hi everyone, I'm only 4 weeks post op and I thought I was doing ok, I was walking in the house with no crutches, walking normal up and down stairs, pain now a dull ache and doing the exercises as I should be, and all of a sudden that has been turned upside down. Could not rest in bed tonight because of the pain, I came down the stairs on my bum as it was so painful to walk down the stairs, managed to hop to get my crutches and hop to get a cold gel pack to put on the leg, but to no avail, I cannot wait till 3 am comes to take a strong painkiller and hope that eases the pain, plus I used to have a feeling of a tight band, that went about 10 days ago but that has come back tonight as well. I'm still trying to be positive, but it's very difficult to do tonight. Don't mean to moan, it's just good to know that someone out there is going through the same.
gill
Hi Gill.
im 4 weeks too and from earlier posts I said you were so much further than I am - I'm on 1 crutch in the house, can't do stairs without it and struggling with exercises. On saying that, every day is getting better in the sense that I can do a little bit more. However, at the weekend I went to the shops and boy did I suffer with pain, a sleepless night and lots of meds.
Perhaps you have been doing too much? I saw the physio yesterday and she said I must continue to ice and continue with meds regularly to stay on top of pain.
they all say on here that we'll have 3 steps forward and 2 steps back - hopefully this is just a blip for you and is one of those steps back. Ice it, rest it and take the meds and hopefully you will feel better tomorrow.
Take care and look after yourself x
Hi, you are doing ok, that is just how it goes, I had pkr six weeks ago, still got really tight band, never goes, struggling to use operated leg for stairs, lucky I don't have any,. Always seem to be over doing it, have again tonigh, am sitting in bed with ice pack, right now , I regularly cry with the pain, I think we all do, I really need to move on as am getting other one done in about six week.😓 your not on your own,😀
Hi Gill. You are doing so well. Don't give up! This is the nature of the TKR beast. I am 11 wks and last night was hell for me. Had to get up and get pain meds that I am trying to do without. Today is much better even gardened a little as well as exercises and no meds. It is a roller coaster,without a doubt, both physically and mentally.
Hi Mandy, thank you for your reply.
you are so brave to get the other knee done, I don't think I could go through this again in such a short period.
It's also reassuring to know that I am not alone going through this and I hope everything goes ok with your other knee.
take care and thanks for your email😊
Hi Helen, thanks for your reply, to be truthful I thought something had gone wrong as up to now I seemed to have had no trouble, but I'm sat downstairs crying with the pain, trying to get as comfortable as possible and counting the clock down till I can take a strong painkiller. It's just good to hear from people like yourself that has gone through this and I'm feeling not so alone now. Glad to hear that your day was better than last night, thanks again Gill 😊
Hi Gill, I'm 5wks post tkr and everyone says I'm doing great but inside I feel I'm never going to Be normal again.. I don't have too much pain now but the tight band around my knee just never seems to disappear. I wake up with it and lay awake at night with it. I thought my sleeping was beginning to improve but last night I watched the clock every hour and got up at 5.30 because I was so uncomfortable. Because my wound is healing I feel I should be getting back to normal and getting on with my life instead of feeling so tired all the time. I know everyone says it can take up to a year to get back to normal but I suppose I'm just too impatient. Chatting on this forum really helps though and I know I'm not the only one who is going through this.
i find that going to bed with an ice pack on really helps me to settle. Maybe give it a try. Hope we both get some sleep tonight. 😴😴
Oh bless you Gill, at 4 weeks you are still so early on in your TKR journey. You have done amazingly well up to now, try not to be too downhearted. I'm 14 weeks out, and I've had a really tough couple of days, had to get the ice packs out again.......I'm still on my crutches but that's due to OA in my other knee - for you to be off them at 4 weeks is phenomenal......
Just listen to your body, it will certainly tell you when it needs to rest. Also keep well hydrated and keep up with your meds - it's better to take them regularly so the pain doesn't get a hold rather than waiting till you're in pain.....
The ups and downs of this massive procedure is something they don't prepare you for - whereas most surgical recoveries follow a fairly steady, regular path, TKR recovery is a beast, and it's most definitely in charge!
Try not to be too hard on yourself, make sure you're well rested, even if you can't sleep properly, and never, EVER apologise for having a moan, we all understand the challenges, both physical and emotional, and there's always someone to listen.
