Hi everyone I am finally back. Had my TKR a week last Friday, and very pleased to say everything seems to have gone very well. I was discharged from hospital last Tuesday afternoon so in just four days. wifi went down while I was there so could not communicate even though I was board and well enough! Briefly it went like this. Op Friday, out of bed Saturday. catheter and drip out, and first physio. Given long shoe horn, leg lifter (amazing, couldn't live without it) ball four ice packs and new exercise book. (all to go home with me). Sunday first shower, physio and knee bends
Monday two sets of physio, achieved 100% bend, Tuesday showering alone two sets of physio, achieved 110% bend which really hurt, walked out of hospital using crutches lightly, throughout this, slept well and during the day and no pain. All good but not quite so good since I have been home. Did way too much on Wednesday, Washing, tidying up etc had a violent headache Wednesday night, upset tum, and washed out all Thursday. Today I still feel weak and have no motivation to do anything but did manage to change my knee socks. The back of my knee hurts and I have only exercised once, I just can't seem to concentrate on anything. Still have more than 100% bend but not pushing for any more until the back of my leg settles down. I feel the waterproof dressing and staples are holding me back, I have them out on the 15th, apparently mine is the only surgeon to make his patients go back to see him at 18 days and he takes the staples out himself 
... so won't be able to shout! I also see the physio again at that time. The book I have is very comprehensive and I have all my exercises marked out, it really is excellent, I just have to get myself into a routine to do them at least three times a day. I just wish I didn't feel as though someone had let my tyres down, all washed out and no energy at all ... is this normal?
Good to hear from you Liz and glad that everything went so well! Hopefully after the setback you will feel a bit better in a couple of days. I'm sure the headache and upset stomach will have taken a lot out of you.
Very best wishes for your continued recovery.
Kind regards,
Gill
Hi Liz, Well you really are doing well, much better than I did. I had a hard time after leaving hospital to get into a routine at home. At home you are always tempted to do a little bit here and there, and it's so easy to overdo it and suffer later.
If there is one theme that runs through this forum it is to let your body heal, give it the time it need and always remember that you have had major surgery.
Your bend is better than mine at 11 weeks, you are doing really well, don't overdo things and set yourself back.
Kind regards
Caz - 11 weeks post TKR Australia
Well done Liz that initial boost you have in hospital is great and everyone is telling you are doing well and you want to prove to them that you doing well.
getting home it all catches up with you. Don't worry you will get into a rhythm of managing.
100 per cent bend is awesome. You will feel better too when the staples are out. Pace yourself take the rest and the pain killers
well done you are doing really well
You sound as though you are doing really . The one thing we all seem to have in common is the total exhaustion .. This does go on a long time . You are very early days and should still be resting a lot every day .. Everyone feels low , and weepy sometimes for a few weeks , so I would say perfectly normal .dont overdo it , or the swelling will last longer ..do your exercises even through the pain , will help in the long run .good luck
Pam 4 1/2 months
REST!
However "routine" a TKR may be these days, however quickly you are thrown out of hospital, it is still a major insult to your body. Everyone does the same - I'm home, I must be OK so I'll carry on as normal. No - only a few years ago you would still have been in bed in hospital with cups of tea being made and brought round, the cleaners cleaning round you and all you would have been doing would have been the physio. Now, since I have only had knee surgery in Italy I know how rubbish you can feel just with that! They keep you in for anything from a week up and you REST when you aren't doing your exercises.
If you are alone at home make sure all you need is within easy reach - and, above all, make sure someone has locked the cleaning stuff away and the washing machine is unplugged! Doing all that sort of stuff you are putting that knee at some risk as you are increasing the risk of catching your foot and tripping - if anyone needs an excuse from you that will do!
If you want the biology of feeling so rubbish - it is akin to shock. The stress of the operation kicked your body and it made a load of adrenaline and other stuff. That's died down and you feel totally washed out after the excitement.
They have finally realised that yes, it is wonderful to be able to send people home after a few days, whether they have had an op or a baby - but it is now taking people LONGER to recover fully from whatever it was. It is purely because of this - it takes the body longer than a couple of days to get over anything. The idea was to send people home with help - yeah, right!!!!
Well done Liz your amazing! So now just be gentle and take it a little easy but keep up the excercises thats the way forward,och youll be walking for miles pretty soon
Good luck honey.
Wow Liz you are doing really well
congratulations on your excellent bend .i suffered from the back of the knee pain and found straightening my leg much more difficult than the bend...
but my advice is ...don't try to do too much too soon rest is important
all the best
Jean
We. Liz I just can't believe what you are doing so soon. I had mine on the Thursday before you, out of hospital last Tuesday with a sheet of exercises. I was told no shower for six weeks and I feel totally exhausted. I have been having the headaches too and feel sick every day after first set of exercises in morning. I went to physio yesterday (was told far too early by her) so didn't do much. I think you are now feeling totally normal at this stage. I am not going to beat myself up over resting. I think TKR is major surgery and needs to be treated accordingly. I hope you are better soon and your bend is excellent xx
Hi liz34614
my name is Nadine I used to work in a rehab hospital yes this normal feeling very flat when you have been go go go with things with your operation then all your rehab your going to have flat day but how ever even on your flat days you will have to work out a way to keep your knee moving even if you just to some leg lifts while laying in bed or on the couach because you don't need your new knee joint fousing up and going all stiff. I had to laugh when I read that you wouldnt be able to scream when you get your staples taken out off your knee cut let me tell you now it doesn't hurt at all getting them taken out they are way way better then stitches trust me I have a couple work out so I just pushed them back in when I had my hip graphed done but give your self a pat on the back for getting as far as you have and don't give up hope because things will start to feel great again very soon and you are only a few days out keep fighting on go strong take care xxoo Nadine
Well done Liz you're doing really well. Don't overdo it though. Just the exercises and a little walk to toilet and back is enough.
I had my staples out yesterday it wasn't that bad just stung a little.
Keep well
Christine 2 weeks 1 day