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What do you wish you had known before your TKR?

Posted , 24 users are following.

cheryl86544
cheryl86544

Most of us found that we didn't know enough about recovery from a TKR before we had it  done.  What do you wish you had've known?  What would have armed you better?

2 likes, 78 replies

78 Replies

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  • cheryl86544
    cheryl86544

    Posted

    Reading through all of your responses, I think that Doctors think that if they tell us just how awful it could be and that the pain could be dreadful for ages, I think it's feasible to think that they think that if they tell us more about the pain that we'll hone in on that during our recoveries and take longer to recover...

    What do you think?

    • carol02797
      carol02797 cheryl86544

      Posted

      Loved reading all these responses and can identify!

      again, this is a great place to get information and understanding. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to respond. Thanks to Jesus for being there for me day and night, in pain and in emotional moments, and for giving me a spouse that is so supportive and loving!

      hang in there everyone!

    • sue33011
      sue33011 cheryl86544

      Posted

      You could have a point cheryl. From the start I asked the ortho to be as blunt as he needed to be. He was quick to point out how no two recoveries are the same and how so much depends on the condition(medically speaking) and mental attitude of the individual in question. I was carrying far too much weight (115kg) six weeks prior to my tkr. He advised that to give myself the best chance of a full recovery, I needed to take drastic steps
    • sue33011
      sue33011

      Posted

      Sorry posted before finishing...

      Drastic steps to aid my recovery. In six weeks I lost 10 kgs and worked out every day. In the six months since tkr I've lost another 12 kgs and my fitness has improved considerably. No doubt being able to move pain free is a BIG plus. For me-finding a dr who laid it on the line and pulled no punches was the best thing. So much depends on the individual but having an honest, caring ortho is also a big plus.

  • cheryl86544
    cheryl86544

    Posted

    I'm so glad that so many people are enjoying this discussion.  

    Thanks everyone for contributing!

  • yasmin66402
    yasmin66402 cheryl86544

    Posted

    The dire effects of the pain killers. .that is to say ,constipation so painful and. Protected for the first week post op. .and conversely ; incontinence ..not being able to reach the loo in time and wearing lady tena panties.! Still wearing after 3 months.because my recovery was quite regressed after the initial speedy recovery.
    • yasmin66402
      yasmin66402 cheryl86544

      Posted

      oh cheryl..it was because my poor body couldnt handle the general anasthaetic and the morphine..i had cold turkey ..i'm sure that didnt help!! i was not prpeared for the effect of the morphine and subsequent after effects. i found out afterwards they couldve given me morphine substitute,,which i'm on now!! three months later ! I  dont think that  many people get it quite so perniciously..i wouldve been fibe had the hospital not discharged me before i was ready to go..and go to my elderly mum's house who was not well herself..being at home ., i would haveended up in A& e on the day after..if i hadn't fallen down the stairs already ! i have narrow stairs to the basement where the loo and bedroom is!! onwards and upwards..the rest i knew from reasearch on this fab site before the op, alreadY! good luck with your recovery..most people progress at a satifactory rate/.the older you are , the less pain..and if you've got a titanuim knee..well that;s even better!! 

    • cheryl86544
      cheryl86544

      Posted

      Your reply is waiting to be moderated, you can message me
    • yasmin66402
      yasmin66402 cheryl86544

      Posted

      Why ?what did I say which needs moderating ?.I only told of my experience ..I'm. Not suing anyone or ??? .the hospital was wonderful except on the.discharge where errors were made ...but what needs moderating ?????

    • cheryl86544
      cheryl86544 yasmin66402

      Posted

      I don't know all the reasons they would moderate anything.  The one I do know is that if you included a web link in what you say they do remove it.  Click on my face  <------------ and then click on message to let me know what you had written.

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX cheryl86544

      Posted

      Except for the mention of medications we take (Tylenol, Vicodin, etc.), they don't like the mention of specific products...they see them as advertising.

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