Take care
Terri xxx
You are doing really well - it's a setback- try and relax as being stressed males it worse- atwenty weeks I have had many nights like that but they are fading away slowly but surely. Healing takes a long time and even now I am getting some tingling out of the blue. The swelling and stiffness cause most pain - try to focus on reducing them. Take your painkiller a little sooner than it's due just this once or depending what you're on take ibrobrufen in between time to keep edge off it. You will get there but it's not easy as we all know - mentally and physically . A good sleep works wonders too - good luck and keep drinking water
Hi Pru, I think this is going to take patience and lots of it by the sound of things, I just cannot believe the difference within a few hours. I do normally take an ice pack to bed and tie a bandage loosely around it so that it sits on the knee and doesn't fall off. I take a painkiller to go to bed, but tonight the pain is so bad, I cannot wait for the clock to strike 3 so that I can take a strong painkiller. It may be the case of when hubby gets up out of bed, I'll be going to bed, but I do hope that you are able to get a bit of rest tonight. So take care and look after yourself. X😰
Hi Terri, I am sorry to hear that you have had a couple of bad days, and I hope it gets better soon for you. Because I thought I was doing well I did cut down drastic on the pain meds, just one in the morning and one in the evening, and they are not strong pain meds, but trust me as soon as 3am comes I will be taking a strong painkiller, just to try and ease the pain.
i can now understand why you call it a beast, it sure is.
thanks for the encouraging words as well, they do help.
i have been pushing myself to do things, so perhaps the body is saying its a rest day!!
So thank you for being there for me Terri, it is truly appreciated, take care my dear friend, goodnight and god bless Xx
Hi Caroline, I am glad to hear that your nights like this are getting fewer, that's encouraging to know .
i cannot believe the pain tonight, I thought I was doing well and realise now that there are going to be days like this. It's coming up to 2am where I am, so maybe I will take the tramadol a bit earlier, I had stopped taking that and was just taking solpadeine twice a day, but tonight I feel I need something a bit stronger to try and take the edge of the pain, hubby gets up at four, so maybe I will try and get some rest then.
thanks for the good advice, take care Gill xx
Yes I took solpadiene in daytime and tramadol at night then changed to co codamol at night. Nights are worse it swells and we are awake in those early hours. I have just sorted my wardrobe out! My knee is a bit sore as I wore different shoes today but not that terrible pain of those early weeks. Think I might have a tablet though. Put ice on and do a bit of Physio helpling yourself will make you feel better good night
Taking pain meds steadily helps too rather than expecting one foes to work . They are sending messages to the brain and if you lay off too soon in the daytime the nights are worse maybe increase dose for a few days to get past this rough patch
Dear Ptu
Many people have posted my story on TKR for me because my story does not come often.
I will just touch base
I have had 3 TKR in the last 18 months and need another.i am sitting at hospital waiting for MRI.
The tightness you feel I have been told by 2 different Drs who did my knee. I hate to say but I was told not everyone heals the same.
I feel for you.
I hope to keep everyone on base with my surgery.
Stay positive
I no it is hard and I have those days very depressing.
I hope u feel better
Here in Florida u stay 2 nights nothing on leg except staples and ace bande and cooler box to ice knee .which I have mentioned previously.
Hi Caroline
i managed to get an hour and a half sleep, and I am now back downstairs.
my hubby had to help me get down the stairs, so I don't know if I am doing right, but I am leaving the painful exercises alone today and just do the baby exercises, ice, meds, and try to rest the best I can.
i hope your knee continues to improve, please take care, thinking of you Gill Xx
thanks for
Hi Caroline
im going to take your advice and up my meds to what they were when I came out of hospital first.
its not nice for my hubby to see me cry and call out for my mam, especially when my mam has been gone several years, I just would like the fierce pain to go away. Thank you for your support xx
Sound like you pushing yourselr too f
ast. Im seven weeks TkR and I just begun walking some without my cane. I still cant manage stairs very well. Its less pain. But sleeping at night is a problem. My cut spot is still sensitive. But I bend 110. But my knee is a ways from bei ging st.raight. any suggestions roe date?
Hi Janice
thank you for your reply.
yes, I think you are right, I think I was pushing myself hard, and this has taught me a lesson. My leg sort of flops to the side when I am resting, the doc told me that because the knee was bad for a while the muscles got used to going on the side, so now the muscles have to wake up and do the opposit, I may be wrong there, but that is what my doc said.
it seems a lot of people have problems sleeping at night.
keep thinking positive, take one day at a time and let the future take care of it self.
Morning Gill, guess neither of user had the best nights sleep....
It's around 05:30 where I am, what about you? I'm guessing around 09:30? Incidentally, whereabouts are you?
What your Dr said about your muscles sounds spot on to me - I'm in the unenviable position of being able to directly compare pre and post op knees - the muscles surrounding and supporting my new knee are relearning how to work properly, whilst the ones on my arthritic knee are struggling to support the joint and are very weak. That knee "flops" in the way you describe, so I have to give it extra support. Have you tried "wedging" your knee so it doesn't flop? I had to do it pre and post op on my first knee, now I'm doing it on the second. Lots of pillows involved!
If it's of any comfort to you, despite the pain and lack of sleep, I'm so glad that I've had my first knee done. Yes there is pain, but it's healing pain, not that horrible, grinding pain of OA.
Here's to a peaceful day, lots of ice, fluids and rest, and some light exercise to keep us on the right road. It looks to be lovely day here, so might have a bit of a sit out in the sun.
Take care
Terri - 48 years old but feeling about 80! Xx