Hello people I am finding this journey so changeable. I am on the whole really happy with the operation and my recovery, I can walk, go up stairs, bend and straighten. I have to take it easy or the usual swelling and heat happens and I generally have to take a day out to recover, so learned my lesson there. Now I am noticing as bits of me come back to life, from being numb this seems to involve more/different pain....What worries me is that I have a definite pain now over the top of the joint and behind the knee when I do my knee bend exercises that was not there before! Everything else is fine, so much so that my other joint pains are bothering me more than the TRK
I think it's all normal, just using different mussels. You will find something new every day. It's like a surprise package. You are doing very well.
Morning Suki...I'm three weeks as of yesterday and just left PT this morning. I too have a fair amount of pain behind my knee. PT said most of that is do to my quad muscles not being strong enough. So today we worked on balancing on my tkr and taking small bends and then locking that leg out. We also worked on walking forward then balancing on tkr leg for 4 seconds then repeat across the room. We worked walking backwards with 12 degree incline on a treadmill as well as using colored bands tied around my knee of the tkr leg while the PT pulled on the band as I did squats. He said that pain will go away as I get stronger with my quad and balance.
I'm hopeful..good luck to you and I'm sure it will get better with time.
Brent
Hi Suki
I've had 2 TKR
My last one which is 8 months ago I have the same symptoms as you've describe. And became worse over time. Ive just had a scan and have hamstring tendonitis. I am in a splint until i see surgeon again.
hope you get it sorted.
You are getting the entire experience bit by bit. Nothing unusual as nerves are refiring and life is returning. You will have this for weeks even months to come. If you start getting into the feet and ankles this sometimes lasts longer.
Depending on how much bleeding you had and the amt of tourniquet that was used you will have deep bruising and restricted blood flow. As the capillaries and small veins start functioning differently sensations, some being pain, will resurface for short times. Just stay in track with excercises and give it time. TKR is a gift that keeps on giving. This is a process and everyone goes through it......at different paces. Don't try and measure your progress with anyone else and don't try and rush it beyound your own bodies capabilities. Slow, steady progress is the way to move and try not to get excited about perception of yourself and others in the process. Just keep in mind that soon you will be back to normal....it might just be a new normal.
Well thanks for this, especially the bit about the bleeding and the ankles that was great, I bled a lot, had to have a transfusion 2 days later and my ankle and lower leg are still bruised and dented I wondered what that was all about . I am still quite numb on the left of the actual knee and sore where the retiring has happened, it's so good being able to get info this forum it's very reassuring, normally pain when exercising means stop! Thanks for taking time to answer, all the best with your journey Cheers Suki
Lol I love your surprise package analogy.....it's certainly that all the best to you Cheers Suki
Ooo blimey that sounds horrid I do hope your surgeon can sort it for you, all the best Suki
I am about 2 weeks out and I am still in so much pain, everyone wants me to do all these exercises but when I do I swell and can barely walk the next morning, someone please help.I am so scared, and I don't sleep at night either from pain waking me up
As I've mentioned all to meant times on here, iv ed had 11 surgeries and 5 complete rehabs on one leg plus 30 rounds of radiation . I've yet to have one the same but of these things in all of them. I've had blood transfusions 4 times and the bleeding can really do strange things to the process.
Thank you this makes me feel better,
Take a 1/2 step back . you are still in the very 1st steps and haven't even gotten much further that getting the stitches out. Just look at your leg.......scabs, bleeding a little.....how can you expect anything but a swollen, painful leg. You had the leg nearly cut off, bone chilled and drilled, a massive hunk of foreign material cemented in, nerves cut, soft tissue bruised and fileted, circulation cut off with a tourniquet causing damage to circulatory system plus other scary sounding things. On to of that......my guess is no one told you about all of this.
Now what to do.....take pain meds as prescribed. Don't worry about all this crap about addiction, etc. You aren't and you won't be. Work your leg as instructed but as best as you can. Don't put yourself into pain. Slow and steady. Hydrate excessively.....rest as much as you can and don't worry about clutter and other people's perspective....you are you...not them. Elevate everytime you sit or lay. Hydrate....I know I just mentioned it but it so important I mentioned it again. Don't worry about napping during the day.....it's an indication you bodybid whipped and telling you to leave it the hell alone for awhile. Like everyone else that goes through it you will soon understand that you too will make it . just keep doing the things your body allows and all will fallinto place. Its a PROCESS.....no way around it just don't talk to yourself being and doing something you aren't. 6 weeks should be the 1st benchmark and nothing soone. Watch for signs of real concerns....extreme swelling and heat in the incision, strange, nasty drainage from the incision or burning pain in the calf....with those.....emergency room and fast.
Good luck....stay with this group of warriors. They have been through it and know the ropes. You are heading for normal.....it may be a new normal but you will own it....it won't own you. I've been through 11 surgeries, 3 different prosthesis and 5 rehabs and seen about everything except blood clots. You will be fine......just don't quit.
Suki51
My suggestion will be go back to your GP. I don't know why your having Phyio. Is it because you haven't reached full ROM. i was sent home with a piece of paper with instructions to do gentle stretching exercises.
my problem i have is my knee replacement is off line causing valgus deformity. (knock Knee)
At 6 wks po TKR i got to see consultant. I had full ROM so didn't need physio. my 6 month check up and xray was when they decided to get a scan done and showed the tendonitis, and valgus deformity. Please dont go over doing it!
Thank you so much, no one told me any of this information, this makes me feel so much better, I am in pain, but my wound is very clean and dry, I just can't thank you enough for taking all this time to explain the process, God bless you fellow sufferer
Everything that oldfatguy said and ice! Exercise, leg up and ice! Make sure your painkillers are strong enough too, if you were taking painkillers for arthritis before the op then you will need stronger painkillers now, like Tramadol or Oralmorph there is no way you can get better if you are not sleeping and no way you can exercise if you are in great pain. It is very early days for you and it will get better keep the faith and good luck Cheers Suki
Oh no you have a misalignment, my surgeon corrected my knock knee misalignment which is why one side is more stretched than the other, I get to see my surgeon on Monday I will check with him. What is ROM?
Thank you so much, I knew about the icing it doesn't help with the pain but it does address the swelling, I am taking hydrocodin, thank you again for all the encouragement
Did he correct misalignment after TKR? mine was fine till the op. ROM means Range of movement. And am getting a little mixed up as i don't think it was you who mentioned having physiotherapy lol
All these pain meds makes ya confused lol. x
I have had 2 TKR i joined a group on twitter called my knee guide it is run by Dr Hatton who is a American orthopaedic surgeon its a fab group....like on here but Dr Hatton gives great advice as he is a surgeon 4 knees. he also on Facebook and pinterest.
Hi
2 weeks....you are just beginning this journey....I am 7 weeks post op.....just starting feeling a little better....still taking meds for pt and when my I have night pain....which sucks....
take it easy.....no overdoing it....take your meds exactly as prescribed (I thought I knew better and tried to reduce the meds when I got home....stupid stupid) ice and elevate....be gentle to yourself....stretch carefully...I would do it an hour after taking meds....good luck...it does get better