I am now just over 3 weeks post op after my knee revision I now know that when they took out the old knee I had to have bone cut away as there were holes and fluid in my bones and that my bones were very soft. I was given a smiles knee and had rods put in. I am still an emotional wreck having still not had more than 3 hours sleep a night. My pain is in my calf shin and thigh, I have no energy and feel like I am not coping at all. I am taking codeine regularly and it does help for a. While. Can anyone tell me when it starts to get easier ? I am doing my exercises and putting ice on it. Yet it doesn't seem to be getting an easier. Is it normal I'm still on crutches and in so much pain ?
Hi Diane it will take time Hun depending on your weight mine is very very heavy and I have been told it will take up to a year but I was off the crutches about six weeks hope you recovery soon
Thank you. Did you have pain for a long time ?
It took five months for me to come of my painkillers but that is because of my weight and I was naughty did not stick to my exercises if you have any more questions I will kindly talk to you tomorrow take care for now
You are in such early stages it seems almost unbearable. So much healing in so many areas....bone, soft tissue etc. The bruising and bone in the lower e tremities is caused by the tourniquet used to slow bleeding. As we have discussed so often on this forum, surgeons operate and move on leaving us, the patients to discover this on our own without help. You are close to a point of seeing improvement. Things start changing after the 3 week Mark but the thing to do is not measure progress on a short ten basis. 3 month, 6 months and so on. To quote so many, this is a marathon not a sprint. Depression and a muddled mental state is part of it but that also passes. Cry if you feel like or scream but don't hold it inside. Everyone on here is so helpful and kind. They will answer every question or concern without judge.ent. pour your heart out any time day or night. Someone on here is awake and going. I've had 5 complete openings of the joint and 3 seperate prothesis so I can and will offer a tidbit now and then. Hang in there
Thank you, I really hope Things do start to improve I was so good with the recovery of my first knee replacement and yet this time I feel out of control and not coping it's very scary.
Hi Diane, I used a walker for the first couple months then moved to a cane I think walker is so much easier than crutches plus then your walking on the TKR. But your talk to your doc before switching. you should talk to your GP about your sleep and if you have any depression before it get to bad the GP will be every helpful. Your only 3 weeks out it will get better trust me but you got to keep up you excrises, it hurts but keep it your doing great!!! This web site is great for their support.
Wow, I was still on OxyContin at 3 weeks, maybe you need to get the pain under control then things will be a bit easier, you can't do exercises etc if you are in agony.
good luck...
Yes for some this is normal - it will get easier and for most the turning point is between six to ten weeks. But it is a slow process and a major op . The pain will become more of a soreness or discomfort over time . Just carry on doing the ice. Rest elevation and Physio . Keep taking the painkillers regularly, drink water eat sensibly and focus on coping and developing a determination you will look after yourself until the healing process becomes easier to tolerate. I am six months post op but clearly remember the 3 week point. Very tough but is fading as each week and now each month I feel a bit stronger and even now am still healing, once you start sleeping that helps a lot. For now hang on in there and take one day at a time.
Hi, I've just had second pkr done a week ago, , obviously still in lot of pain , I think may be and as kirk says speak to your doctor, sounds like he might be able to help , I have been on antidepressants since not long before all this nightmare started, maybe you could do with a little help in that area, I certainly couldn't cope otherwise, I still cry a lot with the pain lack of sleep and frustration, but that and the pain meds helps a bit, I now with the first one I never again thought I'd be able to lite my leg off the bed, then all of a sudden the flags went up and I could, then it was a case of move on to the next hurdle, and that's what it seemed to be, a long line of hurdles, but each one is progress so all good. But it is very hard work, . At the moment I'm off my food, off to doctors today, as it looks like I've proberly got a water infection just to help things along,lol there's always something, it's very normal to feel the way you do , we all relate to you on that. Best of luck, we are all here for you.😀👍
Hi Diane,
I think we can all relate to what you have said,im 4 weeks post op now and yesterday while on my bed doing the exercises,i just burst into tears and yes it was good to cry,it releases all our stress,worries and anger. As everyone has said its still very early days,im still taking my pain meds,and using my stick,its very much my security blanket right now..we are here day and night,for me especially night,as i cant sleep either,2 hours in bed then i have to get up..chin up,your doing great xx
hi i had revision 11mths ago and i too had rods put in as the surgeon likes to do this in revisions ,i feel that because of rods it will take a little longer to heal when you have your visit to surgeon (we have this 6wks post op)you will get xray and its when you see xray that you see what i call scaffolding in your leg so its not only the knee to heal its so much more ,your pain meds need looking at and anti inflamatorys are a must ,the last time you had tkr you only had the knee in so this is so much more ,why did you have revision ? mine was because my knee failed
you poor thing Diane i do feel for you, i have to say you are a very brave Girl, i know i could not go down that road again i will put up with the pain , stiffness and fluid. ask your Doctor for a few sleeping tablets to get you to sleep. it is normal to have pain after only 3 weeks, try and get plenty of rest during the day and take it easy. let me know how you are getting on.
I hope it gets easier soon. Thank you
I have got more painkillers today. Thank you
Thank you I am trying to stay positive. Are you walking unaided now ?
Thank you it's good to hear I'm not alone in this. Wishing you a speedy recovery
It's so nice to hear I'm not the only one experiencing this. I'm just a emotional wreck and that's not me normally. Wishing you a speedy recovery
I had my first knee replacement when I was 29 due to arthritis and it was never right. My right knee started causing problems I had a cartilage transplant but unfortunately I was in the 3 percent that failed. I went on to have my right knee replaced just over 2 years ago and then I fought to get them to do something to my left knee but after 13 years they decided it was loosing and the spacer had worn out so they then performed the revision replacement 3 weeks ago.
Thank you I don't feel brave now. If I had known how hard it was going to be I don't know what I would of done,but my life before wasn't very good and I couldn't walk much so I didn't really have a choice