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After knee replacement surgery

Posted by beatricefay @beatricefay, Jun 16, 2016

Had left knee replaced 9 days ago. Right knee two years ago. Having a problem with inflammation so hard to bend knee and exercise. Trying to ice and raise knee above heart. Doctor suggested getting compression hose. Anybody have this experience and can offer suggestions. So tired all the time from pain interrupting my sleep and painkillers. My insurance refused to pay for the painkiller recommended by surgeon so have to take one with more opiates. That's frustrating. Two years ago it was covered but now too expensive for me to use. Seems the drug companies, not our doctors are determining what we use.

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dkapustin | @dkapustin | Mar 26, 2019

I've seen the app before but physical therapy needs to be designed by your therapist because everyone is different. Much depends on your swelling right after surgery, your general health, and other factors that all will involved your daily routine. For example, I had fluid on my knee after surgery and an immense amount of swelling. My therapists didn't want me doing my exercises 3/day due to that so had me doing them 2/day and added some that may not have been included in the app while taking off others. As time went by, exercise were changed and added but really, your therapy should be individualized. Also, there will be discomfort in your therapy and you will have to push through soreness but bear in mind that therapists differ. Some believe in the assertive approach which is the road I took for slow but steady improvements while others are aggressive and will tell you "no pain, no gain." I had a session with one but was so miserable that after crying on her table, I thought "I can't do this." I switched therapists and have been making the slow and steady gains but I'm VERY diligent in all my exercises and DO push myself. You will have to find what works for you. Always check with your OS for questions involving the surgery and good luck!

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Mar 26, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "@johnbishop - Hi John, I'm with JK - I haven't heard of this one. My ortho..." + (show)
@debbraw

@johnbishop - Hi John, I'm with JK - I haven't heard of this one. My ortho doctor had me do in-home PT three times a week until I could drive, then outpatient PT twice a week. And of course, both therapists gave me strict instructions on exercises to do on days they weren't there. To tell the truth, I would not have wanted an app that recommended any more PT than I was already doing. LOL. I'll be interested on whether you get any reports of people who have used this app. Also, I think I understand your check in w/ the PCP. They need to do a bunch of blood tests, xrays, etc. just to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery. For me they just called it a pre-op appointment.
You will pass with flying colors! One word of caution: with my doctor, if you show up for surgery and have so much as a small cut or nick - he will cancel the surgery. He says that risks infection. So he had me quit shaving my legs 2 week in advance so I wouldn't make a mistake and get a cut. Just FYI. Good luck. Let us know how it goes tomorrow.

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@debbraw They gave me an antiseptic wash that I had to use for three days prior to surgery!

I could basically drive when I got off of narcotics, but I think there was a slight time restriction too, I forget how long that was, maybe 3 weeks. I really liked my home therapist, he was great, but I wanted to drive so that made that decision.
JK

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1 reply
dkapustin | @dkapustin | Mar 27, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@debbraw They gave me an antiseptic wash that I had to use for three days prior..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@debbraw They gave me an antiseptic wash that I had to use for three days prior to surgery!

I could basically drive when I got off of narcotics, but I think there was a slight time restriction too, I forget how long that was, maybe 3 weeks. I really liked my home therapist, he was great, but I wanted to drive so that made that decision.
JK

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I could drive but only for short distances at first. It hurt my knee to stay in any one position for over 10-15 minutes at a time so it affected my driving THAT way. Very frustrating because I could physically drive....the knee worked ok for that but the darn stiffness and soreness would set in. UGH

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Mar 27, 2019
In reply to @dkapustin "I could drive but only for short distances at first. It hurt my knee to stay..." + (show)
@dkapustin

I could drive but only for short distances at first. It hurt my knee to stay in any one position for over 10-15 minutes at a time so it affected my driving THAT way. Very frustrating because I could physically drive....the knee worked ok for that but the darn stiffness and soreness would set in. UGH

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@dkapustin You have really had a tough time of it with your TKR. I am sorry it's been such a difficult recovery for you, but from what I hear it is for many people. I had one doctor friend (not an orthopedic doctor) who tried to talk me out of the surgery! I went ahead anyway and for me, it was the right thing. I hope you feel that way very soon.
JK

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 27, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "@johnbishop - Hi John, I'm with JK - I haven't heard of this one. My ortho..." + (show)
@debbraw

@johnbishop - Hi John, I'm with JK - I haven't heard of this one. My ortho doctor had me do in-home PT three times a week until I could drive, then outpatient PT twice a week. And of course, both therapists gave me strict instructions on exercises to do on days they weren't there. To tell the truth, I would not have wanted an app that recommended any more PT than I was already doing. LOL. I'll be interested on whether you get any reports of people who have used this app. Also, I think I understand your check in w/ the PCP. They need to do a bunch of blood tests, xrays, etc. just to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery. For me they just called it a pre-op appointment.
You will pass with flying colors! One word of caution: with my doctor, if you show up for surgery and have so much as a small cut or nick - he will cancel the surgery. He says that risks infection. So he had me quit shaving my legs 2 week in advance so I wouldn't make a mistake and get a cut. Just FYI. Good luck. Let us know how it goes tomorrow.

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I had my appointment with my PCP this afternoon to go over the labs, ECG and go through my health history for any things that might raise a flag for the knee replacement surgery. YAY! All is well for the surgery. The nurse looked through my records and labs before I met with the doctor and mentioned they already had a bunch of PT stuff scheduled. Then I got the can't tell you routine when I asked her what they are. Then the doctor told me they would go over everything after the surgery.

