Double Knee Replacement Post-Op Question

[Pamela]

Thanks so much Dee Dee for the information!

[Hulagirl 5-14-12]

Hi all,
Good work Raine, you are doing so well and are so positive in your outlook. And Regina, you are a success story too. About my trip. The plane ride was over 5 hours long and I just made sure that I stood up every 45 minutes or so (my husband would help with some push from behind!) I made sure I had an aisle seat and because I was very sore (too much uptime) I ask the checkin desk if I could board early and they said they would hold up people to give me time. I've never ask before but it was wonderful not having to hurry and feel that I was in the way. So if you think it will be a problem, just ask for extra time. there was no problem with the check in.....one airport had a circular scan machine and just sent me through. The smaller airport did a body check and it was not awful. The cold weather in the mainland seemed to make me ache a little more, or maybe I was doing too much. But everything was good and I am ready for another trip!!!

[Suzycutie]

Bio oil is great---vitamin e oil is what I used and my scars look great!pamela, oil rubbed on your scars help them to heal and not scar so much--also you need to VERY firmly massage along the sides of your incision to break up scar tissue, in order to help with flexibility.. Sounds like the new crop of knees, are doing great!

[Raine]

Joon wrote:

Good grief Kels!
You Mum had a double TKR less than 3 months ago!!! That's a huge hit! Even if she had on one knee replaced,(or even if she broke a bone) it would take longer than 3 months to recover! She is injured! It will hurt, she will have pain, be fatigued, and exercise, and standing will be tedious! So many moving parts have to be altered in a TKR. She should be resting and elevating her knees above her heart,(I do this lying on my back with both legs up the wall). Ice and heat will alternately sooth and reduce swelling. Encourage her to go into the pool with someone, where she will be weightless, and therefore incur less discomfort. She should try walking forward and backward as she feels capable. Once her muscles begin to respond she can do more elaborate exercises, but for the moment she is still on the injured list. It's frustrating, but you can't rush this type of healing! Just keep those new knees moving. All the best. Cheers! Joon

I reread this post every few weeks! Thank you Joon if you're still reading.

[Ricki 9-15-10]

I wish this had a like button as Facebook has. Raine, like. =}

[BabsFL]

Hello to all,
I wrote and posted a long post a few days ago and it went to never never land, not the message board! Crazy! I've been rereading this thread from the beginning and taking notes to prepare for my surgery on Sept. 19th. Cindy, I think we will be in surgery the same day. How are you doing? After a month away, I finally am home now and back to the gym. Meeting with my trainer tomorrow and will ask him to really push me these next couple of weeks. Although I'm concerned that I need to stop using NSAIDS and aspirin two weeks out, and working out does cause a bit of inflammation. Don't want to go into surgery with swelling, so will have to ice a lot and use Tylenol for pain till then.
Donated a unit of blood to bank for myself last week and tomorrow I will donate another unit. Also met with surgeon's staff to ask questions and learned that it is not guaranteed that I will be sent to a rehab facility after the hospital. This is of great concern to me as I can not imagine coming home directly after the hospital. They told me that the Physical Therapist at the hospital will assess how I am doing and then decide. And they said that even if the decision is a yes, that my insurance could decline it. This sounds crazy to me. Shouldn't my surgeon's office have pre-approved the rehab with my insurance when they approved the surgery, or is that something I should be inquiring on myself? It's all quite confusing. Lots to sort out still!
Happy belated birthday to Cindy and Regina! Raine keep up the good work! You have amazed me with all you have done in helping settle your mother into her new home after your surgery, and other activity. Don't be hard on yourself, you've tackled a lot post-surgery, perhaps haven't had the time to rest as much as others who have progressed quicker. I agree with the others who are encouraging you to ice and elevate. I had bunion surgery 14 months ago and learned that ice and elevation made all the difference in healing. And also learned to stay ahead of pain, not to skip a dose of pain meds and tough it out. The pain comes back worse than ever. And even 14 months later I still have days where I feel a twinge in the foot, or get a random sharp pain.(So that has helped to put my upcoming surgery into perspective and help me realize that it will be a year before I feel truly bionic!!) As Ricki has written, I think the nerves "speak out" as they are regenerating many months after surgery. "Healing pains" ... I really like that term and will concentrate on it as I deal with post op pain. BTW, bought some Bio-Oil at my supermarket and am using it on my bunion scar. Does anyone know if works at this late date?
Thanks to all who post here! I know I would not have made this decision to go forward with my surgery without all your contributions here.

[Ricki 9-15-10]

Babs, excellent prep for surgery. Not sure on the rehab and insurance question. My doc said to me that insurance sees two knees as a train wreck so they approve rehab. Funny on the train wreck, we know differently!!! I am guessing you will go to rehab.

