Going Through TKR Post Op day 3, Is it worth having done?

My surgery has been awful. They let you out the same day. But right now the pain is so intense that I can barely get out of bed to go to the bathroom. I’m supposed to go to my first PT appointment in an hour and I had to cancel my appointment until Monday. The only thing that’s helped the pain is ice. The other meds including the OxyContin are not helping at all. I don’t think this is worth the pain I’m in. And I’m supposed to have my other knee done soon but I think I’d rather be dead than go through this again.

I’m 6 months since TKR and I summarise it in like this so I can muster up courage for any future work I may need to be done.
3 days of hell,
2 weeks of pain manageable by drugs
and then discomfort for the next 2 months.
Then everything gets easier.

I cried like a baby at my first few rehab sessions and thought I would never get movement back but now 6 months on and I am walking with confidence great range with my knee and life is good. If you are carrying extra weight try to drop a few kilos. Has done absolute wonders for my other knee and energy levels.
That’s my story. Hope it helps.

Got to get a hold of that pain! What did your team order? I had Celebrex (NSAID) twice a day, 1000mg Tylenol three times a day and Oxycontin 5mg (1-2 tablets) every 3 hours. I never had to take more than 1 tablet of OxyContin, but I religiously stayed on that routine initially, even keeping it at bedside for when I woke up.
I never took that much pain meds in my life but I wanted to stay ahead. I had to take something for my stomach as all those pills were a bit much. And of course, a stool softener! The team knew what they were doing as I was comfortable ( aside from PT times later).
I also used an ice machine to keep that knee iced. And elevate that knee, but try to keep it straight when on pillows.
Contact your team and get on them for relief. Try to exercise as directed as well.

Best wishes.

My surgery has been awful. They let you out the same day. But right now the pain is so intense that I can barely get out of bed to go to the bathroom. I’m supposed to go to my first PT appointment in an hour and I had to cancel my appointment until Monday. The only thing that’s helped the pain is ice. The other meds including the OxyContin are not helping at all. I don’t think this is worth the pain I’m in. And I’m supposed to have my other knee done soon but I think I’d rather be dead than go through this again.

I *completely* agree with you!!! I have had several abdominal surgeries, two babies and then this TKR. It truly was THE WORST surgery that I have ever had!!! I was in agony with the pain! The pain meds that were prescribed just didn’t work for me……with several of them, I had a hives reaction or diarrhea. So, I was told “Take Extra Strength Tylenol”. For me, that was like eating M and M’s! I was in agony and when the home PT came for three weeks, I couldn’t do their exercises because I couldn’t relieve the pain! I was depressed, I couldn’t sleep etc. I had no appetite. Finally, I went to outside PT and got a wonderful therapist who listened to me and took it one step at a time with strengthening my knee. I had to go to this PT for 6 months, twice a week! I was in rough shape! My left knee is bad, but I could *never* go through another knee surgery!!! I will just put up with the pain, take Advil and Tylenol, exercise, building up the muscle in my upper legs and live with it! The orthopedic surgeon did admit to me that knee surgery is the roughest surgery that one can go through. Even my new knee isn’t great and I told him. He said “Well, it will never be the knee that God gave you”. So, even if I have to hobble around for the rest of my life, get injections, take OTC medicines, use ice packs etc, I will never undergo a surgery on the other knee! Also, I was told before the surgery to strengthen “the quads”, which I did faithfully at Planet Fitness, but even that didn’t help. The pain with that surgery is absolutely excruciating!!! I hope that your pain is beginning to lessen and that you are feeling better with each day. It’s a very slow journey. If I were you, I would not rush into getting that other knee done yet. Sending you my best wishes for rapid healing!!! MaryAnn from Boston

You were very fortunate. I am happy for you that all went well with the TKR. I had a very rough time.

Oh heck no. I had to fight for my MUA ( manipulation under anesthesia) at 11 weeks as my knee was not moving like it should. I didn’t get much follow-up from the surgeon and PT made it sound like I was coming along- though I was in excruciating pain during their extension and flexion cycles at the end of each session. I was going 3x/wk. I couldn’t walk normal at all as my knee was so bent.
The only part I appreciated was that they managed my pain meds well.
If I were ever to have my second knee done, I’d have to really find out ahead so many more details. I don’t think I could go back to first surgeon as he didn’t follow up with me and wasn’t concerned that I was only at 90* at my 6 week checkup.
I am now 6 months out. I still take Ibuprofen and 1000mg Tylenol in the morning and sometimes throughout the day. I am totally aware of my knee all the time. It hikes and walks well but it still has a bad tightness that I need to slowly “ wake up” every morning or whenever I sit or stay in one position too long. I have not reached the point where I am glad that I had it done.
I am normal weight. Generally healthy. Don’t take any medications, don’t smoke or eat junk food. I worked out and built up my quads prior to surgery. I thought all these factors would make a smoother transition. I am 64 y old and thought I would do better now than wait until older.
The healthcare I received was the best I ever had- it was in a large medical center known for joint replacements. They were smooth.
This surgery is not for sissies. I admire those who go through it smoothly. I did not.
* I was told a component he used will be downsized for the next knee- too big??? Is that part of why I had so many issues and why it still feels so damn tight? I’ll never know.