TKR a week ago

chimney
chimney Member Posts: 1
edited 16. Apr 2025, 07:18 in Living with arthritis

hello all. I’m new here and one week on from my first TKR. Frozen peas definitely my friend and I didn’t know how hard it would be to get to the loo in time, so tena pull-ups too!!! Think the tramadol either makes me wee more or not wake up on time. But my old pain is gone. - new pain is not fun of course but I know that’s short term so holding on in there. Nervous about first physio tomorrow - any tips welcome. 🙂🙂

Comments

  • Ellen
    Ellen Moderator Posts: 1,933

    Hello @chimney welcome to the online community.

    Well done getting through your surgery I am very glad to read that your 'old' arthritis pain has gone now all you have to do is recover from your post operative pain. There are lots of people here who have had surgery (more so for hips it seems than knees) so hopefully someone will come along and reassure you soon about the physio sessions.

    I am going to 'call' some of our recent 'hippies' who might be able to help a little @Fran54 @Trish9556 and @Janlyn . Even though it is not the same I am sure they felt anxious about their physio too.

    It would be lovely if you felt able to keep posting as your experience would definitely help someone else in future. The members I mentioned above have all shared so much information about their surgeries. Which has helped an awful lot of people facing the same surgery and recovery as you.

    My own advice is to take it steady you have had major surgery and we all recover at our own pace.

    My very best wishes

    Ellen.

  • Northernhippy
    Northernhippy Member Posts: 22

    I had my 2nd TKR 7 weeks ago, I also have a prolapsed bladder & with hindsight, I should have got that fixed first! I’m finding this second knee difficult to get moving, feel like I’m working it much harder but not getting the expected results although I am building up the muscles in my thighs. As with the first knee, the most beneficial exercises for me are the exercise bike & doing lunges on my back step. I have an under inflated physio ball to help bend & straighten when sitting & I recently got somewhere near to a decent nights sleep so I must be improving.

    I had the first TKR 7 years ago at an NHS Treatment Centre, I didn’t realise at the time what a ‘rolls Royce’ experience I had until I had the second done at a general hospital & came home traumatised by my experience. Felt compelled to ring the treatment centre to thank them for my care 7 years ago, & to get a copy of their comprehensive recovery aid booklet, rather than rely on the grainy photocopies handed out this time. If that had been my first TKR, I probably wouldn’t have had the second one done.

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,284

    Search for NHS treatment centre for joint replacement then see if there's one in your area if you're interested in what @Northernhippy suggests. My daughter at 18 and 19 had hip and shoulder surgeries at two different ones and the care was fabulous. One we travelled a bit for the other much less.

    Good luck

    Toni x

  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 838

    HI @chimney

    I haven't had a TKR but have had many other surgeries including a clean up of the knee many years ago.

    My last surgery was a THR last May and I would strongly recommend keeping up with your painkillers, especially prior to physio when taking them about 20 minutes beforehand will help.

    Listen to your physio and do the exercises every day - I'm usuallly told 4/5 times dependent on the physo. Rest is good, elevation is a must to help reduce that swelling as well as the frozen peas.

    I too struggled with getting to the bathroom on time both before when the pain controlled everything and after surgery and used pads which were easier to replace.

    I was on Tramadol, plus a load of other stuff prior to surgery and was taken off of it straight away and given codeine and paracetamol. I would discuss the continued use of Tramadol with your team.

    Good Luck - I'm sure somebody with TKR replacement will offer some advice from their experience but I hope this is useful.

    Trish

  • Janlyn
    Janlyn Member Posts: 642

    @chimney it's great to get rid of the old pain and to know that the new pain will keep on getting better.

    You will have been to your physio by now - I hope it went well?

    Take care.

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