[Pamela]

Hey Danny,
Are you out there? When is your surgery? Hope all is going well for you.

[Raine]

Good prep work Babs!
I also don't understand why your surgical practice hasn't made all of the post surgery plans clear and authorized. I would go back to them and insist on a rehab plan. It should be crystal clear. consider renting/ borrowing and ' Iceman' type cooler with the rest of your home equipment too.
I left the rehab unit of the hospital early, it was uncomfortable, the reputed "3 hours of therapy" a day was a far cry fro the occasional visits from PT or OT's, who randomly came by, and working out the pain. Meds was tricky, I was sick, constipated, and every solutions was more pills.. Home felt so good, and my visiting nurses were wonderful and reassuring. I cried when my lovely Betsy came for the last time! And we have plans to reconnect.
I am off the OxyContin 10's. Yes, tossed them out 5 days ago. Using 1 oxycodone daily pre-PT, didn't take it yesterday and ha d a vigorous workout, I may be done with them! taking the max dose of Ibu. 2400 mgs. Daily, with some indigestion.. Ice and elevation stiller really helpful.
BIG news: left leg; 95 degrees plus!! I have finally made the rotation on the gym bike(s)!
also
ALso, called Brittish Air about my upcoming flight to Europe, asking about purchasing a seat with more legroom, on an aisle, etc.. they were great; seated me right through, and my return flights, AND have reserved a wheelchair for me on every leg of the flight.
I said I thought I wouldn't need that's but she insisted I consider it, no waiting in security lines, or long boarding lines, and between gates at Heathrow after 6 hours flight, it might be necessary. excellent!
I 'm turning a corner. still hurt most all f the time; burning, aching, tightness.. But my PT suggests that the bones are healing and the pain should be diminishing around 11 or 12 weeks, anybody else hear or experience this? Hope it's not a rumor.
So onward and upward. As Joon said in her excellent post, this is a major surgery, and the healing is long. Be kind and patient with yourself. we all heal differently, no contest here. the joints are secure and strong, no more arthritis, just healing all around these major joints.
Best to all, thanks for looking out for me, this site has been (continues to be) such a comfort.
Raine

[Ricki 9-15-10]

Ranie, 95 and moving forward, I cant tell you how excited I am for you. The ability to go round and round on the bike is great. Keep up the good work and as you can lower the seat to increase the range of motion. YAY!!! I am so thankful to hear your sunny self back again.=} your PT spoke well when twelve weeks was mentioned as a benchmark along the way. True enough. I knew you could, I knew you could, I knew you could! Hey great!!!!

[Pamela]

That's awesome Raine!!!!

[BabsFL]

Great news from you Raine! It brought a smile to my face to hear of your 95 degrees and that you aren't needing the Oxys anymore. Keep up the positive attitude, I do think it's half the battle!!
Thanks for the advice about rehab. I'm going to put a call in again, as I agree, it should be part of the plan. Although from the sound of it, home health care was a better choice for you. I've been told that a rehab center is what I should go to, not a skilled nursing facility. I've heard that the latter are often just for those who are ill and unable to care for themselves, and that they typically don't do PT very well, or even know what TKR patients need.
Ricki, I may just have to convince them that I am indeed a train wreck! ;)

[BabsFL]

Ricki, Did i read on here that you recommended using a rolling walker with a seat? If so, did it have two wheels or all four? Seems like the seat would be very useful just to transport items from room to room... Thanks.

[Pamela59]

Babs, I don't remember seeing anyone else post about rolling walkers, but I know *I* had one...my surgeon advised against one of them, saying they could "get out of control" too easily. Well, MINE didn't. It was GREAT and came in SO handy with being able to sit down when I felt I couldn't go on any longer. The basket is great for moving things to and fro, as well as carrying plates of goodies on the seat from one room to another. There are hand brakes on both handles, so if you have any dexterity at all, you CAN control it :) It is very light and much easier to maneuver around than those big bulky things they have you use in rehab.
My knees are doing great, by the way. I only have trouble getting up after sitting for 15-20 minutes. I made the mistake of complaining to my Dr. and he fussed at me, saying I wasn't exercising to make bigger/better muscles just above my knees.:( SO...I told my therapist at the Wellness Center and she got me doing particular exercises to do just that. I have bulked up muscles down the sides of my SHINS...but hardly tell any difference ABOVE my knees at all. LOL LOL And I AM doing the exercises the DR. told me to do as well. It just isn't causing any reduction in the pain upon standing. hmmmmm I just don't know. Maybe the bones are still healing ?? I'm at 5 months on the 5th of Sept.(but then again...I DO have severe RA...I don't really think that would have anything to do with it, would it ?? The RA wouldn't affect metal-plastic joints... but...it MAY affect the muscles and tendons in that area. Ah....I wish I knew.

