a physio therapist made me go up and down 14 stairs at 3 weeks post op. Ever since I have had slot if swelling and it's uncomfortable above my knee.
Had a couple of good days then drove a lot now it's bad I feel I have gone back 3-4 weeks Does anyone have swelling above knee? I have great range of
Motion it's 128 but talot swelling and pain
Can't do very much. Anyone else going through this?
It is normal. Keep it moving and steps are okay. You need to build your muscles back up. Keep doing stretches and exercises ar home. All the best
Thanks I def am doing all the stretches and exercises :-). It swells when I stand and walk. I'm impatient I guess. Have to have the other one done in the spring so want this better now! ;-)
You are still VERY EARLY in the game.
Swelling is normal for even a year post-surgery according to my surgeon.
Steps can be challenging. Take it easy, and USE THE RAILING for sure! Going up is easier for me than going down. I STILL am VERY cautious as I go down steps even a YEAR after my surgeries!
Try icing more, elevating your legs way above your head, and using thigh-high compression stockings. All of these helped me with my swelling which was pretty much foot to thigh in those early weeks!
I'm at 9 weeks and I still have a lot of swelling to include swelling above the knee. It's been so frustrating!! I'm only bending to 120. My therapist finally decided we are over doing it at therapy so I'm going to stop going to physical therapy 3x a week and only do twice a week. She is hoping the swelling will go down and I'll be able to bend more. I've been feeling like my knee is really stiff lately too.
My knee is really stiff as well! Feels like a tight elastic band is tight around my knee.
my new Physio therapist said 3 weeks post op was way too soon for all those stairs. 6-7 weeks post op mayb. I was afraid my knee was damaged now
I had bilateral tkr this sunmer. The doctor had me on the steps ASAP. They are in my home. Ice and elevating helps. You just have to be patient and take it a day at a time. It wlll get better. Try to stay busy--keeping your mind occupied. Hang in there.
Thanks. Glad I found this forum .
Helps when u can talk to others ❤️
Don't you wish you had looked the pt in the eye and said no thank you, I will wait and do that when I am 8 weeks along. Learn from this and stand your ground with therapists who push too fast. You've got great ROM. All you need now is to strengthen your quads. You can find these exercises on the internet. My knee swells above it also, not concerned. Middle of the night it gets very hot and that's when I ice it.
I know that tight band very well, it's a sign to go rest it by putting it up.
Exactly, slow down the therapy and focus on bending. I quit altogether so I could do this. I'm at 120 now at 2 months soon.
It's not damaged, just sore for overdoing it. Need some down time. It took me usually two days to recover that sort of thing, so it made sense to go it alone cuz therapist don't have a middle ground unless you just refuse to do some of their things.
At your time post op, it is normal for swelling after walking. That part was very critical for me in learning what was too much. I'm glad I cut that back cuz now I can do more without the swelling.
First question....do you need to be climbing 14 steps immediately? Even if so, getting there gradually over a couple of weeks is far less traumatic and serves a much better purpose. Theraphy is supposed to stretch and strengthen not put you in pain and cripple you mentally and physically. 5 steps the 1st day....couple days 7 or 8....10 by the end of a week and so it goes. Hate to say it but it sounds more like boot camp than PT
No I hardly ever go downstairs!
Exactly, I have some words come to mind but saying them would probably get this post deleted. This kind of "therapy" is stealing the success of a new knee from her.
Hi, I had a partial knee replacement almost 6 weeks ago, and after 3 weeks, my Physio added three new exercises to the basic Ines I'd been doing, and one if them was to go up and down a step using my "bad" knee 10 times, I did it holding onto the hand rail, because all I could hear and feel, was a crunching noise! So I was scared it was too early. Then, I did some walking outside, which is totally different to walking in the house, and I must have over dine it, even though I used one stick, because my knee gave way, and I got a swelling on my knee, which is still there now. I got advice from the ward sister, and also from my Physio, who say its a common thing, and it'll go down, but its so easy to worry that you've damaged your new knee, then you wonder if your doing too much or not enough!
I feel OK to walk around the house without my stick, using the furniture and handrail, but am still using one stick when I walk outside. I can only do that for 20 minutes, and my knee swells up.
Me too! Its a godsend!
That sounds wrong sorry. Way to soon. You have excellent flexion at 128 but the knee has been to hell and back and needs time to heal. The swelling seems to be par for the course and for me happens more after exercise. I find ice is the best remedy as is elevation and using an anti flam cream.
Slow down and let it settle then slowly increase what you do again is my advise