Hi, I'm new to the forum and finding my way around. I'm in the UK and had my surgery at the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Unit in Epsom, came home Thursday. Pain has been pretty much as anticipated, but it's the nighttime ache at the back of the knee that's keeping me awake. Any suggestions? I'm also having trouble with the straight leg extension sitting and the straight leg raise. I didn't anticipate it being so difficult or painful to lift my leg when I had no trouble before! Any advice gratefully received.
Lynda, none of us expected how painful and difficult this TKR would be. I’m 11weeks out and doing well now but it still swells after a busy day, exercises etc. You can’t hurry this recovery. Take the meds regularly, then do as much exercises as you can, ELEVATE and ICE often. I had 3 ice packs in constant rotation first few weeks, and make sure you have one that goes around the whole knee(including the back) It will help! Everyone’s different, but you’ll get there. I thought he misery would never end..it did. 4 weeks and things were on the up.. Good luck with your journey. I’m in AUSTRALIA.
Look up CHIKO-_
He is ‘the one’ 
All his advice is brilliant. xx
HI Lynda, I’ve had my 2nd TKR 10 weeks ago and i have to say, time is a good healer. The first 4-6 weeks are the worst, i couldn’t do those leg raises for at least a couple of weeks afterwards. Your muscles need to start working again, that’s where physiotherapy will help. If you’re offered hydrotherapy make sure you take it, worked wonders for me on both and I am now swimming at my local pool to strengthen some more. Make sure you’re taking your medication regularly and ask the doctor for more if you need it! I had to have morphine as i just wasn’t sleeping at night, you must get regular sleep & rest. Good luck & keep up with your exercises! SHARON
hI, I had my surgery there! now almost two years post op!
i can remember needing to time
my painkillers and needed to take one in the middle of the night, so you could think about that, though write down when you are taking them cos it’s easy to forget!
its hard to lift leg bu completely normal…I couldn’t do a straight leg raise for months..was a bit worried at one point but it came in the end!
i also used a TENS machine in between medication which worked well for me.
make sure you are icing and elevating plenty
tale a look at my profile and you will see I wrote all about my personal knee journey. .you might find that interesting too.
im not on here so much now, just popping in for a bit over these grey cold days to see if I can offer a bit of solace now and again.
it is hard work but so worth it. I am loving my new knee..i am mobile and free to walk ..whichni wasnt for two years so i am most grateful for the surgery.
beast wishes to you!
Thank you all for responding. I’ll check out profiles etc as I work my way round. Nice to hear of someone else going to SWLEOC. I was impressed with the whole setup. Staff were wonderful.
They gave me enough Co-dydramol to last until tomorrow and then it’s back to paracetemol. Unfortunately I can’t take anti inflammatories. I am icing at least 4 times a day for 30 mins a time and alternating between sitting and elevating. It’s just this nagging ache at night that keeps me awake and painkillers don’t seem to help. Good to know I’m not alone with the leg raises. i was beginning to feel quite pathetic!
Hi and welcome!!
Not sure if this will help, but it was suggested to me by my physical therapist. Use a large size mens belt…make a loop on one end where the buckle is…put your foot thru the loop and use the long strap to pull your leg up. I didn’t have any pain doing this…but that’s just me. It helped me to lift my leg until swelling decreased a bit and I could lift it without any assistance. Maybe you could check with your own physical therapist before trying this for his/her opinion. Good Luck!!
get some more codydramol from GP…very good to have. i think i started reducing dosage and frequency from a couple of weeks post op but its miles better than just paracetamol…and helpful to ensure taken about an hour before doing your physio exercises!
they are great at SWEOC…I was very touched by the genuine care and the level of it. it really helps
Hi Lynda, the first six weeks are the worst especially sleep wise,about the back of the knee ache i had a word with my surgeon about this and the sleep issue, he said never put a pillow or cushion directly under the knee,but you can put a pillow length wish under your leg ie covers part of your hamstring,back of the knee,calf so your leg is still straight but cushion’d and its a big help.Unfortunatly sleeping on your back is comfy but in a few weeks you’ll be able to sleep on your side with a pillow between your knees.
For the ancillary pain (beyond what the meds do), the best topical anti-inflammatory out there is Voltaren Gel (RX in US, generic diclofenac elsewhere). Cannot use it on the incision until healed but back of the knee should be fine…especially great at night. There are also OTC Lidocaine, menthol and capsaicin pain patches plus Aspercreme with 4% Lidocaine that may help too.
Thank you, mademoiselle…
Mary…its helpful to me as well to read these posts. I am 8 weeks out…still having pain and swelling. when I am in one position too long…stiffness occurs. I keep plugging along with PT three times a week…home exercises…icing. I never expected this type of recovery. my surgeon certainly made things sound much easier than they are.
Happy I found this forum…good to know I’m not alone with my recovery issues.
HI Linda, I am just about a year and a half since surgery and this truly is a long slow recovery. what i can tell you in hindsight is that it all comes together with proper care and PATIENCE lol Work the knee as directed rest it when necessary and take meds regularly. DON’T rush it whatever you do but be consistent. ICE too is helpful for swelling. Different pains are expected too.
Glad you found this site so many helpful people. I would have panicked without it! I wish you well on this journey. It all comes together and you will be so happy you did this in the end.
Stiffness… This will be a very long term issue. During the first year, it will subside gradually, un-noticeably. By your first anniversary, you won’t even be thinking about it. For some people, this can extend into the 12-18 month period. And you can keep it from stiffening up *** IF ***
You are diligent about keeping your knee active. Sit around and it will stiffen up…guaranteed. So now extend this thought to its logical conclusion…
So many long-term TKR-ers will tell you that when they stop being active, even many years post-op, the stiffness returns. That is why keeping the knee active is not an exercise routine but a lifestyle change. It’s very simple…move the knee or it stiffens back up…period.
I understand. Thanks. Today I went out to breakfast with my children. Just sitting in a booth for 45 minutes created a lot of stiffness. I try to keep moving when at home and always at PT. I normally do quite a bit of volunteering which I am looking forward to returning to. Quite a bit of standing on concrete is necessary…hoping I can manage that down the road.
Thank you all so much. These forums are such a great place for support and advice. No-one understands like those who have been through it. I’ll try the pillow and Voltarol tonight. I am managing to alternate between sleeping on my side and back, just not enough in either position yet. I have some therapy bands so can try those to assist with raising the leg. I hope we all have a good night tonight.
This is what I did too for months and occasionally still do! i measured bend by placing blue tape on floor bending good knee then worked surgically knee to come close to where non surgical mark was. They still aren’t equal but surgical leg has caught up well and i am functional with pretty much no issues anymore.
Eight weeks is VERY early…VERY. The first 12 are the hardest…get your ROM to 0 / +120…
Then the muscle rebuild…keep the knee active…
These will help…
Thank you Mary. Icing the back of the knee sounds sensible. My packs sit either side of the knee, although the wrap goes right round. I’m glad to hear that things are improving for you.
Thanks Jenny. I had a look at the abridged version of your blog. We suffered the same post-op fainting issues! I had to laugh when you echoed my comment to a fellow patient that we are soon reduced to discussing basic bodily functions.
Brent, thank you! That really helped, got my first 4 hours uninterrupted sleep.