I still have pain & swelling from Tkr even after 10 weeks. Nights are awful too. It seems to me a vicious circle. We're told to rest if knee swells & is painful but what @ exercising, I find knee is so stiff now I'm going backwards. This can't be normal or is it ?
Eileen, regarding the swelling, I think this is normal. Mine is swollen (yes, I know I'm only 5 weeks but everything else is going well) and I expect the swelling to go on for a very long time yet - that was about the only thing the surgeon DID tell me - to expect swelling for up to a year. I am elevating above hip height most of the day still but have dropped the ice because I didn't feel I need it, but will use it if I'm doing longer journeys in the car and it feels stiffer or hotter or something from that. Same as a couple of days ago I dared to stop using the compression stockings (almost five weeks post op then) because I reckon I'm active enough not to be at risk now. But re the pain - although this hasn't been my experience, it does seem to be that of a lot of people on here, unfortunately, so I'd expect it is normal:-( But I'm sure you'll get lots more replies and maybe someone can come up with something to help. You are in my thoughts a lot though. Please take care of yourself!
I still have pain and inflammation after 10 weeks I ice and use painkillers but instead of exercises cos I reckon I get flexion doing housework bending to fill washer steps rtf I now concentrating o walking bought myself a fitzip and counting steps Small amount at first 5 times around the house (detached) every 2 hours then onto down the street now soon total 2 mile a day and guess what the last 3 nights 10 hours sleep with only a few waking times 9/10 scored 😁😁
Eileen I had mine done on 6th Jan 17 and mine is still very stiff Icycle. Row, walk in swimming baths etc. some days I think improving then next day backward steps, It aches most days but keep going I'm sure we must see marked I provement soon. but one thing about this site you realise you are "normal" and not the only one with these problems
Plus of course The dreaded housework on top of everything else !!!
I still have swelling on part of my knee 18 weeks after tkr on my right knee. No pain, just discomfort from the swelling. I also have a collapsed bone in my knee (happened after the tkr) which I guess will heal on its own. I still can do some exercises but none that I put all of the weight on my tkr knee. Drs. say it can take up to a year to feel "normal". Good luck to you.
I had my TKR operation in 2014 with a post operative infection 'Jackpot'. Now, finally the latest bacteriological culture result showed 'no growth. Good news! But, bad news, the pain & swelling since the operation, remains. Standing & Walking 15 minutes max! Morning Pain & Stiffness is hard. I usually take Tramadol 0.25 mg. Never more than 50 mg! My appetite is great. I enjoy daily driving. ( Nobody walks in Bangkok) I sleep well every night. Do I want another TKR operation (revision)? No, not for the time being. Bangkok-Johnny
Thank you Chris I wonder if the pain & swelling stops you from exercising as much as we should. I feel I don't do as much as thought it would only agrivate it more xx
Hi - I am 6 months & 1 week since right TKR. I have been told by physio that it will take 18 months post op before knee feels 'normal'. Never use heat or pillows! Also told that must do exercises every day for at least 1 year - housework & walking doesn't count as exercising. Walking must also be done daily. Elevating & resting knee plus ice several times daily. I am not consistent with any of these instructions. My knee continues to swell & be painful - whether sitting, standing, walking, driving, etc although is a more tolerable pain than before the surgery. I also experience that burning feeling frequently. Outside of leg still slightly numb. Lots of sciatica every day because operative leg a bit longer, gait is now different, & sitting way too much. Still glad I had the surgery. Am planning to have the left one done next this coming summer or fall. I take 1 Tylenol arthritis two times a day & use voltaren gel on my leg when cannot tolerate the pain or when running errands. Stopped all the heavy pain mess 3-4 months ago
Hi Joan , it's great you're getting more sleep now. My daughter said she thought doing housework , washing & cooking doing stairs & walking would be a good way of exercising , I just feel my bend may not feel good enough for the Pt when I next go. It's reassuring that you think similar thanks for tex x
That's so True Chris, this site has saved me many times from going down. I just thought , like people around me think , I should be up & going by now. I told my husband that HE wants to try it . Sorry but that's how it is , with us Tkr s folk.x
Thanks Connie for encouragement . I'm sorry to hear @ your collapsed bone , hope it recovers soon x
Thanks for replying , yes I've been told full recovery can take up to 2 years. I just thought it would be easing more now. Though ,having said that I guess the pain isn't quite so intense it just feels it is in the night. X
In my 6 plus months post op I discussed housework, errands, walking, etc as a replacement gor my exercises. I was always told no - that stretching the knee to break up scar tissue is the only way to gain flexion. Also, the exercises specifically target your thigh muscles which are what you need to build to support your knee. Basically the exercises must be done for a year, daily - the easier they get, the more you should increase the reps & time. Daily walking is also needed to improve endurance & balance. Other activities - housework, etc is encouraged. The past three months I have not always been compliant with the exercises - I try my best - that's all I can do. I have reached my flexion goal. I did add more comments further down in this thread.
I say listen to your body if I think I need to do stretching and flexing I do it just not on a daily basis as before I have 125 bend and can do straighten with no gap quads the lot not bad for 10 weeks but couldn't walk far BUT now I'm focussed for that 2 mile a day Not bad for 72 with a hammy leg and spinal injury to my back at 37 whilst I was lifting a patient who said she couldn't stand without help 😁😁😁😁😁
I also have read that pillows are ok Anyway I use a pillow for night time and I'm doing ok with it
At 10 weeks? Normal. This is a LONG recovery that cannot be rushed.
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-recovery-bell-curve--563756
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-ptsd-569521
Hope these are helpful.
"Never give up! Never surrender!" - Tim Allen, Galaxy Quest
My surgeon & Physiotherapist absolutely denied my several requests for a pillow to help with the pain when sleeping as prevents the knee from being able to attain flatness st the back. I have learned to sleep without it.
Well, I'm afraid it is pretty normal. It's a very up and down recovery. A really good day always seems to be followed by an awful one. some of us take longer to get rid of the swelling. . I know I did. . .Exercise seems on the one hand to loosen it up, and then afterwards increase the swelling. . but it is pretty essential to keep exercising the knee in spite of swelling. Not too extreme, but not good to give up for a couple of days either.
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/trouble-sleeping-post-tkr--539591
Yeah, my doc said no pillow under my knees but I did it anyway...only way I could get to sleep early on. Did not affect my recovery...but that's just me.
For the first two months, it's just as bad as it can get...period. It seems like there's no relief and this will never end. All of us have been there or are in the middle of it now. Hardest recovery I've ever had to do...and I've had 28 ops (mostly minor) in 17 years. Worse than my hip, back fusion and more. Gotta be strong...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-ptsd-569521