Pain

I'm sure your right, they know better LOL no I'm only joking, my first community physiotherapist had had both hers and does say its much harder than hip.

So are you doing icing/heat/elevation, i am sure you are but asked any way, and of course physio, have you been back to have xray at 6 weeks or seen your surgeon for a review.

Its not really that long anyway in the scheme of things and maybe you have pushed to hard and not rested it enough, where are your pains, and what meds are you taking.

Sorry just reread your post, xrays etc are fine, bimbo and blond springs to mind, me not you.

Oh Robin I really feel for you. You are very brave having both done! I really think you should go to your GP as it sounds to me you may be depressed, also I think he/she should look again at your pain meds as it doesn't sound as if they are working. They have many alternatives & not everyone gets on with everything they are given. Make time to just relax as much as you can, rest, ice, elevate & I find warmth/heat helps. We all heal at different rates, so don't look at what others are doing. You can & will do this, give yourself time. You have had 2 major operations, not just one!!

I found that putting pillows either side of me helped me to get comfortable in bed, also pillows for my arms. My husband used to say here goes the Berlin Wall again. It did however help. It was trial & error after nights spent awake listening to my iPod but once able to sleep improvement was fast. Also I was given medication for depression & to help me sleep. It's a question of making sure I take my pain meds a good couple of hours before the other. I must admit in the first 2 or 3 weeks after the op I wished I hadn't had it & told my husband I wasn't having the other knee done! I'm not as courageous as you just had one done.

However I have started making real progress & will have it done but not for a while! Allowing for the ever present waiting list!!!

Try to keep your chin up & a sense of humour, after this op you need it!

Sorry to hear this - I feel for you. I was told to keep taking the medication even if you think you can do without. I take Gabapentin 100 mg x 3 and in between I take 2 paracetamol. At bedtime I also take 20 mg of amitriptyline. I find a very small brandy in hot water with honey at bed time also helps. You need to get on top of the pain. If the medication you've been prescribed is not working for you tell your GP. Chin up you'll get there eventually!

hi robyn81044 wow double tkr brave girl i am male 63 in 5 days time and it took me 3 years to get both done due to complications anethesia wise and a heart attack 1 week before 2nd one so got a stent and postponement lol at last are now 3 weeks p,o an as you say pain and sleep is the 2 culprits here too, something is out of place here for to be 14 weeks p,o the healing should have been much further, as i said i am 3 weeks p,o 2nd knee and are walking unaided in the house i do pysio up to a point and dont alow my physio hurt me lol i sleep better than with the 1st one and the pain are bearable ask the docter to refer you again so they can make sure all is in place keeping in mind double tkr are a major invasion on your system so it will get better but i think slower tha one at a time and please ask the docter for a better pain manegement as he does not feel your pain regards danie

 

Hi

There is plenty of good information given on this forum, hot baths and icing gives some relief and helps. Not for getting elevation of the leg.

I feel lucky around 10 weeks I started to sleep better, but still icing through the night., but from starting at 5 to 10 times changing the iced water it was down to 1 or two. Is your knee still hot to touch?

Good healing

"Never give up!  Never surrender!" - Tim Allen, Galaxy Quest

Robyn. Believe me it will get better. I'm 15 weeks and im finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I know how you are feeling., it will get better but you need to take your pain medication on time. I had a very hard time with the pain and still swelling on my knee. I've had a ton of ex rays they all come back ok. I sometimes hate my doctor. Take care.

Robyn, I'm so sorry you're having such pain and feeling depressed. I am 11 weeks out of bilateral TKR and I'm 64. I still have a lot of trouble sleeping, but it is gradually improving. I did have to move into the guest room to avoid my husband's snoring. The noise and pain combination were impossible. I also bought a featherbed topper for my mattress, which seems to have helped make me more comfortable. I slept in a reclining chair for two full months until I thought I couldn't stand it for another minute. Sleeping in a bed is hard and I wake up so uncomfortable. It's helped to sleep alone and be able to change position a lot.

I take Tylenol every six hours throughout the day and night and I can really tell when iI forget to take it. So miserable. I also take one or two oxycodone tablets every day so that I can stand up to work several hours a day.

I get depressed and upset, too--frustrated with not being able to do the things I would like to do. It's just hard, and there's no way around it. It takes a long time for everything to heal, and it's emotionally draining.

Maybe it would help to talk to your doctor about different pain meds and perhaps something to help you sleep. Not getting enough rest, or any rest, makes everything worse. The advice others have given you on this thread for pain relief is all good. I really hope you start to feel better soon.

Susan

I too am 14 weeks Post-op, soon to be 15. I feel your pain even though I only had my left leg donebut I also wish I never had this done. Yes, I can walk up and down stairs, using a railing of course, one leg after the other but now I walk with pain, which I didn't before. I have wanted a knee replacement for better than 10 years and all I can say is "better watch what you wish for". I cut myself off from narcotics at 12 weeks but I have a script for Ultram for the rare times I leave the house. I can't sleep well because I still sleep with my leg elevated therefore I use Ambien which more often is worthless ! I was told wait 6 mos. Really, then what, I can have my old knee back ?? I do wear compression stockings which does help and I do walk despite the pain. I hope you were allergy tested. Seems the 2 things I'm allergic to are nickle and bone cement. I have a nickle-free prothetic but my surgeon was forced to use bone cement. If this is good as it gets just shoot me. Not much of a life if you can't walk. I'm seeing my surgeon at 16 weeks post-op and I'm requesting an MRI and cortisone injection for possible brusitis per my PT. Good luck, I'm sure the recovery from a bilateral is more than twice a single. Use a stationary bike to strengthen your quads. Keep me posted on your recovery.