[maureenod]

Last night on the evening news Brian Williams announced that he was going in to have a total knee replacement. The total bill, including PT, was $28,000. Although, I believe medicare and the hospital has an agreed price which is much lower. I did have a co-payment of around $1000 for hospital and PT. I have a basic HMO plan which I pay $24.80 per month.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by PaPaLarry

After visiting Dr Dukes office yesterday, Sally will be going to Rehabilitation, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks to get the stiffness out, which is causing some of the pain. Dr said this will help her, heal faster, and reduce some swelling. Otherwise , everything looks fine, x rays show everything in order, and more pain medicine was ordered in case she needs it. Was told to start taking 2 Aleves, twice a day to help swelling and imflamation faster etc. Pain can be with her for a long time, we were told. Exercising and stretching is so important they said. On 7nth week (who's counting) and things seem to get better each day

I'm glad things are getting better for you and Sally.

My Orthopedic Surgeon prescribed new Meds for me this week. He lectured me to take them regularly to stay ahead of the pain. They are working well, allowing me to get more sleep and do more aggressive exercises. I started yesterday with a new Physiotherapist and she says I'm doing fine. She measured my bend at 100 degrees, which doesn't seem like much, but she says I'm doing OK for three weeks post surgery.

It seems the whole mixture of exercise, medication, sleep and nutrition have to be "fine tuned" for each individual. The hardest part for me was getting past my aversion to pain Meds and taking them before the pain, not after.

I'd really like to say a heartfelt thank to those people who sent me PMs with suggestions and good wishes. How very kind of you. I finally feel more optimistic, that I'll be golfing in The Villages in November!

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I'm glad things are getting better for you and Sally.

My Orthopedic Surgeon prescribed new Meds for me this week. He lectured me to take them regularly to stay ahead of the pain. They are working well, allowing me to get more sleep and do more aggressive exercises. I started yesterday with a new Physiotherapist and she says I'm doing fine. She measured my bend at 100 degrees, which doesn't seem like much, but she says I'm doing OK for three weeks post surgery.

It seems the whole mixture of exercise, medication, sleep and nutrition have to be "fine tuned" for each individual. The hardest part for me was getting past my aversion to pain Meds and taking them before the pain, not after.

I'd really like to say a heartfelt thank to those people who sent me PMs with suggestions and good wishes. How very kind of you. I finally feel more optimistic, that I'll be golfing in The Villages in November!

Sounds like your finally on the right road to full recovery. Yes, pain meds are good when taken correctly. You will not get addicted. Just be aware, that pain will be around for a long time (months), but on a lesser level. As the pain subsides, the meds will be less.So glad your confidence has changed!! So important!! You will be new in no time, and yes, you will be back to golf soon. People just don't realize sometimes, how serious this operation is, but IT WORKS!! Took me a while to build the confidence in Sally also, but she's there now. She starts Monday at, Florida Rehabilitation Specialists, LLC in Lady Lake. Good luck to you, and your new knee

[eweissenbach]

Wow Bare, sounds as though you have been through the mill! Hopefully the replacements are completely successful as you need good legs to run from Fireboy seriously, sounds like the worst is behind you, you deserve all the best.

[ssmith]

Miss you bare on this forum....get better.

My husands secretary had one done and for a whole year with rehab she was sorry she had it done but then something got better and she is so so glad and so she had the second one done, now time has passed and she is glad she did.....My point? it takes awhile to rehab a knee I guess

[Schaumburger]

Bare, A good friend of mine had a (planned) knee replacement done in January, 2012 and an (unplanned) hip replacement surgery done 8 months later in August of last year. It did take time for recovery, but she is walking so much better than she was this time 2 years ago. In fact we walked all over a flea market one month ago which is something she could not have done 2 years ago. Sometime down the road she is considering getting the other knee replaced, but for now is she doing pretty well.

Keeping my fingers crossed you will be golfing in November. That is only 3 months from now!

[duffysmom]

Happy to hear that you're doing better, Bare. Keep us posted.

[patfla06]

I didn't have knee replacement, but in 2009 fell and had a tibia plateau
Fracture. Was in a wheelchair for 3 plus months.
Having gone through that gives me so much sympathy for your
Knee replacements and pain.

Physical therapists are fabulous but while you are going through the
Therapy they are NOT your favorite people!

