TKR ON 13 MARCH
Posted , 17 users are following.
Greetings all, I know it’s early days yet but is it normal to spend this long in bed, can get around house on crutches but can’t sit down on chairs easily because of swelling, it won’t bend much, I know it’s early days yet, ( nor a week) but I’m impatient unfortunately, also amaized how painful it is, would appreciate some info on what to expect in coming weeks, I’m 55 from uk, not over weight but bored out of my mind already.
1 like, 47 replies
cheryl90571 stephen34396
Posted
Hi Stephen!
You sure ARE in the "early days!" I'm guessing you are on blood thinners, so you can't take any anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen which help lessen swelling. Compression stockings that are thigh-high CAN help you now, but if you are anything like me, swelling will take awhile to leave no matter WHAT you do.
Most of my discomfort with my first TKR was due to swelling. Ice wasn't all that helpful. Elevating FELT better, but I still had a great deal of swelling.
Try sitting on hardback wooden chairs or folding chairs for now. I brought in an ironwork chair from my deck which worked great. Couches and overstuffed chairs came later on when I could bend a bit more. As long as your leg is swollen it is like trying to fold a bed pillow -- just won't work!
Remember that swelling is the body's way of attending to the trauma it has suffered by being cut and knee replaced with an artificial prosthesis then reassembled and stitched or stapled closed.
Swelling is the body's way to immobilize the injury. (Apparently most of us have bodies that are EXCELLENT at immobilizing our injured parts!!😁
As for being bored... Here are some things I did:
1) Take a walk around in the house every hour.
2) While I was up I did dishes or watered my plants, prepared my ice bags, cleaned a drawer or practiced "furniture walking" to see if/ when I was ready to lose my walker.
3) Wrote in my journal.
4) Checked in with others on this site.
5) Watched a comedy on TV.
6) Called friends.
7) Read "The Martian" ( He was in a worse predicament than I was. )
8) Played computer games
9) Practiced lifting my very swollen leg using my husband's looped belt on my foot and pulling the strap up.
10) Used my Grab-It tool to pick up (or TRY to pick up ) all the things I would routinely DROP because I was on Oxycodone the first two weeks and would often just DROP THINGS for no reason.
11) Used Velcro garden tape to attach cool things on my walker like my Grab-It tool, my looped belt, my water bottle, and my cane.
12) Hand-sewed a bag to loop over the front of my walker to hold my phone, my book, and my lip gloss.
It was fun to see what I could do for myself. EVERYTHING took longer to do, but I got lots of satisfaction "reporting" in my journal all my new adventures and progress!!!
It will get better. Try to be as positive as you can. Be proud of each and every new bit of progress that you make!
Come back here often to share your progress and to help others who are going through the same things as you are. We all can relate, and support from others is PRICELESS!
Wishing you much success!🤗
stephen34396 cheryl90571
Posted
Fabulous reply chery, I’m an optimistic sort so I know it will all come good, got stockings on, ice And elevation regularly, exorcising regular, walking up and down stairs, as for the Boardem , watching old films, a bit of reading , Internet ect, can’t wait to get back to my active job(Groundsman) and not have the pain of the worn out knee, medical science is amazing 👍
cheryl90571 stephen34396
Posted
Great to hear that you are an optimist! That will take you far as you travel your recovery journey!😊
My TKRs were June and October of 2015. They were the best things I have done for my physical health and also for my overall sense of self! Having that horrendous pain GONE allows me to garden, play with my granddaughter, go shopping for hours, stand and talk with neighbors, walk as long as I want without pain and HAVE MY LIFE BACK AGAIN!
I have osteoarthritis in many other body parts, but MY KNEES feel strong and are pain-free. I never could have danced for hours at our son's wedding last year if I hadn't had my knees replaced. I never would have been able to walk all around the FarmPark with our granddaughter and really enjoy it if I still had those painful knees. For years I had to carefully plan out where I could sit and rest and/ or how I could grocery shop for everything I needed before I needed to check out due to pain.
The surgeries gave me my life back. You will love having YOUR life back, too! Be patient and stay positive.
Happy SPRING!!!🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
jill32152 cheryl90571
Posted
cheryl90571 jill32152
Posted
You WILL get there!🤗 Knee replacement surgery is very complex and requires lots of recovery time. It also eliminates the terrible pain that comes with osteoarthritis. You will have DIFFERENT pain/ swelling/ possible medication issues following surgery, but all of this comes with the recovery from the very complex surgery.
It is normal to wonder if things will ever feel good again! Recovery with knee replacements takes time. We humans generally are pretty impatient!
Some things that kept me going through the initial pain, TERRIBLE swelling, pain meds that produced weird side effects, and occasional setbacks were LOTS of prayer, writing in my journal ( great therapy there!), and belief that with patience, prayer, physical therapy and the passage of time I would get my life back again.
It will happen! You will have good days and rough days, but as time passes there will be more good days, more progress, and the joy of being able to live life as you want to live it.
Sending prayers of calm and patience and strength to you today!??
You WILL succeed and be able to do the things that at one point seemed lost forever. It doesn't come quickly, but it DOES come!
jill32152 cheryl90571
Posted
Thank you Cheryl for your words of encouragement! I have just got back from physio and she was quite pleased apparently I can manage an 85 degree bend! I am going to find this week managing without husband difficult!😳
cheryl90571 jill32152
Posted
Nice work on your physical therapy! That's GREAT progress for this stage of the game!🤗 Physical therapy is SUCH an important aspect of recovery!
In the absence of your husband this week stir up your courage and your determination. Go slowly but steadily as you practice things your therapist has shown you. Walk around the house every hour to stay limber. Look for little victories as you go. Make sure you hydrate well and STAY POSITIVE!😊Eat well!
Come here to this site when you sit to ice. There is friendship, support, and understanding HERE! ??
Oldfatguy1 stephen34396
Posted
Resting is healing. Healing takes rest. Don't beat up on yourself just listen to your body.I don't know if they told you how much bleeding takes place with this surgery but in my case I needed transfusions all three times they put in a new prosthesis and the loss of blood means weeks of rebuilding. Slow and steady. Maybe you have seen the tkr mantra:this is a marathon not a sprint. Your body will tell you when you are ready to run the marathon.
stephen34396 Oldfatguy1
Posted
Patty-Cake stephen34396
Posted
danie61 stephen34396
Posted
ruth39320 stephen34396
Posted
Ice should be your best friend and not just in your G&T exercise often , and keep mobile when you can. I had my tkr on the 16/02 and it is hard work . I’m of the stick now except when walking the dog and still am exercising 3 x a day it’s tedious but beneficial.. I’m 58 am overweight and getting back in the pool this week and hopefully on a stationary bike
this weather is not good for your mood either!