Goin' for TKR(Total Knee Replacement tomorrow.

T. Erdelyi

T. Erdelyi

Joined
Feb 3, 2001
Messages
32,359
Alright I'm goin' for TKR(Total Knee Replacement tomorrow, I a big wuss when it comes to surgery(MAJOR) even though I've been stitched probably 50 to 60 times in my life, stabbed , slashed, broken many bones including breaking and fracturing most of the bones my right hand,(never try to punch a guy in the face when your three sheets to the wind and he leaning against a brick wall) anyway I'm not lookin' for smoke or prayers, what will happen will happen, I'm just lookin' for some positive responses in regards to what to expect, so come on folks make me feel good or at least better about this, they're doing some kind of new micro surgery that's supposed to be the least invasive with the shortest recovery time, about 6 weeks.

This doctor is a sports/trauma doctor one of the best on the east coast, so I'll take the Xanax they gave me to mellow me out and some kind words from my knife compatriots will go a long way in relieving my anxiety.

Surgery's tomorrow morning, I'll be home by friday, I'll try to get my daughter or wife to post here after the surgery if not you'll hear from me by next monday in between doses of painkillers.

Thanks folks see ya later on the forums,
The Mad One
 
Best of luck to you. I'll have to go the knee replacement route in the future, for both knees, so I'll be curious to hear how it goes for you.
 
Best wishes on your upcoming surgery. Well wishes and prayers being sent your way. Listen to the docs and staff... I did when I had some major surgery a couple of years back, and it made all the difference. :)

AJ
 
I need both replaced but the left knee was a total blowout, when they finished the first orthscopic clean up they had to remove 25% of my kneecap this bought me 5 years but the knee has been disintegrating since, being on SSI Disability(finally after a 2 year battle now I can have one done, recover and then the second one can be done, at least I'll have some money commin' in), think he'll save me some bone for a set of scales?:D
 
Good luck man ! My Brother had the same surgery done almost a year ago to this day, he is so much better off for it now.
He can do many of the things he could not do previously.

Take care and God bless.
 
Well, I can offer some advice from what I wish I had known prior to my joint replacement surgery.
1. Bring foam ear plugs. You WILL need them, hospitals are very noisy and sleep is highly beneficial to your recovery.

2. If you are anywhere near 5'10'' or taller, ask for a bed extension. It makes a world of difference if you fit in those damn beds.

3. If they will need to place an indwelling urinary catheter, have them do it WHILE YOU ARE UNDER ANESTHESIA! I cannot stress this enough... I had to be cath'd twice in the first 24 hrs post op, and it was by far the worst part of my entire joint replacement experience. (as in, I was awake for it... and even though the nurse was incredibably smokin' hot, it was no joy for her to be touching little Mongo.)

4. If possible, have the self administering morphine drip machine. It allows you to give yourself a little IV jolt when needed. I found I used much less narcotics than they would have given me. Narcotics slow G.I. transit time.... that means the first crap you take after surgery will feel like it is a bowling ball. Take the stool softeners they give you.

5. When it is all said and done, go over your bill with a fine tooth comb. I got charged for all sorts of stuff they didn't do... such as 5 days of intranasal O2 when I only got it for the remainder of day 1. Keep track of the meds they give you. That was another place I was overcharged.

6. Be nice to all the nurses and nurse's aides and house-keeping. There invariably will be a "nurse Ratchet". :grumpy:

7. You cannot drink alcohol while on warfarin. ( a blood thinner) You will probably be on warfarin in decreasing doses for several weeks at least. I was looking forward to 8 weeks of rehab and Manhattans. Didn't happen. :grumpy:

8. Get a playstation/X-box etc. Daytime TV will rot your brain. Rent movies, read books. Anything except Springer/Morrie etc.

9. DO NOT make a big pot of chili for consumption immediately post-op when you get home. You may not be able to wipe your own butt. Your wife will thank me for that advice.

Good luck T.E.! You will do fine, and wonder why it took you so long to relieve your pain. Do all and MORE of your rehab exercises.
 
I knew a gent when I was at David Grant Med Center at Travis AFB that had his hip replaced. He said he was in constant pain before they replaced it. He was up on his feet and walking 3 or 4 days after the surgery and said he had no pain what so ever! He said he'd do it again in a heart beat!
I bet you'll get the same results and be happy you had the surgery!!
Enjoy the meds and the purty nurses! :D
See ya soon T.E.!!
 
Good luck with that, T. But like L6steel said, you can look forward to some relief later.
 
Thanks for the words and thoughts folks it does help, I'm lookin' forward to more time walkin' and enjoyin' the NE Pennsyvania area like I did when I first came here, stompin' in the weeds of the AT(Appalachian Trail) just 15 minutes from my house.:D
 
Prayers out to you!! Good luck with the surgery. They aren't going to do both knees at the same time? They did that alot at the last hospital that I worked at. Attidue is everything in the recovery process!!
 
Enjoy the surgery! :D

I had a hospital roommate who had both knees done at the same time. Not fun, but not too bad, either. He was tough old guy. After the therapists went home, he got up and did it all again, walking up and down the hall in the evening.

You can't sit and wait for it to heal, you have to work it as soon and as dedicatedly as possible.

Hospitals. Nice people. lousy environment. Get well fast! Come to an NJKCA meeting and I'll race you around the parking lot.
 
Best of luck!

My dog had knee surgery and was back to her ornery old self in just a couple of days. Hope you recover as quickly as she did!

-Bob
 
Good luck you crusty bastid...and when you get better maybe cougar will let you kick a troll overboard into the briney deep..


Btw ask for a pain ball when your in recovery. The most amazing thing in sports medicine in my opinion...it measures your skin temp. and administers morphine. My biking bud had a total knee done..and it was almost painless...


also write in black sharpie marker on you other knee...NO WRONG KNEE IDIOT!!! so you dont wake up with a nasty surprise...:eek:
 
Thanks for all your thoughts, next time ya'll be hearin' from me I'll be about worth about $30,000 in titanium and ceramic and settin' off the metal detectors at the courthouse and airports for the rest of my life.

Thanks again for all your encouragement.
 
Best wishes for a speedy recovery. Everyone I know who's had this done has been the better for it!
 
I had one on my left knee last fall and all that I can say is that you must do the exercises that they give you or it will be a waste of time. I have done mine and the replacement is a total success.
 
Done with surgery and back home, thanks for all your good thoughts guys, a few complications as far as the severity of damage but all went well.:thumbup: oxycodone for pain:D and home PT for a month:grumpy: .

It was a new computer aided surgery, my range of motion on the 2nd morning of pt was 5 degrees to 95 degrees so the doc cut me loose a day early.:D
 
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