I see lots of post op pictures with full length ace bandage wrap. Are these for compression? How long does it stay on? Do you wear compression socks as well?
I am considering renting a NICE cooling/compression machine for a couple of weeks post op. A NICE competitor claims the NICE machine can’t penetrate bulky post op bandages and wraps, but most of those who have used it swear by them.
Has anybody tried Iovera plus JOURNAVX for their TKR. Iovera is the nerve freeze treatment done a week or two before surgery and supposed to last three months. I suppose if it is that good you probably shouldn’t need the JOURNAVX. Did you need Oxy or JOURNAVX or any other painkillers to supplement the Iovera post op ? If you only took JOURNAVX, did you need opiates at the end of the two week treatment.
Many posts here mention the importance of pre-hab exercises before surgery. My surgeon has not suggested it to me for TKR. When I asked if I should be doing them for my THR he just said no, not necessary. I can understand not wanting to cause further damage or irritation to an enflamed joint, but I’m able well able to do light exercises.
My surgeon is a leader in a large orthopedic practice in a renowned orthopedic hospital. Their hip/knee surgery instruction/ information booklet makes no mention of pre/hab.
Are surgeons divided on the this topic.
I know this sounds like it’s a long way off and I may be obsessing about recovery.
I will be 5 weeks PO TKR by Thanksgiving. We usually host Thanksgiving for 12-16 extended family members. I’m wondering whether I will be able for it this year. If we don’t do it, there is no one to else to step in for Thanksgiving.
I usually split the work with my spouse, but wonder how much use I will be. Apart from cooking, there is furniture moving, bringing chairs and serving dishes etc up from the basement, cleaning etc. We can make it a partial pot luck to reduce the cooking, but I’m afraid I might be too frail and sore to do more than sit and watch or retire to bed. I don’t want to be a whining, ill tempered blob on the whole day.
How miserable were you at 5 weeks?
Many posts here have recommended the non-opiate pain blocker JOURNAVX for post op pain relief. I’ve been researching it in anticipation of upcoming TK.
First question is cost. Full price is like $1200. Can get it for around $450 with GoodRX card. JOURNAVX offers coupon for $30/ fill copay with ‘Commercial’ insurance or with ‘government sponsored insurance that doesn’t cover JOURNAVX’. Has anybody been able to get the $30 fill with Medicare+Medex? The process seems pretty complicated.
For those who had to pay significant $$, was it worth it? Did it work better than oxycodone? Did you take it with oxycodone. Did you have any of the listed side effects - itching, muscle spasms? How many fills did you use?
While on the subject of pain control, I also see many posts recommend ‘gummies’ to help with sleep. Are these THC or CBD. What dosage? Excuse my innocence. They are legal in my state but I haven’t tried anything like that (yet).
Met with my Ortho to schedule TKR. X rays showed total bone on bone with no space, so I decided I needed to get it done even though I usually endure the pain/discomfort without painkillers. The shot works well for a couple of weeks, but then a couple of months of limping and hobbling along till the next shot.
He warned that the TKR will never feel like a normal knee. I will have a permanent numb patch; knelling will always be uncomfortable; the knee will click or rattle with side to side movement and the first month will be ‘total misery’. Other than that I should do ‘fine’. He did both THRs last year and they were very successful from my perspective.
Was he giving it to me straight or just covering himself. I am wondering if the end justifies the means. I know a couple of cases who were like me until the knee suddenly ‘blew up’ or seized and they couldn’t even walk home.
Met with my Surgeon today to set up leftTKR. In discussing my concerns with post- op pain management he mentioned a pre-op treatment called Iovera. My understanding is it is applied a couple weeks before surgery and freezes the nerves around the knee allowing for better PT outcomes with less opiates.
Doc didn’t push it, just informed me about it when I asked. Docs secretary said it would be an out of pocket expense of approx $800 with my insurance (Medicare+Medex).
Anybody here have experience with this treatment and was it worth it? I’m not broke, but I don’t like wasting money and I don’t like pain.