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How my life changed after knee replacement

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Long and winding road. the first 3weeks

Sioux
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I had my Right Total Knee Replacement (TKR) on 3 Aug 2016.... Just over 3 weeks ago.

Therefore my story is a short one and covers my journey so far. I am hoping that this is a typical TKR journey and that generally, I am experiencing the same as everyone else. The problem is a don't really have anyone to tell me so here is my story

I live in central England. I am 57 (female). I have degenerative arthritis in both knees and will probably need the left knee done at some point ( right now my gut says never ever going through this op ever ever again) but who knows. I might forget the pain and do it again ha ha.

30 years ago I had cartilage op (pre keyhole surgery ) and have a very nice "V" shape scar as a result. The surgeon has now turned this V into a nice long arrow.. Looks very funny. Ha ha ha

Anyway, I digress. I initially went to see my doctor 3 years ago but he suggested I delay as long as possible as the new knee will not last forever and the longer I leave it the better. So I delayed and when I went a few months ago the surgeon said according to my 3 year old X-ray I am ready for this op.

I had to arrive at hospital at 7am (about a 30 min drive from home) and no drink/food. My surgery began at 2:30pm.... A long wait with nothing to eat or drink. I chose the spinal anaesthetic instead of the full knock me out one. I did ask them to sedate me as I didn't fancy hearing the sawing/hammering/drilling that was going to take place. I had the needle in my back and the next thing I remember is being I. The recovery room for about 45 mins and having a drink and my leg was heavily bandaged. I was then returned to the ward and the rest of that day passed in a haze of medication. I do remember waking in the night several times and taking meds. I was on pain killers, blood thinners, anti sickness, lactulose, and heaven knows what else. They had to take me off the blood thinners for a couple of days as my wound was bleeding a fair bit and required a dressing change and a change of sheets (whoops)

I naturally have low blood pressure and every time they took a reading they would say gosh.. That's low. And worried that I might pass out - I didn't

Day 2 was a bad day. I was in pain, tearful and uncomfortable. They gave me morphine which helped, but the depression was not a good feeling. It passed quickly (thanks to meds I am sure) and that evening was better. Yet another change of sheets in the middle of the night but due to filling the bedpan (embarrassing or what). it was a great incentive to grab that walker and make it to the bathroom. Can't tell you how great it was to shuffle to the bathroom on my own. I quickly moved on to crutches and do some gentle exercise (ouch). That evening was bearable and on the Friday (day 3) I just wanted to sleep all the time. They came and had me walking up and downstairs and sent me home that evening. However, I had had several dressing changes as bled lots and then the final dressing was so tight the staples were showing through so yet another change

Drove home at about 5pm with a large bag of various medications and a pair of crutches. Went straight to bed. The pain and exhaustion I felt was overwhelming and I lay on the bed sobbing and aching and hurting like never before. Had a spoonful of liquid morphine which lifted the siege and never moved again that evening

I was home and now recovery could begin. I won't bore you with a daily log of all that happened so here are the high/lowlights

Our area operates a SWATT team.. They are nurses/therapist who come to your house for the first couple of weeks post surgery. They check your dressing, show you the exercises, endless discussions about bowel movements and mood, make sure you can use crutches ok, take temperature and blood pressure and generally make sure you are on track. A great team and it was lovely to have them tell you you were OK and answer all the little questions about lack of sleep, is it really normal to have this indescribable pain, will I be running the marathon next week (lol), and the best bit- getting those damn compression stocking off...the best feeling ever

12 days free the op, they took the staples out and removed all bandages and I could finally see the enormous scar - very neat job actually and healing brilliantly. 4 days later it was off to the hospital for first therapy session. They took my crutches off me and gave me a cane.. Very unnerving. But the right thing to do

I have been sleeping in the "spare bedroom" since the op so that my husband gets a good nights sleep (which has eluded me so far). I get up more than one in the night and the pain is horrific especially if in my half sleep I forget that it's been operated on and turn over !!!! Whoa.

I am walking quite well and will not get into the stats regarding amount of bed/straighten etc. I will talk about feeling low, then feeling great and that I am making fantastic progress I then feel I am taking 1 step forward and 10 steps back. The pain is so bad.. It just aches so much and you just can't find a position that relieves the pain and is remotely comfortable. The tiredness ... Always exhausted. THe feeling of being inadequate.. Not doing as well as I want to. The thought that this is going to go on for weeks, may months!! The tears, the lack of sleep.

Why did I do this to myself? I do believe that in the long run I will love it. Right now, 3 weeks post op it's all pain, discomfort and miserable...

WIll I do it all again? forever the optimist - that this is worth it... Yes I probably will
Comments
Rocovering
Hi and wanted to let you know that we are on the same page. I am three weeks post op and have experienced my "recovery" almost exactly as you have described it. I am very discouraged and still spend many hours in pain and tears. I really believe that the difference in the experiences on this board are directly related to the ability to stay ahead of the pain in whatever way works for an individual. With that in place, it's possible to rehab the knee extensively and recover more quickly. Not my experience! I am doing what I can and am ever grateful for any support I am getting from friends (family is several states away, son is dealing with brand new first baby and heavy work schedule). I started outpatient PT on Tuesday and am going again today with the hope that the pain I experience will move me forward in healing one day at a time.
Carol87120
I'm writing with good news for both of you! My experience was pretty much the same - RTK in January. But now, 8 months later, so much better. Still stiff and painful when I wake up or sit too long. Except for ibuprofen right before bed, I've been drug free for months. Huge clue -- don't sit! Walk walk walk! Or bike or swim, but move that leg!!! Good luck!
Behlers695
I am two and a half weeks out from left knee TKR. I have been surprised by how emotional I've been since surgery--a side effect not previously discussed during all the pre-op meetings. Also feel the level of pain etc is significantly more than shared in advance. Although I have great confidence in my surgeon I was totally disappointed in the level of care I received during my three day
hospital stay. Not a good way to start my recovery. Starting to feel better but it is one good day and then a 'not so good day.'. Dealing with constipation from pain meds almost worse than knee pain. So now dealing with more knee pain since needed to back off meds. Just hanging in a day at a time.
patburke
Hi. I'm three weeks post op today. My pain level comes and goes but is manageable. My biggest concern is being able to regain all the functionality of my new knee. I'm still using a walker. I tried tonight to use a cane but was not able to even take one step. Did others have that same experience? I'm only 59 and need to get my life back. Folks who've never gone through what we are going thru just don't understand how difficult this is
I really need help here emotionally, so please send me a chat back

