TKR minus 4 weeks......

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Good morning everyone, hope you are all well and warm.

4 weeks from today I will be in Hospital, having the Naughty Knee removed and replaced with a shiny new one!!

Its been a busy week this week, bedroom rearranged to accommodate crutches, bedside chest put on my side of the bed, Arnica C200 and Arnica massage Balm ordered and received, long-handled grab-stick also purchased (I think I'll be a dab hand with this cheesygrin wink Lap tray being delivered today, rucksack and over-body bag sorted for carrying stuff round when I come home from hospital, pedal exerciser ordered from Amazon, all measurements taken of furniture and bath/toilet ready for Occupational Health at my pre-op on Feb 23rd. A few little bits and bobs still to get with the next grocery shop, and I still have to go nightdress shopping, but other than that, I think Im pretty much done.......please let me know if theres anything you have used (or could have used but didnt have), I'm always interested to hear how others have coped with their experiences.

Hubs and I are meeting a friend tonight, who has been through several knee replacements, (he started having his done REALLY young) so Im sure he'll have plenty of advice for me......he calls a spade a spade, so I'm sure there will be some brutally honest tales to be told eek .....

Hubs had to see his GP yesterday for a Blood Pressure review, and has had to have his medication increased: he asked her if worry about my forthcoming op could be responsible for the rise (err, duh!) 

obviously she said yes, but she also asked if he'd got help for when I come out of hospital - I think thats helped in 2 ways - 1) At least I know that if things get REALLY bad, I can ask for outside help, and 2) I think its made him realise this is A REALLY BIG THING if the NHS is offering help! 

I also saw my GP for a pain management review yesterday, and I've had to stop taking Tramadol, as the side effects I was having are an allergic reaction....I hope that doesnt mean that I wont be able to tolerate Morphine should I need it immediately post-op....

So all in all, Im feeling organised, calm and collected, and thats the frame of mind I need to keep for the next 4 weeks and then beyond into recovery.I'm concentrating on my pre-op exercises, and eating healthily to give myself the best chance possible. If I cound just nail the sleep, then everything would be sorted....

Onward and upward, hope everyone has a lovely weekend xx

 

2

Well, haven't you been busy! I think you should be very pleased with yourself and all you have achieved. Good new too about your husband realising how big an operation but obviously bad news about his blood pressure. 

Think of you!

Gill X

3

Good grief Terri, you seem to have thought about everything bar the kitchen sink!

I'm not sure about the morphine (post op), that definitely wasn't even remotely considered in my case when I was in pain post op.  It may be just dependant upon the hospital.  It does seem to vary throughout the country.

One thing I found, was that my settee and chairs were quite low to the floor, and getting from a sitting to a standing position, was at times quite a struggle, even with the aid of sticks (they show you how to do that before you leave hospital).  If I had considered it prior to my operation, I think I would have raised it up by using some blocks of wood or even bricks.  It would have made things a lot easier.  But hindsight is a wonderful thng eh?

Good luck with the operation, hope all goes well....Will you be writing a blog about it, like I did?...hahaha....it would be interesting to see another persons day by day account of everything that happens.

 

4

You sound to be really organised! You'll probably find that you are up and about quicker than you expect! The only thing I can think about that you haven't mentionned are everyday clothes that don't crease too much! I thought that trousers would be better for exercising in, I found a skirt was better when they wanted to examine my knee, put ice on it and measure ROM.

 

5

Hi Terri, they have got lots of good drugs for you. I was not great on Tramadol and they put me on Oxycodone instead and that one seemed to be ok and I was on Paracetamol Forte to see me through the physio which has codeine in it. It would be a help if you can get some muscle strengthening  exercises for your leg  before your operation if the old knee does not restrict you too much, as that would make it easier after the op when the exercises start in ernest. I went to the spare bedroom for 6 weeks after the op as there was no point in both of us loosing sleep when the wife had to get up in the morning. 

Good Luck, Paul. 

6

Thanks Polly, I hadnt given that a thought to be honest, other than for  my pre-op, and they recommend a skirt - Im mainly a leggings/jeans/lounge pants type of gal, unless im in my PJ's! The only time I wear skirty things is in the Summer when I live in Maxi dresses - looks like Ill be wearing a summer frock with a fleece when I have to go for appointments! 

And thats exactly what I mean, something so obvious, Id not considered it. Many thanks xx

7

Hiya Paul, thanks for your reply. 

Ive got a set of strengthening exercses, specifically targeting the leg muscles, which Im going to discuss with the Physio to see if theres anything else I should or could be doing - Im hoping to continue them on my "good" leg, so that the inevitable TKR on that one can be postponed for a significant time. 

I have a back-up bedroom, althought the main bedroom is properly set-up so hubs may find himslef relocated lol! 

8

Haha you should see my packing list when I go on holiday!!

With regard to the chairs, Occ Health have asked me to take the floor to cushion top measurements, so I wonder if they are planning on providing some kind of riser for the seat? If not, then blocks would be a great idea, as the seat is really low - Id be like an upturned turtle trying to get up! 

I like the idea of a blog, yours is very informative and honest. Ive always fancied doing a bit of writing, maybe this is the time to dip my toe (gently, of course!) 

Thanks for your kind wishes. 

9

hahaha.....I think you can create a website pretty much like mine for free...I think there's a link on mine...for that particular company I use, but of course there's a myriad of others free ones out there.

Your upturned turtle description is exacly how I felt on my sofa....and when you're in a dressing gown and nothing else, It's not a pretty sight...trust me!

if I were you....my hinsight in overdrive now....I'd ask about the chair raising prior to the operation.  Believe me you won't regret having it raised.

 

10

You are organised Terri!   I never used the grabber at all.  I found a long handled shoe horn invaluable, and still do.  I wear trainers and track bottoms, also leggings as a rule but mainly in track bottoms as easy to hike up when icing etc.  I only used raised toilet seat for a week so it ain't absolutely necessary for me.   I have a very high bed but still never had any problems.  In hospital I did wear a skirt as it as easier for first few days and then track bottoms.  You do need something to prop your leg on if you sit in a chair, I  inprovised by using a small table and put pillow on that.  I think a body pillow is a god idea for bedtime too.  Nfortunat about a month I actually slept on the sofa as I wasn't comfortable in bed at all.   I needed to be restricted in moving so found this more comfortable.  I need ipad, kindle etc, water and pain meds with me for the nights when I couldn't sleep.  I hope this helps.   Good luck!

11

haha..Funny you should say that about the grabber thing...I didn't use mine, even once....and as for the shoe horn....didn't use that either, because my foot was swollen for a very long time (six monthish), so I didn't wear 'proper' shoes and had to make do with magnetic fastening sandals.

12

Make sure you have a couple (4 for me) of reusable ice paCks on hand. I use 2 at a time, one for the back of knee and one on the front. Works wonders!

13

I found i couldn't bear anything touching my knee for long at first, so tights and jeans were out and I looked like a bag lady with a skirt and ankle socks!

Never offered morphine, just paracetamol and lots of codeine.