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Week 3 post TKR

Posted by amytro @amytro, Feb 24, 2019

Good morning! I am looking for folks to share their experience of the third week post-TKR. The first two weeks were very hard but I feel like I've turned a corner in week 3. Flexion is 113 and extension is 0. Still using pain meds on a regular schedule. PT is getting less excruciating, sleeping positions easier, etc. I'm now pretty much on the cane only, using the walker only to get me out of the shower. Does this sound right to others? Are you about in the same place? Mostly I'm interested in if you are still using the meds. I still need them!

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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Aug 28, 2022
In reply to @debbraw "Hi @amytro - I am 3 1/2 weeks post surgery for a left TKR. Surgery was..." + (show)
@debbraw

Hi @amytro – I am 3 1/2 weeks post surgery for a left TKR. Surgery was 1/29. I had in-home PT the first 2 weeks and did my first week of out patient PT last week. I have full extension of my knee and was at 128 degrees flexion when I started outpatient PT. (Both of my physical therapists think I'm a little ahead of schedule on reaching that level in 2 weeks and I'm happy with it!) I have been using a cane since the 2nd week. This week I was able to do a 1 mile walk outside in my neighborhood. I do PT twice a week with the therapist and on my own every other day.

You mentioned that you still need pain meds. When do you need them most? I am still taking 4 oxycodone tablets a day – 1 in the morning since I wake up stiff, 1 before PT, one about dinnertime and one before bed. I need every one. In the next week or two I will try to cut out the dinnertime pill. I wish there was another option but the Extra Strength Tylenol does nothing for me and they won't let me take any NSAIDs. I had a bad reaction with some internal bleeding so I can't even take the Celebrex I was on to start with. My therapists have always said it takes 8 weeks for tissue to heal and 12 weeks for bone to heal so I was thinking I was about average there, although I applaud @emb123 for getting off of the opiods so quickly.

Oh… in terms of sleeping, it's still a little awkward for me. I sleep best if I elevate my surgery leg. My sleep preference is on my side and I can't do that comfortably yet.

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128 degrees of flexion at week 2 is outstanding! Good for you. If Tylenol isn't working and NSAIDs are out and you can't tolerate Celebrex, the oxygen will work but is overkill. You can ice more but that's just hard to do, don't know why. Just be careful with oxy, please. Congrats on a great recovery!

Joe

REPLY
swimmergirl | @swimmergirl | Aug 28, 2022

I am 3-1/2 weeks post op. Pain is definitely decreasing, am mostly just taking acetaminophen occasionally a Tramadol. My intestines don’t like the narcotics. Walking relatively slowly without a cane. Still sleeping on a wedge to elevate my legs and wearing compression hose during the day and frequently icing to try and control swelling. ROM 0-123 during PT after stretching and mobilization but more like 115-118 on my own at home. Can pedal an exercise bike, backwards first then forward with no resistance. But, after I sit in one position for >20 minutes feel so stiff and have to March in place so I don’t peg leg walk. Counting the days until I can get in the water and take advantage of the gravity free environment and let the water work it’s magic.
I think so much influences rate of progress: physical conditioning and any movement contractions prior to surgery, whether your patella needed to be resurfaced, correction of a varus or valgus deformity. and pain tolerance in general. Listen to your body, your PT and surgeon and hope your rehab goes well.

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