Still in much pain after 5 weeks. Cannot sleep and Norco does not work for pain. Feel as though my knee slips out. Driving, doing light errands and housework, but have to sit down often. Planned on returning to work in 3 weeks but do not think I will be able......if this little progress continues. Going to call Dr. on Monday....feel as though I should be doing much better by now.
Im 13 wk trk and im the same.xx
I'm four months postop and I still have to sit down often when doing my housework. My doctor said it takes about a year to fully recover. I still have a little pain once in awile if I sit too long like long car rides or if I sleep in the wrong position. As far as your knee slipping out I would call the doctor on that. I have a clicking noise once in awhile with mine. They say it is nothing to worry about. I wish you luck on this journey and hope that your pain level goes down as mine has. I'm looking forward to getting the other knee done soon. I need to be able to keep up with our 2 year old grandson and our little grandchild that will be here in March.
Wow I think you're doing too much for only 5 weeks out. Have you been resting and icing the leg? Is it still swollen? I know you're probably ready to get on with your life lol! But it takes time to heal. It sounds like your mobility is good but it's really soon to expect to be pain free. I know the Norco doesn't work that great. But ice ice ice when you are in pain. And elevate the leg with a pillow when you are on the couch. Good luck in your healing. Prayers.
Parece que estás forzando demasiado. No creas todas esas historias sobre volver a la normalidad en 6 semanas........muchos ni siquiera piensan en conducir a las 5 semanas. El descanso es tan importante como cualquier otra parte de este proceso y si intentas saltártelo, tendrás problemas. Descansa completamente de la pierna durante unos días. Hidrátate y permítete estar sin dolor. Luego, vuelve a empezar y ve muy, muy despacio con el ejercicio. Olvídate de todas las otras cosas y concéntrate en mejorar, no en las compras, las tareas domésticas y la socialización. Descansa cada vez que tengas la oportunidad. Una siesta por la tarde no es un signo de debilidad.....es un signo de ser humano. En algunos países, el seguro no te permitiría conducir.
Good advice as usual! Yes staying completely off the leg and using crutches is what I ended up doing because it was too painful after extremely aggressive PT. I mran it was a couple weeks of doing the bare minimum and just resting on the couch. Yes the housework didn't get done. And I certainly wasn't driving especially if you're on the pain pills. I wonder if the doctor cleared her to drive? You're pretty screwed if you get in an accident so soon after surgery. Resting is boring but it's the only thing that's gonna help you heal. If you're not sleeping at night due to pain you're never gonna get better. Just set up camp on the couch. Have the remote handy. Do some knitting. Have your water and pain pills next to you and let the housework and errands go. Hope you're doing well Old Fat Guy!!
Planning on going to work 8 weeks post-op? Really? Seriously? Good luck with that...
Norco is acetaminopen plus hydrocodone, a major opioid. If you are on 5-325, ask your doc to up you to 10-325 or 10-500 for a short period of time. However, your body might not react sufficiently to hydrocodone (some people don't). In that case, acetaminopen plus OXYcodone, another major opioid, is called Percocet. It might work better on you than Norco. Talk to your doc.
Warning: These are highly addictive drugs. (Note: The infamous Oxycontin is pure Oxycodone without the acetaminopen.) Most TKR patients use them for 60-90 days to get past the really bad pain, then move down the med scale and off the opioids. If you are considering going back to work too soon and think you'll get past the pain by continuing to take these killer meds long term, you're just kidding yourself. Think real hard about your choices...Vicodin (like Norco) will make your teeth start rotting out in about two years. I would recommend not even considering going down this road...
"...feel as though I should be doing much better by now...." Yes, we've all been there. I don't think anyone was prepared for how long a TKR recovery takes. Talked to some people before my op, told them I had a hip replaced and rehabbed in 6 weeks. They just laughed and told me that a knee is totally not like a hip. This is a slow, steady, long recovery in the 3-6 month range for most people, with stiffness, a "swollen look" and clicking/popping lasting 12-18 months or longer. Some less, some more but this seems to be the typical range with a return to work being on the longer (4-6 month) side.
Gotta get past the pain and off the opioids before you can at least drive. You can't make decisions at work on these pain killers...period. Then you need to achieve full flexion and recover the strength in your legs, glutes and core. Not an overnight thing.
Do NOT compare yourself to any other individual's progress or to what your mind "thought" it would be like. Feeling down about it? It's called post-operative depression...normal. Kick its butt down the stairs...interferes with your will to get stronger. Clear your mind of all the crap, concentrate on PT and getting back to normal.
