had a knee replacement jan 2018, into my 11th week now, im 70 years old and farly fit. been doing exercises evey day. knee doesnt seem to be getting any better, still painfull, creepy crawly sensations in my leg, knee is warm most of the time, getting very little sleep, i use ice packs, (how often should i ice) can walk ok, how should my knee be feeling and how should i be feeling.( frustrated & depressed) can any one help.
I am exactly the same Peter although I’m a bit behind you, had my op in February. Knee painful all the time and hot a lot. Always using ice. Disturbed sleep every night and I haven’t slept more than four hours since before the op. Can’t bear the bedclothes on my knee and I sleep on my side with a pillow between my legs. Little appetite and even short outings wipe me out. It is depressing when you’ve been so active in the past. I thought I was alone until I looked on the forums and saw I was in the majority not the minority. I think we need to be patient and let our bodies guide us to recovery. It is a massive operation which is downplayed before the surgery. Kim
Hate to sound like a pro but I have been thru 5 TKR's all on the same knee. 11 weeks out it is till going to hurt but it should also feel better then when you first got home? In my case the surgery pain gets much better after 6 months. I can also tell you based on my own TKR's is watch out for infection. The signs are fever lots of swelling hot to the touch and lots of pain. after surgery it will be painful but given time it should subside and I have been told even though my skin is warm to the touch its still okay. If I do too much I end up paying for it example for me if I walk a half mile I am okay if I walk 1.5 miles I am going to pay for it. when it gets to the point where it hurts pretty bad after activity I wrap it in ice. Depending on how it feels I may ice it 5-6X a day.. Yes pain stinks and it gets real old dealing with it. there are times you hurt and you have not done anything, the weather changes sometimes there is no reason. I really wish I could say in 3 months you are going to be great everybody is different as long as you do not develop an infection stay active even though it hurts things should get better and if you feel they aren't you can always contact your surgeon. Hope this makes sense and you feel better soon
This is still very early days really.
When I had TKR at 61 years old, 6 years ago I was told it would be about a year before you really begin to feel the benefits and I reckon that was about right.
Sorry if this sounds a long time to you right now but better to be honest and realistic.
Regarding sleeping have you tried sleeping with a pillow between your knees?
Are you still sleeping on your back or have you progressed to sleeping on your side?
Hang on in there and don't give up.
Sarah
In TKRville, the word "should" has been stricken from the lexicon. There is no "should"; everyone is different. In general, however, you're near the end of the worst part of this. Your next phase will probably include some rapid advances to the six month mark. Most report feeling "more like their old selves" by nine months and then you dance at you one-year anniversary party.
Your problem seems to be expectations...there are none. Let go of them and "timetables"...they just screw with your head. The op is very Zen: "The knee will be better when it's better." You cannot push this thing. Try and it swells like a balloon. Stay focused, stay strong. Time, work and patience...that's the formula...
I also had my knee replacement in January and have been going through some of the same things you talked about it has been brutal I am getting better which I guess is a good sign so just hang in there and I must say keep reading some of the comments on this website they definitely help we're not alone we all are going through the same thing and I have been getting some great positive feedback good luck
Read around this forum, both answers you get and older posts.
You have had brilliant replies already but I will add a bit more to the pot! You are going to need to be very very patient! Its going to be a matter of pacing things carefully and will be for at the very least six months and possibly more.
Use a stick from time to time if you need to as it helps reduce pain. Gradually what you can do will increase, but in your own knees time! I was icing 5 or six times a day.
An awareness of restrictions surfaces now and again, and will do for six months or even up to a year for some. Everyone is different. The consciousness of this is bound to make you feel anxious and low in mood. Because while before having the surgery you have your restrictions, you imagine having the surgery and them all being taken away. Well, this is true, but it is not quite like that. There is a kind of purgatory phase between having the surgery and reaping the benefits in full. And this is a difficult and challenging experience. It is the awareness, ever more present than has ever previously been in one’s life, that one is not a master of time! The time it takes to heal is not something we can control and so demands of us a level of patience and understanding that we may not have previously extended towards ourselves.
