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Second TKR

Posted , 7 users are following.

cath70775
cath70775

Haveing second TKR really worried as I had so much pain the first time but people have told me that the second time isn't as bad just wondering if anyone could verify this x

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 cath70775

    Posted

    The only work I've ever rec from people is that there are no two surgeries/recoveries the same. Several people I've been in therapy with over the years have said theirs were as different as day and night.
  • tana4life
    tana4life cath70775

    Posted

    Cathy

    Any one that tells your second knee won't be as bad you should be able to watch their nose grow. No one knows that my surgeon told me one knee is usually worse than the other but who knows maybe the knee you had done was your good one. Prepare yourself mentally and realize you can do anything you set your mind to.

    • cath70775
      cath70775 tana4life

      Posted

      thank you tana I am really trying to prepare myself but having such a bad time with the first one its very hard but I'm so lucky I have a wonderful hubby and 2 great son's that looked after me the first time just after keep telling my self it's all worth it to be able to walk properly again x
  • mary7663
    mary7663 cath70775

    Posted

    This made me laugh.  I hope you get the answer you are looking for.  
  • cheryl90571
    cheryl90571 cath70775

    Posted

    Hi Cath!

    My second TKR was easier all the way around, but I have no idea why that was so. I expected it to be worse because it was the knee that hurt the worst for the longest amount of time prior to surgery. I was VERY pleasantly surprised that I could move it more even in the recovery room and was hospitalized two days instead of three as with my first TKR.

    Same surgeon, same hospital.

    Two surgeries about four months apart.

    Glad both are done.

    No complications, thank goodness.

    I take Ibuprofen now just before bed and on rainy/ snowy days as needed.

    TKRs June 2015 and October 2015

    • cath70775
      cath70775 cheryl90571

      Posted

      Thanks Cheryl really made me feel better I can't take lbuprofen but remember they gave me tramadol it's not the surgery that really worries me it's the PT they really went hard on me after my second time seeing them they took my crutches and made me just use a stick then after my 5th time seeing them they took that away but my hubby went and bought me one which I used till I knew I was fine without it x
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 cath70775

      Posted

      I was very frank with my PT people and let them know that I was a VERY HARD worker and committed to succeeding. At the same time I also told them that I would NOT be CONTINUING ANY exercise that HURT when I did it!

      This worked well for me because they would give me an alternate exercise if a particular one hurt. As a result I got stronger fast, developed great balance, and didn't hurt myself at all.

      I proved that I was a hard worker which they appreciated, but I also showed them I was no pushover.

      NOBODY knows your body better than you. Start up the conversation with your therapists, showing interest in improving but also demanding that they LISTEN TO YOU.

      You will not regret it!

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 cheryl90571

      Posted

      There is a difference between hurt and pain. Everything in rehab hurts but being thrown into pain is a complete different story. When I had my original tkr rehab the therapist would do the stretching and then the stationary bike for 20 mins then make me lay stomach down, grab hold of my ankle and try and shove my heel against the back of my head. I know there are still impressions from my fingernails in the bottom side of the head of that table. I had a long talk with my therapist, telling him that the pain was too great and unnecessary. He finally, after a couple of sessions modified things and eliminated that part of the session. Fast forward 9 years and the rehab from the revision and broken leg. No more 20 min on the bike, no more torture in the table and everything moved much better. Again, everything I do hurts but doesn't create undo pain. As a matter of fact, everything we do is prefaced with the "I want you to feel the pressure and the fact you are doing more each time but I don't want you to get into pain". He still goes on the formula that he is responsible for 15% of my recovery and I'm responsible for 85%.
  • sharon52158
    sharon52158 cath70775

    Posted

    Hard to say as everyone is different and each knee is different was quite 

    lucky pain wise with the first 13 months ago the second one which I had done 5 weeks ago have still got quite bad bruising on knee I had issues with it bleeding after surgery but had good movement on it quicker 

  • cathy66878
    cathy66878 cath70775

    Posted

    I don't know if the second one is easier (will find out next year) but I think that knowning what to expect makes seem easier.  The unknown was very scary the first time for me.  Cathy
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