Have YOU had a total knee replacement?

Forever Sunshine, ASN, RN · Dec 9, 2009

I didn't but my father has. He is very happy with the results. The first ten days for him were painful and physical therapy was hard at first. It got better after that. He was back to work within a month or two I believe.

He is not a nurse but he is walking around and on his feet all day. He hasn't had a problem.

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Dec 9, 2009

Thank you for the input!

RNKPCE · Dec 9, 2009

my father had it done last March, he still has some stiffness, just feels like something foreign in there(cause there is) but way better than pre-op. Was golfing by mid May, not walking the course, he never does. He swims 2-3 days a week. Glad he had it done.

proudnurseRN · Dec 9, 2009

I haven't, but we had an aid work some OT on our floor that had it done. She was very interested in what we did with our totals (I work on an ortho floor). She's a younger girl, in nursing school, and said she had some damage done in the Army but didn't get to details. She was running around the floor just fine.

Insurance RN · Dec 9, 2009

I had a TKR a year ago, returned to work after 6 weeks, but my job as a telephonic case manager made that bearable. I know just what you are going through. I did 8 weeks of outpatient PT, then continued the exercises for 6 months. Exercising has helped keep my knee "loose", the only time I have stiffness now is if it is raining or snowing, here is western NY a frequent event. To this day, I ride a stationary bicycle 3x/week for 30 minutes, then a treadmill 3x/week for 30 minutes. It does get better, my sugggestion is to develop an exercise routine if you have not done so yet. Good Luck.

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Dec 9, 2009

Insurance RN: I go to PT three times per week and faithfully do my exercises on my off days. My flexion is at 110 (started therapy at 65:eek:) so it is getting better. I am just getting discouraged because I wake up walking around like I am 90 yo. It is like that movie Ground Hog Day- I wake up stiff. Loosen it up thru out day and go to bed. I wake up stiff.... this happens over and over. I know I cannot continue taking pain meds forever but I cannot imagine going without with my knee feeling this way. I just thought at 8 weeks I would be further along. I am jealous of all those folks who (like you) were able to go back to work after 6weeks!

lnt3 · Dec 9, 2009

My mom just had her second knee done in October, had her first one in May. She gets as frustrated as the rest of you because she's still stiff and swollen, especially when she's up and moving around all day. Hang in there because I remember her saying how much better she felt after the first one. Each person is different in how they recover so don't compare yourself to someone who's doing better or recovering faster. My mom did that at first as well and got herself so depressed because she knew someone who went to their son's baseball game the day they were discharged. Keep up with the exercises and PT. They are definitely the key in getting back to normal.

Also, if you can don't push yourself into going back to work right away. My mom works in a hospital lab where she's on her feet all day and she went back too soon in my opinion. She was in excruitiating pain when she came home each day and could barely walk at work. This is very important not to rush yourself, especially as a nurse.

Best of luck with the rest of your recovery! :heartbeat

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Dec 9, 2009

Int3:

Thanks for sharing. I try not to compare myself with others but it is hard not to. I am taking about 12 weeks off and have actually applied for a clinical coordinator position at my hospital. I think a desk job will be better for my knee anyway and I am ready for a change!

SWS RN, ASN, RN · Dec 12, 2009

Dear General,

I hope you have the chance to read this. It is a subject near and dear to me.

I had bilateral hip replacements, 6 years ago.(they were done about 9 mo. apart) I then had bilateral knee replacements done simultaneously 4 years ago. I have been able to work as an RN in ICU, School Nursing and also long term care. It was the best thing I ever did... I was relatively young as well---in my early 50's. Just keep at it. The pain from the surgery was so much better than the pain I was in before! You do have to pace yourself, if you ever sit to chart, elevate your knee. I have found that NSAIDS help me more than the "heavy guns". Also, even if you do not feel like moving, keep working it--it stiffens up if you dont. Another thing to look at is weight. I lost about 50 lbs after my hips but before my knees and it has helped ALOT. The desk job may be better for you, but dont count out a floor position if you really want to do patient care. I found that ICU was better for me just because I was not running up and down halls. Good Luck==it DOES GET BETTER! I get teased frequently about being bionic, and I set off all of the alarms at the airport but for the most part, my replacements feel just like natural joints, actually better-they dont hurt all the time. Hey, I paid for them...they are mine!

SWS RN

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Dec 15, 2009

Thanks for the responses: I have had the opportunity to watch a bit more tv since I am not working. Those shows "I'm Alive" and "I Shouldn't be Alive" are real eye openers and make me want to stop complaining about a surgery I had 2 mos ago.

I have about 3-4 weeks left before returning to work. With that said, I am continuing to push myself with my therapy while trying to stop relying on a Vicodin. I have been taking one pain pill at night PRN and one prior to Physical Therapy appt. I was taking one during the day because of stiffness and this horendous aching pain but now I am determined to take my Motrin instead. I heat my knee up and then do my exercises. I am in the market for a stationary bike-watching the sales ads.

Doc says I shouldn't worry and that he is happy with my progress. The poor state of my ability to bend my knee months before my TKR is a factor. He says everything I am complaining of is to be expected (swelling, stiffness and aching)

If I am honest with myself, I have to admit I am still a tad envious of those who have gone back to work sooner than me, stopped taking all narcotics and feel their lives are so much better. My brain wants to scream "why me?" HOWEVER, I am otherwise healthy, have a great support system from my family and friends so on I go taking one day at a time trying to keep a positive attitude.

Thanks for listening to my pitty party :loveya:

SWS RN, ASN, RN · Dec 15, 2009

Dear General,

You are not having a pity party. What you have lived with is not fun--I know. Use whatever you have to in order to function well. However, I did rely way too much on narcotics before, during and after my surgery. I am so grateful to not use anything stronger than Aleve, but that is ANOTHER story....I took a variety of narcs for about 6 years, quit about 11 months ago. It was HORRIBLE and took me a LONG time to get off of them. The really funny thing is, that after I stopped using all narcotics, the pain decreased by at least 75%! I think some of it was caused by rebound from the meds. I am not totally pain free, but it is very manageable with NSAIDS and I do not have to worry about all the the "stuff" that comes with long term use of narcotics. Again, work to your own capacity. Your knee did not become diseased in 6wks. so it wont get better that fast either! Keep working it:nuke: it does get better.

Let me know how you are doing, I am always interested in people with "spare" parts.

Susan