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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lawrence34984 chris00938
Posted
Low pain tolerance! For the first 3 weeks after tkr I did 25mg. oxycodone every 4 hours and as needed to improve my pain threshold, also would take one 20 minutes before PT and one immediately after. Now, only tylenol and aleve and aspirin.
..I might be ahead of the curve finally. I can sit in a chair cross my legs, new knee over and rest the ankle on my other knee and put my socks on! haven't done that in I don't know how long??
chris00938 lawrence34984
Posted
Good to hear you can do things that you couldn't before now Lawrence:-)))) It seems that some of us do have it easier because of pain thresholds!
martinarvelo chris00938
Posted
I always thought I had a high pain threshhol. I went through two very long labours with minimum pain control, and was told by the attending midwife when she felt the contractions that many people would be yelling. I'm used to low grade pain almost permanently from back trouble and bad tendons and joints. . .but the TKR totally knocked me sideways and left me amazed at my own inability to cope with it. I think the extreme anaemia may have played a part in it, as well as the absence of any pain control other than paracetamol after the thrid day until the 19th . . but even so, I expected to sail through it. I've had shoulder surgery for rotator cuff problems and bursitis, bursitis of the hip, and inflammation of brain after mumps in middle age, but nothing. . .absolutely nothing..prepared me for a TKR.
marilyn10235 martinarvelo
Posted
You really have gone through it over the years.
Most of us on here have had many & varied illnesses, & pains, apart from the TKR, in our pasts. I wonder if our medical histories also play a part in TKR recovery? It must in a way as we are also the sum of our problems! I'm just not sure how it would work??
Marilyn
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chris00938 martinarvelo
Posted
Again, thank you Martina and it's interesting! Just seen Marilyn's reply to you and she might have something there too! The conclusion these replies have made me come to is that there is no way of predicting how well someone will do after a knee replacement!
martinarvelo chris00938
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I had expected her to be reduced to a quivering mass, but in fact, she just got on with it with
chris00938 martinarvelo
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martinarvelo chris00938
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chris00938 martinarvelo
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cheryl90571 chris00938
Posted
Very interesting question and really interesting comments, everyone!😊
I think that I probably have pretty high pain tolerance, but I also had continuous pain with both knees prior to my TKRs a couple years ago and stubbornly ENDURED the pain because, well, I THOUGHT I would just have to continue the insurance dog and pony show of all the steps required here in the USA to get DAMAGED ENOUGH to qualify for knee replacements! I never got USED to the pain which got worse DAILY, but I also JUST KEPT GOING. I thought I would see the doctor and be told that the next step was arthroscopic surgery.
After a HORRIBLE Memorial Day weekend of sharp, searing pain in 2015, I FINALLY sucked it up and made my appointment. Long story short, my surgeon said I was a candidate FOR KNEE REPLACEMENTS!😁😁
People think I'm lying, but I was THRILLED to finally have the possibility of NO PAIN! Since that moment I was 100% FULL THROTTLE to have the surgeries and get on with my life.
I'm a Christian. My surgeon is, too. We talked about our faith, and I felt very calm and very strong going into surgery. My surgeon told me that he always prays before surgeries. I put myself completely in God's hands.
I believe that when I asked God for strength and calm, He delivered!??
He is STILL delivering, and I believe THAT is my reason for being calm, peaceful, and very, very GRATEFUL.
Duckfan cheryl90571
Posted
I'm a Christian and put my faith in God also. Never felt much fear. I kept repeating Joshua 1:9 over and over. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and very courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
cheryl90571 Duckfan
Posted
Amen!😊
I truly did feel the strength flow into me, and I was not afraid.
Such AWESOME power and LOVE!??
clara66825 cheryl90571
Posted
Prayers were truly answered.
chris00938 cheryl90571
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marilyn10235 chris00938
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Yes I agree after waiting years to be given the go ahead, I was over the moon when told this was going to happen! Can you imagine being so very happy to be butchered!!??
Am still hoping to get an earlier appt to get back on the waiting list?? Ever hopeful!!
I see this whole process as a very positive one. Maybe that is also a piece of the jigsaw of recovery etc?? I have gone into every operation I've had as an adult with an absolute belief that the outcome would be good, & it's worked! I put my trust in my surgeons & they haven't let me down! Which I think is in there also, you have to find a rapport with the person who is going to cut you up!!
