Length of stay for TKR

Posted by handball @handball, Jun 12 3:33pm

How long should I plan on staying in the Scottsdale area (post TKR) before returning to home city?

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@tkr1

I was told by anesthesia that including zofran during the surgery would keep me from being so sick after surgery. Didn’t help. They assured me “you’ll be home by 2:00 “ Wrong. . I was so sick after waking up from my TKR that I didn’t go home til late afternoon the next day. My recovery was tough.

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Damn I'm so sorry to hear that. Just recovering from surgery is tough enough without it making you sick. I hope you're better and happy with the results of the TKR.

I had both knees replaced in 2022 and couldn't be happier. It took a lot of work, but was certainly worth it. And my surgeon was great.

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@tkr1

I was told by anesthesia that including zofran during the surgery would keep me from being so sick after surgery. Didn’t help. They assured me “you’ll be home by 2:00 “ Wrong. . I was so sick after waking up from my TKR that I didn’t go home til late afternoon the next day. My recovery was tough.

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I'm sorry, I forgot to ask. How is your knee now? I've been very happy with the TKRs I got in 2022. I do not have complications with anesthesia, so understand your start was much harder.

TKRs are mostly successful. There are the rare bad surgeons, or mistakes made. The biggest factor is a successful TKR is the patient and doing all the rehab required, starting immediately after surgery.

I learned these surgeries started in the late 60s! The procedure and the materials and the doctors have all come a long way. All that said, it's a traumatic procedure, much more so than hip or shoulder replacement. But with proper post-op work, it can be life changing.

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@heyjoe415

Yeah most TKRs are outpatient surgeries. They have a therapist come in and take you on a short walk with a walker before being released. And then you have to hit the rehab exercises, 3x/day no exceptions. You'll be happy you did. I did and the TKRs have been incredible. No more bone-on-bone pain, in the gym everyday. At 70 y/o, I'm a happy guy.

Now back to handball - are you talking about traveling from Scottsdale via airplane? If so, check with your doc on when you can get on an airplane after a TKR, or any surgery.

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Hi and thanks for the input. Yes, i am planning to travel to Scottsdale to get this done. Was also wondering about accommodations and travel resources to/from the PT. Did Mayo help find these resources? Did you get the customized (Conformis) tkr?

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I have been putting off this surgery by doing my doc's guided pt for the past few years...the recent 10-day old xray showed more deterioration on the medial side and is the reason for considering moving forward. By the way when talking with my current doc about post op knee pain and Mayo's investigation in dealing the frequently cut infrapatellar saphenous nerve, she suggested i get this done at Mayo.

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I had 2 knee replacements in one summer. I spent 2 nights in hospital for first one and 1 night in the hospital the second time. Home therapy started very soon. So, you’ll have to get a PT that you like back in your home town. Do all that the doctor/pt say to do. Pain will happen while you are bending and flexing the knee. That is a good thing. It means you are making progress. Do you have a doctor in your home town!

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hi, my pcp in boise is an internist. i will be visiting my preferred pt later this week to see if there is anything else i should be doing pre-op. i am hesitant to leave scottsdale for 10-days post op ... goal is to get the harder part of the pt done and to be in condition to fly home. i will be chatting with mayo to see if their onsite residency for patients will be available along with transportation back and forth to pt. a local 'short list' orthopedic surgeon for knees wasnt interested in talking about the saphenous nerve and avoiding the mayo thoughts on tucking it away from the tissue involved in closing the incisions...and suggested i go elsewhere.

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@handball

hi, my pcp in boise is an internist. i will be visiting my preferred pt later this week to see if there is anything else i should be doing pre-op. i am hesitant to leave scottsdale for 10-days post op ... goal is to get the harder part of the pt done and to be in condition to fly home. i will be chatting with mayo to see if their onsite residency for patients will be available along with transportation back and forth to pt. a local 'short list' orthopedic surgeon for knees wasnt interested in talking about the saphenous nerve and avoiding the mayo thoughts on tucking it away from the tissue involved in closing the incisions...and suggested i go elsewhere.

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I never had the saphenous nerve raised in pre-op discussions with my surgeon. The results of both TKRs were amazing. He did use the Stryker/Mako robotic assistance, and that greatly improves the accuracy of the surgery.

Anyway there may be reason for you to be concerned about the saphenous nerve during a TKR. I've just never heard it raised and so can't offer anything other than - use the Stryker/Mako assistance if available. We're probably reaching a point soon where that will be all that is used anyway.

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Hi, the discussion on the Mayo site about that nerve caught my attention. They were looking for a reason for why 20% of the people receiving a tkr have post op pain that lasts a lifetime.

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