Hi, I am 73 and had a total knee replacement 3 weeks ago. I can only sleep sat upright on the sofa as if I try to go to bed the pain is too extreme. Can anyone advise. Although I am doing the recommended exercises, my knee is still very stiff and painfu but the swelling is going down. I lived on my own and am feeling quite low at the moment as I thought I should be feeling some benefit by now. Is this the same with others?
Hi, Eileen ,
this sounds perfectly normal . You should start to feel a bit easier soon. What Iain relief are you having . Try ice packs they help a lot. Keep doing the exercises however much it hurts . I found naproxen gives me the best relief and codeine at night .pam 41/2 months
Morning Eileen,
Very early days for you and what you are experiencing is normal, I'm afraid!
Exercising is vital, but do try to ice and elevate the knee as much as possible. Plus, pain relief is so important to enable you to do those exercises.
I was advised to have two naps during the day to help both with rest and enabling the bruising to subside. Had some of my best snoozes during those rest periods!
i am sad to say it, but for most of us on this forum, it is quite some while before we felt much benefit from the op. Maybe 12 weeks was the turning point for me.
Keep coming back to us. We are a helpful and supportive bunch.
Lynn 23 weeks post TKR
Hi Eileen - just what the others have said. Make sure you take your meds regularly as you get better pain relief then, ice and raise the leg. Do the exercises little and often but lots of rest as well. It is a difficult balance to get right. From about 4 weeks on I was able to massage the knee with oil which made some of the bending exercises much easier and was generally soothing so i recommend that as well - once the scar is comfortable. you also need to massage the scar to stop scar tissue building up. Hang on in there and good luck.
Unfortunately this is phase of healing that very few escape. Pain meds on a regular schedule before bedtime. Massage,elevation with ice is the best but probably still won't get it completely. Best I've ever been able to figure, the weight of the muscle sags down and upsets the nerves. Conditioning plus normal healing finally stops the pain somewhat. Change of baromoter causes swelling and changing weather with dampness and chilly weather can sent you into high levels of discomfort. I do better in severe cold than a 30-40° day with high humidity. As I have saidany times, my recliner is my best friend during this period. Right now in the Midwest of the US we are getting rain and damp with 40° temps. That is why @ 3:30 a.m. I am up and responding.
Wondered why you were already awake!!
Hi. Eileen
its such early days yet you've just had a Major op and you need rest .pain meds regularly and Ice
things do get easier I can assure you
Jean
Hi Eileen. Most people on here have gone through the same. and I can only repeat what others have said. However, when you find your way around the site have a look at all the earlier posts on here. You will find a very long list of us all saying the same and asking the same questions. As bad as the pain are the tears and depression and it is easy to fall down there. This site will help buoy you up. Personally I was about four weeks when I began to sleep better but we are all different, At 10 weeks I am almost there. Still some pain and discomfort if I do too much but I'm now ina place I wouldn't have believed possible 7 weeks ago. Good luck.
Gonna be a short night and very long day if the pain meds don't kick in soon. We normally don't get rain this time of the year but looks like next couple of days are going going to be kind of depressing. Next week we are scheduled to get a couple of days near 70. That should be enough to get the head cold and sinus season in full swing. Every walk-in clinic and pharmacy will be going at full speed. An old acquaintance of mine, a former professional basketball player died from complications of pneumonia this week and my grandson, a med asst in a walk in clinic, told me they are seeing more cases of pneumonia and flu this year already than all of last year put together. So hydrate everyone
hi Eileen sorry you're feeling down. that I'm afraid is a very common feeling after this op..... I hope that if you follow the advice already given you will perk up soon.... I don't know how you are managing on your own. ... I had to go and live with my daughter for 3 weeks.... do you have anyone come in to help?... my friend took me out in car and we used Shop mobility wheelchair to get round shops. got me out for a few hours.. .take care and hope you feel better soon... Mary 13 wks post TKR. ...
Hi Mary
how are you now? Getting better by the day I hope
this 13 weeks have flown by it definitely does take some time to start feeling yourself.
i'm still having sleepless nights but I'm getting around much better.
You take care
Jean
I agree totally with Lynn. You're very "normal". Pain relief, exercise, ice and plenty of rest Is what you need. It takes time - unfortunately - but things will get better 😊 Jen (19 weeks)
I'm much better than I was thank you Jean... latest trip to physio said the reason my knee keeps giving way is because of weakness in left leg.. calf and quad muscles quite weak and much smaller than other leg.. due to not being used much in last few years. .. everyone. ..NOW says... I should have had physio long before op... as I now have double the work to do to get strength back.... really intensive physio now... will take at least 3 months..... mentally much better can see light at end of this long tunnel. . hope you are doing well.
Oh Eileen I'm afraid this is the way of things, sleeping for the first few weeks is impossible, I was awake most of the night in tears. Eventually I put a small pillow in the bed and kept resting my leg on it and putting it between my knees. I also live alone and the emotional affects of the op really pulled me down. I am now 16weeks, I am sleeping better, I did have to resort to a low dose sleeping tablet, I can walk 3/4 mile on the flat without any aids. It's a long hard road Eileen and progress is very slow, I good day then 3/4bad ones even now at 4mothes. I am 82 and in all honesty this op has taken over my life. I don't feel I will ever get my old self back. I was full of laughter and life before, now I am full of tears. Take care Eileen things will improve eventually.
I'm glad you're doing better Mary
i'm getting there slowly ...but each day sees a little improvement
take care
Jean
Hi Eileen. I know just what you mean. I have just managed four nights in a row in bed for the first time since my TKR having spent most other nights on the sofa. It gets easier especially as I can now sleep on my side and I am now in week 5. Keeping taking your painkillers and exercising. I find icing it at bedtime helps and icing during night when I wake up in pain,as though I have stayed in bed I still wake up sore and stiff. Something to help you sleep might be good,
Eileen, have you tried putting 2 pillows widthways between your legs when you are in bed. I do that, and then I can roll onto my good side, and with another pillow to hug and one under my head, and can generally then feel pretty comfortable. That was how they set me up in the hospital, since I am a side sleeper. I only wake up now every 4 hours when it is time for another pain pill, swallow that down and go back to sleep. I am at 3 1/2 weeks now. I feel fortunate to have been able to sleep. My nightmare is getting the knee to bend.
Hi, thank you for your feedback and everyone else's. I am overwhelmed by the response but it has certainlyh made me feel better to know this is normal. I have been using icepacks during the day but have not tried night time, will definately give it a go. I think I perhaps I am expecting too much too soon. I am doing gentle exercises but cannot bend the knee very much and this has been worrying me.I am seeing the physio next week so am doing the right things. Thank you again.
Thank you for your advice and comfort message. I will definately start massaging the knee with oil as the scar area is very hard which of course is making it difficult to bend, so hbope that will help. Thank you again.
Thank you for your message. It has been hard on my own and I do have good neighbours who check on me most days and are taking my little dog for a short walk each day which I really appreciate. I am doing my shopping online and I don't know how long it will be before I am able to drive but I know it will be a long time yet. I think also the fact that you are in the same space all the time makes you a little depressed but I should really feel lucky as I know there are thousands of people out there much worse than me. Thank you again for your support.