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TKR #2..... Lessons I am learning
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Feb 3, 2023 | Replies (64)Comment receiving replies
I had my right knee done about ten years ago and my left knee done within the last five years. I have had a right shoulder replacement and carpal tunnel surgery on both wrists. I include that info as I have found commonalities in preparation and recovery.
Do the pre-exercises to the best of your ability. They gave me confidence.
Read and/or watch instructional videos. There are many on you tube produced by reputable universities and medical practices. Pre-surgery I learned what to expect. Post surgery taught me correct form, how to best negotiate sleeping, barriers in the home…tons of stuff.
I learned not to listen to horror stories or people who claimed to have no pain, etc. This is surgery to your body and relaxing, trusting your doctor, getting excited about benefits of the surgery, educating yourself and believing in yourself will make a world of difference.
Plan to need help and ask for it. Having a plan for someone to assist you for at least the first week to two weeks post op is comforting.
Use ice. I had the ice bucket thingy that forces ice water out and into a small mat that draped over my knees. Big blessing!
Be a good patient. Do your physical therapy.
Give time, time.
Any sacrifices I have made in modifying exercise, etc have been well worth it!
You can do it!
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evie66 (@evie66); Sep 14, 2021 - 7:50 am
Good evening evie66, welcome to Connect. We are a group of patients, former patients, caregivers, and providers. Our mission is to facilitate the sharing of personal experiences in a manner that will encourage thought, research, and reason for everyone. And so tonight, I want to welcome @evie66 from Scotland. I can't hide my excitement as Scotland is where my grandmother was born, in Kintore actually. We are part of the Christie and Cruickshank Klans.
@evie is by her own admission, a newbie here. She had an unremarkable recovery until month 5.
Now that a year has passed, both knees are unstable with "zip" feeling and swelling at night.
And I understand that you are now looking for stories from folks with similar problems and hopefully some advice about similar problems.
What would that other surgery do for you? What else might be helpful? I am comfortable telling you @evie66 that swelling can be controlled by icing and elevating. Also, if you have therapists who have Myofascial Release training, they can move the fluid that is causing the swelling on up your leg so that it can be extracted naturally upon urination.
Would you please explain what you mean by "spacers"? Have you had physical therapy to increase stablity? You can practice that by standing on one foot for 20 seconds three times in a row and several times a day. The best way to strengthen the supportive muscles is by doing squats.
What other suggestions and advice can you share with @eviie? And @evie66, how often to you deal with pain or other discomforts?
May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris