I am in need of a total knee replacement. However, I also just finished nursing school and have a potential job opportunity that is really difficult to pass up. I did not actively seek this - they approached me; I was planning on waiting until after surgery. As I prepare for my final set of interviews I am going to talk to them about the need to have this done and ask them if they would be willing to wait for me to recover enough to come in to the office and begin training on less physical tasks. How long has it taken you all to feel up to being up, moving around and driving following TKR? Of course I realize that one must be done with pain killers and have the ok to drive from MD, but how has your recovery gone? My timing stinks on this however you look at it, but I'm trying to be optimistic and not regret a missed opportunity. Thank you for any assistance you can provide.
Hi Dee, what awful timing! I did my nurse training at 45! And retired at 60 3 years ago. I am now ten weeks post tkr. No one told me exactly how much the op would huuuurttt!!! Omg! But, it doesn't last forever. Everyone recovers differently, but personally I've gone from crying every day for the first 3 weeks and wishing I hadn't had it done, to (now) forgetting to take my stick outside and driving and being able to kneel on the bed. I can't walk for hours on end, and of course my knee aches and still swells. But the arthritis pain has gone, and I'm progressing every single day. I take it you're in US? I hope you have many answers and can come to a good decision, best wishes
Hi, Dee we are all totally different in recovery times. My first TKR last year has taken me a full year to get over and I wouldn't say it's 100% yet. My latest TKR 10 days ago is feeling better than first one. No one can give you a clear and precise recovery time unfortunately. You have to do what's right for you wether that's delaying surgery or delaying your job. Speak to your doctors and you future employers only then can you make a clear informed choice. The one thing I will say is that this operation isn't for Wimps ! It's a hard full time recovery process,needing plenty of rest, exercise, icing and mental agility. I wish you good luck
Dee, first off congratulations on the great job offer. There are a number of things that will go into your recovery time. Age and physical health will be one of those. How bad is your knee right now? Will you be able to do the walking around that's needed for this new job? Let me explain my story. In 2005 I was told the next move for my left knee was a knee replacement. I lived in the USA and my insurance was just running out (I switched jobs and the new one didn't offer it as part of the package). But I knew I was moving to India and had seen TV programs about how much less the cost was there, so maybe... Meanwhile my other knee was nearly just as bad so I just stopped exercising as much (no more jogging and eventually hiking even stopped due to the pain). !n 2013 the pain was becoming greater and greater. So I decided it was time to start seeing a local doctor. The following year I had so much pain I was walking with a limp and causing hip and back pain. I decided to have the surgery in the fall, but knew I needed to get into better physical shape. I started going to a pool and exercising as well as some exercises at home.
I start with this part of the story to tell you it is possible to manage on a bad knee for a long time...I waited 9 years. In retrospect, I wish I hadn't waited that long, but everyone kept telling me I was too young. Finally hitting the magic number of 50 years and no longer being able to walk (I had a horrible limp by now) I decided enough was enough. I had both knees done at the same time, so I don't know if my recovery time would have been greatly impacted or not. After 6 weeks I was able to drive my scooter (110 Cc moped) and managed (with a cane) getting on and off a train in India for a 4 hour trip to Delhi and I was going up and down stairs. There was still considerable swelling. In fact, even a year later I was icing one knee.
There are threads on here from people who are heading back to work and they seem to all be having more swelling and pain after returning to work, more than they anticipated or want to deal with. If you job will allow you to elevate and ice on a regular basis, it will be much easier. Keep us posted on what happens.
Mo
About four years ago had symultaneous, dual TKR (no longer allowed). Checked myself out of the hospital in two days and drove myself home. Was back in action in about a week. Oh, yeah: threw the pain killers out first day home and just used Excederin. Never went to PT and used a leg curl machine to get leg compression. Was snowboarding within two months. I'm now 69.
Anywhere from 4 months to a year. Everyone is different.
Thanks for the response and no kidding about the bad timing! Yes I am in the US. I was a non-traditional student and graduated at age 53. My legs are strong and I have been working hard on my quads. I was suppose to have the surgery earlier this summer but it got postponed and in the meantime this job opportunity arose. I have been putting this surgery off for years while completing my RN degree. I am no longer just bone on bone - the knee is displaced medically and often buckles. I am so frustrated right now but I do appreciate your assistance. Hope you continue to heal!
Thank you for your assistance and helpful information. I realize everyone heals differently and know I was asking a difficult question but I really appreciate you sharing your experience. I have heard a variety of reports from patients regarding their pain level and recovery time, all which play a difficult role in making my own decision - you just never know. Continue to heal well!!