Sleep? I put my leg up on a pillow (against MD advice) and iced it...helped a lot. 50 mg Dyphenhydramine (generic Benadryl) or 3-5 mg Melatonin are OTC sleep aids plus some lavender oil in a diffuser. Turn off all TV and cell phones 1/2 hour before bed. Read a book. Turn off the light; make the room pitch black. Gotta find some ways to get to sleep.
In the end, give up what your mind is saying and listen to your body. Do too much? The knee will swell. Eat healthier...lose weight, if necessary...hydrate a lot...sleep as much as your body tells you to do. All your energy is being directed at healing your knee. Don't listen to your head...give up expectations and deal with what is actually real. And...
"Never give up! Never surrender!" - Tim Allen, Galaxy Quest
Take it easy! I'm now 15 weeks post op TKR and not driven my car yet and not expecting to for a while! I never expected to feel so totally wiped out after this op but getting used to resting and icing. Take it easy, it's a major op, don't worry about housework, it will still be there when you are feeling better.
¡Vaya! Me pregunto quién te está asesorando sobre qué esperar durante tu recuperación. Esto suena muy diferente a mi cronograma de expectativas. A las 6 semanas espero poder conducir nuevamente y reanudar algunas tareas ligeras en el hogar. Me acerco a las tres semanas postoperatorias y ahora puedo caminar con confianza con una muleta y, por lo tanto, ahora puedo prepararme un café, etc., y llevarlo. ¡Eso se siente como un hito enorme, por no hablar de pensar en hacer lo que tú estás haciendo! Me preocupa que estés poniendo en riesgo tu resultado futuro y el potencial de que todo salga mal es considerable. Por favor, toma nota y desacelera. No es fácil, lo entiendo, pero es crítico para un buen resultado a largo plazo. Cuídate.
Lol making and carrying my own cup of coffee was a happy day! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought it was a milestone! Oh and bending my leg enough to do my own pedi was a milestone too! You'll get there.
Pedi suena increíble, ¡tengo muchas ganas de eso! Pequeños placeres. Me encanta el sentido común que se habla en este sitio, me ha ayudado mucho en mi perspectiva.
I'm 2 years post op, I had a TKR on my right knee, the first 3 months were a living He** , I was put on Oxycodone it seemed to work ok, it didn't get rid of the pain but it did help dull it, and I took them every 4 hours. I didn't drive during that time either, I went back to work after 3 months, but on light duty and only half days for another 2 months.
I see you had a partial but I'm sure your doing to much, it took me a year to finally start feeling good and now at 2 years , if it weren't for the scar I would forget I had a bad knee.
as for it feeling like it slips out I'd call and go see my surgeon if I were you, good luck
Me too. This site saved me when I felt hopeless and depressed. I love connecting with people here. Something to look forward to...a home pedi lol. Oh and shaving my legs was challenging too.
It's so sad hearing about the unbearable pain people go through with this surgery. 3 months of pain and there's no magic pill! I had a lung removed from cancer and was in the hospital 5 weeks and that was a cake walk compared to this knee surgery. I have never had so much pain for so long. It just seems like it's never gonna go away. It's encouraging to hear that you're feeling fine. Thank you for sharing.
TKR surgery takes a long time to build up strength and rom in the joint.
its a painful non stop process for weeks for some months.
Perhaps your doctor can bump up the dose for pain meds so you can heel and sleep. Sleep is very important as well as 2100 calories per day for recovery from major surgery.
it took me almost 8 months before I could walk well without pain. I hope you can get thru this initial rough spot soon.xxx
I think you have dne to much to soon you really do need to rest it and let it heal I am 8 weeks post op and can't get up and stairs without putting both feet on step still please take your time it is a long healing process I normally not have a very strong patience but this has proved I have got some lol hope you recover in your own time I am not going back work til November and that is only if I feel 100%
Hola - Espero que las cosas estén mejorando para ti. Me encantaría una actualización 
Jenni.
¡Me afeité las piernas ayer!
¡Jajaja! Eso es brillante. Son los pequeños hitos....
Feel much better when I move around. Still the pain keeps me awake all night, even taking Norco. Do not think I will return to work in October as planned. My job requires a twelve hour day and on my feet....surgery was August 19.......not going to push myself for this one. My mind wants to but my body just can't. My hip replacement was a breeze. Both my wrists were the same. I cannot complain too much.
If not for sugeries, I would be in a wheel chair the rest of my life. Staying positive!!