TKR Tomorrow's the big day!

Great news about the driving, path20

Well done and keep on keeping on!

Well it's six weeks post op on Saturday and today I saw the consultant. Whooppee!!! I can drive again. The pain is still there and will be for a few more months yet but he is pleased with my progress. I'm walking without crutches or a stick albeit a little slowly. Still a long way to go but I'm getting there.

I think stansgran is spot on, the surgeons do underestimate how long it takes to recover from surgery and of course we all recover differently anyway. It's a pity as it can make you feel disheartened if it's taking taking longer than you were led to believe it should. Hope things continue to go well for you path20 and Annsixty too xx

I'm a young 77 Annsixty and decided that I would exercise as the pain eased. It hasn't done me any harm. The physio was pleased this morning. Just make sure you do the very basic ones whilst lying down. Try to lift the straight leg just above the toes of the other leg. I couldn't do this until the pain had eased a bit then it was easy.Just keep working on your bend. Again wait until the pain eases.I find it easier sat on a chair or the edge of the bed or stick with the heel slide in bed, Last week my bend was 85 degrees and this week 90 degrees. She says I am ahead on that. The one I need to work on is straightening my leg. The physio said not to worry just keep trying and it will come eventually. The other one is just keep tightening your thigh muscle to try and build it up.It is so mportant in the first few weeks to just rest and heal.Don't rush anything.Remember,for you,it is still early days.I'm a couple of weeks further on than you.Everybody is different When you see your physio in September she/he will help you to move on.Just exercise when you feel like it. I did. The odd day, when it was really painful,I did none.(naughty me!)
Oh! If you have stairs or a step,very carefully,when you feel you are able,just try stepping up one or two and down again.(Holding on)

I am finding comfort in these snippets of information . It is easy to think you are behind in what you can do. I will start to take things easier I think, but at age 79 I can't afford to take too long ?

If it's any comfort DH was chatting to an orthopod (at a funeral) . The latter had had a knee replaced and DH said how long I was taking to recover from a hip op in November . Said orthopod had had his knee replaced and was astonished that it took so long to recover- he said it was six months of discomfort but a year before he felt as new. He agreed that on the other side of the fence they underestimated the trauma if that's the right word.

Hello annsixty. I'm so glad you are managing your pain. It is so important. I am lucky that I go every week to a local private hospital for physio. (NHS) They are so helpful with any concerns I have. I have been this morning and she was very happy with my 90 degree bend and managing steps. I need to work on getting my leg straight and she gave me some useful exercises to do at home, I have not been overdoing the exercises as I think sometimes you can do more harm than good. I do ice a lot, maybe half a dozen times a day at least.
You are doing well on one crutch. I don't use crutches in the house now(no stairs). This morning the physio told me one crutch is fine for short distances outside but I must use two crutches for longer distances for a little while yet.

Hope all continues to go well for you, It's a long journey but worth it in the end.
PS Can't wait to be able to stop wearing this uncomfortable compression stockings.Ten days left. Whoopee!!!!

Hi path20 I am pleased things are better for you now but sorry your first weeks were difficult and painful. I was so much luckier as I am not allergic to anything and the pain relief was ok for me.
I am 14 days post op and the District Nurse has just been to remove the dressing and take out the top stitches, just 4 and the rest will dissolve . I am on one crutch but no advice at all from anyone about anything else. I am supposed to do exercises at home until a physio appointment on September 12th. I am finding them very hard but I do my best.
Good wishes to you for the rest of your recovery, I am sure , like me, you are pleased it is all behind you.

Thank you. I take Omeprazole with the Ibuprofen.I'm trying to manage on just the Codydramol now as I don't like taking Ibuprofen long term.

Good to hear you are improving daily. Its a shame you couldn't get more adequate pain relief at the beginning. I know Naproxen is supposed to be very good, taken with Omerprazole to protect your stomach . Perhaps worth thinking about for future, if you can tolerate it .

Gosh that's good. I can't believe its been 4 weeks, but I expect it felt much longer to you. Well done!

