January 3rd TKR. How are you Molly and anyone else with a new tkr?

[Mitidai]

I had my left knee tkr January 3rd.   Although it wasn't easy it hasn't been as bad as I
thought.  They've got me on pain medication so I sleep a lot.  I'm walking with a cane
and start out patient physical therapy tomorrow.   I was released from the hospital
Friday.  I'm 50 and my os said my knee was worse then he thought.  "He said, "No
wonder you've been in so much pain".  I told him I've tried to tell him that for a year
now.  Anyway, now he certainly believes me.  Up to this point I'm very happy I
went through with it.  Tuesday and Wed. were kind of tough but each day is getting
better. 

Molly, how did yours go?  Anyone else too with a recent tkr it would be nice to
keep each other updated and support each other through our recovery.

Take care
JAN

[mollyCT]

Hi Jan and all,
My first time up to the computer.  I should get my son's laptop tonight which will be alot easier.  I've been dying to get to the computer and wondering about you Jan.  I don't think I'll last here too long and will write later.  I came home yesterday, I had a bad week and wanted to go somewhere for 3-5 days so I could at least get to the toilet myself.  My insurance covers this. I feel it would have been appropriate for me and my family.  Anyway, going forward... I didn't make it to the commode two times from my bed and the second time soaked my incision.  I called the answering service and a covering doc said it was OK cause urine is sterile. I had a covering Home care nurse and PT today.  The PT said I was very swollen about to burst.  My numbers were 60 and -15.  Gotta ly down but I'll be back on the laptop asap.
Thanks

[rozzzie]

Jan and Molly, Good to hear from both of you!

The first week or so can be really rough; hang in there   it will get better.  I’m about 4 weeks ahead of you, and every day is better than the last. 

Jan,  Why is it that Drs as a whole seem to think we are exaggerating our pain levels??   Take your pain pill about 1 hour before PT, and work hard; it’s a magic key to recovery.

Molly,  Don’t get discouraged, things will get better faster than you think at this time.  Your ROM is good for 5 days post-op.  Remember Elevation and Ice Many times a day.  I think at first I spent hours and hours with ice and my foot above my head.

Sending HUGs and Good Wishes for a speedy recovery.

Rozzzie

[mollyCT]

Thanks for the encouragment.  I know it will be hard and I'm ready for it.  Today the PT I'll be working with came and I like her.  She's been doing this for a while and seems very competent.  She's coming back on Weds and Fri.  I have lots of 'homework' and she was very motivating.  The ice felt good at the end.  A home health aide will come on Weds to help me with my first shower. 

Jan, your staples are in till Friday?  Mine came out on post op day #3.  I didn't count them.  I just have steri strips now.  I'm hoping I don't have a urinary infection.  Gotta make some calls.  I've had chills since Sat.

Froggy's journal was good to read.  Jan, there are a few sites we're both posting on.  Got any ideas?

[Mitidai]

Hi Molly and Froggy,

I think this is a good site right here to keep in contact.

Friday morning at 8:15 I get rid of these staples.  Molly, you're lucky yours are gone.  They pull a lot.  I guess all these doctors do things
differently don't they? 

I started my pt today and it was tough but I think they'll move
me right along.  I came home and took a nap.

Froggy, how long was it until you could drive?  My husband goes back
to work next week so I hope they'll at least let me drive to pt.
I'm sure all the doctor's are different on that too.  They set a date
of possibly my going back to work at February 13th.  I know I
won't be ready anytime before that.  I'ts just not worth pushing
oneself and getting back to work and then having to be off again.

Keep in touch and I hope you are both doing well.  Froggy, your
posts are really helpful for myself and I'm sure Molly too.  We can
see how we might be doing in four weeks.  It's very encouraging.

JAN

[Mitidai]

Molly,

I've had chills since I got out of the hospital Friday.  I just can't get
warm.  You say you've had them too.  I wonder if it's from sitting and being inactive or the shock of surgery?

JAN

[Teresa_S]

Please notify the surgeon of chills, especially if you have fever,drainage from the incision site, or redness, and extreme swelling at the knee. I believe you said you had lots of swelling, this can be indicative of infection. Would not hurt to make sure none exists. Please call the OS. Teresa

[mollyCT]

Good morning,
The chills, swelling, heat, redness and pain med not working any more were just too much.  When my husband got home Monday night, I called the OS office.  The covering doc said to go to the ER sooner rather than later to get checked out.  So when I got there I had the following which were all OK:  urine culture, bld cultures, bld work, x-rays of my knee, ultrasound/doppler of my leg to rule out a blood clot.

They admitted me about 2am to the floor and the plan was to keep me NPO for ? surgery. My OS was going to see me in the am when he came in before a day of surgery.  However, I didn't see him until 4:30pm when he came up to the floor.  The resident said the possibilities were to have the wound open, flushed really well and the lining changed or to come in for some IV antibiotics, have some fluid withdrawn from the wound and cultured. I was very apprehensive about having the wound opened and staring all over again. I was started on IV antibiotics. I had a restless night with no sleep.

