Can’t take Tylenol and have tried Lyrica in the past with poor effectiveness. My pain is muscle/nerve and like others have mentioned it’s the length of standing time and endurance that are still not up to par (and sleeping! God how I wish I wasn’t a side sleeper!) I still work with my PT, but going to the pool has been the ticket for me. I mostly just walk and do ROM but it has been amazing (physically and mentally). When I need to take RX pain meds it’s not the operative pain so much but rather the pain in the other knee and my hands. I already take ibuprofen routinely and as you know, you can only take so much. I have the will most days to go farther, but limitations with my right knee prevent that. I’m scheduled to have a left hand CMC arthroplasty on March 2 and then will decide, depending on recovery, what next steps are. Right knee or right hand? 2023 is going to be as challenging as 2022 but I try to keep my eye on the prize! Fortunately (? Or not) arthritis is my only health issue.
I stayed away from the internet for the most part, but I will say that although my surgeon is well known and the best around here, I feel their attention to post op education ( weeks and months, not immediate) is lacking, I’m a nurse and know that there are so many variables associated with individual recovery and rehab that you cannot expect a one-size fits all response. Still, I never worked ortho and don’t personally know anyone who has had a TKR and found the posts on this board to be most helpful and reassuring.
Thank you.