TKR ON 13 MARCH

Good Luck, I am at 8weeks and finally feeling human again. I still have a long way to go.

I spent the first two weeks in bed, apart from getting up to the loo.

I did my exercises on the bed or near the bed!

I think I was meant to get up every hour in the day for a short walk but did not, because I was soooooooooo tired!

I think, from memory. I then continued to spend a good portion of time in bed, especially late afternoon onwards!

But gradually increased time out of bed just for those routine tasks like changing ice packs and making cups of tea!

It's major surgery, and rest is part of the healing process. Your body needs to put all your energy into healing your knee.

This experience is all about patience, being kind to yourself, and relinquishing that achievement orientated part of us, I think. Your body tells you how to pace things!

You may like to go to my profile by clicking on the image next to my name. I kept a journal of my own knee replacement journey, and I have been told by several people they found it helpful to read, or skim through. There is an abridged version which is shorter as well! It has a lot of useful suggestions and information.

Now 12 months post op....it's wonderful, well worth the effort!

Good wishes to you for your healing and recovery!

I think Clubber Lang said it best in Rocky III...

Interviewer: What's your prediction for the fight?

Clubber Lang: My prediction?

Interviewer: Yes, your prediction.

{Clubber looks into camera}

Clubber Lang: Pain!

The first 90 days are all about two things: managing the pain and getting your ROM back with PT and the work at home.  The ROM work is CRITICAL!  To do this effectively, you need to keep the swelling down by lots of ice and elevation.  These were my notes from early on in my recovery...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499

For lots more, click my name and then "See All Discussions"...have almost 30 out there on a wide variety of topics.

Final Note:  A full recovery will take a year.  It takes time, work and patience.  If you lack that final characteristic you will now be schooled in it...by your knee.  You will become a patience professional...Ph.D.-level.  You see, no one can push a knee to recovery...cannot be done.  When you try, it swells up and bites you back...hard.  Did 8,200+ steps on my fit bit at 5 weeks and ended up paying for it for days.  Never did that again.  Advance slowly, track your steps.  Go over the line?  Back off, ice, elevate and resume...slowly.  I've rehabbed a new hip, two shoulders and four spine ops (two fusions).  The knee is at a completely different level.  The good news, is that it does get better and the work is absolutely worth it.  At two years post-op, I hardly think about it anymore.

Bored???

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-power-of-rest-some-great-strategies-to-try-on-a-tkr-617892

hate to break this to you, but you just don't know.  I had my TKR on Jan 31 and Im still in constant pain , stiff and swollen and yes, sitting in a regular chair is excruciating.  that's why i sit in my recliner all the time, sometimes sleep in it.  I had no idea when i had this surgery it would be this life changing, and not for the better.  Yeah, everybody keeps saying, oh it's worth it!!   when?????

Also in the U.K. Swindon, has a right TKR July 2016.

A few are lucky to get through this easily, the majority do not.

We are all different , go at your own pace, I hardly did exercises in the first 4 weeks, what I did do was always in s really hot bath, not fully submerging my knee until after the staples were taken out and it healed. Getting in and out the bath was not so easy in the beginning.

Music, TV , Reading , Internet that’s what you are left with to pass the time.

It’s a hard road to go down but unfortunately the only one.

Good healing