...But I'm going to ask anyway!
I'm 11 days post TKR, and I think I'm doing pretty well. However, last night was one of the most uncomfortable I've had since being in the Hospital - extremely painful Quad muscles, hamstrings as tight as a drum, and my scar was so sensitive to touch that I couldn't even have the bedclothes touching it. Plus a little clicking/ knocking sound/sensation in the new joint itself.
I'm guessing this is all par for the course?
Get it checked.........Now !
It was for me. I'm at 7 weeks and cringe at that description because it is so accurate. I'm much better now although I'm still having a lot of trouble finding a decent sleep pattern. Stay the course and all that. I still have good days and then 2 days that are less so... etc... It is up and down and I remember clearly the therapist drawing me a picture of the recovery curve. It had a lot of spikes both up and down in the gradual upward curve.
Hello terri
it is true that we have bad nights and at 13 weeks i am on the up now. However as supportive as this forum is we are patients not doctors. Has your leg settled down now? I think that as long as it does not worsen but settles down it is probably par for the course. If it doesn't it might be as well to get it checked out. Your gp can reassure you that there is no sign of infection etc.
All completely normal.
The clunking sound is due to the swelling going down, so no need to worry.
I remember all too well how sensitive the scar and surrounding knee is. Going to have matching ones tomorrow when I get knee number two operated on.
All normal, so don't worry.
Lynn 9 months post op
Hi terri, yes it does sound par for the course but if it persists ect it checked out. Some of my nights were horrendous and I use to cry for hours, but yours feels particully tender around your scar so you could have a slight infection.have you noticed that this op seems to take hold of your body and completely envelopes it. Hope you feel better soon
It took nearly 10 weeks for me to be able to sleep normally, ie without a pillow between my legs to take the pressure off. I remember those early days well, quads and hamstrings are all being stretched by your exercises and then they let you know at night. It will slowly get better.
At 11 days, I could not wear tights or even jeans, but existed in a long skirt and ankle socks like a bag lady!
Yes it's a bit of a roller coaster alway bad the day after Physio too. Same advice ice and elevate.
Early days There is a lot going on in that knee. Take anti inflammatories/painkillers regularly Use ice Exercise as much as possible balanced with rest.
See your GP to rule out infection
Hi terri - i can vividly remember that for the first couple of weeks the skin around the scar felt as though it had first degree burns - just putting a cooling cream on i had to grit my teeth! But at nearly 10 weeks so so much better - hope yours soon improves. It seems that most of us get clunks - wonder how long they last on average?
Good luck to lynn hope it goes smoothly!
Not had clunks but everything else is text book Terri. When I used to get up and go to the couch during the night I had a nice soft furry throw and found that more comfortable than a duvet.
Thanks Tess.
Will post again when I surface!
Lynn
Hi there Terri I am 6 weeks post op today but still I find nights are difficult. I sleep, albeit badly, under a summer 4.5 tog duvet with a special soft feel covering. No duvet cover on it as that feels like sandpaper!!! Like Susan I also tried a ultra lightweight and soft fleece over me but got too hot. Soon all these experiences will be distant memories - hope so anyway !!!!!!
Thanks everyone, I knew you'd be there for me 💜
I managed to get comfy and get a couple of hours sleep, and things felt much better. I wasn't worried about infection, my wound is lovely and clean and healing nicely. It was more of a mild electric shock type pain whenever clothing or bedclothes touched it.
Anyway, I've had a bit of excitement this afternoon - I'd just taken my pain meds, done a good exercise session, and was about to lie down and hopefully nap, when the Police started pounding on my door! Apparently an unexploded bomb had been discovered on my street, and everyone was being evacuated! Luckily my son was with me for the day, so we many grabbed what I thought I might need, as we had no idea how long the evacuation was going to last, and drove to the Rendezvous point, which was a local pub outside of the danger zone. The army soon arrived to do their stuff, and thankfully it turned out b to be part of a WW2 artillery shell, but thankfully the dangerous part was long gone.
So we're all back home. None the worse, and I'm now having a well deserved lie down, and my eyelids are feeling very heavy......
Hope the afternoon finds you all well and comfortable xx
Thanks for that Lynn, I really hadn't considered that the , clunking would be more apparent as the swelling reduces - makes sense once it's been pointed out!
Good luck with tomorrow, I'm definitely going to end up having knee #2 done at some point so I'll be interested to hear how your 2nd one goes and how the experiences differ.
Take care and good luck xx
Unexploded bomb? Yeah you get those with TKR! ha ha! Glad everyone is safe and you're doing better. I think I would have made my Rendezvous point a pub regardless.
I think mine was at the time over Christmas when chilly and it was furry, not fleecy - that would have been too hot! Also when I got wam I used to fold it and put it between knees - worked much better than a pillow. I still do that now when laying on my side on the couch.
Susan please can you tell me when we post op folk can start sleeping on our side with a pillow between knees? I was waiting to ask at the hospital next week but I have noticed several people have spoken about being on their side in bed. Is am still sleeping on my back with my legs out straight.
It's a confidence thing I found. I was better on the vouch in confined space so I didn't twist. I couldn't sleep in my side in bed for sbout eight weeks although in couch I could. Just do it in stages.
What an interesting thread this turned out to be! As if you've not got enough to contend with without being evacuated😊Glad all ok now. Your symptoms sound very familiar to me too, especially the tenderness where the duvet touches the side of the knee. It all gets better in time but, as others say, be prepared for the ups and downs. Hope you. Have a better night. Jen (8 months post op)