In the afternoon my OS's APRN came in and looked. She was encouraging and thought it would not be reopened. After a couple doses of the antibiotic, the redness had gotten much lighter and the swelling went down.  The IV pain med helped alot.  While I was there I had a session with the inpatient PT.

At 4:30pm, the OS said it's OK, everything is negative do you want to go home today or tomorrow?  I wanted to go home to sleep on my latex mattress with my husband and we left about 9pm.

Better to be sure than sorry.  My homecare referral had to be redone because of the admission. So the PT coming at 9am and the home health aide coming at 1pm to help me with my first shower today were cancelled.  They'll have to be rescheduled.

I have to go focus on my bowels since I have'nt really gone in the 1 week post op. I've got to go lie down. PS, the diagnosis was ?cellulitis
Be in touch later.
One week marker passed Jan, congratulations.

[rozzzie]

Molly,  I’m so glad you had that checked out.  Cellulites could have been quite serious.  I’m really glad that things are looking better. Are you still taking antibiotics?  I had cellulites just before I was scheduled for a TKR in’04,  ended up on IV antibiotics for 6 weeks,  the cellulites was over my fused ankle and my GP (who is also an ID (infectious disease Dr.)) did not want to take any chances since it was progressing quite quickly.

How’s your pain level now that the infection and swelling are doing better?  Hope you’re more comfortable.  Boy that was a bummer that you have to reschedule the PT and home health.  When are you supposed to go out for outpatient PT?

Good luck.  If you see ANY redness around the wound again, please call ASAP.

HUGs

Rozzzie

[Mitidai]

Molly,

Sorry to hear about your setback.  At least you got to the er and
stopped it before it got serious.  I had chills for a couple of days after
coming home, now they are gone.  I see my os Friday for staple removal.  Can't wait to get rid of them.

I went to pt today and they really worked me.  I can't get over
how much I sleep I need, especially after pt.

Hope you start feeling better.  I'm glad to hear they didn't reopen
your incision.  That would be awful. 

Rozzie, How long before they let you drive?  I'm hoping soon as
my husband goes back to work tomorrow and getting rides to pt
is going to be a pain, because of everyone working.

Take care,
JAN

[mollyCT]

Thank you for your responses.  I had a total of 3 doses of IV antibiotic during my over night stay. I was discharged on no antibiotics.  Everything was negative, cultures and doppler.  My OS does not see it as an infection.  They admitted me as a precautionary step.  When OS saw me after everything was done, he told me, you're going to have swelling and redness and pain. I did not have a documented temp and also there was no drainage.  The chills were not fun. The swelling and redness are much better.  It still hurts.

My home PT is for 2 or 3 weeks and then PT will say what's next.  The book from OS before the surgery says I can't drive until 6 week post op visit and clearance.

I'm still trying to get to the bathroom on time so haven't focused beyond that point.  Still waiting for my new home health aide and PT appointment.  I purchased some light housekeeping services from the home care agency to clean up the place here.  It's amazing how dusty everything gets when Mom is recovering.

The staples out will be great for you Jan.

Time to elevate my leg.  My best to you.

[froggy]

Hello everybody,


Glad to hear from you.  Hang on it will get better.  I think it takes about 4 weeks to feel a difference and you will have ups and downs.

to answer your question on driving . I drove during the fourth week of my operation BUT my car is automatic so I did not have to use my leg.. it felt great though because I was getting my independance back. I went back to work 6 weeks later but I have a desk job and I did short days for 2/3 weeks as I was very tired and I had to go to physio.

How are you doing on physio?

Good luck Froggy   

[Mitidai]

Hi everybody,

Tomorrow I'm two weeks post surgery.  I can't believe how worn
out I get.  I do have to say every day is getting better with walking
though.  It feels different where I got my new knee, like if I bend
it to far I can feel something in there, like it's crowded.  Maybe that's
because so much of it was gone (deteriorated)  before with arthritis I don't know. It's just wierd feeling.

My doctor did say I could drive at four weeks.  So that isn't too bad.
He said it's more of a liability issue should I get in an accident, they
could say I didin't have control of my car because of the knee.

Physical therapy is going well.  They do push me but that is good.
I go at 1:30 today for an hour and I'm sure I'll need a nap when
I get home.  It is just good to even get out for that.

How are you doing Molly?

JAN

[Mitidai]

I asked my physical therapist about the wierd crowded feeling in my
new knee.  She said it's because it's foreign to my body right now.  She told me this feeling is common and it takes about three months
for your body to get used to it and it becomes "your knee".

JAN

[indian_mom]

hi there!

firstly congrats that u have got ur tkr and u are going gr8. i had a tkr on my left leg on the 6th jan. i am having horrible pain throughout my leg right from thighs till the ankles. dono y. i am 62. got a smith-nephew in me. undergoing physical therapy.but still i am not able to stand up on my legs leave alone taking a few steps. 

i posted a msg in this regard last nite. i didnt get any reply from anyone in this regard.

i wanted to know whether this thing happens with others or need  hit the panic button.

dono what to do.

i have had a gastric ulcer recently so i cant take heavy pain killers or NSAIDs. i dono what to do, though i have not stopped my physical therapy, i am so worried about me getting back to normal life or walking a few steps at a time.

please enlighten me, am i going wrong with anything anywhere??