After almost 5 months tkr I am still swollen.
I must admit I should ice more. Bending
fine, but swollen. Also not going upstairs
without a little discomfort. Am I doing okay?
Ice and elevate several times a day. It's a pain but the key to getting rid of swelling.
Thank you so much Jen. I will be more proactive in doing so.
HI recovery from this surgey can take a long time for some of us i had my first op
june last year and still have some minor pain keep your leg elevated when resting and use that ice it sounds like you are doing fine at 5 months ps do the exersises
good luck
Thanks Alan...I am so happy I joined this blog. Makes me
feel a lot more confident.
How is your strength?
Hi Barbara
I had 2 tkrs this year, one in January and one in March, so I'm very nearly in the same boat as you with the second tkr.
Just wanted to let you know that there is definitely hope on the horizon 😊!!
Happy to hear that you're not experiencing pain but swelling only.
My best relief right now is just to get off my feet and elevate if possible. Get enough good restful healing sleep, and eat healthy to maintain a healthy weight.
Keeping my body moving, but not overdoing it and taking my anti- inflammatories seems to be the key right now.
Stay strong, stay positive, things definitely get better it just takes healing time. From what I understand it takes almost a year. for these joints to actually feel like part of our bodies.... so you're doing super!!
Best wishes for good health and healing, God Bless.
I just read Jen's reply, this may still work for some tkrs. I know that for me that cold and ice right now actually bother my knees. I would much rather have them warm, maybe not heating pad warm, but warm ...but that's just me. Always best to find out what works best for you.
hi im over 22 stone and new knee is working ok never going to be as good as your own but a lot less painfull than the one i had
My overall strength is good, leg strength is fine on bike and elliptical - but somewhat sore for a day because I push myself
Hi Barbara, sounds like you should still be icing regularly to help with swelling .. have to admit I did stop elevating around that time as I found that the swelling would go but come back dr said that while elevating the fluid had to go somewhere so was going down to my rear end. I'm now at 10.5 mths post op and are still icing due to swelling and tightness occassionally I use heat but I do find the ice works better and the heat is great if any muscles are feeling a bit tight. Have to admit I'm still very slow going up and down stairs .. as I never have to use them but it I do I use a rail and sometimes when I'm out at the shopping centre I use a crutch just to make others aware .. suggestion by surgeon/dr/physio. My bend and straightening are good but still suffer with alot of swelling which I was told for some knees that this is normal.
Take care and remember it's a long journery 12-18mths for most and every knee is different on it's recovery and listening to it is the best you can do.... Tracey
Hi Tracey,
Thank you so much for your reply. I feel so much better after reading your response. I will take your suggestions. 😊
I had my TKR done a year ago this past April. About 2 months post op, I was told to start massaging the scar area (this helps break up any scar tissue) as well as the rest of the knee. Also while massaging to move the knee cap up, down and side to side. Yes it does move!!! It is a bit uncomfortable at first but it does help with any swelling, stiffness or soreness. I iced my knee as long as I had PT which was about 6 months. Massage 10 minutes, 3 times a day with something like Palmers Skin Therapy Oil, Bio Oil, coconut oil. It really does help!!!! I still massage my knee if it feels like it needs it, even though it's been over a year. The stairs take some doing, my problem was going down and having to bend the knee, coming back up was no problem. This all takes time and a lot of patience!!! There is a light at the end of the tunnel. After all this was one bear of a surgery!!!! They are not kidding when they say it will take up to a year or better to get back to normal. Hang in there as things will get better.
Thank you so much - great advice. I know when I was in PT, she always massaged my knee. Thank you again, appreciate all the info.
Hi, due to never having rehab or pt until 6mths post op I never had my knee massaged however neither surgeon/dr or pt have said anything about me having scar tissue so I'm a little unsure about that. See my pt tonight and will ask .. so glad you mentioned it
Keep pushing the joint is new, tissue will be painful and get inflamed. It will pay off. I went paddle boarding at 7 weeks.
No rehab or PT for 6 months...ouch!!! There are some doctors/surgeons here that don't believe in any of that for at least 3 months. I'm glad they started with me when I was still in the hospital. I knew it was going to take a LONG time and wanted to get started ASAP!!! I could feel the scar tissue when I'd run my fingers along the incision, as it felt thicker.
Next knee I'm having rehab & pt straight away .. bugger all these issues I've had .. it's been one great learning experience unfortunately at my cost due to pain etc...
Hi deb n barb, I hear u all. I'm five months in as well, however I still have the swelling, pain n stiffness (sps), I wonder the same as you, but reading all the positive reinforcement from this wonderful forum, I believe we all have a better road ahead. I know how this can get u down, please try to stay strong, you'll get there. Sometimes I wonder if the prosthesis is too large??? I lost a ton of weight, wonder maybe that's why it seems so big. Goin to doc/surgeon with questions in hand. I'm currently at 110/2, had surgery March 14. I'm not complaining, just would like good/better results down the road. Hang in there, and good health and healing to all, best kathy
My surgery was March 29 and I am still stiff and swollen, in fact I am icing as I am typing. So many have said it takes a year or longer . Hang in