I have tightness and sharp pain across my swollen knee cap & cannot seem to reduce the swelling despite physio, painkillers and ice packs. What else can I do to reduce swelling and pain - can any
one advise please. Everyone else I speak to seems to think I should be more advanced but the pain is holding me back
I think you are doing fine. I am at 8 weeks plus and just began to see reduction in swelling at about 6 weeks along with pain in the patella. Be patient. It will get better.
That's normal I'm now 5 months post op I was using ice till about 12 weeks it's a long old struggle but 4 weeks is very early days, keep icing elevating, doing the exercises and taking pain killers and soon enough you will feel it's been worth the agony, good luck
They said the same thing to me but I ignored them. I was very stiff from the time I had TKR (07/12/16) until just two weeks ago. Like Debbie said, keep doing what you're doing and it will get better.
It's very early days
I'm 7 months post op and I still suffer with pain and swelling.
It can take up to two years for it all to settle I've been told
Rest it. It's not a race to see how fast you can recover. if it's too painful, it's telling you to rest, you are doing too much too soon.
We all get there in the end, be kind to your knee, it's gone through a lot.
You know your body better than the physio.
Right on! I'm 8 weeks + post op. Some days are easier than others. Hang in there.
I'm. a year post op, with my second knee, still have stiffness and occasional swelling, but so glad I had them done!
Good advice. I'm 13wks post op and I have had some days that I swell up worse than others so I just take it easy and rest it.
Firstly a heartfelt congratulations on your new knees....and yes at 4 weeks you're so early on! I had both my knees replaced. My right one in January of this year and the left in March. I still experience a lot of stiffness as well as swelling especially after having done too much.
I still find it amazing though that week-by-week things improve. But it is a slow process and I can see how it's said that you're not really back to normal for nearly a year or even longer. I have found that getting that deep restful sleep is crucial to healing. Especially at 4 weeks, getting good sleep combined with eating healthy, taking your meds, icing and elevating and especially not overoverdoing it, will help in reducing your swelling and stiffness.
Hoping this helps. Blessings & Healing.
Hi Sugar,
I have had both my hubby and anothr family member have total knee Replacement. My other family is out 5 months. His knee is almost 4 times the size it should be and it round like a cantelope. we asked the surgeons about that and they said Yeah.something isnt right... We dont have the heart to tell him how awful it looks. We even considered backing out of our own surgery because of it. He is constantly bragging about how he was driving a week after surgery and the treatment we are getting... (My husband just had his knee replaced early october), is extremly outdated blah blah..
I can tell you my husbands knee is only swelled up about one or maybe max 2 sizes. It still looks like a normal knee. his bending range is great and it looks like they got the spacer inbetween the bones the right size too. (sometimes the spacer isnt big enough and one leg becomes shorter than the other.)
My husband is also on Warfin an anti blood clotting medicine. They said its standard and Everyone HAS to be on that after a knee surgery.
I do have a concern with how much tramadol and pain killers he is taking : ( 3 tramadol a night, is way way too much.
Sounds like you are pushing yourself which is causing too much swelling. I know it can behard to lay flat on a bad back and keep that foot elevated. If you have someone that can lightly sweep from your ankle down to your hip in a soft swooshing massage, that will help encourage the water to go back down to the heart and out. If your knee is bent at a 45 degre angle its not going to work. it has to be a straight line, so pile up those pillows blankets, phone books etc and get that knee up above your chest.
Once you are off your warfin you could try a water pill or directic or some nsaids. If you dont have that try a detox flush with parsely, dandelion, ginger and lemon in a blender. Drink 3 small cups a day to detox snd flush your system and detox teas will help too. Even those dieter Chinese slim teas might pull water from other parts of the body into the bowel and make you go to the bathroom. So that might help with the swelling.
Hello thank you for your post. I'm 4 weeks out from knee reconstruction and I'm experiencing the same things. I'm only bending at 70 and I keep hearing I should be further along. But the pain and swelling are overwhelming!
When does the numbness go away? I'm 4 weeks out and the left side of my leg is still numb.
It's very important that you take your medicine. Pain management is a key to recovery. I just had revision surgery this past Tuesday morning and I'm doing much better. 100 degrees rom and little pain. The swelling can be managed by elevation. You're going to have to prop your leg above your heart and get on them meds until the pain is controlled then you can proceed with recovery. Be blessed!
I am 4 weeks post op and have so much swelling. In the hospital I was at 93. I went home 3rd day post op. The 4th day I went to pt, had very little swelling and my bend was at 101. The therapist had my leg extended and was forcing the knee down. After a few pushes I said that's all. By evening my knee ballooned and the swelling has not gone down. My Dr. told me to give it a rest, ice, elevate, and no pt until the swelling goes down. I am to do the 3 exercises that I did while in the hospital. Has anyone else experienced this. I had the other knee done and had very little swelling and so much further by this time.
Hi,
I see that you posted your question 24 days ago. Is your inflammation improved in the 3 weeks since you posted? I'm interested to know because at almost 4 weeks all of a sudden my knee is tight as a drum with inflammation and I can get almost no bend where as 4 days ago my physical therapist got 117 deg. Thing is aside from nagging pain and the creaking and pain associated with standing and this darn inflammation that won't go down, I'm feeling good. This inflammation that won't go away is so frustrating. And worrisome to me
My surgeon does not recommend ice at all but uses heat instead. I am also 4 weeks post op and have been using heating pads 15 min on and 15 off everywhere around the knee EXCEPT on the incision. The heat actually increases the blood flow in the area which speeds healing.
It’s also important to elevate your leg when resting and to use compression stockings as needed.
Do we all get there in the end? If we end up with only 95 ROM & -10 on straightening is that a victory or do numbers have to be better. I am 4 wks post op & my ROM is about 94, but my straightening is not getting much better in fact went from -14, to more like -18. Frustrating at times, as I am doing all of exercises. I am still using a walker at 4 wks. Even though my numbers don't always improve, I am seeing other differences. My leg is stronger & should get to move to cane. Also I used to have to use leg lifer to get that leg in bed but can lift it up there myself. So getting stronger although numbers don't move. Is all of this normal. Am I on track?
I’m 5 weeks post op. Went to rehab (PT) for a week. Driving after 3 weeks (right knee) after surgery. Taping with kinsiology tape (chk Amazon & U Tube). Still swollen but not bad. Should elevate more. No pain meds X 2 weeks. No ice.
Laura, It is nice to hear you are glad you had them done. i am 5 1/2 weeks post op on first TKR and right now i would say i would never do the other knee. The swelling and the pain is much worse than anticipated. Congrats to you and i sure hope to be able to say the same as you next year !