Read around the forum and knowing you are not alone may offer some encouragement.
You can choose older posts by picking through the page numbers shown on the KNEE PROBLEMS main page. Look to the right of the page subtitle "All discussions in this group" and you will see page 1 but flick on the arrow to see other previous pages also.
You may like to go to my profile by clicking on the image next to my name. I kept a journal of my own knee replacement journey, and I have been told by several people they found it helpful to read, or skim through. It's got a lot of general information in it, and gives you one person's experience right from hospital to the 12 month mark!
Good wishes to you for your recovery.
I found relaxation techniques vital for sleep, mindfulness, meditation and prayer helped me a lot. Now 12 months post op, and it has been more than worth it, but it is hard in the early weeks and months.
Are you drinking plenty of water. Dehydration is one of the most overlooked and misunderstood parts of recovery. A tight, stringy muscle just doesn't heal rapidly or properly. Be sure to elevate so the leg is slightly above the heart and add something like a good anti inflammatory to your medications. I've used Aleve which is an every 12 hr med. Also, if all the scabs are gone and there is no more drainage, massage vit E oil in the knee twice a day. Great healer plus soothing but don't expect immediate results. It will take a few days.
What others have written is true Patience!!! This will not be better tomorrow or next week or next month it takes time. I understand unforgettably being in pain daily is absolutely no fun, going to PT 2-3X a week stinks pushing yourself to hard and paying for it later, yes it gets rather depressing. As everyone has said keep doing what the Dr. has said do your exercises. By doing your exercises ( I know its painful ) the faster you will get thru this but its still going to take time. Do not be afraid to ice I am icing pretty frequently.
hi kim, its not anice op, we are both in the same situation with same problems, how do you do your exercises. ive got 15 to do, i will do one, repeating 10 times, have a rest for say 20 min, then start on the next exercise until all 15 are done, how often do you ice your knee. look forward to your reply. peter
thanks for your reply,i feel for you, hope things get better.ill just plod on,what pain killers are you on , i seem to be on the lowest dose, 5mg of shortech 4 times a day
hi sarah, i still sleep on my back, as i cant sleep on my side yet, i wll try a pillow between my legs, it does sound like a long process, i will just keep on going, thanks for your input
cheers, i guess i was expecting to much, it does seem worse somedays
cheers colleen, i am still in a lot of pain, cant feel any difference to my knee feels like a block of concrete, is that normal? no problems doing the exercises, peter
thanks for your input jenny, it is being patient, so i will plod along
thanks for your input, i will try the oil plus more water, i do massage my thigh above my knee and leg which sooths for a little while, how often do you elavate your leg?
thanks for your input, patience is the virtue, i hope i am not overdoing my exerceses, i do ice but probobly only twice a day,
You asked about elevation you may not like this but there is a reason for it, If your lying on the sofa bed etc and you need to elevate you put a pillow under your ankle the reason being the idea is to let gravity help straighten your knee yes it hurts but it does help. I am also very well aware if you put the pillow under your knee it feels so much better but being less then 3 months out I would do what I first suggested and to make sure ask your PT.
Every chance i get.
Hi Peter, I am fortunate as I have about 120 degrees flexion and a good extension. The physio reckons I will be discharged on my next visit and I’ve had only two visits. Strengthening my muscles now are her main concern so I do 4x exercises x 10repeats five times a day plus a short walk.
I ice my knee four to five times a day especially if I’ve overdone it. Today at six weeks I’ve driven for the first time (just a short distance). My car is automatic. So a short drive and a quick visit to the supermarket has wiped me out!
I had an infection which was undetected till week 4. So unwell and prescribed two lots of evil antibiotics which knocked me about more. I hardly eat anything and still losing weight. Hate the inactivity. Would love to sleep through the night but after one or two hours tops my knee wakes me up. I’ve never been low in my life but this took me to a real low. However I feel each day a little of me comes back.