I am really hoping I can do in home PT until I can drive but that's probably a minimum of 4 weeks since it's my right knee. The pre-OP call from the nurse for the surgeon said I can't be home alone the first week. My wife is working full time also but is planning to take a week off after my surgery or part of the week and my daughter is planning to help by staying with me Monday and Tuesday after the surgery. I'm also taking a weeks vacation following the surgery and hope to be back working from home the second week since I can still take home breaks to due PT.

REPLY
3 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Mar 27, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "I had my appointment with my PCP this afternoon to go over the labs, ECG and..." + (show)
@johnbishop

I had my appointment with my PCP this afternoon to go over the labs, ECG and go through my health history for any things that might raise a flag for the knee replacement surgery. YAY! All is well for the surgery. The nurse looked through my records and labs before I met with the doctor and mentioned they already had a bunch of PT stuff scheduled. Then I got the can't tell you routine when I asked her what they are. Then the doctor told me they would go over everything after the surgery.

I am really hoping I can do in home PT until I can drive but that's probably a minimum of 4 weeks since it's my right knee. The pre-OP call from the nurse for the surgeon said I can't be home alone the first week. My wife is working full time also but is planning to take a week off after my surgery or part of the week and my daughter is planning to help by staying with me Monday and Tuesday after the surgery. I'm also taking a weeks vacation following the surgery and hope to be back working from home the second week since I can still take home breaks to due PT.

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@johnbishop That all sounds great, John. You've got a plan in place and lots of supportive people in your life to help with your recovery! I think that when the October meet-up comes around you will be walking like a new man 👍

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Mar 27, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "@johnbishop That all sounds great, John. You've got a plan in place and lots of supportive..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

@johnbishop That all sounds great, John. You've got a plan in place and lots of supportive people in your life to help with your recovery! I think that when the October meet-up comes around you will be walking like a new man 👍

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I hope so...maybe just a new old man ☺

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Mar 27, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "I had my appointment with my PCP this afternoon to go over the labs, ECG and..." + (show)
@johnbishop

I had my appointment with my PCP this afternoon to go over the labs, ECG and go through my health history for any things that might raise a flag for the knee replacement surgery. YAY! All is well for the surgery. The nurse looked through my records and labs before I met with the doctor and mentioned they already had a bunch of PT stuff scheduled. Then I got the can't tell you routine when I asked her what they are. Then the doctor told me they would go over everything after the surgery.

I am really hoping I can do in home PT until I can drive but that's probably a minimum of 4 weeks since it's my right knee. The pre-OP call from the nurse for the surgeon said I can't be home alone the first week. My wife is working full time also but is planning to take a week off after my surgery or part of the week and my daughter is planning to help by staying with me Monday and Tuesday after the surgery. I'm also taking a weeks vacation following the surgery and hope to be back working from home the second week since I can still take home breaks to due PT.

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@johnbishop I'm happy for you that it's full-steam-ahead. It sounds like you are all set on people caring for you. No one ever said that was required to me, they just asked if my husband or someone would be there to help. I guess if I said no, they may have pursued it more.

My experience with home PT is that you can have it as long as you are home-bound. Once you can get out, to anywhere other than church and the doctor's office, you are supposed to discontinue it. I would have loved to have it longer, my PT guy was great, but I also wanted to get out of the house, the walls were closing in on me.
JK

REPLY
ellerbracke | @ellerbracke | Mar 28, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "I had my appointment with my PCP this afternoon to go over the labs, ECG and..." + (show)
@johnbishop

I had my appointment with my PCP this afternoon to go over the labs, ECG and go through my health history for any things that might raise a flag for the knee replacement surgery. YAY! All is well for the surgery. The nurse looked through my records and labs before I met with the doctor and mentioned they already had a bunch of PT stuff scheduled. Then I got the can't tell you routine when I asked her what they are. Then the doctor told me they would go over everything after the surgery.

I am really hoping I can do in home PT until I can drive but that's probably a minimum of 4 weeks since it's my right knee. The pre-OP call from the nurse for the surgeon said I can't be home alone the first week. My wife is working full time also but is planning to take a week off after my surgery or part of the week and my daughter is planning to help by staying with me Monday and Tuesday after the surgery. I'm also taking a weeks vacation following the surgery and hope to be back working from home the second week since I can still take home breaks to due PT.

Jump to this post

Hope your surgery goes well, and your recovery should really benefit from your pre-op exercises! Not sure if my surgeon insisted on help at home - I guess he just assumed because he knows my family. Was nice to have husband around, and visiting kids from time to time, but could have done it solo if necessary. Actually, after 4 days I chased hubby out onto the golf course since I was tired of compassion and concern..... wanted to suffer in peace 🙂.
Home PT is nice, of course all PT depends a lot on the individual therapist. As an alternative, some people elected to transfer to a rehab program within the hospital, if that is an option for you. I met a few people who had fabulous results doing that.
Regarding the driving: I’m pretty sure I was driving around day 17 after surgery, had been off opioids since day 8 or 9. Yes, it was my right knee as well - driving is not the problem. Getting into the car takes some maneuvering, it’s the getting OUT of the car which is the most challenging. Easier if you have an SUV-type verhicle - I don’t......
Tongue-in-cheek advice: enjoy the first 6 to 8 hours after surgery, while the nerve block is still in place. Even with proper pain management, that will be the last time for a while that you are not feeling a thing!!!

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