[Ricki 9-15-10]

Yes I used a four wheel walker with a seat. Great for going out and staying in. Took a walk around the lake with it. I loved it.
My rehab hospital was.great. a full three hours of scheduled PT and OT. At five months there should not be much pain so I would suspect RA. Or could you be having radiating pain from your back. That may seriously be it. Where exactly is the pain when standing?

[Cindy 39]

Hi all. This has been a busy week for me...just 2 weeks until the big day. I've had every lab test known to man, x-rays, classes. meetings with doctors, PAs, PTs, OTs , plus a class which they asked my husband to attend as well. I've borrowed all of the equipment I might possibly need. I believe I'm ready!:)

Raine, glad to hear your good news re: bending and drugs. And I do urge you to take advantage of a wheelchair and early boarding and anything else British Air is willing to do for you. You've earned it. Save your energy for when you're at your destination. Also, remember to do ankle pumps often during the flight and walk up and down the aisle regularly.(wish I were going with you but hopefully, I'll be back to traveling before long)

Babs, I'll be a couple of days ahead of you with the surgery (17th) but we'll be traveling the recovery road together. I won't be going to rehab after the hospital. My doc feels that, since my husband is there to help me, home will be safer than the possible infections that could occur in rehab. He says that with the extensive training my husband and I will get during my hospital time, plus the home PT for the first 2 weeks, I should do well. We shall see. After the first 2 weeks, I'm expected to go out to the PT facility.(my doc does make the arrangements for the home PT and will issue me a "handicapped parking" placard. Hooray! I've never had one and will certainly enjoy having it for awhile - I'll especially enjoy no longer needing it when that day comes.)

Pamela, sorry about the pain when standing. Perhaps as Ricki says, it's related to your back. During all those years of suffering with the knees, perhaps you stressed your body with limping and bending forward. Try some basic side and back stretches and see if that helps.

[Raine]

What a nice group ! Thanks all for the encouragement. I have been really disappointed with my surgeons practice lack of aftercare... Trying to get info on pain meds., exercises, sleep, was challenging,and most often found here on this forum.
The PT's really know more about the healing aspects and have been much more helpful.
You all, here are the best!
Raine

[Pamela59]

No, honestly..its pretty evident that the pain is from tight, sore muscles and/or ligaments just above the knee. It only hurts as I am standing up...and for a few minutes as I get the knees in motion. After taking 5 or 6 steps, they loosen up and everything is fine. I do still have sciatica after 3 fused lumbar vertebra several years ago, so I know from back pain !! LOL
In fact, it has at times felt piercing..like something is tearing. There may be adhesion's in there that I and two therapists have not gotten to loosen up? I dunno. I do know that we've done PLENTY of rubbing and circular motion oiling. Everyone tells me how great my scars look...
But all these months of therapy have done little to help this particular problem. I do the therapeutic exercises here at home on off days from the Center so I know I am doing ample exercising; but watch out if I DON'T exercise for a day or two !! It bothers me so much to NOT exercise, there's little chance of my putting it off !:)
I advise everyone of the new patients to DO everything your therapist tells you to do and PLEASE DO elevate and ICE !:)

Good luck to those of you who have the procedure coming up soon! You will be SO happy you did it!

[Cindy]

Hi, everyone sorry I've been gone so long. I have become a Grandma since I have talked to everyone and my mother has fallen and is in hospital. Life doesn't slow down for new knees. I need some advice I am still sleeping best in my recliner, I go to bed and I can't stay I get to hurting and can't get comfortable and have to get up. I am trying not to take as much pain med ,but just don't know what to do ? I have been kicked out of pt,by Ins. I have bought weights and have lots of exercises to do,I just have to make myself do it !Sounds like everyone is doing great. Sept. 20 will be 3 months seems longer !

[Suzycutie]

Cindy, make sure that with you sitting in recliner you are not keeping your knees at a slight bend. You really do have to keep the knees straight or they will not be able to straighten.i know it feels so much better with something under knee to bend. It took me a long time to be able to have legs straight and not hurt!
Babs- they wouldn't officially tell me that I would be able to go to rehab afterwards.i was honest with dr. And therapist that I needed and wanted to go!my husband works 12 hour shifts and I didn't feel safe( actuall I was scared to death!) to be alone! I also had 4wheel walker that I borrowed from a friend. It was great. Also used to to prop feet on to have them straight and elevated.