job after knee surgery?

Zookeeper3 · Dec 9, 2009

I've had both those surgery's but seperately. I'm 8 weeks out of surgery, this last one was the chondroplasty and the whole clean up. I went back to work at week three this last time. I work as an ICU nurse. There are days I never can sit. I work three 12 hr. shifts. So I scheduled them initially on one, off one... so I could heal and do pT after each shift. I wore the ice wrap up until two weeks ago at work. I ice it when I get home. Generally by midnight, 5 hours in, I'm in pain, but it's tollerable. By morning the sucker is swollen so I ice it before bed.

I didn't have any choices, I couldn't live with the constant pain any longer and only had two weeks of vacation pay. So after a week with no check, it was time to get back to work. I also take aleve around the clock, advice of my doctor. After a year of pretty severe pain, this isn't as bad, but I understand how sick of it you are.

I'm finishing up my bsn and moving on to the msn because I know I will not be able to work bedside in a few years. Consider department of health, management, call center, infection controll. I'm sure there are jobs for the walking wounded like us but I"m still preparing for the day I have to quit bedside and still fighting it tooth and nail, so Ive not researched all the possibilities.

Food for thought, see the surgeon again and ask what to expect over the next few months to years. Consider physical therapy, they work me terribly hard but I can see some improvement in muscle function and alignment. Because I am keeping at this doesn't mean that anyone else is able to, I'm just sharing my situation. I hope you heal quickly and take care.

Zookeeper3 · Dec 9, 2009

Sorry, wanted to add that at week 5, I was still miserable, frustrated with my lack of progress and limited range of motion, those improved with the physical therapy.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2009

I've had a total of 3 seperate surgeries same procedure as you underwent. Had 2 on my rt knee(2000 and 2003) and 1 (95) on my left. I continued to work in chronic dialysis until the pain just got so bad I couldnt do it anymore as the VA wont consider a knee replacement until I'm 60. Considering I'm 53 I have a long wait. My knee issues started when I was 19 due to being a long distant runner and military. I take Ibuprohen 800mg TID prn and Tramadol 50mg tid prn. I finally underwent the Supartz injections this past May (5 injections total) and did fine significant relief so I can at least stand or walk without pain for a longer period of time.I didnt feel the difference until a few weeks after completion and MD states it will most likely give me relief for 6-12 months. I am looking for a more sedentary position but those are far and few in between. Believe me the 243/month VA disability doesnt pay the bills. Push to shove I may have to take a per-diem back in dialysis but at least I can choose my days which will help. I feel your pain as I was back to work in less then 4 weeks on the first 2 surgeries and 3 months on the last. Hang in there it does get better. Total though expect 3 months of recovery before your running marathons and believe it or not - exercise, exercise, exercise. I'm actually going to try to return to running now that I have some relief but doc says to do it on the beach and barefoot for the soft surface for short periods. We'll see. Also chiro gave me a lot of relief because my gait also changed from my knee issues causing low back issues.

martymoose, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2009

zookeeper- thanks for your reply- i thought this should have recovered sooner- glad to hear(altho Im sorry you still have pain) I'm not alone in feeling like this at 5 weeks. I am continuing th e straight leg lifts with weights as directed. I had asked doc if I could go to PT , but he wanted me to wait til I see him on the 11th. I feel that will help- as the pain I have now isnt just in the knee, but the whole lower leg. I swear my lower leg is more bowed than before, and I think it's because I have changed my gait. I also like your idea of looking ahead and obtaining bsn/msn for future reference. I did look at the job ads, and anything that isnt bedside requires absn at minimum. I guess I have some work ahead of me.

Lacie- thanks for your reply- I'm glad you got some relief with the injections. I had been thinking of asking the doc for this anyhow- I have had many cortisone injections in my back/sacroilliac over the years I have lost count. I too have been going to the chiro with all this recent sx , as I know my gait has changed, and Ive been having terrible spasms in my sacral/butt area. I have been swimming at the ymca, hoping that low impact exercise will help.

I hope we all feel better soon.

debi49 · Dec 9, 2009

Phone triage or working for an insurance company might be good options for you.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2009

zookeeper- thanks for your reply- i thought this should have recovered sooner- glad to hear(altho Im sorry you still have pain) I'm not alone in feeling like this at 5 weeks. I am continuing th e straight leg lifts with weights as directed. I had asked doc if I could go to PT , but he wanted me to wait til I see him on the 11th. I feel that will help- as the pain I have now isnt just in the knee, but the whole lower leg. I swear my lower leg is more bowed than before, and I think it's because I have changed my gait. I also like your idea of looking ahead and obtaining bsn/msn for future reference. I did look at the job ads, and anything that isnt bedside requires absn at minimum. I guess I have some work ahead of me.
Lacie- thanks for your reply- I'm glad you got some relief with the injections. I had been thinking of asking the doc for this anyhow- I have had many cortisone injections in my back/sacroilliac over the years I have lost count. I too have been going to the chiro with all this recent sx , as I know my gait has changed, and Ive been having terrible spasms in my sacral/butt area. I have been swimming at the ymca, hoping that low impact exercise will help.
I hope we all feel better soon.

It may be too soon post op to consider Supartz but here's the site to give you abit more info as it's not steroidal injections but joint fluid therapy. Utilizes Hyaluronan. I had one injection per week for a total of 5 weeks. After about the 3-4 injection I started noticing some difference and a few weeks after the 5th my pain was significantly reduced. More so than any other treatment I've had. The injections were not painful at all but of course my doc was excellent in his technique. He adds a little lidocaine to the supartz. I was able to walk out and go about my normal activites soon as I left the office with nothing more than a bandaid. I plan on going ahead and proceeding with my left knee now that I have had relief with my right. He doesnt like to do the cortisone as feels continued use causes more damage to the joint than it's worth in the long run. Also bike riding/stationary bike was a big help for me.

www.supartz.com

jlhall1976 · Dec 10, 2009

I am 6 mo. post-op and am only just now beginning to see that there's hope for some normalcy. Physical therapy is the key to gaining flexion and extension. (Extension is most important) I wasn't able to be on my feet for more than an hour at a time until 3 months after the surgery. I have only just recently been able to ambulate for 10+ hrs this month. I now have a job at the Dept of Health that offers flex scheduling and offers the ability to sit frequently. I fortunately love my job as a Public Health Nurse but if I needed to I could go back to a more physically demanding job. Just keep in mind that you can't really judge long-term effects until 1 year past your surgical date. Keep your chin up by reminding yourself that each week will be better than the last. Do your best to maitain muscle strength in the affected leg and to continuously work on extension and flexion per instructions of your PT & provider. Good luck to you!

martymoose, BSN, RN · Dec 15, 2009

Thanks guys:up: went to my f/u. Doc said it was grade III chondromalcia, and now I have 50 percent left on the medial side, and also had partial meniscectomy.took x rays- i still have a joint space, so I guess thats ok for now. He gave me until 1/4 to return to work. I am trying to increase my activity- stuff like walking in the store, and using the legs weights. Some days I still have bad pain in the knee, and it feels swelled up inside that it's difficult to bend. Doc said work thru it. Did you guys still have bad stiffness 6 weeks out? I wonder what would help that. I asked the doc if stationary bike was ok- he said no more than 10 mins . worth- and i noticed I get swelling above the knee. wierd, as the surgery was more at the joint space. Will keep plugging away I guess.