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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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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 10, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "@johnbishop - You are a champ! In a few months this will all be behind you..." + (show)
@debbraw

@johnbishop - You are a champ! In a few months this will all be behind you and you'll be zipping around like normal. Interestingly enough, I had the same physical therapist for this most recent knee that I used for the first TKR. But prior to my 2nd surgery, she had to check with her upper management to see if she could take me this time since - in the interim - she had taken special courses and now specializes in joint replacement for people who have lymphedema. They did let her take me since I was a prior patient. I was wondering - do you have a specialized lyphydema therapist?

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@debbraw unfortunately comma I don't have a therapist. They released me into the wild for at home rehab. They've called me a couple of times to see how I'm doing and I've communicated with them through the patient portal. I'm not sure if my TKR surgeon has specialty in lymphedema but he's pretty good and my knee is healing nice so I'm a happy camper so far. I struggled this morning but I was able to get a pair of my regular compression socks on so the plan is to keep doing it until hopefully the swelling goes down and I get rid of these sausage toes ☺

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1 reply
Mentor
Jennifer, Volunteer Mentor | @jenniferhunter | May 11, 2019
In reply to @harriethodgson1 "I'm having surgery in a few hours. A cardiac surgeon is going to replace my failing..." + (show)
@harriethodgson1

I'm having surgery in a few hours. A cardiac surgeon is going to replace my failing mitral valve with a pig valve.

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@harriethodgson1 Hi Harriett. I'm thinking about you and hope you are recovering well. God bless.

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JK | @contentandwell | May 11, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "Just thought I would give an update on my progress. My right foot and leg still..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Just thought I would give an update on my progress. My right foot and leg still remain swollen quite a bit although my rehab is going well and I don't have any pain to speak of. I think I can get the knee to almost zero and the flexion is close to 120+. It's been a little over 4 weeks since the knee replacement surgery and I was getting a little concerned with the amount of swelling in my right leg since it looks similar to when I was diagnosed with lymphedema and started wearing compression socks. Haven't been able to wear them since the surgery but I did buy two pairs of zippered compression socks that I can get on and have used them off and on but they didn't seem to help so stopped wearing them too.

Yesterday my surgeons assistant called for follow up and I told her all was well except the swelling. She asked me to contact my local care team and have them take a look. I sent a message with photos on my patient portal and got a call that I should come in. I went in yesterday and the nurse practitioner gave me an exam then wrapped the leg and ankle and sent me to get some tests D-Dimer, CRP, and the test for uric acid for gout. I got the results last night on the patient portal - the D-Dimer was 2010 ng/mL FEU -- Normal range <=500 ng/mL FEU and the other two were normal. She explained to me yesterday that the D-Dimer test indicates the presence of broken up pieces of a blood clot and if it comes back positive I will need more tests to verify it it is a blood clot and locate where it's at in the leg.

I woke up last night around 2 am with a pain in my leg which I think was caused by the wrap. I took it off and boy did my leg look funny when I removed the wrap - an unswollen circle around the leg where one of the wraps were tighter. This morning the leg seems less swollen so I took another photo and sent another message to the care team on the patient portal. I'm waiting to hear back now to see when they can schedule the follow up tests.

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@johnbishop Keep us posted, I hope all is going well and that it is not a clot.
JK

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2 replies
JK | @contentandwell | May 11, 2019
In reply to @cobweb "Good luck to you. My swelling lasted 6 years and now told it has come lose...." + (show)
@cobweb

Good luck to you. My swelling lasted 6 years and now told it has come lose. I dread another replacement. Pain for 6 years but i use ice and hope for the best. Do not trust my surgeon.

