TKR
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hi all now going into 4.1/2 weeks post op I’ve been to hell and back could not get pain under control consultant was not very sympathetic he had no bed side manner knee became infected due to an internal stitch causing an abscess bloods swabs taken antibiotics made me ill kneehasti be packed every other day by the nurse or my self if it’s to messy
Infection control Nurse phoned this morning to see how I’m going she was very nice and sorry that I’ve been unlucky
Undoing my exercises daily now seeing friends as I was feeling very depressed
Should be going back to work in 2 wks dont think that will happen
Right knee also needs doing but after this I don’t think I could cope
I’m trying to stay positive as that’s the best thing to do
I hope know body else is suffering stay strong all
0 likes, 20 replies
susan47321 kathleen_65043
Posted
Don't even think about going back to work! Until at least 12 weeks.
Im amazed that the hospital did'nt get your pain under control before you where discharged.
I was put on Valium which was great and also my doctors surgery re-issued when I run out.
Took this for about 4 weeks. Took the pain away.
Im now 5 months in and although my knee gets stiff and I still ice when relaxing, I'm doing ok.
To ease up with the aching my Doctor has given me Gabapentin Brown & Burk 100mg which I take 3 times a day, find these quite good.
Best wishes
Sue
kathleen_65043 susan47321
Posted
The only medication they gave me was paracetamol and codine I said you having a laugh I take 30/500 Co-Codamol up to 8 times a day as I have a back problem
Could not take morphine or tramadol as allergic to them
I asked to go on Pethadine but they refused in the end they gave me dicloflex 50mg twice a day for 2days
I had my knee done private but under the NHS I’ve not been very impressed at all with my surgeon he has a great write up but know bedside manner at all when I saw him last week he said that 1 in 10 get an abscess and 1 in 100 has to have to have it gone back in I will find out this Thursday what he is going to do
I’m going to ask him if he will prescribe me some diazepam but I don’t think he will my DR is phoning me to day so I’m going to ask him
The pain is really getting me down but I do try and stay positive but it’s hard as I say it’s onwards and up wards
Take care stay strong and ker positive at all times xx
stephen92313 kathleen_65043
Posted
Wow, had no problems regarding the op..but im struggling with the squats, didn't know I had had the fat pad removed until the physio told me on week 3.
CHICO_MARX kathleen_65043
Posted
Back to work in 6 weeks? Really? Can you spell d-e-l-u-s-i-o-n-a-l? Not a chance in hell...especially after the infection. Normal back to work time is 4-6 MONTHS. Those that try it at 3 months are usually beset with lots of pain, swelling, sleeplessness and more...and then they have to get up and do it again the next day...and the next.
Understand that you do NOT control this recovery...the knee does. Push it and you will pay for that mistake big time. I'm 2 1/2 years post-op and have been on the Forum longer than that. I can count the number of people who returned to work successfully at 3 months on less than one hand...and I've read well over 4,000 discussions. At six weeks, the number is zero. Yes, you may be one of the rare lucky ones but not likely.
First comes the ROM work to get back to 0 / +120...that takes 8-10 weeks of PT which sort of coincides with the 3 month time frame. However, your quads, glutes and core are completely atrophied. The next six months are spent rebuilding them...s-l-o-w-l-y... Push it and pay with a "balloon knee". You don't want to go there. I did 8,200+ steps at 5 weeks and dealt with the balloon for three days. Once I backed off, recovered and resumed gradually, I got to 11,000+ steps (~5 miles) by the 8 month mark. It's never about time or distance...it's always about the number of steps per day. Get a fit bit or other pedometer. Track your steps...chart your progress...control your pace. The knee will absolutely tell you when you went too far.
The muscle rebuild is mandatory or else your body puts all the pressure on the new knee instead of on the supporting musculature where it belongs. Skipping this step guarantees continued knee pain. Don't do that.
This is for your depression...PS: It's a Jedi Mind Trick...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-post-operative-depression-604195
Here's how to stay positive...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-ptsd-569521
Click on my name and then "See All Discussions" for lots more topics for mind, body and spirit. The recovery usually takes a full year. Count on it...own it...
Post this on your fridge...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-reality-of-a-tkr-recovery-in-one-picture-626038