I tried going Christmas shopping and made it too 2 stores and the pain set in I had to go out and sit in my car. Will this get better and when. I go see my doctor on the 20th for my 4 month check up. I wish I never had this surgery.
You arent the 1st one to sing this woeful lament.
My guess....you tried to run before you could walk and you are paying the price. Christmas may be a trimmed down version tho dc year.
Get back on pain meds including an anti inflammatotory on a regular basis. Hydrate like you have never hydrated before. Plenty of plain old water. A stringy, dry soft tissue is not going to be pain free like a hydrated one. Rest...........and that means sit down with a book or TV program and relax. Ice like you've never over befor. Its your best friend. When you have a chance to tAke a nap.......do it. Forget the Christmas shopping. Your wealth exceeding is so much more important. Again, only a guess......you have tied your recovery to someone else's expectations. This sirgery is the most brutal physical / mental exercise you will go through and everyone is different in every aspect. Dr's use that goofy 6 week timetable and people get very disappointed and depressed when it doesn't happen. You may have been bored more than once with my story but I've had 11 surgeries and 5 Complete rehabs as well as 30 rounds of radiation......every single time has been different. I've had staph infections, had to have my pros 26th esis taken out for a4 month stretch and enough antibiotic infusions to flat a battleship. I'm primary caregiver to a spouse with advance Parkinson's and she fell and broke a chip in August resulting in a partial hip p replacement.
It just isn't easy but if you think it through......quit taking short cuts and let , dont try and make the healing happen it will. If depression or pain are issues...talk to your primary care dr, they are better at coming up with solutions than are surgeons.
Take a deep breath, start all over again, do it the right way and you'll be fine. Stay with this group.....lots of great advice and encouragement plus an occasional kick in the pants when needed.
Don't expect too much too soon. I cannot as yet even think of shopping in large stores except with help. I use a wheelchair for large store shopping and for local shopping I drive and get fresh items with the help of a trolley.
I am still using one crutch.
I am 14 weeks, you sound just like me exactly!!
It normally will get better if there is still heat in the knee, hot baths and icing will help
Good healing
- At 3+ months you are still early in your recovery. As OFG1 said, take your meds. You still have a long way to go.
- It's not a matter of stores...its a matter of STEPS. Too many and you pay the price. Keep track with a FitBit (nice Christmas present) or pedometer. Find your pain point , back off and increase gradually.
- "When" is not a time anyone can predict. Everyone heals at their own pace. First ROM (PT) then strength training (gym). You can't cut this short and then get angry about it. The whole thing can take a year.
- This Christmas, there is only one word to keep in mind...AMAZON!!!
Hello Shari and everyone, I had a Total knee replacement 5 weeks tomorrow and the pain I have is not nice, like you i cant go shopping and i do sleep alot in the day . My knee feels very heavy and my ankles and around the knee is sore and still very swollening cant put shoes on, hope this does get better as i am not having the other one done thanks for listen
ing xx
Also, this may be helpful...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
Perhaps a neoprene knee compression sleeve...it is specifically made to cradle to patella, knee cap. One should be available from the pharmacy. you will need to measure the circumference of your knee in order to determine the correct size.
It is best to elevate your knee above your heart while placing a frozen gel ice pack beneath the knee as well as on top of the knee for an hour while you read, telly, chat, knit or whatever.
Then extend your leg straight up and hold it up for 30 seconds. Now slip the sleeve on. Be sure to properly allow the sleeve to cradle your patella, the knee cap. Flex your knee a couple of times to ensure that your patella is able to properly glide without impingment.
In about another hour you should have much less discomfort and pain. You may sleep in the sleeve. You may walk in the sleeve.
You will be pleasantly surprised at how much easier walking and range of motion exercises will become because the swelling will come way down.