It's four weeks today and things have definitely moved on.Walking with one crutch outside now and none in the house.A neighbour has loaned me a scooter so I've been out to the shopping centre and round the park. The fresh air has done me good.
The pain had subsided a lot so the exercises are easier to do. Not too long now, I hope, before I can get along without the use of crutches or any other walking aid.
There is still a way to go before I'm back to normal but the worst is over.

Thank you,
Yes, I have been on 'Patient' website and it is really helpful.
I'm now on Day 15 and a couple of days ago my medication was changed, The painkillers now work. Great!!!
I can now do more exercises and the pain is manageable, It is a great relief.
I walk up and down the bungalow with my crutches. I even walked up and down the patio yesterday with a smile on my face.
I can walk on my new knee and tend to use the crutches for support.
Tomorrow I have the staples out(over thirty of them)That should be fun,not.
Still it's all part of the journey, Onwards and upwards!

Well the worst is behind you. And hopefully the website suggested by Chrishappy will help. Good luck!

Hi, good luck at physio, I've had 2 tkr in the last 12 months .there is a great forum for help advice and encouragement, its on a website called 'Patient' (.A green heading with a red apple on ) then go to discussion forums - knee problems, It has helped me enormously, people from all over the world chatting about their experience with tkr

I'm now on my eleventh day and feel I am getting there very slowly. I am still in pain but nowhere near as much as I was and just wish I could find a painkiller which would help.I am off to physio this afternoon and TBH I am not looking forward to it but I will grin and bear it as I know it is the way forward.
This TKR journey is a long one I know but it will be worth it in the end.

It's early days and I am very lucky to have a partner who is so caring.
Thank you once again for your kind words and encouragement.
I'll keep you posted.

path20. I'm glad you're still coming on here and sharing your progress with us. As you say, it really is early days yet but it looks as though that initial, really bad, pain has subsided. Like you I would have to manage on paracetamol. At the moment I'm doing lots of strengthening exercises but I don't think I'll be able to put off the op forever. By then you'll be back to yourself again and doing whatever you did before the dreaded knee pain struck. Enjoy all those books you can now read in between the painful,physio, and look forward to getting out and about before too long?

Recovery from these things takes its own time and all you can do is keep up the exercises and do whatever your body is telling you. It does get better - hang on in there. I don't think that people are aware of how painful it can be after these surgeries, especially if they are not good with painkillers and have to choose between pain or vomiting, heartburn, nausea, hallucinations or whatever else the painkillers cause. It is tough but you will get there.

I think I'm getting there. The searing constant pain is easing and I have had a brighter day today. I have now moved out of the bedroom into the lounge so I feel a little more normal.I still go back on the bed to do basic exercises and rest awhile and I do so hope this is the start of onwards and upwards. I feel drained on the slightest exertion but it is still early days.
The past week has been so, so hard.
Thank you for your support and encouragement.

'it's NOT as painful' that should read.

My mum has had one hip and one knee replaced, in her 80's. She bounced back pretty well from the hip but the knee took longer to recover from. It was more painful, particularly at the front of the thigh muscle, which she said they 'stretch' during the op to make it all work, though I don't know if she's right about that.

Persistence with physio etc helped and the pain abated after a couple of weeks and she was rid of the awful knee pain, too. Her other knee has gone now but she doesn't think she'll have it replaced because it's as painful as the first one and she feels that at almost 89, she won't really get the benefit as when she was a bit younger because widespread arthritis has limited her general mobility.

I hope you soon find your knee improves a lot!

You have all my sympathy - I had a THR and reacted badly to the pain killers, so had to manage on paracetamol, which quite frankly did nothing. I was very envious of friends who were hopping about with soppy grins on their faces under the influence of morphine etc.

It will get better, and take heart - the worst is over!

Very best wishes for a speedy recovery path20.

Persevere! It will be worth it in the end. I'm sorry its so painful and I wish you could have a really good night's sleep. Keep telling yourself 'this too shall pass'!