hi I just need some help I am 10 days post op my bend has not improved much from discharge when it only reached 67. I was doing well first few days home but today can not move the knee much it is so swollen I have tried to ice and elevate it but it is shiney and to flex the foot is getting harder and the pad on the under foot is swollen to. It feels like there is someone sticking pins inside the knee area have rested today but can anyone tell me if this is normal x
At ten days post op I remember that my foot was very swollen, and just to put it to the floor was agony . . almost impossible to flex the ankle, and the leg was still very stiff and very little bend. . . I was very slow in the first two or three weeks, but since then I think I have more or less progressed OK! Because of all the swelling my surgeon kept me in hospital for 12 days! But really I know he was being kind to me becaue I know him well, and he knew we have a lot of steps at home and I was really worried about how I would get in . . but yes, at ten days, very swollen, more than at five days . . .and I really was beginningto think I would never walk again! Try to keep it moving in spite of everything, but no forcing it. . poor knee is feeling very sorry for itself!
Thank you I am still trying but the pain is so bad I am also unable to lift it onto the bed where it is so heavy! I know we all have a long journey but I did not expect the level of pain involved. I have stairs etc which I manage well. I wonder how Terri is feeling on her day 2 take care x
Hello Louise
please do not worry to much about your bend just yet. I am 12 weeks post op now and at 10 days I could barely move my leg at all it was so swollen. However i was not swollen under the foot. If you are worried get in touch with the doc. Its possible you were trying to do too much. I rested most of the time to be honest between attempting my exercises. You have not mentioned pain meds. What are you using? It took me 10 weeks to get to 90 degree bend and now I am 105. We all heal differently and you are in the early stages after this brutal op. It needs time to heal and rest. If it gets worse however I would get it checked just for reassurance.
Have you got a leg-lifter thing that goes under your foot to lift it?
Thank you came out of hospital with paracetamol and codeine but my doctor changed to tramadol and paracetamol so started the change yesterday time is what is needed thanks x
Yes but was worried that I was using it too much?
This may sound crazy but are you going through a major weather change.....barometer, cold snap, rain, etc? This kind of activity can cause pins and needles, swelling and a tremendous level of pain. You might try a little alternating heat and ice plus some massage. 10 min of warmth, not hot, 20 mins of ice. Gentle massage with plentynof pain meds
I have only just stopped using it. Be kind to yourself, you really need to make life as easy as possible in the early days.
The tramadol and paracetamol is what I was taking, and it's pretty good for the pain! Doesn't get rid of it, but it is a help! I found stairs to be very trying to begin with, so you are doing better than me with that. Don't rush things. . LOTS of rest, accept any help fri nds or relatives will give, and if you are still worried that the swelling is abnormal, get it checked out! Hope you have a good night's rest
Very swollen and can be on some days for
Several weeks. Have you been doing too
Much? Lot of bruising has still to come out and goes to the feet. Have to be patient . Don't forget your leg has been sliced. All the internal nerves cause stinging and scar tissue is there and internal stitches etc it's a major op and ten days is very early . If you're worried phone and ask. Keep up with rest elevation ice tablets and exercises - use a dressing gown belt to lift your leg into
Bed. At four weeks my bend was 75 but know when I go this week it will be a lot better .
I'm 5 weeks and finally some of that is receding but not gone. Sometimes it would feel like my leg or stitches were going to split but it just took time. use the painkillers now! I tried to be tough looking back it was foolish. I'm just about off them on a daily basis but worry about that later. At first it really is one day at a time!! Take care ... that was a lot of trauma you already braved thru
Hi iam 4 months post op TKR and like you i came out of hospital with codeine did nothing for pain so my doctor changed this to tramadol and they have been like my best friend great for pain . Iam now slowly coming of them . It had has taken a long time but it dose get better in time hang in there
My gp would not give me tramadol even though I had it in hospital he said amytriptyline was better and for me it has been good for nighttime and zapain in daytime. Six weeks tomorrow. Off with the stockings hurrah!
Bless you Louise, I was just scrolling back through earlier posts
to make sure that everything I'm experiencing is normal, and I
saw your mention of me 😊
On day 2, I was pretty much out of it, on a PCA Morphine pump,
inside of my leg totally numb from ankle to mid thigh, bedbound, and supposedly on hourly obs.
The nurses didn't check me often enough, and my catheter bag split and leaked all over the floor! When my daughter noticed,
and tried to get one of my nurses, who was discussing mobile
phone tariffs with the woman in the bed next to me, she was
told to wait!
Needless to say, despite the pain and general fed-upness I'm feeling at the moment, I'm way better than I was 2 weeks ago!
How are you? Xx
Hi Terri, you have had a rough start to your journey! My experience in hospital was very positive staff were there before you knew you wanted them! St Richards in Chichester have got hip and knees care brilliant. I was in for 5 days as my progress was slow as I started with the spinal and sedation then they gave me a G. A. As things went on longer. I am now23 days the swelling is the thing that stops me lifting leg op leg is double the size of the other one.butgetting there I am getting 5 - 7 hours sleep at night. Can now get up go to loo and back to sleep straight away. Would like to be able to do more but hey it will be there when I get back on my feet lol. Hope you are going on ok take care. Xx