It has been 5 months since my tkr and I am still experiencing daily stiffness and swelling. Can anyone tell me if the stiffness finally goes away on its own? I still am having horrible swelling every day making exercises to improve my knee flexion almost impossible. I can only bend it just so much and then the swelling takes over. I can do 10 minutes 3 times a day on my recumbent bike but every time I try to increase the time my leg starts to ache big time. Does anyone still have just 100 degree flexion after a lengthy time? Can I live this way forever? I don't think it will ever bend any further.
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
It takes time...and patience...
I did read that one and found it very informative except I didn't see an answer for does the stiffness gradually go away on its own without my help. Also I hate walking alone. I find it boring and there are no sidewalks where I live.
Hi Jeanne,
i am 9 months or so out from bilateral tkr's. I don't have positive advice I'm afraid. I have stiffness still, in both knees. Especially when I first get up or I've sat for too long. It does tend to ease once I'm walking around. Never completely gone away though. I have swelling in one of my knees and like you, have difficulty bending it as much as the other. I never received physio after I left hospital. While there, my knees bent at 90 degrees and 100. They straightened ok and I was able to walk unaided and that was that. Had a couple of checkups with surgeon and he seemed happy enough.
I really cant complain. The stiffness and numbness I feel are a lot better to deal with than the pain before the operation. Time really does make a difference and we're all guilty of wanting improvement yesterday. If you read other entries on here, there are some really sad cases. Remain positive, take pain mads when needed and excercise without over doing. It's a major operation remember, lots of nerve and muscle damage, as well as the alien objects replacing our knees.
Best wishes
Sue
Hi Jeanne!
I'm 13 months post op with Knee #1 and 10 months post op with Knee #2. I experience stiffness each morning for awhile and stiffness each time I have been sitting too long. Rain days and snowstorms bring additional stiffness.
I stretch often throughout the day and even during the night. It helps.
Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory medication, so it helps with swelling.
I measure flexibility improvement by real-life situations. For example, we had dinner at our youngest son's condo last night. As I climbed onto my chair that matched his hightop table, I had very little trouble. This was an improvement from just a month ago when I got on my chair in a VERY awkward manner!😲 Also, two months ago I was unable to bend my knees enough to place my feet on the chair rungs. I did it easily last night. 🙌😊
All this is in contrast to Christmas when I needed help getting on and off the chair AND a stool under my feet!
Getting into our low Kia and our high Jeep Grand Cherokee has gotten easier. That is a VERY good measure of my improvement that makes me pleased without playing any measuring games with angles and numbers.
Maybe you need to take it easy and give your knees a rest. You are probably doing MUCH BETTER than you THINK you are doing!🙌😊😁🙌
My TKR was March 10 and I'm still having ALOT of swelling . . And pain! My bend is only 100-110 - forced!! I can't do that on my own! I saw my surgeon today and he said that I'm an "unusual" patient and it's just going to take me longer to heal?!😩 He did test to rule out blood clots! He is putting me back on a CPM machine, and I'm seeing a massage therapist to break up scar tissue!! He said it's going to be a long recovery!!! It's so discouraging 😔
Do you have a YMCA around you? Track, gym, pool, etc. Make new friends.
I'm only 4+ months post TKR so I can only tell you what my doc told me:
1. The swelling, stiffness and click/pop should resolve in 12-18 months...or not.
2. "You have a mechanical device implanted in your body. What do you expect?"
I know that mine is less stiff than it was a month ago. I know that it's stiffer when I get up after sitting for a long time. I know that it's way less stiff after walking and exercising. I know that I'm lucky not to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.
At 5 months post-op, you're still healing...a lot. Work with your PT to break down the scar tissue that's forming and get your full range of motion back. That plus getting stronger should be your prime focus. I wouldn't let anyone or anything stop me from attaining that goal. Everything else should resolve in time...or not. Everyone's different. Just do your best...that's all anyone can ask of themselves.
Do NOT be discouraged!!! My surgery was March 10th also. It gets better...really.
Do you ever feel like there is a rock in your knee?? I feel like it stops me from bending?! Do you still have pain???
Jeanne, hang in there. Over time, it will get better. As I was telling someone, I'm guessing your stiffness is no where near as bad as it was before the surgery. It was those small realizations that helped me push on. I'm now 22 months post op (the end of October will be my 2 year anniversary of this marriage to my two new knees - yep, I had them replaced on the same day). I wish I could say the stiffness was gone, but it's not. I do notice it much less. Going down the stairs for my morning cup of joe seems to be when I notice it the most. I try to not allow my knees to remain straight or bent for too long, shifting positions helps.
As Chico pointed out, the swelling is normal too. I was still icing up to a year after, usually after an extended walk or standing too long. Again, I can rejoice with the ability to walk further and stand longer - so the surgery wasn't a waste of time.
As far as exercise goes, I found it helpful to find a pool and exercise in there. Swimming laps wasn't especially helpful, but treading water, moving my feet as if I was on a bicycle, while using a float and just walking around in the water were all helpful. Something I did for my bend was while lounging in bed - because of the height of my bed, it was easier getting in and out of than the livingroom furniture. I'd sit with my legs out in front of me, and then pull them up, feet flat on the bed until I had a comfortable bend. Then, I'd take it in a little more, to where there was some discomfort and hold it for the count of 10. And then, I'd pull it in a tad bit more and again hold for 10. And yep, one more time, just a touch more and hold for 10. Then, I'd take it back to the comfortable spot and remain there for a while. Another thing was finding some stairs to walk up and down. The object isn't really in conquering the stairs, it was in teaching my mind and legs how to go up and down the right way. Yes, it hurt like holy heck, but I did it and can now go up and down flights of stairs like the next person, though probably without as much hop in my step or speed. I hope this helps you and that dicouragement doesn't set in.
