im experiencing lots of tightness around my knee, I really thought it would be easier by now. I'm trying really hard with my exercises but they leave me exhausted and very tearful. Going back to physio next week at the hospital so hopefully they will come up with something to help. Still taking tramadol and paracetamol but the pain is worse at night. I'm hardly sleeping. Anyone else having these problems? Love to hear from a very tearful soul.
Hi, I'm sorry to say this is completely normal and will last a while yet. Muscle and ligament has been cut and repaired and takes a long time to recover.
I am 9 months post TKR and still have tightness above the knee and numbness and tingling below. Although I do everything normally. I still have stiffness and discomfort. Fluid around the knee causes a lot of the problems and will take a long time to clear up.
Be gentle with your exercises. Lots of rest in between and icing. One of those little pedal exercisers is good too
Best wishes.
Hi Joey,
Its all very normal im afraid,im 6 weeks post op and the worse thing is the swelling and tightness which my consultant/physio say can last up to 12 months...my knee is good in the morning but as the day goes on and im walking and exercising it swells and gets tight..do you elevate and ice it when this happens...things will get better but it does take time and patience...
Hi joey
this is all very normal you have had a major operation it's going to take a long time before things go back to anything like normal . I am 57 I had a FKR in July 2013 what you have to do just now .take pain relief ..raise that leg as high as you can with pilow with you lying down ....and exercise when you can . It will get easier but not for a few months yet ...joey you are on the mend it takes time .....keep exercising every day what you can do and then a bit more you will notice in a few weeks when you exercises the pain will lesson ...keep going joey you soon feel the benefits of new knee ...Rome wasn't built in a day
This is normal very early days major operation . Pain always worse at night. Don't overdo exercises must balance with rest. Mental exhaustion and tears are result of pain trauma tiredness and frustration - try to stay focused on what you need to do to help your recovery including relaxing, eating well, losing weight if needed, and elevation as well as Physio. It's really tough and feels never ending but think ahead a few more weeks and slowly you will start to feel a bit bettet. Once the worst pain is over and you come off the meds you will feel better . Try and reduce the tramadol talk to doctor - they are short term - try co codamol instead. Good luck let us know how you progess.
Yes, sleeping some nights is IMPOSSIBLE. My husband has been amazed as I get up, clean the medicine cabinet, organize a shelf in the bathroom, eat cereal, watch TV, read, try more ICY HOT, and THEN try AGAIN to grab some sleep.
For me, pain hurts worse when I am just laying there TRYING to sleep. Pain seems less when I just GET UP and DO SOMETHING!
Some nights are better than others. It varies for me.
I have noticed that I often overdo things. Too many hours shopping, standing, watering the flowers, etc. can really do me in! I pay the price for this EVERY TIME.
I just am desperately trying to BE NORMAL and get back to my life as I USED TO know it before all this Osteoarthritis began ruling (and RUINING!) my life.That was four years ago that the PAIN really kicked in. My husband and I were taking care if my mother here at our home for two years. Lots of stress! Mom was 99 and 100 at the time. My husband's health was compromised as well.
Rough times!
Try to grab small naps when you can throughout the day. That's how my husband and I have survived!
Best wishes to you in your journey! We are here for you!
Well every one has said it, it's all normall, I had pkr 14 weeks ago on right knee then same again on left knee four weeks ago, still got pain, tightness , and sleepless nights caused by both, soooo easy to over do it, but you seem to feel the further along you are then the more you should do, but it doesn't seem to work like that, . I also end up in tears when ever I over do it, it's just so uncomfortable that it's about the only thing you can do, having a good cry proberly does us good anyway, . Hope you feel a bit better now you now that every thing your going through is completely normal, but it will get better, apparently ,lol, best of luck.😀
Hi Joey
Like everyone else who has responded to your post, I'd say this is all normal. I am 3 months post-op and still have a lot of stiffness and tightness and when I overdo things I pay the price. I've cut back on the medication in the last 4 weeks and no more co-codamol and just the occasional paracetamol but sometimes you have to take them to endure the pain. Sleepless nights are commonplace too. Exercise is so important even though tiring. Stick with it. I've posted on here before that I've been dispirited and the support you receive from this community is fantastic! I'm seeing my surgeon this week so fingers (not legs) crossed and good luck to you. Just stick with it and keep getting rest and drink lots of water.
Hi Joey,
Just to reiterate what everyone has said, its all normal and par for the course!
Im 23 weeks post-TKR, and looking forward (YES! You read that right!) to my second TKR In a couple of months. Looking forward might sound strange, but Im currently in severe pain from Osteoarthritis, and that pain serves no purpose, whereas the pain from TKR is a "healing" pain, and every step you take now, however painful, is a step to an easier, pain-free way of life.
How long ago was your op?
