Pity Party

Hi, I completely understand where you are coming from! I'm 41 and had a partial knee replacement the end of July then had scar tissue removal and MUA the end of September. I've shed so many tears out of frustration and my unrealistic expectations. 11 weeks out and patience is definitely needed with this slow recovery. I'm no where fully recovered but getting my strength back and feeling emotionally better! YOU have been through 2 TkR.... you can do this!!!

You are not alone. I had my tkr's 4 months apart. First one was great. 2nd one was horrible. I got hot in my foot so could not finish therapy. I hobbled around for months. Now the knees are great but I spent so long feeling sorry for myself that my thigh muscles have all but disappeared. so now I force myself to strengthen them. This is worse than the knees. so keep doing your thigh lifts or your knees will be fine but you still will walk like Frankenstein. just my own experience.

good luck

gout in my foot. not hot. darn autocorrect.

Aww you are entitled to feel sorry for yourself, Wish you well real soon xxx

two major surgeries 6 mos. apart is hard on the body, the spirit, and the mind. It will wear you down taking all your energy. make sure you take vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes. lots of B-12 . it will help your body to heal and your mind to handle it all. voice of experience here. I had a tkr. went to stay at rehab for 2wks .very nice rehab 1 to a room P.T 2 times a day 6 days a week. a dinning room w/ table linens and servers.

I walked out of there on my own. I was doing great until 1wk home I had a major heart attack, no blood clot Cholesterol was the culprit 100% blockage in the left decending artery just below the widow maker. . now that sat me down.

oh yeah that was during a 2013 winter ice and snow storm 4 days before Christmas shut the city down no power. here I was in the ICU w/only dim necessary lighting wondering WTF happened. felt like aliens all around me in my drug induced state any way to make a long story longer the DR. said get on those vitamins it will help build red blood cells to heal. came home did it. and felt better.

hope you feel better soon ....

Hi, we TKR patients understand exactly what you mean.

I had a TKR in 2012, but had to have the lower part taken out and revised as I fell and cracked the cement.

It's major surgery and requires a lot of healing, taking a toll on your body. Be kind to yourself, do your physio, and things will get better in time. I'm walking better than I thought I would, but it took time.

Good luck!

Hi Alison - (That's my real name, too!) I'm just at 12 weeks, and I hit a wall physically, emotionally, and mentally at about 8 weeks. So I'm sure many people on this forum will tell you that it's normal, and it is. But I SO understand where you are. I felt like I would forever be stuck at the level of progress I had made to that point. I cried on and off for a week. I felt like my TKR was the worst mistake of my life. . . still not totally sold on it, but feeling much better.

I finally told people that I needed support and encouragement, and that made a big difference.

Just hang in there, keep exercising - in spite of your pain and mood. Take meds when you need them - Don't try to taper off to be tough. Get your family dr. to prescribe some sleep meds if you need them. And as a former physical therapist, I can't tell you enough what a difference these exercises made that I found online at about 10 weeks - They added a rotational component to my therapy. (Scott Gray, PT - increasing knee extension - just Google it, but ask your therapist if it's okay to do them first - very gentle/easy).

Sending prayers for you right now! Mine is getting better. Hardly needing ice at all right now. Sleeping much better. Still using a cane mostly. But I feel stronger and more normal every day.

Hi Alison - (That's my real name, too!) I'm just at 12 weeks, and I hit a wall physically, emotionally, and mentally at about 8 weeks. So I'm sure many people on this forum will tell you that it's normal, and it is. But I SO understand where you are. I felt like I would forever be stuck at the level of progress I had made to that point. I cried on and off for a week. I felt like my TKR was the worst mistake of my life. . . still not totally sold on it, but feeling much better.

I finally told people that I needed support and encouragement, and that made a big difference.

Just hang in there, keep exercising - in spite of your pain and mood. Take meds when you need them - Don't try to taper off to be tough. Get your family dr. to prescribe some sleep meds if you need them. And as a former physical therapist, I can't tell you enough what a difference these exercises made that I found online at about 10 weeks - They added a rotational component to my therapy. (Scott Gray, PT - increasing knee extension - just Google it, but ask your therapist if it's okay to do them first - very gentle/easy).

Sending prayers for you right now! Mine is getting better. Hardly needing ice at all right now. Sleeping much better. Still using a cane mostly. But I feel stronger and more normal every day.

Oh and ice cream helps! ;o) Lots of ice cream!

Hi Alison I'm 6 months ltkr and never thought I'd say it but walking fine cycle 5k a day on static bike still do weights on legs to strengthen quads. Yes occasional twinge today is one of them but was it worth it a big yes. No pain been off canes since 6weeks no medications since 8 weeks . It is a horrendous op and only those who've gone through really know what it's like. I was like you early days asking myself why I agreed to it but now I know no arthritis pain even contemplating getting the right knee done. I previously cancelled it couldn't face another op but now well maybe. Hang in there there's light at the end of the tunnel you've gone through the worst of it. Keep icing and excersising it'll pay off. Good luck x

I am 4 1/2 months TRKR and FINALLY feeling like I might be getting back to normal! Hang in there, it does get better. I thought the first 8 weeks were the worst decision of my life, i would never do this again, and it still clunks when i move a certain way, but they say that gets better also, we shall see. thanking god every day I do not have to have the other done! Hope things get better for you!

Hi Alison,

I am 10 weeks post op. I, too have bouts of depression, wondering if it has been worth it.....I am confident that it is. While the recovery is long, everyone I have spoken to, assures me that this is all normal and that it does get better. Each day, I see a little more improvement and this helps me to know that I am heading in the right direction. A fellow replacement patient on this forum sent an illustration that shows the long road to recovery so very well. What we hope for in recovery time is more often unrealistic when you think of what was done. The procedure itself doesn't take long, but the change to your body is dramatic and does take time to heal and recover. Keep the faith and use this forum to help you know you are not alone!

Hi all, thank you all for your lovely replies. I'm just going to have to be patient and trust that the end result will be good. Onward and upward. xx

alison48905, You say that your first TKR was in February 18 and the second TKR in August 19, can i assume that the operation was not carried out on the same knee, if not how is the knee from February perfprming? All i can say is "just hang in there" like i am doing at the moment post 17 weeks TKR

My mistake, RTKR in Feb 18 and LTKR in Aug 18.