Hi,
I am now at 21 weeks. Last week I hardly slept. The swelling on my knee seems completely gone, accept when I overdo it.
With the loss so swelling my knee became clunky and it seemed to be clicking into place. The doctor thought so too.
Pits getting better now, I am sleeping without a pillow between my knees. It gets uncomfortable, but not so often.
my bend is 147 degrees. So, I think I have really turned the last corner (fingers crossed).
Im still taking painkillers at night to get me through, and occasionally during the day.
Caz x
That bend is brilliant! Well Done!
Try not to overdo it! This is easier said than done!
Hi! I'm now 17 weeks and the swelling in my left TKR suddenly reduced last week and like you, it only returns after a lot of exercise, but I also have a clicking, clunking horrible feeling in my knee and can't sleep! Although I'm glad to get rid of the swelling and my bend is now very good, this new sensation is driving me nuts and I was on the point of seeing my GP so I'm glad that I'm not alone with this new development! I was beginning to wonder if it was all falling apart!
Hi Caz. Seems like you are turning that magic corner just need to get your sleep pattern sorted and its up and away. I am now 26weeks and up to 2weeks ago still felt wretched, say no more, do not want to jinx anything.take care Caz you are almost there .
Yes Glenda, it all sounds the same as me. I drove down south for a two day beach getaway with my daughter, three hours each way, and I swam a lot. That felt strange. Like you say, sort of dislocated, like a loosely strung puppet.
Caz x
hi Tucks, well let's hope so, and that you aren't far behind. You need some sun!
Caz x
Hi PollyBB,
I use an iPhone goniometer app. It's always been the same reading as my physio, but I was amazed! My good leg is 150degrees.
Caz x
Your loosely strung puppet description sums up the feeling exactly! I wonder if anyone else is, or has experienced this? This TKR business is one long road of different stages isn't it? You get rid of one problem and then you're onto the next! Will we get to the stage where we can actually forget which knee has been replaced??!
Hi Caz,
You sound to be doing marvelous , I still get pain & swelling if I overdo things, can't beleive what a good bend you have, amazing, I'm 23 weeks almost & my bend is still only about 110, how did you achieve such a good bend? I am trying my utmost, & so is my physio. I feel like I have a restriction at the back of my knee, b ut will mention it to my surgeon when I see him on 3rd March. My leg is almost straight & I walk normally, it is just the bend that troubles me as my other leg is 150 degree like yours.
Lynn
Hii Caz good news that you're doing so well
I'm seeing my surgeon next Wed so hopefully he can explain why I'm still in pain
i'm really fed up now I've done everything you're supposed to do so there must be some unknown reason why my knee still bruises if i do too much walking
roll on Wednesday and hopefully some positive news
all the best Caz x
i just wanted to say Hi
nothings changed with me yet...still hoping to run that marathon though..(not)😄
Jean
Hi Glenda,
Im now 12 at weeks and one of the things that just started enjoying is this clunking and clicking. I wonder what is your experience with it so far. Do you think it is down to the muscles being weaker and once they get back to their strength it'll somehow disappear .....
I only experience this half of the time and it makes me wonder why....am sure it can be addressed by doing some muscle strengthening exercises...
joseph
Hi Lynn,
I still get days and nights when I have a fair amount of pain. My bend wasn't this good until I went away with my daughter. There was a spa and the step into it was very steep, above knee high. I got in ok, but when I went to get out, I had so much trouble bending my knee enough to do it. I think I might have forced it. It was either that or stay in the spa for ever!
It was a strange action, pulling on the bars with my hands, my left foot out of the spa, being wet and having to use my leg muscles to bend my bad knee high enough to get out. I couldn't use my hands.
I was lucky to have a zero from the start with straight.
Good luck on the 3rd March.
Caz x
Hi Jean,
Dont let your surgeon fob you off on Wednesday with the time heals stuff. You really sound like you could use some help. I don't bruise when I walk and I have the kind of skin that bruises if you look at me too hard!
Let me know what he says.
Thinking of you
Caz x
Hi! My clicking and clunking followed on after the swelling went down and its driven me mad since then! I'm not sure what's happening but a friend of mind who had her TKR over two years ago has just informed me that her TKR does this fairly often, especially during exercise. It's the "lose" feeling that I can't stand! If it doesn't go away I might resort to contacting the Consultant to ask if it's just mending or if it's all falling apart!
thanks Caz
will let you know what he says
i definitely won't let him fob me off
Jean
Hi Caz
update as promised
I went to see the Surgeon today I had X-rays on my knee from every angle...my hip...my pelvis and my spine
the knee is perfect..the problem I have is a trapped sciatic nerve ..hence the pain at the back of my knee...it could take up to 12 months to sort itself out...8 painkillers per day on a regular basis.
i haven't been discharged yet I have to go back in 6 months even though I still have to put up with the pain at least I know it isn't the prosthesis
so I carry on hobbling around for a while longer
Jean
Hi Jean,
Well at least you know for sure now what has been causing your pain. That must be some relief for you.
Is this something that will go away on its own? Did the doctor give you exercises to do? What type of pain killers are you to take? That sounds like a lot. Sure hope it all helps and you will be good as new again soon.
Good to read your posts & see your name again. Have you been doing any writing?
Take care, Betty
hi Betty
yes I have exercises to do...and my painkillers are co- codamol
I'm going to try swimming again starting next week I'm sure that will help
its good to know the knee prosthesis is ok and my bend is really good
but it hasn't made the pain go away...they said at the hospital it can take up to 12 months to settle down
it seems like one problem solved has made another one.
but I must admit I was worried there was something wrong with the knee but with the amount of X-rays I had yesterday it shows everything is fine with it.
and as for writing I'm always writing some poem or other I must have ink instead of blood😄
I sorted everything out last week and I have 176 poems 14 short stories...the children's stories and my novel
the next thing I'll be going to see my GP for is writers cramp😄
I hope things are getting better for you
Jean
Hi Jean,
I am so glad that your surgeon took you seriously and did all those X-rays.
So you now know what is causing all your pain. A trapped sciatic nerve! Ouch!
At least you know that it's not your knee.
Living on continuous painkillers is so hard though. I still take Panadol Osteo twice daily and Panadeine Forte at night.
Summer is coming, I hope it brings a bit of relief for you.
We have booked our holiday back to the UK. July 15th we fly to Mauritius for 4 days, then Paris for 2 days. Then we are going to catch the train under the channel to London! I'm so excited, I haven't seen my brothers and sister for years. I'm even going to my art school reunion!
I hope the knee holds up.
Much love
Caz x