Thank you so much for sharing your story - I appreciate it. My knee is pretty bad and I have also been postponing the surgery. The knee no longer sits properly in the socket, so not only is there pain but also plenty of instability, causing my knee to buckle unexpectedly. This is so frustrating. I have been working hard to strengthen my quads to prepare for the strength I need for recovery, but was not prepared to also have to consider a job option and postponement one more time. I feel that if I do not do this now I would be asking my new employer for time off eventually anyway for the surgery. Either way is not a great way to start a new employment situation. Thank you again for sharing all of that helpful information! Good luck going forward!
Wow that is a pretty incredible experience you had - especially with a double TKR. You are right, theyvery rarely do those anymore, for good reason. I am impressed with your success and hope your good knee health continues! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your response. I know it's a very individual response to this surgery and I appreciate your help.
That's a tough one. First, congratulations on your new career. Either way, if you don't have surgery you will be no good to the employer and no justice to the patients with your health the way it is. After surgery it's still going to be hard for about 3 months. But, the pain will be gone and it I'll just be a slow process. You need your surgery, first and foremost. Talk to the employer, they just might hold the job for you. If not, then it wasn't meant to be. And something else will come up when you're ready. Nurses are and will always be needed. Good luck with everything.
My wife was a psyc nurse in state mental hospitals for 30 years. She was forced to retire because of brain aneurysm surgery and the subsequent short term memory loss. She would always talk about "running the halls"...something you will NOT be able to do right after a TKR. Minimum recovery will be 3 months and many people on this forum report that even that is too soon to return to work...especially for someone in your profession. Everyone will tell you that TKR recovery takes time and patience. Excessive swelling means you've pushed the knee too far and have to back off. Not sure if you want these challenges in a new job. Your decision but please hear what all of us TKRites are telling you...it's painful, it's long and it's probably the most difficult joint rehab on the planet. Choose wisely.
You are one of the few exceptions. A very lucky person.
Look Dee, I don't want to come off sounding like this is no big deal, but do a little research and prep your attitude. They are going to cut your knee open, chisel out the old knee, hammer in a new one. Staple/stitch you up, pack you with pain killers and send you home. Now, you can lie in bed, complain about the pain and keep packing down the meds. But after your sutures are out it's really in your ballpark. In PT they will probably force compress your leg to help get through the scar tissue and get you to compress it yourself (extension less of an issue). This can be existentially painful. I repeat, it will help you a lot if you use a leg curl machine, which your PT may have. Also, just because you are still doing PT, doesn't mean you can't get out and about. The only caveat is if you are heavy.
Amen...
G'day Dee,
I'm in Britain. I had a partial knee replacement (medial compartment, right knee) done last November - my time line was this .... surgery on 6th November three days in hospital post op and learning about my exercises, discharged on 9th Nov, , dressing removed on 19th Nov, returned to hospital for PT assessment on 24th Nov, returned to hospital on 29th Dec for Consultants review, got the OK to drive my car again and returned to work as a bus driver on 26th January. I might add I stayed on crutches from 6th Nov to 29th Dec but in that time I very gently, gradually got my knee working more and more, gently does it ! Saw Consultant again on 29th February 2016 and he pronounced he was happy and doesn't want to see me now until 1st anniversary of surgery (first week Nov 2016).
Have no pain at all from surgery, no pain from arthritis, a general stiffness under knee cap, no swelling although at times it gets a bit puffy so I just elevate and ice as needed. That works. On balance - yeah not a bad job.
By comparison I've healed very well but it was a partial not a full knee job, thing is we all heal differently, in summary - its a balance between doing your PT exercises regularly and doing them well and using your knee/leg and getting it strong.
I paid for private therapy for 8 weeks prior to surgery to strengthen my leg and for about 6 weeks after surgery to get manipulation and to prevent scar tissue forming and inhibiting my recovery.
Good luck, may the force be with you.
John
Scrannel, I think you belong in the world book of records. Having had a bilateral less than two years ago, I know the challenge. There was no way in the world I was checking myself out of the hospital two days in, let alone driving myself home! Very impressive.
Yes, I know that horrible buckling of the knee. It can be a little scary and imobilizing. I hope there is grace with this potential employer and that they want what's best for you. One thing I wasn't ready for was the strain on my stomach muscles. Three months after my knee surgeries, I had an umbilical hernia and had that operated on. The hospital staff were so sweet and excited to see me again...I not so much so. Hehehe. So try to make sure you spend some time strengthening your abs too. Having good core strength will help.