Well soon I will be joining the post-op TKR club!! Any last minute tips or tricks anyone wants to share would be most appreciated. I have been reading through as many pages here as I can and trying not to feel overwhelmed and panicky...a challenge for sure as there is an endless amount of incredibly helpful info to absorb! I can't thank all of you enough for sharing your wisdom and support with all of us newbies. This group is amazing and I am so thankful I found you! Wish me luck!
Linda
How exciting! My tip would be deep breathing...full lung breath...taking in plenty of air and use breathing to RELAX! And pray, if this is something in accordance with your own belief system!
now is the time for trust!☺
Meant to add where are you based? UK or elsewhere? Helpful to know as management varies and interesting too! Mind you, it varies from hospital to hospital too!
Hi Jenny, I am in SW Florida where it soooooo hot, humid and rainy. I'm having mine done in a same day surgery center of which my doctor is a co-founder and medical director. It's a very impressive facility. While not mainstream yet, more and more patients which meet specific criteria (like me) are now able to go directly home after these types of surgeries. Not to say my husband and I aren't nervous, especially about pain control. I think we have all our "ducks in a row" best we can for now and whatever comes up we will deal with it. I also have a visiting nurse (starting tomorrow) plus at home PT for a week to 10 days. Then 4 weeks of o/p PT 3x/week. At 61, I have a lot of life to live yet and can't wait to get back to the activites I love!
Wow! That will be good to be at home! You won't need to listen to other patients struggling with constipation effects! 😀😁😃😂 oh, I shouldn't laugh, but no joke!
Best wishes to your new servant....oh, I mean your husband! 😀
LOL!! I've got my supply of constipation relievers ready for action! And my hubbie is a really experienced caretaker as I've put him through a tummy tuck I needed due to a large weight loss, carpal tunnel surgeries x2 and various other procedures!
Be patient, take your pain Meds, ice, ice, ice and do everything in PT. My surgery was the first of May and I'm just beginning to turn the corner. Best of luck.
Go for a spinal block with sedation rather than a general anaesthetic , better all round and recovery from surgery is much better .
Hi Linda Sue?
There are many more experienced folks on here to offer you wisdom and advice than me. I'm only 3 weeks out from a partial and I'm in Louisville, Ky and on the same post op schedule as you will be. Today was my 2nd day of out patient physical therapy. Take it one day at a time. I'm learning this the hard way because patience is not a virtue of mine, but I did not realize how hard this surgery is on the body, mind etc. It sounds like you have a good support in your husband! That's a plus. I wish you all the best with your surgery! Keep us posted on how you are doing!
Hi Rudonna...Thank you so much for your advice and good thoughts. I'm so happy to have you as a support buddy! Like you, learning to have patience is going to be huge for me. Not that is ever a good time to have surgery, but right now there is so much "going on" in many areas of my life and I can't imagine my mind as well as my body having to slow down. I guess I will find out very soon! I wish you the best with your healing process and will be looking for your updates as well!
Thanks for your great advice and good thoughts Judith. We have one of those ice machines so we are ready to go! I wish you the best of luck with your continued healing and hope to hear from you again.
Thanks David...good to know.
Hi LindaSue
I'm in Denver Colorado. My advice are to be faithful to your PT, ice and elevate as much as you needed, exercise 3x a day, lots of pain meds, and the ones your taking. Make sure you take pain meds one hour before PT. I'm 14 weeks out and I've been doing great. Good luck tomorrow and let us know how you're doing!
Hi Mona, Thank you so much for your advice and support....it makes me feel so much better to know I have friends "out there" to help me get through this enormous journey. I will definitely report in with how I'm doing. Best of wishes to you for your continued healing. Please stay in touch! Linda
The numbing med they inject post op can wear off and pain can escalate quickly. Ask when to expect urs to wear off. Regular meds initially, taperoff later. Every doc is different. I used the cpm first night-all night-and not in the day but i liked the order to rest first 2 days then i started on my floor bike peddler and other exercises starting day 3. I do did them all and u get a ton of swelling after. So i found out do 2 of them, ice 20 min,rest. Next hour- do 2 more kinds of exercises, ice 20min, rest. Etc.
Basically you exercise and rest all day (what else!)
I used cpm x3wks. Walker 3 weeks (never needed a cane) and was driving week 4.
Stay hydrated to help prevent constipation and urinary tract infection.
Elevation ALWAYS except when walking on it.
Expect more swelling, which increses pain, after activity and reduced range of motion after because the swelling limits range.
Patience! Lots n lots of patience!!!
I am bilateral pkr Nov 16th. And an May 10th left knee arthroscopy.
I just built a 12x20 ft porch onto the back of my house. It took two weeks AND i have a full time job.
Have faith (Gods a big deal for me), believe in yourself and the process. Bone remodeling takes time and it cant be rushed.
Good luck. Sounds like you've done your homework.
Ps. Its ok to scream and cry and ride the emotional rollercoater from lack of sleep. It will pass...
Yes...see picture...
Fabulous advice AuntEG...thank you so much! I was told the nerve block wears off between 12 and 18 hours and of course everyone is different. Being I will be at home, believe me I asked about my options for controlling the pain! I bet your porch is wonderful...enjoy using it and thanks again!
Hahaha Chico!! Thanks for the much needed laugh! and invaluable info. I have read your links through and through...this warrior is ready (I think!)
Remember...no expectations...and find time to laugh...
Speaking of ice machines - freeze a bunch of medium size bottles of water to use in the machine instead of constantly running for or making ice cubes. We froze about a dozen bottles and rotated them in and out of the machine/freezer, adding water as needed. It really saved us a lot of energy doing it that way. Best wishes for a good recovery. I am just about 1 year post-op and I feel it was definitely a worthwhile investment!