I would like to say one more thing on this subject, I also think the staff you meet in hospital are ALL doing the best they can FOR YOU, in trying circumstances, you have to trust them. I have met some lovely people in hospitals over the years! There are plenty of tales to tell!!
The strabismus surgeon at Moorfields reminded me of Serena Campbell from Holby City & the ENT surgeon is a real character, very OTT but in a funny way, you can't help but laugh with him!!
Marilyn
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chris00938 marilyn10235
Posted
It's when you compare it to the alternative that it's such a good prospect LOL!
I'm sure you're right - my whole hospital experience was nothing but excellent. I thought, before I got there, that when my husband was told to leave me, before the op, that I'd be nervous and feel 'abandoned' then but I didn't. The staff were all SO SO kind and I felt totally at ease. I find it funny when people say 'are you worried about the surgery part' and I'm not at all because that's not my problem! I don't do that - I just lay there and let them get on with it. The pre-op exercises and post-op recovery IS my responsibility and as I said to the surgeon last time - I'll do my very best to make sure it's a good recovery. We know what we should be doing, so we do it. It's worth it!
marilyn10235 chris00938
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My husband was with me until I went into theatre, which was good. Plus, I think I mentioned this earlier, the theatre tech was a real hoot! He had us in stitches (forgive the pun). He also does a nightclub act, he sings! So waiting in pre theatre was fun! Then I was led down to theatre by 'my' nurse who was with me throughout, even though I drifted off to sleep! And yes Chris I remember the cold bit! But no pain, no discomfort. Just relaxation after that! Strange eh? I was really relaxed then! In fact I found it all fascinating, part of me wanted not to sleep but listen to what's going on! But the wimpy bit of me won! I wouldn't have seen anything anyway because of the screen they put up!
Can't wait to go there again really!! 🙂
XX
chris00938 marilyn10235
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I was disappointed that the last thing I remembered was them lifting my leg before I went into the main theatre - I wasn't even aware of going to sleep - it was a case of 'zonc' - she's out. No memory of the screen or any person or anything. I was hoping for a bit more awareness LOL! Yes, that cold bit is going to be the bit I remember for a long time LOL! I can still remember the gasp! LOL! But yes, it was all a very pleasant experience! I know it sounds weird, but there was nothing in hospital that was unpleasant - and really (I feel embarrassed saying this!) my recovery when I got home was pleasant too!!!! Thanks to my husband who was my devoted slave, basically I just sat there on the recliner and enjoyed myself! I expected to be tired during the day, but didn't sleep during the day at all - but slept at night if the other knee didn't wake me, apart from one night when there was slight discomfort. But the whole thing was positive! And this is going to sound weirder - it's been fun! It's been great seeing the progress from week to week and having challenges and enjoying accomplishing things. I think being on this group has been part of that too, where we can say what bend we've got to and get congratulations LOL! And what milestones we've reached, and get praise LOL! This has certainly not been an unhappy chapter of my life! I just hope others waiting for a knee op will read this and realise that it can go very well!
jan01779 chris00938
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It is a haul and youi have to do teh work. I have had down days but only a few and I am jsut so grateful that my knee is now stable and I can go up and down stairs etc.
This forum has helped too.
.
chris00938 jan01779
Posted
Yes, the stability is something I didn't really expect Jan. Yesterday I caught the side of my slipper on the carpet (operated leg) and immediately got VERY worried that I'd done something. But it was absolutely fine!!!!! If it had been the other leg it would have pulled a ligament - I know - I've done it before! But the new knee HAS made it all a lot more stable!!!!
I'm so looking forward to the next one being done. I'm hoping it might just be squeezed in at the end of July - the month after next! It might well go into August, in which case I'll just determine to enjoy the summer in the garden as much as possible, on the sunbed:-))))
chris00938 jan01779
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Meant to have added - YES! This forum has given me SO much information and advice. In so many ways! When I joined I'd never heard about even measuring bend - it was all very vague!
martinarvelo jan01779
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I'm going to insist on this for my next knee (if I have to have it done) I ws really fed up with the hammering and sawing . .three and a hal hours of it. I think my surgeon was a lot slower than most. watched every minute go by on the theatre clock . . felt like about ten hours!