Total Elbow Replacement - I have had this done. Anyone else?

Everything I’ve read online says 2-4 days

I had the operation at 9:30 am and was home the next day at noon and I live two hours away from the Mayo. I had a full elbow replacement. 

How long were you in the hospital?   I’m scheduled got December 15.   Really nervous!   Do you think she matters with this?

Hello 

I was in for 3 nights and happy about it Sept 8  2017

Friday  surgery, Saturday recovery day stayed medicated out of my head, perfect, your body needs rest and healing occurs during sleep, they said  I could have gone home Sunday but I was glad to stay another night . Get ready to move slowly and carefully.  I hope you see my post about things to do in advance? Have a read, get the v shaped pillow etc and the meds advice...

I was afraid too, but all is perfect and amazing now. 

If you medicate there is no need for pain. And find yourself a proper TCM  traditional Chinese medicine doctor (acupuncture) to work with. See them before surgery tell them what is happening and schedule weekly treatments for after surgery this will help reduce the inflammation which will reduce pain and speed healing. This has really helped me immensely. 

Find my “things to do” post.

This will be great. I am back in action in less than 3 months! 

Good luck.

Thank you for all the advice.  Do the doc give you a brace to wear?

Hello Doctor set arm in a half cast to keep it still at  a bend angle and removed it 10 days later.  Then no physio ( he does not recommend it they can be too rough) just wearing a sling and gradually motion returned and extension became full.  Sling disguarded. Acupuncture helped alleviate pain and I was off meds early. 

By the way Meloxicam (anti inflammatory) Was much more effective than paracetamol and can combine with Ora Morph . Get some now and try it and take it to hospital with you to add to your drug Arsenal 

No need for pain! 

Did you find the other post I wrote on things to do and know ? 

Best regards

Here is the tip sheet

This seems to be key forum for elbow replacement discussions so I am reposting 

PRE OP POST OP TIPS

info here...

To sum up a thus far,  a very successful right elbow replacement surgery September 10 2017.

History: elbow dislocation age 6 badly set, lived with it w limited motion and self imposed weight restrictions but pain and extremely limited mobility issues from jan 2017 changed things. 

I was fortunate to get an excellent referral to Tom Lawrence and Chet Modi,

a specialist Orthopeadic team of surgeons (based at Coventry University Hospital UK) surgery done 

and replacement w a Discovery elbow joint has been very successful for me. 

Tips Pre Op

Found a fantastic traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture/cupping therapist before surgery and booked successive appointments starting 10 days after and then weekly for 2 months. I believe this has great improved the healing time, targeting inflammation and increasing blood flow to arm. 

Buy a V shaped pillow, best for post surgery arm elevation elbow above heart to minimise pain swelling and provide a comfortable resting and sleeping position

Buy a plastic sleeve for dry showering

Organise pain meds’ in advance, there is no need for pain if you medicate properly 

Ora morph liquid is fantastic stuff

Save the small oral syringe to take home for accurate dosing and easy reducing of moraphine ( you have to special request this to take home) ask for max pain meds while in hospital!

Explore meloxicam, a stronger anti inflammatory (pain is caused by inflammation, so any reduction will help) paracetamol was a waste of time for me. 

Gabapentin to reduce nerve pain was also effective right after surgery and for the 4 weeks following 

* Do your medication homework in advance, ask and you shall receive.

*Take earplugs or ear buds to distract from noise and an eye mask!

*Take chocolates or treats for your overworked nurses. Be a good patient. 

*Leave the hospital w adequate meds and prescriptions. Get them filled from the hospital pharmacy as some prescriptions are only available from prescribing hospital!

*Codeine and surgery can be constipating, think ahead ...

AFTER SURGERY I left hospital w half cast  and a sling...removed 1 week later,no stitches and then continued witha sling. No physio recommended... they can be too rough.

Arm is just gradually moving and motion w out pain being regained. 

Wearing sling when out walking mainly to self limit movements and protect against outstretching in a fall.

This is life changing surgery.

Learn to use you other arm for lifting and carrying, door opening etc 

 be kind to your elbow and make it last. To wash my own hair, put on make up, cook, and drive and do so many things that i simply could not do without extreme pain or at all, is a gift, a technological miracle, i do not need to lift weights and bags of groceries to appreciate this wondrous improvement to my lifestyle.

if you are in pain, do it, 

I am reading all the discussions on weight limitations and for me it was a small compromise.

Best of luck to all and thank you all for sharing, your advice and tips were so helpful to me.

no brace very tight bandage keep your fingers and wrist moving  in a week u should have some kind of movment  this takes work to get things moving again therpy will help greatly the pain goes down a lot after 2 weeks have a great day ronnie

Hi Animoki 

Very informative post. However this is your experience it wasnt mine. I didn’t use a sling or suffer with pain etc. So it varies completely. I am 4 years down the line. I think if there is major pain I would have it checked in case of infection. 

Thank you again for all the information I will keep you posted on how it goes

Hi Animiki,

What is your age now?

 

Ask your Dr for better pain relief meds, its going to be awhile before you are healed.

Your experience is nothing like mine. I had no pain and full movement immediately. I would check with your doctor and make sure you do not have an infection. It may also be due to how your arm was before the operation.

I am 4 years down the line - I have always had full movement and no pain - but I do abide by the weight restriction always. 

Jaw you say you were able to move your arm straight away. What did you have replaced ?

Michelle I had my Radial head replaced 20 Sept 2017 I can very nearly straighten it and flex it up to my shoulder. However I cannot rotate my hand and forearm . I had another CT scan 4 weeks ago and I see my surgeon on the 9th Jan. I have been doing intense physio and nothing helps the rotation . I have shoulder and bicep pain still and my new joint clicks and moves . I underestimated the recovery time . It is at least 3 months and you should be doing day to day stuff at home . Iv been told I can't do a manual job again and I can't do my weight lifting. It's a serious injury . Put your mind to getting better loads of pain relief and stick to the physio every day . Lots of water and healthy eating. Vitamin B6 vitamin D , slow release Vit C and a good joint plus tablet .

I had a total elbow replacement. There was no physio - no need - and I was advised that  I should use it normally straight away - with the weight restriction. I was a tad nervous but was fine. I have it checked every year. Never had any pain whatsoever and the surgeon advised me this is how it should be. I completely shattered my elbow and I had no other option.    

Yes I had shattered mine due to a fall as well . I was in plaster in a sling position for 2 weeks . Had the stitches out and then was in a sling most of the time other than when I did my physio 4 times a day . I just don't get why it seemed to be getting there but as soon as I saw a bit of light its got worse . Maybe because im doing to much ? I dont lift anything heavier than 2lb and iv been learning how to do most things left handed . Hopefully I'l get answers next week . I'm in the UK . Seems people get different after care and advice in other countries.

I am in the UK. No sling. Maybe it depends on the surgeon and his / her technique and any underlying problems in the elbow anyway. The surgeon I had is renown for his work in this area which is why I went to him.      

I need to ask if I damaged anything else in the fall . I had to wait 2 days for an elbow specialist which was a Mr Stanton based in Colchester. He said he'd never had any complaints post surgery . We shall see . At least you have had a positive outcome.

The outcome should be good, this may be just a blip, maybe an infection. You need to get it checked probably. I spent 6 weeks looking for who I considered to be the best consultant, but it may well depend on the condition of the elbow in the first place. Mine was a complete mess, I had to put it in a brace whilst I searched,  but maybe in a different way than yours. I think you should probably chase it down as you should get a good outcome.