Tkr done 4 weeks

Hi Linda - I had leg and knee surgery 5 weeks ago - I stopped taking pain mess over 4 weeks ago - they made me very ill - I still am sick - even landed in the emergency room 2 weeks ago. Finally got n to see a GI specialist yesterday. My phys therapy is also going well am am just now getting better at straightening my knee out. If I could take pain meds and wasn't so sick, I'd probably be better with it.

The pain meds mess up your system big time - I got dizzy, broke out in sweats, felt I was going to pass out, my heart pounded and my chest felt heavy. If you could cut back or eleviate you pain meds that may help. I feel your pain and sending positive thoughts and prayers!

Yes, completely normal I am afraid.  You arelucky you can sleep!!! The early days are the worst.

Hi Linda

And welcome to the most helpful forum.  At 4 weeks I couldn't sleep more than a couple of hours at a time and it's not brilliant now (7weeks) so that aspect of it for you is good.  I gave up the meds a couple of weeks ago and was very  glad to.  One of the worst side effects I found, especially in the early days and not mentioned here as a problem,was the constipation - bowels like concrete!  A good remedy I found was Lactulise solution which you can buy over the counter,

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I also felt quite weak several times especially in the mornings when I just had to go lie down.

A lot better now but still way to go.  Keep at it Linda.

I have a question now.  Can anybody advise how long we are supposed to do exercises?  Is it for ever or are we to make our own decision?

Greetings to all on this Forum - shame we'll never meet!

 

I would speak to your Doctor again about feeling unwell. There will be other pills that suit you better. Coming off pain meds too early is not a good idea. If you can't do the exercises because of pain then your leg won't improve. Also make sure you're drinking at least 2 litres of water, your body needs that to flush the medication.

Unfortunately it isn't an easy journey but most people are lucky enough to get there in the end.

Thanks everyone maybe try and speak to gp this morning and see what he thinks 

I am 8 weeks post op from my TKR.

At four weeks I was sleeping a couple hours at a time until I needed to get up and move, or pee, or put Icy Hot on my lower back which hurt and STILL hurts.

I had quit Percocet (Tylenol + Oxicodone) because it was making me ITCHY. Instead I took and STILL take Extra Strength Tylenol (1000mg) every 8 hours.

Physical Therapy was going fine, but SWELLING remained my biggest issue. Finally around 6 weeks post op the swelling began to diminish greatly.

I have arthritis all over my body, so my knee issue is just ONE PLACE I hurt out of many. I wish I could take anti-inflammatory like aspirin, but they produce ulcers in my colon and GI tract that my GASTROENTEROLOGIST doesn't want to see.

Around six weeks post op I began to feel more like myself, and swelling went down. My sleeping got better, and I could do more things.

I only felt like I was going to faint that first night after surgery. Nausea hit then as well.

I experience some very achy days where my whole body HURTS. On these days I either rest if I can or power through because there is stuff to do.

My best guess is that medication or lack of suitable pain management is causing you to feel as you are. I am happy you can sleep at night. At least THEN you can get some well-needed rest!

I try to keep busy, keep moving and get as much back to normal as possible. Hydrate and eat lots of nutritious foods.

I think you will begin to feel better in the coming couple of weeks.

Hi Linda, I think you should see your doc about the tablets.  You really need one to settle your tummy as you take other tabs.   I used to take one and it helped greatly.  Can't remember the name but it is a common one the docs prescribe.  I still have trouble sleeping and am at  25 weeks po.  Straight leg exercises still being done at home, walking without a limp so something must be right.  But as my hubby says, how straight was my leg before the op? they didn't take a side xray only front of BOTH legs!

As the next followup for me is in March 16, we shall have to wait ans see the inprovements.  Apart from that I feel well.

yes linda i think its the meds i like you did that i felt sick and half faint my head felt fuzzy once i took the meds within the hour i started to feel better  so i knew it was the meds next time that i wanted to get down off meds i did it slower and had no problem it just goes to show how strong and adictive the meds can be i talked to my doctor about this at the time and he told me not to worry just half or quarter them and within a few weeks your off them and he was right since then i didnt worry about it just what he said it worked out good

Thanks to everyone I've took paracetamol but stopped the codeine so hopefully I will see how I go with that. The pain isn't as bad as it was just now and again I get a sharpe one but no pain walking I'm doing better than I give myself credit for can't believe I've just said that never thought I would must be on the mend. All I will say is you have to take one day at a time cry when you need to which I've done more of in 4 weeks tell everyone close to you how you are feeling. My stiffness first thing on a morning is getting better that was the worse part for me sometimes I would have wanted to wet the bed than suffer  the pain getting up but I think hubby would have drawn the line at that see we can still joke about it good luck everyone who is preparing to go in to hospital and those who have had it done

Linda, I eventually only had paracetamols which I stopped taking at 8 weeks, no longer needed meds even for exercising.  As to needing the bathroom, I think that because I had to go up and down stairs...two weeks of this I was on water tabs!!!! made my knee bend good.  Can go up and down stairs no problem now and don't have to go at least 5 mins before needing to

I haven't had the problem of staires as live in a bungalow but can get up staires ok. I can't wait to stop taking the meds I think that will make me feel better 

Hi There,

First off, I really want to thank all that contribute to this site. Wereally do kneed (sic) one another. My TKR is hitting 6 weeks out tomorrow. Quite frankly, many days I feel like a zombie. Not taking pain meds anymore, only Tylenol and aspirin. It never seems to cutt the ceaseless throbbing. Like a pit pull at the ankle.

However, on the flip side, Iam really learning, and have no choice about s..l..o..w,,i,,n,g my world down. that is the silver liing. It's also a time to cultivate  compassion for others. So. yes, we are exposed through this "simple" surgery to  endgame. Who would have thought it would bring us so close to contemplating one's mortality. 

So...on the best days I do try to appreciate the "gift."  Is there any other choice. Thanks all for the inspiration tomove forward. There is a light at the end of all tunnels!

hang in there,

Lee