Hi I'm nearly 5 weeks post op after knee replacement and I'm wondering does anyone have that heavy stiff feeling and aching after walking or just being on their feet for a while,it tends to be at the end of the day, and also my knee gives way suddenly sometimes , I'm trying to do all the normal daily chores but I don't feel I could be without my crutches ,am I being to expectant of what I think I should be doing. Thanks
Yep I think everyone on here will say the same. I hsve a tight band around my knees and they feel stiff. Exercise and walking helps. I am 9 weeks and 5 weeks after ,2 TKR
Me too, I try to walk it off but it comes back. I call it my natural bandage!
i don't think it's good that your knee gives way suddenly though, I don't get that. Maybe you should ask your doctor or physio about that.
Caz - Australia, 9weeks 3 days post TKR
And me too! I'm 5 weeks post TKR and my poor knee feels like it has an elastic band around it and also feels stiff. It doesn't give way though so I'd seek medical advice on that, but if I try and walk without a stick I've been informed by my family that I'm like peg leg as I'm hobbling, so I'm trying not to do that!
How are you doing with your bend, as I was measured at 80' last week and I'm trying very hard to get to 90' for this week's visit to the physio?
Can anyone out there tell us when the stiffness goes?!
hi Josh... I have had the very same symptoms you describe... everyone seems to have a set opinion on . oh you should be doing this ...don't do that... why do you still have crutches.? as long as you do your exercises eat well.. drink plenty water... take your pain meds.... and listen to your own body.... its a huge trauma to the body and everyone reacts and heals differently... my knee was giving away almost every day .. I spoke to my consultant who said it was because my quads were very weak.. I was trying to go without crutches and I had 3 bad falls when my knee went.. ....I bought an exercise bike and a balance ball which I use twice a day and it is helping.... I am 12 weeks post op... Take care Mary
Your knee shouldnt give way now. Go to your GP/surgeon. I went onto sticks at 17 days and without sticks by 28 days By 5 weeks I was walking slowly around the shopping mall Now at 8 weeks I have some pain after walking a distance but thats all. You should get your knee seen to quickly
Hi I'm nearly 12 weeks post op and still have the same as you although only if I do too much. My knee still gives way sometimes although not as much now as it used to so must mean I'm getting stronger. The stiffness kicks in if I do too much walking and it gets to a stage where I feel like I have to physically lift my leg to walk as it becomes really heavy. This op is really major and everyone reacts differently and recovers at different rates. Good luck with your journey x
hi there ... giving way is perfectly normal according to my doc. remember, this is major op and a lot gets pulled and pushed around and now your muscles are having to settle back down and gain strength. it gets less and less frequent but do do your exercises.
as for the heavy, aching leg that feels like an out of body experience ... we all have it. i am 11.2 weeks and last night i could hardly walk. the day before i was as fit as a fiddle. it comes and goes in waves for me so i am hanging in there for the next good day. nights can be bad with me tossing and turning for hours.
the crutches / sticks dilemma! as many have said here, listen to your body. if you are unsteady, then take them as you definitely don't want to fall and so yourself some damage. as long as you put normal pressure on both legs and just use the crutches to balance, you are not doing any harm. i switched to one stick but was leaning on it so hard i bruised the palm of my hand black and blue! so not good. i said sayonara to my crutches at 8.4 weeks. before that date it would have been impossible. so we are all different.
I am so sorry for those who are having problems. My op was 01/10/14 and some days I go without painkillers all day only taking them at night because of spasms. My walking gait is nearly back to normal and I dont use any walking aids.
Perhaps its the surgeon using different methods. Mine only operates on knees and the staff congratulated me on getting on his list. He actually does the op in 40 minutes, takes minimal bone and uses presision replacement prosthesis.
Last time I went to physio my kneebend was 115 and my last visit to her is on Friday.
This should be for research why some sail through and its fantastic and others are unable to walk unaidedand are in pain after 12 weeks
Sorry but Ive got my RGN hat on I retired in August when my knee did collapse at work so am still thinking nursing side.
It will get better in time
X to all
Ive just read on one reply that someone mentioned the quads not being strong. That could be the answer, I was going to the gym 3/4 times a week prior to surgery and am back at the twice a week now but only for 15 mins on static cycle Strengthen the quads by exercising all the time even when sitting. Tighten and relaxing the thigh muscles, 'pulling' the knee up. I have a laptop on my knees at the moment and can lift it up by using the muscles. These are the muscles to strengthen
That is the key..... I wish I had known to try and strengthen my muscles BEFORE surgery as they were already weak.. .
Hi there! Very interested in your post. Where are you located? And following on from your other post can you tell me what exercises you were doing prior to your surgery. I need to have both knees replaced but on my consultant's advice have deferred this for now. I too go to the gym and know I need to build up the muscles so it would help to do the right ones!
Your recovery is most encouraging but I know every knee's different but it is nice to hear your experiences.
Thank you!
Kind regards,
Gill
My normal gym work was 20 mins cycling 10 mins ski machine
upper body weights but for legs the machines were for closed exercise lifting the weights (only 1 weight on) The ankles under the bar and bring it up to straight, bent knee to straight, 20 times or what you can do. Closed exercise, legs straight out onto bar and push the bar down to a knee bending position 20 times. This is easier. This was included in the circuit I did
I go to the gym and use the cycle for 15 minutes. I have just managed to get the pedel to go right round, some pain but getting easier
In in Newcastle area My surgeon Proff Deeham
Thanks for replying. I'll try those. My main problem at the moment is my knee caps are just bone on bone but I am ok walking on the flat so I use the treadmill (after walking to the gym - (about 15 minutes). I am off to Florida for 8 weeks on Tuesday so plenty of walking there but when I get back and go to the gym I'll do what you have done. My consultant says exercise is good! I'm in Lancashire.
Thanks for the info.
If you can manage the cycle its better exercise for the quads Walking is very gentle but the cycle pulling the knee up & straightening exercises the quads.
Just sitting with a tray (laptop) on your knee and lifting it using your thigh muscles, tightening and relaxing is good exercise.
If you can walk 15 mins you should be able to manage the weight exercise
Hi, just back from seeing my surgeon,( discharged for 12 months) and I asked him about the band and stiffness. He said it is perfectly normal . He explained that every time we use the knee it is like spraining it and it is continually healing. This will go on for another few months but will eventually go.
I'm interested in your comment about why some knees recover better than others. I had both done, one 9(3) weeks ago and the other 5(3) weeks ago. Knee no. One was a walk in the park. Pain manageable, 110 deg bend in hospital, doing straight leg raises on day 1 walking to toilet on day 1 etc. Knee no. 2 was excruciatingly painful, taking huge doses painkillers etc. Left hospital with90 dev bend took 3 weeks to get bend past 90 and 2 weeks to do straight leg raise. Walked to toilet evening of day 2 etc. Now however, knee two is doing better than knee 1. Knee 2 has 120 bend, pain manageable etc. Knee 1 has 110 dev bend and I keep getting hamstring ans now calf cramps. Walking is good, walk 3 km. Prior to surgery I could only walk 50 m if I was lucky, had to give up work etc etc. I didn't go to gym, but did do quad exercises as you describe sitting in my chair, but still had significant wastage. That is all improving now. So I am not sure why some knees recover better than others!. I know I am doing well, all things considered and feel very fortunate.
I dont understand his logic!
Neither do I but I'm sure he knew what he meant. 
At least he says it wil limprove in a few months.Hope so as planning to drive round Europe for the summer and it won't be very good if I can't walk around those wonderful cities. I was amazed to find my bend was 120, thought it had got stuck.