . . always sit with it bent as far back as possible, and not stretched out in front, which would have been more comfortable. so as you can see, there is a lot of conflicting advice around, and I honestly don't think it matters a great deal. the most important thing of all is to persevere with the exercises, rest enough, and try to keep your sense of humour!  OH, and take your pain medication!  don;t gry to be too brave.  A few weeks on something strong will do wonders for your ability to do the exercises. 
  • Posted

    Hey Angela,

    I had a bilateral TKR on 8th October.  I have a history of blood clots so the blood thinners were more essential as I take them every day.  They changed mine from oral to needle form for 5 days before and 3 days after my operation.  The needles actually don't hurt at all going in around the belly.  There is a sting afterwards for a minute or two but that's it.  I to, was scared at the thought of injecting myself in the beginning but it's easy and much better than blood clots.

    As for icing and elivating the knee, I wasn't told about either.  I was lucky enough to be walking around without any aid, less than 2 weeks after my operation.  I wish I could say I was pain free but of course, not true lol.  It's important you don't put pillows under your knee when sleeping.  I put pillows lengthways under the whole of my leg which is comfortable for me.  Icing makes sense.  I suppose you can do it whenever you feel the need.  I don't even have to go to physio at all.  They were very pleased with my progress while in hospital.

    Its ts been a month now since my operation.  Things are going as well as can be expected.  I have 14 steps I have to walk to get into my unit so it was important for me to work hard on walking unaided.  It hurts still.  I was silly and let the big chair and over the toilet seat I rented go back to soon.  I find I'm flopping down on my sofa and toilet because I still can't bend the knees enough.  More of a struggle getting up.  I have been on a bus trip to my doctors because I can't drive for 6 weeks.  That went ok but I found the seat a bit to low of course.  I've also been taken out for lunch by my family.  It was lovely to walk in the fresh air but again, the seating was a little difficult but I managed.

    My advice is to listen

    its like its already been said, everyone is different and every recovery will be also.  The pain I have in my knees now is a lot different to before the operation.  It's better if that makes sense.  You have to have a positive spirit. I didn't have anyone to rely on at home.  My daughter, bless her, lives an hour away and works full time with two kids.  I didn't want her to worry about me.  I have my groceries delivered but am able to vacuum.  Bedding changing is a bit difficult but everything is possible if you take your time.

    my advice to you is to listen to your physio, work hard, rest well and take all the pain medication prescribed for you.  No point in being a hero.  It will hurt but not as bad as we think.  I thought I would die the first few days after the operation but I'm so glad I had them done.  I won't be modelling knee high socks ever again lol.  Scars are doozies but I use bio oil on them and they're healing nicely.  I had dissolving stitches so didn't have to have them removed which was a bonus.  

    Good of luck with your operation.  If you have anymore questions, ask away. 

     

    • Posted

      Gosh Sue you are doing well and I hope I am lucky too.   I guess you have had to be very determined living alone and I think you are a very determined person.   Good luck to your continued progress

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