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Having knee replacement: how to prepare and questions about PT
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Jun 17, 2021 | Replies (170)Comment receiving replies
@ellerbracke - No... If it sounded like I quickly became pain-free, that was not my intention. By 2.5 weeks I got to where I was not taking pain meds during the day. My incentive was that the doctor would not release me to drive until I was off of them for daytime. I still took tylenol during the day as needed and then stronger pain meds at night. I was still needing strong pain meds at night occasionally until about 8 weeks. And I had those occasional twinges - especially when the weather changed or the moon was full or whatever. (LOL) for months. I think you will continue to see good improvement all the way up to 6 months out and some gradual improvement for the whole first year. And yes, I hated the compression hose with a passion. I'm having my left TKR the 29th of this month and I'm already having nightmares that involve compression hose. How are you doing with extension? Is it still difficult or have you mastered that?
Replies to "@ellerbracke - No... If it sounded like I quickly became pain-free, that was not my intention...."
@debbraw : thanks for the reassurance. Yes, I can also do a mean weather forecast with my knee! I am just frustrated with the progress to a certain extent. But then again, I had arthro surgery on the same knee 11 months prior to TKR, and never, ever got to be pain free or fully functional, so I guess my current state is a big improvement. Still working on the extension - I can easily get the knee fully extended with some slight and painless pressure when sitting with legs extended, or when lying flat, it just does not quite want to do it without this little help. It will come. Most everything else is hunkey dorey. Like you, I detest opioids (bc. of the constipation factor, and the limited pain relief, when I still had to add Tylenol). I had a prescription for 42 pills, took 22 of them, so probably no more than 5 or 6 days. Regarding compression hose: somehow I very quickly and easily learned how to put them on and take them off, so that was not an issue, other than the somewhat unpleasant feeling of having to wear them 24/7. I wish you all the best for your 2nd time around, please keep us posted how it goes!
@debbraw I have light compression hose. Light is better than none, and not that bothersome. I think they are 15-20.
JK
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I am trying to figure out how I'll put the compression hose on once I go home because I live alone. LOL I suspect rehab will have a few tricks up their sleeves and will teach me how. I'm not sure how long you wear the hose after surgery but I suppose each person is different. This group is amazing and I can't tell EVERYONE enough how much I appreciate all of your advice and feedback. It is really helping me to get a reality handle on what to expect while bearing in mind that each person is different.