Total knee replacement surgey

At least we're in the driving again stage, which helps a great deal.

If you haven't got a partner or brothers and sisters(like I haven't), you are so reliant on good friends (and I hate having to ask anyone).  My Dad is local, but 87 and only drives very locally (and not very confidently), so he couldn't take me backwards and forwards to the hospital.

It all adds to the stress we've been feeling...so you're allowed to feel down.

Everything has to be thought about so much more, and people at work don't always realise what you've been through either...or why it still hurts!

Hello Angela,  I can relate very much so to your problems.  I had double knee replacement several years ago and I am still not doing great.  I do have other problems to deal with besides the knees that are making walking painful for me.  TKR is not an easy surgery , very painful and long recovery.  I think maybe I had mine at a age older than most,  but still experinece problems with the knees.  I am wondering if one can get arthrits in the knees again even if they are replaced?  I do have Neuropathy, which causes my knees to burn horribly.  Angela,  I just wanted to say I know how you feel and pray it will get better for you.   Keep doing your exercises and maybe for you things will look up!!  Thinking of you.  Shirley

Im sure the drs didn't explain the intensity of this surgery and how it can affect not day and mind. Generallyvdocs are consumed with the technical aspects and not the byproducts. If today is a holiday do what holidays were meant to do, rest and let your body get caught up a little.......as much as one day will do. Review how you are treating yourself. Nutrition, hydration, rest. A tired, undernourished, thirsty body takes much longer to heal than one that is being cared for. Talk to you medical concerning these issue. They can give you something to help you sleep and lack of sleep is one of the most prevelant, least discussed issues by the tkr crowd but one that is hitvon reguarally discussed on this for. Its easy for sleep patterns to be broken but extremely difficult to repair. Its a shame you don't have someone, s support group, to talk to. This is a great spot but still doesn't match eye robeye contact. Discuss this with a Dr or a coworker. Possibly you make a contact through them. My problems started with a rare tumor. Even with 8 surgeons in the practice, none had ever heard of it much less treated it. I turned out to be there hands in study. A few years back lit came back and crested havoc. I decided to see a doc in a teaching university medical center. There I started seeing a young, very knowledgeable surgeon and we have gone through 5 surgeries with one more to come. A few months ago, with my permission, he introduced me to a young lady nearly 40 years my junior. She is plaugedwith the same tumor that changed my life at age 65. She is scared to death and faces an early tkr. She has called med several times, often rather late at night as I'm the only one she knows that carries this mutual demon. My main contribution is to listen. Her home and family is 2000 mi. away and even they have no idea what's she is talking about or going through and wouldn't be much help if they were next door. The reason I mention this, maybe your Dr can find a shoulder for you to lean on. In tge meantime, hang in here. You have a legion of understanding friends who will use their experiences to offer common sense answers and let you know you are part of a very select group, all looking for the same things, relief from pain and getting back to a normal life.

Hi Angela, you may be younger than me (I'm 65) but I know there was no way I could have gone to work at 3 months post op. I was still getting very tired and feeling reluctant to socialise. This op really takes it out of your whole body. 

I just wanted to reassure you that things do get better. I am 9 months post op now and can tackle things like looking after my young grandchildren 2/3 days a week, going for long walks, shopping and I enjoy days and evenings out again. 

Maybe you returned to work too soon. Any chance of more time off? 

If not, get all the rest you can ( but try to keep exercises up) and things will improve I'm sure.

Jen 

Hi Angela

I'm 5 weeks and have a mix bag of results my walking with crutches and weight bearing is very good, my pain levels are very good only having to take strong pain relief as needed which is mostly at night to assist me sleep as I'm only getting average 2hr blocks of good sleep since the operation similar to you I'm guessing, actually writing this from Melbourne Australia as its middle of the night here in between my blocks of sleep...lol

My main issue is the knee movement I only have 63degrees after 5 weeks, the reason being is bad tissue scarring around my quads they are very, very tight and I am working on losening this with massaging, hydro pool, spa and certain exercises..