If you are still in significant pain, I would consider a medication review with your GP - I had a messy meltdown in my GP's office at 7 weeks, was getting no sleep, tearful, massive amounts of pain - and she prescribed me a very low dosage of Amitriptyline, which helps relieve nerve pain, and if taken correctly can help with sleep. Its helped me massively. Even now I get the odd night where I dont do so good, but thats mostly from my OA.
If youre not getting enough rest, you'll be tearful. If youre not getting enough rest, you cant exercise effectively. If youre not getting enough rest, everything seems bleaker. If ypure not getting enough rest, the pain seems much worse. There are no medals for NOT taking medication if youre suffering. Its there to help you, and boy, do we need help after this operation!
Take naps, it doesnt matter at this stage WHEN you sleep, half an hour here and there is better than nothing.
And finally, HYDRATE! Make sure that youre taking plenty of fluid on board, as your body cant heal effectively if its not adequately hydrated - healing takes more out of our bodies than we realise.
I wish you well on your journey my friend, come back on here when you need us, and you can always PM if you need to xx
Hi its very early days yet and the tightness and swelling carries on for quite a long time I'm 13 week and will be returning to work in a primary school in Sept I consider myself as being one e of the lucky ones who has recovered well without any hiccups but I still get tightness and discomfort/swelling if I overdo my limits I have gone back to the gym and I have been increasing my walking and am managing the 10000 steps daily but I am still apprehensive as to whether il manage full time work time will tell ! Don't be too hard on yourself and rest while you have the chance there's an awful lot of healing going on I too was on tramadol and for me they worked well I still take occasional one if needed and will take them if I feel I need them when I get back to work good luck with our journey it's hard but worthwhile xx
HiLinda, and you for your reply. I too am a primary school teacher but not sure that I will be going back at the start of term. It's good to know how other people are managing, I'm sure im worrying too much. Today I managed a good walk along the river near where I live, with my crutches! But am now resting because I think I probably did a bit too much. Need some pain killers and ice, but sure it will get easier. Thank x
Many thanks fo all they repies. It's very reassuring to read your comments and to know how everyone is coping. I've managed to borrow a Reebok Step thingy so maybe that will help with the knee bend. I'm only managing to go up the stairs one at a time at the moment. X
Five weeks is still early days. Stiffness and pain is still pretty much the norm at that stage. I think if you realise that pretty well everyone at five weeks experiences exactly the same, it makes it easier to put up with as you realise it's not something wrong. . .Sleeping seems to be impossible for virtually everyone and it is only recently (eight months post op) that I have returned to anything approaching normality in that respect. I really believe that surgeons should tell people truthfully what the post operative period is like. Nobody wants to scare patients out of their wits, but it's better to realise that what you are experiencing is absolutely totally normal! To give us vapid comments like 'You may experience some discomfort' which I have seen on web pages, is just absolutely ridiculous! tearfulness also seems to attack most of us, even those of us who always thought we were pretty tough cookies! So, keep taking the Tramadol, try to be as kind to yourself as you can, don't stress too much about the exercises not if you are taking it to the point of exhausting yourself.When you do finally stop tramadol, leave yourself enough tablets so that you can do it GRADUALLY. don;t make the mistake I made and try to stop suddenly. it has horrible side effects! Hopefully, you will notice the six weeks miracle, when things do start to improve suddenly!
Co codamol is also addictive . .and for me caused such constipation it was impossible! I much preferred tramadol . . .
Totally agree about us patients being given more info about what we will feel and how tough things will be after surgery..no one told me how low and sad i would feel in the very early days,i just wanted my old leg back the first 3 weeks,and yes the old pain too ...but now at almost 7 weeks post of i feel i turned a corner,no more stick and walking a bit further each day..i still have real difficulty sleeping,as most nights im up early,and i also take tramadol as i find it better than co codamol..We all just need to be better informed before the operation..Now i have no regrets..
Oh yes! I am also 5 weeks list and the nights are still very, very difficult. Patients on this forum have advised to rake it easy and not dispair. You folks I. The UK. Have a more kid back approach to recovery than us here in Northamerica. My P T. Told me last week I was way behind in bending. Still cannot do full circle on the stationary bike etc etc. I am going to the pool on Wednesday and will try to do so twice a week. Hopefully bending will become easier in water. Seeing my surgeon for first time on week 7.
I am 5 weeks and 6 days
Everything you said is a ditto for me too HOWEVER each day there are some improvements
Someone wrote about the magical 6 week mark and I know exactly what they meant
Look back and see how far you have come. Yes we have a way to go but I checked out the u tube video of a full knee replacement. Wow, now there is an eye opener. No wonder we all hurt with what and how things were done but little by little our amazing
Bodies are healing
I still ice a lot, do my exercises, take meds when needed and don't stay on my feet too awfully long as I swell . Thankful
That modern medicine developed ways that we can choose to regain our mobility again. No, I am not there yet but very hopeful