- Mo
Jeanne... What does your doctor say? I also have swelling and pain and difficult to bend. I am 7 weeks post op and I sometimes I'm 100 but the other day at PT they said 88 I can't even listen to those numbers anymore. My doctor told me that the swelling should subside in 6 weeks. My doctor said the swelling is from the Coumedin I took to prevent blood clots. I am off that now for a week. But still swollen after exercise and when I get up
Good luck and let us know what your doctor says.
Thanks Sue, it is nice to know I am not alone .I'm finished with my pt so I am more or less on my own. Am going to surgeon in August. I will see what he thinks then.
Going to the surgeon on the 23rd of August. Hope I have improved a little more by then. Will let you all know. Thanks.
Good luc and please let us know
I'm stepping out on a limb here, but I'm guessing your doctor never had his knee replaced and is going by what the medical books say. There are a handful of people on this forum who had a textbook surgery, the rest of us all still had swelling well past the 6 weeks. It was the swelling, stiffness and continuing pain (behind my knees) that brought me to this site 3 months post op. How encouraging it was to see that what I was going through was normal and there was nothing to worry about. It's the stress that will get you!
Hi Moandrieu,
I don't think you are stepping out on a limb relating to my doctor. I went to one of the best hospitals nationwide, HSS and had a wonderful doctor and I still agree with you, nobody understands unless they walk in your shoes (no puns intended here). As kind as your doctor is, he can answer a few of your concerns, but doesn't know about the upset stomach from meds, the tossing and turning at night, the fear of ever walking right again, and the list goes on. I thing I wrote this a few times. I have tremendous fear (not depression) when I do my pt and bend the leg....To overcome some of the fear, I wrap my velcro ice bag when I do the straightening and bending exercises. I don't know if it is good or bad for knee but I will talk to my PT on Monday when she measures bending and straightening. I am going to do my first mile walk today but not outside. I have a great video from a Pilates instructor that has a 30 minute walk and also works the core.
Congratulations on your almost 2 year anniversary on your double TKR. I can't imagine double the pain and work you endured You really had to work on learning to walk, climb stairs and do all the firsts when it comes to walking, standing, bending etc. We can't even crawl so we have to walk before we crawl.
I am grateful for all your input to this wonderful site....Marilyn
Thank you again for all your suggestions and support.
I don't have that feeling...also zero pain, eh, maybe a little at night so I use Voltaren Gel before bed. Works in 10-15 minutes. Worse thing for me is the stiffness after I'm sitting at the computer for a long time. Gotta remind myself to get up and walk around. I'll be 5 months post-op on August 10. Measurements are now 0 / +129. I really want to get to +138 like my other knee but that may not be possible...just have to see.
I've had two shoulder ops, replaced a hip, four knee scopes, four fused vertebrae and now the TKR. After every procedure, I absolutely REFUSED to give in and settle for anything less than full range of motion. I don't care how much time it took or the amount of pain involved. I never accepted being less than I was before the op. Hmmmm...except for the back. Asked the doc what I would NOT be able to do after he fused it. Told me that I wouldn't be able to touch my toes again. I could live with that...couldn't touch them anyway so what the hell...
Did you have a lot of pain? I haven't read much about people having a lot of pain almost 5 months after TKR !! I'm so discouraged by this😔
My post-op pain was off the scale. I've had four kidney stones...I'd rather have 10 more than go through that again...but I have to get the other knee done sooner or later. I'm resistant to opioids so percocet, oxycontin, vicodin, etc. don't help much...I just had to get through it. I also pushed through all the PT pain which, as we all know, is not a cakewalk. For me, though, it was worth it. I'm virtually pain free at almost 5 months. Was that because of the work I put in? Or the skill of my surgeon? Or my DNA? Who knows. But I've been through a lot of surgeries and have bounced back from every one of them fairly quickly. The TKR, however, was the most painful of them all not counting the length of the recovery which is still a long way from being over...and I'll be 70 in 18 months. I've read on this forum of people still having pain in the 4-6 month range so I wouldn't say it's out of the question. I'd see your doc about it if it's really that bad. Just don't get discouraged; it will pass. I've read of people 2 years out who still complain of stiffness and clicking sounds but not severe pain. I've read soooo many posts...seems like the worst of everything is gone in the 4-6 month range if you've put in the PT and exercise time. But if you're still dealing with unmanageable pain, I'd see the doc.
Hi Chico,
I read your response to Joy regarding pain. I am 73 and in pretty good health. I am a petite woman so I was never concerned about this type of surgery. WRONG! It was (and slowly diminishing) the most painful surgery I have ever had. I have had C-section, abdominal surgery, thyroidectomy and even had a right nephrectomy. The kidney removal was like a tonsilectomy compared to this. I think you were the one who wrote that every month/week are milestones in recovery and I am starting to see this. My fear is that, just when I feel I've turned the corner, I start worrying about a new issue. I think that there will be lifestye changes with exercise, traveling and dental and doctor visits. Other than that, I will be grateful to walk my 2-3 miles a day, even if I feel a tight band or fist around my knee.
Time will tell, right?