hi guys..I had a total left knee done 6 months ago..I'm having problems with stiffness when I stand or walk for greater than 15mins..can stretch it out but it only returns..mobility is good - flexion about 110 but this is good for me since I was 14 years ago..Doctors keep telling me that as long as I still see improvements it will work it self out but I dont hear this complaint from people.. I do hear stiffness - tightness complaints but i only get stiff tight when walking or standing. Has anyone experienced this,,So far I have regretted this replacement but I had alot of damage r/t sports injuries as well as arthritis. oh and what about swelling..I still swell - I;m getting concerned...I'm a nurse and dont believe everything doctors tell me..I know better..lol
Flozo I get everything you described here & even more so of pains etc that i have to use a walker to get around places everywhere & i never even gad any surgerys..i have been out of work almost going on 9 months & things yet are not improving at all..i even get swelling in my feet discoloring of the feet not sure what to think anymore with all that is going on..i was told i may have CRPS which maybe why i am dealing with swelling & nerve issues..
I can only say that try therapy like me i go back n forth doing it till it starts bothering me then i back off from it but other than that therapy & praying is the only thing i am relying on..my prayers go out to you that you recover soon..God bless
I had a bilateral TKR done almost 6 months ago. I try to remain upbeat and tell people how I am finally starting to feel good about having it done but there are lots of times when I still wonder. I am getting along much better with walking but I cannot stand still in one place for any length of time when the knees start to swell. I can't even stand still long enough to prepare a simple meal
I still have pain when I get up from any seat that is at all low (including my couch) which is very irritating.
The weather has been very cold here lately and it seems that my new knees hate it about as much as my news ones do. I had to resort back to taking pain meds the other night because it was so bad. I know it takes a while to get better but my knees are still warm to the touch which I have been told means they are still healing.
I have my 6 month appointment with my ortho surgeon coming up soon so maybe he will be able to tell me more.
Six months out? Normal. In fact, the stiffness can last 12-18 months. I'm at 10 months and still feel it sometimes. Swelling means that you pushed the knee too far that day. A FitBit or pedometer is useful in finding your current pain point. Back off, stabilize and increase gradually. Nothing uncommon.
Sports injuries? Really? Replaced the right hip, fused L3 through S1 in my spine and now the left knee (right one in a year or two). Payment for 45 years of hockey...about 1,000...no, maybe 10,000...splits and kick saves too many. I know the pain. Don't get down...post op depression is very common also. I'm thinking of competitive, cut-throat shuffleboard...
Hi Flozo, I had a total left knee replacement March '16 .....10 months ago. I am only 50 years old. I too had stiffness if I did too much. This has started to ease bit now,however if I sit in same place for more than 30 mins or stand for any amount of time(I am a classroom assistant, on my feet 8 hour a day with 30 min break) I get very uncomfortable and achey. I have good mobility, bend and straighten too. I can only walk 15-20 mins without struggling to get home again. This is what frustrates me most as i used to walk my dog over an hour daily. We both so miss this. Everyone tells me it can take up to 2 years for my knee to recover. I am glad I had it done as the discomfort is better than bone on bone arthritic pain i suffered. I will have to get my right knee done as it is getting worse and worse but putting it off as I am aware of what is ahead which I am not mentally prepared for yet. It will be this year though.
I was off work for nearly 5 months as my GP would not let me go back to on my feet so much. Be careful when you are working as being on your feet is hard on your leg.
Your leg will continue to improve, take care and look after yourself.
Sue
Hi as for the swelling i had never seen my legs up near the knees on the inside were so big and he told me it was fat and i said i never had that befor but a few months later it went down on its own so i do not know why he told me it was fat.
I am sitting on my couch writing to you on my comp if i keep my leg in one postion it is alright but now when I move it the clicking starts and it hurts. i am glad i had it done as i was in so much pain way more than i am now. but i want this clicking to go away. good luck
Give yourself time. I had TKR nearly 5 years ago and Dr said it would be about a year before I really began to feel the benefits. Don't give up.
Take care and keep in touch
Sarah