Having had my second knee replacement within a two year span and I do feel like I’m a bit of an expert on the recovery process. This is simply still, just my personal experience.
I’m all about sharing with my readership, just in case one of these therapies might help you on your own journey.
Here’s how things worked out for me.
I found that pain management was greatly enhanced by
Acupuncture therapy in the first few weeks following the surgery. I have a wonderful practitioner, Hsin Liu, whose office is right in Greene county, NY. Wherever you live, finding this eastern therapy is well worth the time and investment in managing your own well being following something like a knee replacement. It’s gentle and perfectly suited to helping you to realize the potential of life after a major operation.
Western modalities are great to get you past the first week or two after TKR. Once the nerve block wears off and you’re home 24 hours, you’ll be looking for those medications that can not only drown out the sleeplessness of pain but make getting up and brushing your teeth tolerable.
I was prescribed those meds in the Oxy category. Buyer beware here. The pain will subside. But your desire to stay in that state of being will be awakened again, usually a solid 15 minutes before the next dose is advised. My caregiver was a stickler for timing. There’s a reason for that too. Just follow the program and you’ll eventually get over the need.
The thing you have to be prepared for is the decision and then the choice that you want to get off of these meds.
Review the symptoms of withdrawal on the paperwork you’re given from the pharmacy and just know…it’s a real thing.
Don’t pysch yourself out. Find a multi season Netflix series and watch it until the last ache and pain are finally at bay.
It was 72 hours for me.
You’ll be fine…keep repeating a great hypnosis mantra I’ve taught my clients…Everyday, in every way, I’ll get better and better.
One more thing that bears repeating here. Tylenol is your new best friend in terms of western medicine. BUT…read the label and beware of overdosing. Your kidneys will thank you.
Again, my caregiver kept these innocent little pills of joy under lock and key. I’m telling you it was mostly the pain begging, not the logical me.
Now for the alternative stuff that worked!!! Before your surgery, get all of these grandma remedies and keep them on hand.
Castor oil…yes. Not the cod liver oil, smelly like fish stuff.
It’s great to gently massage into the tissues around the scar.
Don’t get crazy with the scar area until way down the road.
Lubrication with this alternative therapy helps with inflammatory response and calms the body so that it can heal especially overnight when resting equals heal time.
The ICE MACHINE…yes! Just get it!. It’s a waterproof container that you fill with about 2 plus cups of water and add small freezer packs to. A soft leg wrap that attaches with Velcro to hold the traveling ice water through to cool off your knee for 20-30 minutes. THIS single device is the best for helping you get through sleepless nights and 20 minute wait times until medication is due to be taken.
Add a double set of pillows or a foam wedge to elevate your surgical knee and you are golden for maybe 4 hours of sleep.
Trust me. This combo works like a charm in the alternative therapy category.
I am going to suggest something that you’re going to have to chat with your surgeon about because I'm not the expert here.
But I did become a believer after finding just the right combo of CBD salves and lotions to help relieve especially night time pain. This wasn’t something that I had even considered but it was advised by the surgeon to look into and to find a company that I could work with comfortably
I contacted a place in Colgate, NY called HEAD AND HEAL and their product line, experience with people who were requesting information for exactly this type of post op pain relief and their price point was appealing to me.
Best of all, the stuff worked for me.
Other ideas for sleepless nights are simply this…walk. Get up, use your cane or walker and just walk. Don’t get all down about not sleeping. Don’t worry, you’ll make up for lost sleep soon enough. There’s something about blood circulation that really helped to soothe the aches and within 15 minutes I was back to bed. I was more comfortable. Sleep…well that came eventually.
Last but not least …find a good physical therapist that you like. I mean, someone who is in alignment with your goals, your intentions and who will listen to how it’s going for you.
If you try someone out and it doesn't work, then it wasn’t the right match. Be gracious and move on.
I’m about to restart teaching my fitness classes and I’m at week 6 doing so. That was my expectation for 1st knee replacement and I’m actually a bit ahead of schedule this my second time.
Getting back to life is what you have to keep focusing on. You’ll get there.
Pat Larsen can be reached at 518-275-8686
She lives works and plays in Greene County, NY
Pat Is a syndicated columnist and an author. There are many lively musings in her first book about her first TKR.
Available on Amazon.com
Reflections…anything but an ordinary life.
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