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@cobweb Hi Win. If you don't trust your surgeon I hope you are finding a new and better one to take care of your knee. There seem to be a lot of surgeons out there doing TKRs who have problems. I don't know if its the surgeons, or if it's just such a complex surgery, but an awful lot of people are not happy with their knee replacements.
JK

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 11, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@johnbishop Keep us posted, I hope all is going well and that it is not a..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@johnbishop Keep us posted, I hope all is going well and that it is not a clot.
JK

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Thanks JK @contentandwell -- Even though the blood test was positive the ultrasound showed that all was normal other than some water on the knee and a Baker's cyst behind the right knee that had the TKR. Day 2 of wearing compression socks. The swelling seems a little less but not much. I've mostly been resting with the leg elevated most of the day with the exception of a 15 minute ride on the recumbent exercise bike. I'm hoping the swelling is all to do with the lymphedema and it will start going down after wearing the compression socks daily.

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1 reply
Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | May 11, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "@debbraw unfortunately comma I don't have a therapist. They released me into the wild for at..." + (show)
@johnbishop

@debbraw unfortunately comma I don't have a therapist. They released me into the wild for at home rehab. They've called me a couple of times to see how I'm doing and I've communicated with them through the patient portal. I'm not sure if my TKR surgeon has specialty in lymphedema but he's pretty good and my knee is healing nice so I'm a happy camper so far. I struggled this morning but I was able to get a pair of my regular compression socks on so the plan is to keep doing it until hopefully the swelling goes down and I get rid of these sausage toes ☺

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@johnbishop - I was thinking about you this morning. Glad you got your socks on! I'm kind of surprised that they aren't having you do outpatient physical therapy. I imagine if you wanted to, you could ask your OS to prescribe it. But if you feel like you are coming along okay without it, that works! For me, having the outpatient PT gave me a little more accountability. I might have slacked off a little bit more without it!

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 11, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "@johnbishop - I was thinking about you this morning. Glad you got your socks on! I'm..." + (show)
@debbraw

@johnbishop - I was thinking about you this morning. Glad you got your socks on! I'm kind of surprised that they aren't having you do outpatient physical therapy. I imagine if you wanted to, you could ask your OS to prescribe it. But if you feel like you are coming along okay without it, that works! For me, having the outpatient PT gave me a little more accountability. I might have slacked off a little bit more without it!

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@debbraw -- I think you are right. They would precribe the PT if I asked but since I'm still working and work from home, I only took one week off and have been doing the exercises on my breaks. I think I sluffed a little on elevating which may have been part of my problem with the swelling. I think having the combo exercise bike and elliptical has helped me get going. The bike especially has been good. It seems it is better for the knee flexion than the elliptical and I thought it would have been the other way around due to having weight on the leg.

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lioness | @lioness | May 11, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@johnbishop Keep us posted, I hope all is going well and that it is not a..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@johnbishop Keep us posted, I hope all is going well and that it is not a clot.
JK

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@harriethodgson1 Hope your recovery is going well Praying for a speedy one It,ll be good to hear from you when your ready cyberhugs@johnbishop glad your doing so well just put that leg up lol

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JK | @contentandwell | May 12, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "Thanks JK @contentandwell -- Even though the blood test was positive the ultrasound showed that all..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Thanks JK @contentandwell -- Even though the blood test was positive the ultrasound showed that all was normal other than some water on the knee and a Baker's cyst behind the right knee that had the TKR. Day 2 of wearing compression socks. The swelling seems a little less but not much. I've mostly been resting with the leg elevated most of the day with the exception of a 15 minute ride on the recumbent exercise bike. I'm hoping the swelling is all to do with the lymphedema and it will start going down after wearing the compression socks daily.

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@johnbishop John, what level of compression socks do you wear? My PCP likes me to wear compression socks regularly for whatever reason, and I found some kneesocks with mild compression that I wore all winter. I know in the summer I will not be wearing them though. These socks are good if you don't need a lot of compression. The brand is "Dr. Motion". I bought my first pairs in Marshall's and then discovered them in Kohl's so I have bought more there. I think the compression is 15 - 20. I'm sure you are not looking to make a fashion statement, but some of them are fairly cute with stripes or polka dots. They do have plain also.
I do also have some regular compression over the thigh socks from one of the big brands. I wear them when we fly.
JK

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2 replies
lioness | @lioness | May 12, 2019

@contentandwell Glad you posted about this I've been thinking about compression socks I don't need a tight compression but this sound like something I,ll look into Dr. Motion sounds good Thanks🤗

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