Here's a question. VERY generally speaking, would those who consider themselves to have a high pain threshold, feel that their recovery from a TKR was easier, and vice versa? I KNOW I've got a high pain threshold, and I sailed through it - just wonder how relevant that was.
I thought I had a high pain threshold so my rehab at week six today is going quiet well but each day is different so it's being able to medicate as and when and look at the set backs ( concrete knee e.g. ) it's part of the journey not a failer. Positive mental attitude
Well said I'm 14 week's TKR and still get concrete knee if I miss too many days stretches and walks just started using mini exercise byke I'm clumsy but optimistic 😁😁😁
Hi Chris!
Interesting question. I always thought I had good pain threshold, my doctor told me that in fact, always been quite brave and unfazed by needles, stitches, dental, childbirth etc and rarely take painkillers. Had 2 major surgeries and did well.
Now I expected the same with the TKR, even though I read and was told tales of the pain and long recovery. More of a shock when the spinal wore off and pain kicked in like jaws was chewing my whole leg off alternated with other forms of torture.
The pain and swelling has been epic and my knee is not really recovering as others seem to, so maybe something is not quite as should be - waiting on an appt with consultant.
However, I feel a bit let down that the pain was never really managed as I was led to beleive it would be and most meds turned out not to suit me. I had never needed heavy meds before in my life but this was the one time they might have elped me cope.
So, I think re your question, I think it is complex answer as we all have such widely different knee experiences and it is not the easiest op in the book, putting a piece engineering in the human body can give great results or not. It may depend on the previous history of the knee, general health and underlying conditions, op technique, etc etc. That is my own thought on it, but I am not a knee doctor though.
I did have a different surgery 3 months before the TKR so may not have been as recovered from that as I thought and my knee was in a bad way for a long time before offered surgery. I alo have an underlying leg condition which may have affected the outome.
I'm glad you had a good experience! My elderly aunt was back to as before op within a couple of months, so I think the family are surprised I am still suffering a lot at 7 weeks and not really getting further forward though I am at a much younger age. So there you go. I'm so over this whole knee thing now, hence I am rambling on!!
Well I had 3 natural childbirths and "thought" I was pretty good with pain and at least with childbirth it's over in a day. This "process" is way longer than a day. So I consider myself wimp-like and easily brought to tears now. Then again I was younger when I had the kids. 😭😫
Interesting about what you said re the positive mental attitude Melanie. I've just read in the newspaper that there was a study in the USA where it showed people who trusted their doctors felt less pain and it was the equivalent of having a pain pill. So to me that is equating with if you feel positive then it is going to be less painful!
Thanks Cynthia - yes, there certainly HAS to be an element that other factors make a difference. It's a complicated one, for sure! The fact that it can vary between two knees on one person, too - that confirms that.
This had gone through my mind Elzie - did those who had easier childbirths also find it easier with the TKR. Obviously not! So you answered that question, thank you LOL!
Very interesting question Chris. I too have a high pain threshold and at 17 weeks am sailing along. At no time during this process have I found the pain unbearable-even in the initial stages after coming home I found ice and paracetamol were adaquate for pain relief and subsequently stopped the stronger painkillers at day 12(up till then I was taking them because they'd been prescribed and believed I needed them in order to undertake pt) after experimenting without them for a few days I was pleasantly surprised. All that said, I've had
days where my knee has ached after pt or from overdoing it, but nothing that ice or sports gel wont calm. The one thing I found hard to cope with was the lack of sleep those first weeks-aaaargh!!! I firmly believe a good mental attitude is a must with this operation and above all else-KNOWLEDGE!!!! Im amazed at the number of people posting here that they had no idea how brutal or lengthy the recovery of a tkr would be. It's your body-ask the questions-do the research and above all else-do as much physical preparation as your body will allow before hand to aid in the recovery process.
I have a high pain threshold....did not find post op pain bad but it was very well managed
In hospital and I kept the medication up for a month afterwards, with slow gradual decrease from around week two.
No need for morphine when at home. Now at 9 weeks take very rarely a paracetamol, that's it. I think I trained myself
Mentally to manage with relaxation, mindfulness, and prayer...but not forgetting
Prevention is better than cure...so pacing activity carefully and listening to knee
Helps.
Not forgetting ice, that is meant to say.
Yes, knowing the facts is good, however, I'm not sure it helped me -I've een a nurse and later a health researcher and spend hours browsing the research. I think it is belief involved as I thought I would be fine despite the misgivings we all have. I always have held that belief but this time with TKR, that has been shaken. I've been one of the percentage struggling and the level of pain exceeded what I expected even with meds.
However, sometimes things just do not as planned as I have found out, we don't really envisage being in that minority!
Thanks Sue:-)))) Yes, I think you've hit on something there. Before I joined this group - around a week before my first op, I'm guessing, I thought you couldn't even stand on the leg of the knee replacement - I imagined it was like having a broken leg and REALLY painful! So it was a pleasant surprise realising you could put weight on it straight away. They didn't give me strong painkillers after the first day in hospital because I didn't need them. Yes, even now, I get the odd day of a slight twinge (10 weeks post op) in the knee if I overdo it, but that's all I've ever had really, apart from one uncomfortable night! I think the physical preparation BEFORE the op is important too - it must help!
I would not say I had easy childbirths or TKR - I had no interventions or drugs for the births as the consultant I had did not believe in anything but natural birth (it was years ago) and I just went along with it but it was painful for sure. Different to knee though, was younger and able to deal with it and we are designed more for that than for having our knees replaced, plus the babies were worth it. So far this knee of mine has been a problem child!! I had 2 children but one knee has been enough at this point in time.....
Thanks Jenny!:-)))) It's all useful information:-))))
Very true! While I tend to be a 'what if' person as a sort of insurance policy, I think the truth is, I still don't think the worst will happen to me, so it's a shock if it does!
Yes, it's very different to childbirth, isn't it Cynthia. But then with arthritis we've had the pain for so many years, so that aspect gives it the 'worth'. But then it's easier for me to say that because I've had a straightforward easy recovery!!!! I do hope yours feels better soon!!!!
Hi Chris -- you are very lucky person to have a high pain threshold. Yes, I think people with high pain threshold can fo more and get heal faster. J22370
I thought I had a high pain threshold and when I woke up from surgery was pleasant lay surprised that I felt very little pain. I had a three hour drive home and that first night when I got in bed wow...so painful. It went away with ice and that was it until I started PT.
I was determined that I would get that bend and not mess around. I pushed it so hard one day and when I got through and started to walk something caught and the pain was searing. I was almost hysterical, unlike me, until it went away. Then I was so fearful of pushing that far again that I slowed my progress bending the knee.
I'm at 11 weeks and still have trouble with the heel slides, it's all fear of that pain. I've resigned myself that if I have Mua so be it.
So. Yes and no. I was happy there wasn't as much pain as I thought but still need to overcome my thoughts and fears. So unlike me. I'm still on Tramadol and went off that. I feel a little jealous when I start comparing so that's another mind war. It's a tough surgery no doubt.
I think it helps not to fear pain, too J. So we go into it more optimistic. Having said that, the pain was obviously bad enough to want knee replacements LOL!