I feel your pain it's become more of a mental challenge from my experience to date which has been frustrating I to am on my own I have my kkids Thur -Sun which makes it tough also like last week my knee locked up there was pain but I was mostly upset because it was the morning of my sons soccer game and I couldn't go to his soccer game and he saw me in tears that it was frustrating not being able to do normal everyday things 5 weeks later, like watching him play. 

So my main issue recently has been around mentally than physically and getting frustrated and at times doing things I shouldn't ie walking/limping with no crutches, pushing things around a bit heavy and thinking I can do everything normally....I soon learnt whilst that particular time it seemed ok well later it hurt like hell and I was tired and wasting unnecessary energy levels.

I have to accept it will take time, I will be tired some days more than others but that's ok and I need to listen to the professionals advice, it's  mind of matter and getting that right and accept that it will be a long process that's reality..but I've started...

I have heard things on this forum that has been great as I can visualise those things in my journey and that I'm not alone in what I'm experiencing.. I have no doubt things will work out for you Angela it will take time as I've read it here, I have spoken to people who have had it done and said it's the best thing they did it took time to fully recover but should have done it earlier so the success rate is high and you should think we'll atleast I'm 3 months ahead in the healing process..

I can share with you from my experience to date Angela and that is, talk to the professionals your GP they will tell everyone heals different,  don't make comparisons I have read here where people are way ahead of me after 5 weeks with movement but can't straighten there leg and I am complete opposite can straighten my leg and get around but poor bend, can just get in a car but can't drive...

Celebrate small successes your trying to work on stairs so look at from a different point of you, yesterday you may have done none out of 10 but today you did 1 out of 10 that's one more than previous you haven't conquered it but your succeeding  it's very important to acknowledge this ie....I maybe at 63degrees right now but a week ago I was only 55degrees so a plus 8degree improvement, great! Think of your achievements to date, your back at work that's a milestone.

Expect some bad days it's going to happen but you will get there, stay positive Angela if talking on this site helps great, letting your emotions out is part of the healing I've done my share of that because I'm use to helping others not the other way around but I've had to except help or asked for it.

I have loved reading comments in this forum as I can visualise exactly those things happening to me at different stages and it's all normal and it's not just happening to me. It's also great reading the successes and know it will come...

I sure am wiser for the experience and know what to expect when doing the left one which is next.

Cheers

Tony 

Just like to say chin up and keep smiling. I only had knee keyhole surgery 5 days ago and feel like crying all the time. It is such a minor op compared to yours and only imagine how you feel. Hope you feel better soon. My knee was locked for 3 months until I had the op just feel fed up and tearful. Regards Bev😎

Angela, I'm sorry that I'm only just reading this. I know exactly how you feel. I am 36 years old, almost 11 weeks post op and living with my mum as I haven't been able to cope for about a year on my own.

My knee became so bad following a fall as a student. My entire leg suffered but I pinned all my hopes on a knee replacement, totally forgetting that I had other problems.

The TKR has went well for me but the rest of my leg is still bad. I can't straighten or bend it. I've been given 3 weeks to straighten it otherwise they're going to operate on the muscles.

I am sorry that the above has turned into my story, I just wanted to show that I know how you feel.

I too feel the pressure for a return to work as I don't get paid for being off. I am so lucky that my bosses have allowed me to work from home. I am not capable of sitting for longer than 30 mins without crippling pain and I have such a heavy physio regime to follow that I can't risk working more than a few hours a day. I, like us all on here, still have a good cry sometimes.

But I've come to realise this is just temporary for us all.

Yes it's been the most difficult thing I have ever faced but I know that I'll get there. You will too.

I know you don't get paid when you don't work but I would suggest speaking to your GP. I think reduced hours would benefit you for now, at least you'll have some money coming in.

You've been through something incredibly tough, don't under estimate that. Others don't understand but everyone on here does xx