Does anyone know how to get rid of the stiffness in your knee? I do the knee bends but every time I ice and elevate the stiffness comes right back and I can hardly bend my knee when I walk.
How far along are you hon? Different levels I would say, early days it's from swelling and pain, then it's muscles tendons and nerve endings waking up, each with its own intensity and all normal!!😃 I'm 12 mths left tkr and 9 days right tkr. I still get stiffness from my first leg mostly of a morning before stretching and if I've done too much walking .my new one is stiff with swelling post op.
Stiffness can be a long time leaving. Just keep doing excercises and as scar tissue breaks down it will improve. That's part of not really owning the knee for a year or so.
Hope you're right. It is very discouraging.
I am almost 4 months. Done with PT. Never seem to see any improvement in stiffness. It is there all of the time.especially bad after exercising.
Hi Jeanne, How many weeks post op are you? I am 13 and really suffering from stiffness at the moment. It has got worse this last few weeks and especially after exercise: riding the bike or walking. I am getting very frustrated by this and would love to know how to gwt rid of it too. I was at my GP on wed and she said it would be like this for a year--18 mths post op and I would just have to be patient. Thanks folks x
14 weeks for me and feel the same as you. I feel like I am not doing enough. I ride my exercise bike 3 times a day for 8 minutes at a time, do my exercises for about a half hour but not that much walking.
Hi Jesnne. I am 9 weeks post TKR and experience the same thing. My Ortho Doctor said to expect healing over the next 2 years.
Carol
Guess I can't be in a hurry!
Yes, those are my thoughts too! The doctor understood my frustration with the healing even though I was only 4 weeks along when I had thst discussion with him. Some days are really good and the swelling and stiffness don't last, other days I seem to spend much more time on ice and elevating and stretching and bending. I heard from a colleague who had a double TKR a few years ago that ice will become my best friend. How right she is.
Please be encouraged as there are so many of us on the same journey. Carol
I still find that icing makes me stiffer. Does anyone else have this problem?
Hey, Jeanne. I didn't mention this but my knee tends to be very stiff in the morning. I have a heating pad that I use on it for about 10 minutes on those mornings. This seems to help me get it moving. Carol
Thanks I'll have to try that.
Icing can make it stiffer, but it's more for the pain and to stop any swelling from exercise. I'm 20 months po and still have a little stiffness and other odd things that happen. I've decided it's my new normal. The stiffness is no where near what it was before my TKRs, so I just choose to rejoice at that.
I am having same problem after resting or icing pain feels worse until been moving about a bit. Guess it's normal and must just persist. Sorry not any help but thought you might feel better knowing your not alone.
Hi sue I am same PO time as you. And yes my knees are both stiff. It's a real problem but I am learning to ignore the stiffness and keep moving, as much as I am able. Take care. You are not alone!
Here is a little trick I use- before I get up to walk, I do leg raises from a seated position. This gets things working before those first few painful steps.
Hi Lyn, I too a trying to keep going but it is frustrating exercising and then being stiff. over the last day I do feel it is a bit better. Are you back to work yet? My gp won't let me go back as it is so stiff at times and has done bloods as very hot on one side. Thank you, take care, xx
Hi sue. I am 64 and work occasionally. I would not consider standing on my feet for longer than 30-60 mins, so I just declined a day's work at $430 because it was 12 hrs on my feet. I am just not comfortable standing for long periods. All the best, Lyn xx
Hi Jeanne
I'm nearly 6 months post op and the stiffness is getting better every day. I remember just a few weeks ago wondering why it was so bad and getting relly worried that something was wrong but it really does get better. i still need to stand for a little while before i walk to allow the stiffness to ease, which it does. Try to keep positive, this is a long recovery road but it's great when you can walk pain free.