Posted 1/11/2016 7:03 AM (GMT 0)
I had right TKR in 2009. I checked into the hospital on Tuesday morning and had my surgery about 8 AM. When I woke up after surgery, I was pleased that my knee pain was better than before surgery. My surgeon had me lie on my back with the right leg flat on the bed with an ice pack on the knee for the first 12 hours post-op. The following morning, the PT came in to help me sit up. Since my arthritic body doesn't take kindly to extended periods in bed, I insisted she give me my walker, and I walked to the door of my room and back to the bed. On Friday morning I walked to the car (using my walker) and my husband drove me home.
As far as pain goes, I did have a PCA line with morphine for the first day. They took it away the second morning because I wasn't using it. Oral Vicodan was fine for pain relief for the next couple of days, then I just took Tylenol Arthritis. I used my walker when I left my home for about two weeks, mainly to help with balance.
When you get up the first time, you will be afraid of pain in your knee. Try putting your weight on your good leg, then gradually shift half your weight to the operated knee. This helps with the fear because you know if you feel pain you can immediately step off the leg and relieve it. (I didn't really feel any pain.)
For now, the best thing to do for yourself is to do quad-strenthening exercises.
Good luck. It was one of the best things I ever did for myself.