Well had my 2nd TKR on April 11. I believe it when they say no two are the same. With this one I became hyper sensitive to touch. I couldn't lift my leg at all No one could touch my leg and my thigh swelled up to two times it's normal size. I'm black and blue from top of thigh to bottom of calf. I am just now able to lift leg with no help. Walking has been easier then last time and as long as I'm in the house I can walk unassisted. My biggest problem is the swelling. I have been icing twenty four seven. And I'm still swollen from my thigh to my ankle. What should I do? Pain wise it is a lot less then the other one. I am also taking ibuprofen for the swelling. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
You only had your op 7 days ago? I had mine 10/2/17 & still got loads of swelling down whole length of leg & thro to foot. Physios told me not to ice all the time, only for 20mins 3-4 times day. Its something to do with blood cells renewing or something like that. Specialist Nurse practitioner at hosp follow up apt told me that swelling was normal & it's still early days. I don't find ice eases swelling either, jus relieves pain a bit. If u can lift your leg already you're doing well. Took me alot longer to do that. I was also told that swelling should start improving after bout 3mnths. Take it easy, rest & lay off the ice.
You only had your op 7 days ago? I had mine 10/2/17 & still got loads of swelling down whole length of leg & thro to foot. Physios told me not to ice all the time, only for 20mins 3-4 times day. Its something to do with blood cells renewing or something like that. Specialist Nurse practitioner at hosp follow up apt told me that swelling was normal & it's still early days. I don't find ice eases swelling either, jus relieves pain a bit. If u can lift your leg already you're doing well. Took me alot longer to do that. I was also told that swelling should start improving after bout 3mnths. Take it easy, rest & lay off the ice.
Sorry that posted twice!
Mary, Tkr Feb 2016. I also had massive swelling and bruising. Ice 20 minutes on 20 minutes off. I also move my bed so that I could rest my legs up on the wall....elevation was a key for me. Still early...rest too. 2x daily laying in bed with legs elevated above hear for an hour.
best of luck to you!
just remember leg will swell and resting, hydration and exercise and time will heal all.
pam
They iced it all the time in the hospital this time and last time. They sent me home with the ice machine and told me to keep icing and to move it around. I go to pt tomorrow and see if it has changed. Thanks
Hey Pam, they had me on the ice machine all the time in the hospital and had me move it around. I go to pt tomorrow and see if they have changed the rules since I did it five months ago as I'm doing as I did then. Thank you
Mary, by all means do what you were told. We are all different. I was iced 24 at hospital also. The extreme wall elevation was good for me. I did this 45 minutes before bed. I remember thinking my leg would pop it was so swollen and shiny.
Also rest laying in bed for 1 hours 2x a day and elevate above your heart. I think we are all different. I know a lot of us have been told ice 20 on 20 minutes off or the ice will not help. My hubby had rotator cuff surgery and we did 24 hour ice for first 4 days.
not sure how you are keeping ice but frozen water bottles in ice machine with ice works well.
good luck!
Thank you. You never know with everything changing all the time. Lol
Hi Mary
I never found too much relief with ice, but I reiterate what Pam said, elevate, elevate, elevate.
Did the same surgeon do your 2nd op?
Take care
Marilyn
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Mary, are you wearing compression socks that go up to the knee? I wonder if that saves some swelling. I wore mine for just over five weeks (should have been six but I was pretty active by then so it didn't seem a risk). Are you keeping the leg well elevated too - above hip level? All in all, it sounds as though you're doing pretty well though!:-))))) What were the differences between the first and second, would you say?
Yes the same surgeon totally different reactions.
No compression socks swelling has gone down. This time the knee itself doesn't hurt but the back of the leg hurts.
Thanks Mary, I wondered as Chris was asking about different outcomes with the same surgeon.
It's amazing, how 2 recoveries can be sooo different.
I hope the swelling goes down soon for you.
Regards
Marilyn
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Hi Mary - you are just beginning - just keep icing. My second one was a sweller too, more than the first. Same too with the bruising from quad to calf for me- it'll go away - just ice - take your meds and take it ez! Sending positive thoughts your way!
Thank You Jeanie.
Yes, it does bring home that some of the aspects of recovery are outside our control, and the luck of the draw, doesn't it!
Ah, others have said about the leg hurting too, haven't they. I wonder what that is!?
The leg lifting matter will improve. I am almost 6 weeks post op and have only been able to do a straight leg raise (easily) about a week ago. Slowly it will get stronger. Up til then it felt like a large elephant was sitting on it AND it was superglued to the bed! I massaged mine gently... I am not sure if it helped with the swelling but I thought in theory it should. While elevated I would gently massage towards the heart, maybe your physio could show you a technique for doing this or google on the internet.