Posted , 16 users are following.
Here's a question. VERY generally speaking, would those who consider themselves to have a high pain threshold, feel that their recovery from a TKR was easier, and vice versa? I KNOW I've got a high pain threshold, and I sailed through it - just wonder how relevant that was.
1 like, 72 replies
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jenny80029 chris00938
Posted
I have a high pain threshold....did not find post op pain bad but it was very well managed
In hospital and I kept the medication up for a month afterwards, with slow gradual decrease from around week two.
No need for morphine when at home. Now at 9 weeks take very rarely a paracetamol, that's it. I think I trained myself
Mentally to manage with relaxation, mindfulness, and prayer...but not forgetting
Prevention is better than cure...so pacing activity carefully and listening to knee
Helps.
jenny80029
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chris00938 jenny80029
Posted
Thanks Jenny!:-)))) It's all useful information:-))))
j21370 chris00938
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chris00938 j21370
Posted
j21370 chris00938
Posted
Duckfan chris00938
Posted
I thought I had a high pain threshold and when I woke up from surgery was pleasant lay surprised that I felt very little pain. I had a three hour drive home and that first night when I got in bed wow...so painful. It went away with ice and that was it until I started PT.
I was determined that I would get that bend and not mess around. I pushed it so hard one day and when I got through and started to walk something caught and the pain was searing. I was almost hysterical, unlike me, until it went away. Then I was so fearful of pushing that far again that I slowed my progress bending the knee.
I'm at 11 weeks and still have trouble with the heel slides, it's all fear of that pain. I've resigned myself that if I have Mua so be it.
So. Yes and no. I was happy there wasn't as much pain as I thought but still need to overcome my thoughts and fears. So unlike me. I'm still on Tramadol and went off that. I feel a little jealous when I start comparing so that's another mind war. It's a tough surgery no doubt.
chris00938 Duckfan
Posted
I was worried about an hour's drive home! Three hours, with the knee bent, straight after the op!!!!!! Phew!!!! I know what you mean though - if you do something that gets you worried then it does make you more cautious! I don't know if you remember but when I was about three weeks post op I'd got a bend of 115 but suddenly got a searing cramping pinching pain in the back of the knee that got me gasping. But I was lucky - my physio said ease off doing the bend so much for a couple of weeks so it doesn't push it to that point. After a few days it got better and better. But yes, we all have our own journey, and when we're having both knees done, we don't know if the second journey will be the same as the first - it's anyone's guess. I hope you can make a steady progress though, even if it's slower than you'd like. As long as it's heading in the right direction - that's the thing.
Duckfan chris00938
Posted
cynthia89958 Duckfan
Posted
Yea, we have to give it time but easier said than done, when your peers are back doing all sorts of wonderful things, no pain, great bends etc if we are the ones left behind. I was very positive I'd do great but the pain levels from nerve irritation were insane. Too painful even to call out, my eyes just leaked tears silently for hours!
?Everyone says the exercises help but in my case, they only make my knee swell like a football and have hours of after pain, not discomfort, pain! I guess we may end up with MUAs but the nurse has just said, it is major trauma and some knees react badly, it is not our fault. My husband luckily understands as he had a severe injury to knee, though not TKR, many similarities in recovery to my TKR, he is a strong, positive, motivated sort who is rarely ill, was desperate to get back to work and the physio made him scream out in pain and it took months to get a bend even with lots of forceful pt.
This reassures me some or I would be thinking I must be going soft after TKR
chris00938 Duckfan
Posted
You were fit then, Duckfan! I suppose, when I went into it, I didn't really expect a lot of real pain, but I expected recovery to be slower than it was. So my expectations were met on the first, and I was nicely surprised on the second.
chris00938 cynthia89958
Posted
It must be frustrating Cynthia, and I can understand what you're saying! We just have to accept that everyone is different though, so some will breeze through some things, whereas others breeze through other things - it's just nature. But hard when you're on the rough end of it, no doubt!!!
marilyn10235 chris00938
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Yes I have quite a high pain threshold & didn't suffer too much after TKR. I was back at work at 12 weeks. I have also managed to get in & out of the bath for quite a while now.
It isn't so much pain that has held me back as the bend!
I went into the operation with a positive attitude! I expected the outcome to be good. I expected to be out of the awful grinding arthritis pain & I was. So I think it is a possible combination of things.
Marilyn
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chris00938 marilyn10235
Posted
That's interesting - thanks Marilyn. Can you get in and out of the bath without kneeling?
victoria11426 marilyn10235
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marilyn10235 chris00938
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Just about yes. It's not pretty but it works. I do prefer to shower though, except if very achy!
Marilyn
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marilyn10235 victoria11426
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Well yes I was back at work but I am actually sitting down quite a bit at work, so it's not really comparable to your situation.
I also must admit I struggled in the beginning on the bend. I managed to get to 98 by the time I went back, but it wasn't easy. My bend has developed a lot since then & can get 120 on a good day, but if I'm on my feet too long my knee swells & bend goes down! It's a balance I think all in all! The only easy bit I found was extension, in fact my knee had been bent so long when I first straightened it I felt as if I was going to hyper extend!! It felt really really strange!
You will get to the rom you need, just keep up the good work you're doing now & you'll do it!
Marilyn
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victoria11426 marilyn10235
Posted
Thank's marilyn i will keep going, it's good to hear other people's stories on this forum especially if you'r having a bad day thank's for your kind words Vicky.xx
chris00938 marilyn10235
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I've thought about trying to get in the bath Marilyn but don't have the courage LOL! I THINK - IF I do actually try, I might put an old bath towel in to kneel on before I try and get out, but I'm way off actually trying really. It does appeal though, the thought of a bath! Just now and again!