Hello Everybody - came back to this group a couple days ago as I went through TKR last Wednesday and came out of hospital on Friday. The group was so helpful two years ago when I had my first TKR and thought it might be useful to re-visit for inspiration and advice. It is so good to know that other people are experiencing the same problems. The very best advice I found was from Oldfatguy1! Such common sense - especially about relaxing with your body and not having too high expectations. Although my second TKR took place less than a week ago, I realise that I have a lot less pain than I had with my first TKR. Whether this is because the first knee replacement took place on a joint which was more severely affected, I do not know. I had struggled with the pain for about nine years before I had my first knee replacement whereas this second replacement has taken place after only approximately five years' pain. Co-incidentally, I also care for my husband who has Parkinson's Disease, although not in such an advanced stage and he is able to 'look after' me and give me support when necessary. I also have grown up children who live close and good friends and neighbours so I am in a very fortunate position. You might find it useful to keep a diary recording what you are able to do now and whenever there is any improvement, ie being able to walk further, or take less painkillers. I did this last time, not on a daily basis, but perhaps two or three times a week and I have found this particularly interesting to look back on and realise how much less painful I am finding the recovery the second time around. Best of luck with everything - you will definitely recover at your own rate - just do not get disheartened when it does not happen according to a 'timetable'.
Just what I needed to hear again. It's so hard to stay positive when everything seems to be against you. I'm learning from the same mistakes over and over and over. Feel like a slug when I stay in bed, get bored, go out, have pain, come home, ice, get back in bed...
thanks for reminding me bc there's no cheerleaders when you're doing this virtually alone
Hi Dorothy, I am at 7 weeks post op & am relating to what others are saying. Like you I need to have the other one done & am glad to read about someone who has just had 2nd op. I insisted at 2 weeks I wasn't going to go through this again but it is easing & after reading your post am deffo getting it done, but am thinking of a couple of years down the line. Thanks for sharing with us & good luck.
Hello Marilyn - so glad that you found my comments helpful. I think that after one year you will be ready to go ahead with your second one. Although I knew that I had arthritis in my right knee at the time of my first operation, the surgeon indicated that it was not ready for replacement but that he would 'keep an eye on it'. I had a further x-ray in February this year which did show that the knee had deteriorated but that it was still not ready for replacement. This surprised me at the time as I thought it was ready for replacement. However, at the second x-ray in August, the knee had deteriorated to the point where the surgeon said that it was ready for replacement and I was put on the list. It just shows how quickly the deterioration can progress. Hope the rest of your recovery begins to speed up and that you are walking well next year.
i agree. I am 9 months post op and feel really depleted of energy. I get to a shop and have to leave because I'm so tired The pain kicks in of a night and I'm padding round watiting for it to subside. Im exhaused from lack of proper sleep. That's no way to live is it?
I feel theyve turned me into a cripple.
I know - its awful going through it on your own, nobody understands the upset and pain we have to go through.
My family were under th impression that i would be better in six weeks.
Its caused an awful lot of stress because they think Im putting it on.
Have your family read Chico comments it a long slog to recover.
Good healing
I've said it many times.......friends and family can be your biggest allies BUT.....they can also be The biggest pains in the a** going. It comes to a point you have to lay it on the line that all the imaginary quick healing stories are generally just that. They need to understand the gravity of the surgery I explain it this way....
You've had you leg cut into, muscles, nerves, ligaments & tendonds severed. Bones chiseled into and holes drilled. A 4 lb hunk of foreign material cemented and glued in place, then everything sewed back together. The next day you are dragged out of bed and told to use that swollen, useless mass. Sometimes it's helpful to be a little graphic with your description.
well said...
we are all right here for you...just think, you do not have live today ever again....
Perhaps a neoprene knee compression sleeve...it is specifically made to cradle to patella, knee cap. One should be available from the pharmacy. you will need to measure the circumference of your knee in order to determine the correct size.
It is best to elevate your knee above your heart while placing a frozen gel ice pack beneath the knee as well as on top of the knee for an hour while you read, telly, chat, knit or whatever.
Then extend your leg straight up and hold it up for 30 seconds. Now slip the sleeve on. Be sure to properly allow the sleeve to cradle your patella, the knee cap. Flex your knee a couple of times to ensure that your patella is able to properly glide without impingment.
In about another hour you should have much less discomfort and pain. You may sleep in the sleeve. You may walk in the sleeve.
You will be pleasantly surprised at how much easier walking and range of motion exercises will become because the swelling will come way down.