I'm always so tired. Ive also been taking a sleeping pill at night which at least gives me somewhat of a restful night
Behlers695
I wanted to update since three weeks have passed since I first commented. I am at six weeks post op and the improvements starting in week four have been great. I walk without any aids; since it was left knee TKR I have started driving. Really no pain in knee, just a stiffness when sitting for a long period. Only concern is that sleeping is still somewhat problematic but I don't feel exhausted mid-day as I did earlier.
Feeling very pleased with current status and know it will just continue getting better!
mesagal
patburke --- please contact me. Socalwine@gmail.com
Betsy
I had a very similar, disheartening and difficult experience with my first TKR three and a half years ago. I had my second one three weeks ago and so far it's been very different. I have just posted my own story (One Woman, Two TKRs, etc...probably just waiting to be moderated as I write this) to share that whatever we do to aid our recovery, however compliant and hard-working we are, there is an unknown element over which we have no control. I have had two completely different experiences in these early weeks. It's also interesting to see the different ways in which hospitals deal with TKR patients.

I had both mine done on the NHS (I live in the North of England) but in two different private hospitals (just part of the odd system of referral available to me in my area, where we 'choose and book' our own surgeon and location). After the first one, being discharged on day four, I had only two outpatient appointments for physio which consisted of being given a quickly hand-written sheet telling me how my day should proceed from the moment I woke up....very, very daunting to a person in great pain and exhaustion, living alone, and at the same time being told that my recovery was great... I could walk without sticks quite early on. My pain and low mood were overlooked. This time round, the hospital (a different one) is giving me physio classes in a small dedicated gym, alongside others, once every two weeks, consisting of a circuit of various equipment and movements. I've been to just one so far and really enjoyed the individual help and attention and found it very motivating. I am still not so good at doing the exercises at home as I am meant to! But I have been walking around the house without sticks from within the first two weeks.

In the hospital I was up on a walker briefly on the day of surgery, walking a bit more the day after, then quickly onto two sticks, then on day three I was up and down a staircase using sticks before being discharged that day. Living alone with stairs to negotiate to the bathroom and bedroom has meant having to be very mobile and well-practised at this.

I'm 22 days post-op as I write this now, and have had a few 'bad' days....very very tired, napping lots, exercising hardly at all....but when pressed to do just a little by my sister as we talked by text yesterday, I found that the knee bend had improved and that I was still capable of the sitting and standing exercises and that strength was still improving. I can't account for this. This is my message, It's not at all predictable and can be wildly different for two people approaching their recovery in the same way or for one person having two operations.

The final word is that recovery does happen in the end. My Knee Guide is a great resource so keep popping onto FB and Twitter and get your support.
Lindylou18
you know the responses on here are so supportive and comforting - I’m almost 5 weeks post op TKR right knee, this week I’ve been weepy, felt despondent that I’ve gone back over rather than forward - at week 3 I was exercising well and walking well although I found out I was walking too much. thanks everyone because of the responses I realise I’m not alone and pretty much everything I’m experiencing seems ‘normal’ thanks all x
abers47
I am 5 weeks on Wednesday - pretty happy with my progress. have been pretty much pain free up till yesterday suffering with general tightness around the knee. Yesterday I exercised a little more and have developed a sharp pain on the right and below the kneecap. Physio says not to worry but I always do! lol!
Italianna76
so I’m new on here and I just had a right TKR on May 26,2020. first two weeks pain management was difficult to keep ahead of it all. between that and the swelling I had a breakdown everyday from not being able to do hardly anything for myself. I’m not one to rely on narcotics so this is hard for me and probably didn’t help that I didn’t know my 40 pills was a 5 day supply and I was thinking it was longer so not taking as many as I could have been to manage the pain. two week post op appt I was probably 65 degree bend in my knee and pretty much almost at full extension. almost a week later and I am at 72-75 degree bend. my doc wanted me to be at 90 degrees at my post op but that didn’t happen because of the excess pain and swelling. I’m also not sure if my fibromyalgia is playing a part in this as well with the extra pain. I start outpatient PT tomorrow so hopefully with the better understanding that I can and should take 2 pain pills every 4 hours as needed and definitely before therapy I can continue to increase the bend in my knee. the thing that gets me constantly is the tightness when I do bend. it’s like I get to a point and I hit a wall where I feel like if I push it further it’s going to snap or break or the searing pain and burning happens and I have to back off. and that’s with taking 4 mg of oral dilaudid.. I am using a walker at home but have started trying to use my crutches for short distances. I also use one crutch and my banister when going upstairs to bed or downstairs in the mornings finally after spending two weeks on my sectional. I keep trying to remind myself that everyone heals and recovers differently and that just because someone else is at 90 at their two week visit does not mean I have to be. Im just scared and don’t want to have to undergo a manipulation. I’ve had pretty easy recoveries from other surgeries so this one is placing me out of my element and blowing my pain tolerance out of the water.
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