I'm having my tar on October 20 feeling really nervous and I'm trying to get as much information as possible as to what might be helpful I have a a lot of health issues but I'm at the point of no return that ave know choice so any advice would be helpful
Hi Angie.... I would amagine if your dr. Is ok with you getting a tkr.that hopefully you are well enough to endure the procedure.If you are able to get some physical therapy to strenghten you muscles on the knee your having a replacement for it will definately be a plus in after recovery.Try to stay positive.It is a bit ruff the first couple of weeks...dont want to paint a pretty picture but at the same time ..thinking about the hopeful painfree or close to it ,makes it worth the process.You will need to push yourself to want to do pt but be honest with yourself about what you can handle and take one day at a time.Definately take your pain meds.regularly for at the beginning you will......need them.then take one day at a time.eveyone recovers different but you will get thru it and hopefully look back at it as a positive thing for your future.all the best.you can do it.
Hi Angie
I had tkr on 21 sept I am reasonably active and go on my exercise bike everyday in order 2 get blood flow , movement in my knee you will be in pain but it is bearable take your medication on regular intervals, making sure u take them at night use ice packs EVery 2 hrs this will also help with the pain and do your exercises regularly this is critical in order 2 stop scar tissue build up , I found that it is more beneficial to do your movement exercises rather than walking keep focused and eat regularly if you need 2 take some laxative do it don't come off your painkillers ( like I did after 1st week ) this sets u back because pain will prevent you from doing your exercises , you will have good days and bad days im on day 17 and back on my exercise bike doing steady progress nearly have full range of movement, stretching very important so you won't have a limp sorry sound like a preacher 🙈🙈 don't go out of your comfort zone I have got a large circle of friends which all want 2 c me (golf club ) but it's really tireing socialising u need rest 4 your body 2 recover ,
Good luck and stay positive this time next year it will b a distant memory 😀😀😀💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼😁
Rob
Don't spend to much time researching it on the internet Ang. I found what you see or read is always worse than it is. You will just make yourself more nervous. Hope all goes well.
Try to work on strengthening your quads and gr8 them in as good of shape as possible. You can ask your hospital ortho dept and they probably have some instructions sheets. Make sure you have a riser for your toilet. I had one sent home with me from the hospital but that isn't always the case. Mine is the type that can convert to a shower/bath chair. I ordered one of the largest gel pack ice pack that amazon carries. (11" x17" I believe. They refreeze quickly and can mold around the knee. Start hydrating asap. Dehydration is a real enemy to the system and slows down the healing process. Make sure you have a support group handy. Friends and family can be a tremendous help but DON'T get carried away with stories of miraculous healing. One of the most damaging things to the psychic is that " I know a guy who knows a guy who is friends with a guys 2nd cousin that was back on the golf course 2 days after he got home from the hospital". That stuff is BS and never happened. Accept help......it doesn't make you weak......just smart. Take pain meds as scheduled no when the pain hits. You can't play catch up successfully. Outside of that, try not to get overwhelmed with too much info too soon. This is a process and is very much akin to fingerprints. Everyone has them and yet Everyone is different. The beauty of this forum........you are talking to people who have been through it.......not medical people. The discussions on here will cover everything imaginable from the physical to the emotional side. For example, my situation was caused by a very rare tumor instead of the normal wear and tear of
arthritis. I have had 11 surgeries and 5 complete rehabs and the only thing I have in common with others is the actual surgery itself because my tumor can't be eradicated. I have a friend at church that desperately needs a bi lateral(both knees) and won't get it done because of me. I keep telling him he's nuts to go on suffering because we have a completely unrelated basis for having the surgery.
I guess the best thing is pick and choose the info that best suits your situation and don't start trying to carry the weight of eveyone else's situation. In 4-6 weeks you will no longer be asking for advice but trying to offer help to others.
From this point on try and relax. Remember that you are now in a world wide fraternity. You will soon realize protocols differ, sometimes drastically, depending on your position globally. Patience and sense of humor will help see you through. Good luck and taking the liberty to speak for others, welcome to our own little slice of heaven.
Hi Angie.
Your in the right place for advice this site is very helpful in my experience take your medication as prescribed dont try to rush anything try and eat the right food's some tablets make you constipated as i found out not good and take any help you can get its quite a long process so good luck and take care.
Here ya go...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/trouble-sleeping-post-tkr--539591
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/zero-degrees--517809
Finally...you need a sense of humor...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/two-guys-with-canes-limp-into-a-bar--534980
Hi, Angie,
such great advise here for you. #1: excercise to build up quad strength and regain some flexibility is very helpful even before surgery. #2: once you awake from surgery -that arthritis pain ( if you had that) is GONE! You now get the new pain of recovery. It is a tough go but worth it if all goes without problems. 3: manage your pain. #4: elevate, ice, elevate, ice. #5: get your rest when and however you can. The first couple months can be challenging and frustrating. #6: hard to get your caregivers to understand what your going through. Maybe get them to read some of these blogs to know you're not just being a " cry baby". I wish I had found this group prior to my two knee surgeries but it wasn't until I got to the point of depression that I searched it out. Great group! So go forward with a positive attitude. I'm two years l-PKR and eight months post R-tkr and I honestly don't remember how bad the pain was. This too shall pass. And as OFG ( initials) says healing is a marathon not a sprint and we each must run our own race.
best of luck and live to you.
Thank you I actually smiled I appreciate the advice once I can get the first rehab I will do the other knee I will keep you posted best of luck to you!!!
you are right thanks a lot
I'm doing my best I'm glad I found a great group that understands
Thanks I will keep you posted
Great advice I'm glad I found a place to share the good and the bad and hopefully I can be a blessing to someone else