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by patfla06

I didn't have knee replacement, but in 2009 fell and had a tibia plateau Fracture. Was in a wheelchair for 3 plus months.
Having gone through that gives me so much sympathy for your Knee replacements and pain. Physical therapists are fabulous but while you are going through the Therapy they are NOT your favorite people!
Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Ouch, that sounds even more painful than a knee replacement.

I am now beginning Month two after surgery. As well as still being painful, it is so boring! And it will be at least another two weeks before I can drive. I now have pain Meds that let me sleep at night which is a huge improvement. I took the advice of someone who PMed me, and every night I massage Vitamin E into my scar. It really helps.

Pat, you are right about the physiotherapist not being my favorite person. I couldn't possibly do the therapy (breaking through scar tissue) without drugs, yet I have to force myself to take the drugs because it feels so wrong. My range of motion is improving and I can walk, but slowly. I use a cane, not because I need it, but it's like a security blanket. I feel I should be doing much better, but the physiotherapist says she is happy with my progress.

This surgery has given me new sympathy for those people who have to live with chronic pain. There are so many people living with medical challenges. I just had two friends diagnosed with Parkinson's. We are all so blessed to be living in a wonderful retirement community. Every day is a gift.

[patfla06]

Barefoot- I hope each day is better then the day before.
Just think about when it's time to come back to T.V. with
New knees and how much better you will eventually feel.

Wishing you well in your recovery!

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by PaPaLarry

After visiting Dr Dukes office yesterday, Sally will be going to Rehabilitation, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks to get the stiffness out, which is causing some of the pain. Dr said this will help her, heal faster, and reduce some swelling. Otherwise , everything looks fine, x rays show everything in order, and more pain medicine was ordered in case she needs it. Was told to start taking 2 Aleves, twice a day to help swelling and imflamation faster etc. Pain can be with her for a long time, we were told. Exercising and stretching is so important they said.

Like Sally, I am going to Physio at least three times a week. On the days I don't have Physio I make sure I use my stationery bike and do the exercises. I always ice after exercising. At six weeks post op I can drive, walk unassisted ( but slowly and carefully), do grocery shopping and laundry, etc. My leg straightens out well and the Physiotherapist is happy with my flexibility. I would be estatic with my progress, if it weren't for the ever-present pain! At this stage, so many people are pain free.

I always thought I was a tough little cookie, which makes me so frustrated that I'm still in pain and on Meds. After arthroscopic surgery on both knees, I hardly needed pain Meds at all. With this TNR, I find I am always in pain, even with Meds. The first few weeks, the pain was a 8 or 9 out of 10, which made sleeping almost impossible. The pain has now decreased to around a 5, more when they do Physio and break through scar tissue. I do not like taking strong Meds, of course, who does! On the days I have Physio, my Surgeon told me to take a double dose prior to the adjustments. Of course that means I can't drive myself to Physio. You said that Sally is taking Aleve to help with inflammation, and I'm sure that would improve things. But unfortunately I can't take Naproxen or anything that thins the blood.

For anyone that has had a TNR and suffered chronic pain, does it ever end?

[frannieb]

Oh Bare, so sorry I am just reading about you now.
What a time you have had with pain control. If I didn't know better I'd say you must be a nurse, they have tough experiences as a rule.
I think it will improve in time but must be so frustrating.
Good job Fireboy!!
Love P

[Barefoot]

I hope I didn't scare anyone away from having a TNR because of all my whining and complaining about pain. Some people have very little pain. I guess I just wasn't prepared for the impact of the surgery. I thought I'd bounce back much faster.

A month after surgery I could walk slowly without support, and also drive, so that wasn't a problem. But the pain was unrelenting, and I took strong prescription pain meds for two months. I needed them. But I hated taking them because they made my brain muzzy. I stopped taking them two weeks ago. As a result, my Physio is less aggressive, but I'm still getting a good range of motion.

So I guess I do recommend a TNR if you've tried all other options. The doctor tells me it will probably take six months before I'm completely comfortable. So as long as the patient understands it's no walk in the park, hopefully the final result will be well worth it!

[DougB]

I'm contemplating knee surgery as well. Going to have my toes moved to my knees so when I exercise they will be easier to reach.

[bkcunningham1]

Everyone is different, Barefoot. Take care of yourself and get through this one day at a time. (((HUGS)))