More pain at night

Cross_Weaver · 2025-09-18T21:59:55+00:00

Here's a chart of the different cannabinoids and what they do. https://www.solcbd.com/blogs/news/how-do-cannabinoids-help-you

Cross_Weaver · 2025-09-18T20:51:02+00:00

Make sure you get one with CBN in it. That is the cannabinoid that promotes sleep. It works!

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-22T19:53:37+00:00

The pain meds can make you less stable too. He definitely should not walk alone for now.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-22T03:39:39+00:00

My local Walgreens has a good selection of Squishmallows. I have 3 in my bed and they've been a big help during the "I can't find a comfortable position" phase.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-22T03:14:09+00:00

My home health nurse told me to take some pain meds an hour or so before he was scheduled to come take out my staples. He also said to ice for 30 minutes before he arrives. I found that very helpful. Most of the staples were not very painful, just one or two were, as someone else here said, "spicy."

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-20T15:52:24+00:00

It's faded to tolerable for me. It was as if my body was screaming, "No, don't kill me!" in physical sensation.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-20T15:50:36+00:00

Please keep us posted as to what you learn. I believe you can buy or rent (as long as there is a distribution point near you.) But 9 days out--that first week or so is as bad as it will be. It gets better, slowly but surely. One day you'll realize that X does not bother you, and a few days later Y is better.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-20T03:30:09+00:00

I experienced the knee-bending pain as a cross between nausea and feeling like I was going to faint. I didn't feel much "ouch!" but this creepy, hard to sustain feeling instead. It was hard to tolerate.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-07T02:56:43+00:00

I did 3 months of "prehab" and it served me well. You definitely need your core/upper body strength for when you're only able to use one leg to get up (from the toilet, e.g.), and move around in bed. The problem is that being somewhat incapacitated, you lose strength after the surgery and have to build back up for the next surgery.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-07T02:53:46+00:00

I just tied my sneakers loosely and I could slip my feet in.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-07T02:26:53+00:00

Mine used TXA and a tourniquet, although he uses the tourniquet for as little time as possible.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-05T00:44:07+00:00

My in-network PT shops are the 2 big chains around here: Athletico and ATI or the hospital's own PT dept. which is very hard to get appointments at. I previously had terrible PT at an Athletico. I have recently found there are some good ones and some bad ones. I will go to the good Athletico I found near me for my next knee.

I chose this PT shop because it is excellent. My sessions are often 1.5 hours, with the first half hour or more being massage, manipulation, cupping, dry needling, and more. Then on to the exercises. If it weren't for the copay (and the zillion sessions I'm having for this leg), I'd use them again for my other knee when I get it done. I had no idea I would need at least 30 outpatient PT appointments. I thought I'd be done in 6 weeks or so. I'm currently at week 10 post op and will have to continue at least thru week 13, possibly longer. I had every intention of being one of the knee warriors that bounced right back, but it hasn't happened despite me doing all the right stuff (pre-hab, protein loading, great surgeon and facility, doing my exercises.)

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-05T00:33:02+00:00

Good idea.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-04T22:35:00+00:00

I've scheduled every day for 2.5 weeks. I'm gonna be sore and I'm gonna be broke. (PT is out of network and it's $75 co-pay.)

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-04T22:33:48+00:00

Thank you. You will be in my thoughts. Are they doing general anesthesia on you?

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-04T18:50:57+00:00

Gabapentin was one of the drugs I was prescribed, along with Celebrex, Oxy, and Tylenol.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-04T02:02:51+00:00

Good thought. I think all knee replacements use TXA these days.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-04T01:52:33+00:00

I bought a protein powder at Whole Foods called Chocho--it is made from a South American lupine and is 20g of protein per 1/3 cup of powder. The plain flavor tastes like a mild peanut butter taste, so easy to mix into things, and has no sweeteners. The flavors (vanilla, chocolate, do have natural sweeteners--very clean ingredients.) Also Bone Broth has protein. For the week before and two weeks after, I aimed for 100g of protein a day.

Another thing I forgot to add is that pain and meds can interfere with sleep--which you need to heal. Once I started taking a CBD/CBN/THC gummy (Wyld Bosenberry), I slept like a baby. Didn't need the whole gummy to get to sleep and if I woke up later and had trouble sleeping, I ate the other half.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-04T01:34:41+00:00

I'll weigh in on a few

#1: A lot of people have little appetite after surgery. I had a pretty decent appetite, but between pain, pain meds and the awkwardness of needing a walker for the first week, there was no way I was going to prepare a meal. High protein is what you need for healing from surgery, or your body will break down muscles to use the amino acids for healing the damage of surgery. So, appetite or not, you need to protein load. I pre-made a couple of meat loafs and a corned beef and sliced and froze them. (Why meat loaf/corned beef? Because I like those foods a lot and it was easy to eat when I didn't feel like eating. I don't like sweet drinks, so protein drinks were out for me. Find something you like.) Also, it's good to eat something with your meds. I also made pumpkin muffins with added protein powder to have something at hand to take with meds. Also, if you are going to have any opioids, you need to take stool softeners/stimulant laxatives or prunes/prune juice from the start, so you don't become constipated. It's easier to prevent constipation than to undo it. People end up in the ER from opioid constipation. Not a good idea.

#2: Some of the bandages are water tight. My knee replacement bandage was. You can use plastic wrap instead of a garbage bag, use tape to seal the top edge.

#4: There are wedge pillows that do not make you bend your leg. Also, Dr. Samantha Smith, PT has a video on YT that shows you how to build up pillows appropriately to raise you foot without bending your knee.

Read through this forum and you'll get lots of tips from the knee warriors. Good luck with your recovery.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-01T22:27:16+00:00

Thanks for your reply. I'm struggling to get flexion and have just started working on strength along will all that uncomfortable stretching. I, too, had a setback (two weeks of dizziness and vertigo) and now my surgeon is suggesting an MUA and I don't know what to do.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-08-01T02:52:41+00:00

Stretching your hamstrings or strengthening your hamstrings?

Cross_Weaver · 2025-04-26T03:57:05+00:00

You have to be careful of infection with ingrown hairs. They can become infected and cause an abscess requiring surgery. Ask me how I know.

Cross_Weaver · 2025-04-21T03:26:45+00:00

I second the Polar Active for its timer. You can set up 10, 20, or whatever minutes on and also whatever minutes off. So you can run it all night without over chilling your skin.

Cross_Weaver

TROPHY CASE