omg i had my tkr a week ago and feel apart from the intense vomiting post op that there is very little improvement. i want my old leg back i want to be able to sleep i want my back bum and hips to stop hurting im trying so hard with my exercises i keep crying ..think cos im soooo tired really wish i had not done this and managed with my old pain sorry for the moan someone please tell me it will get better xx
YES!!! it gets better but it is a long recovery ! I am at week 13 and just starting to feel better! I am still stiff at night but can sleep without ice pack finally. Short term totally sucks long term so worth it! HANG in there!!!
I’m 8 weeks and I understand your frustration Take your meds before you exercise and ice well after It will get better I promise but you have to put in the work or the scar tissue will take over and make things more difficult than they need to be . I found a body pillow hells to get comfortable enough to sleep good luck
It really will get better, I think many people in the early stages of recovery wish they never had the op. Use your medication to try and control pain, take it as prescribed don’t try and put up with pain. Its good you are trying hard with your exercises that really helps, but don’t over do it. Ice is also your friend. Recovery takes time, can’t tell how long, nobody can every recovery is different, but you will get there in the end and have many pain free years to look forward to. it’s 20 years and 18½ years since my TKRs and they are both still ok.
Yes. At least it has for me, now at 13 weeks post pkr. The early weeks were tough, sore and full of medication for me. It was all I could do to get my exercises done in a day. However, my knee is getting better all the time and I now believe I was right to have the surgery. I do still have days when I feel down about some aspect but I tend then to look up my symptoms on here and generally someone else has had a similar experience and I keep coming back to similar advice: do the exercises, take the medication you need, prioritise rest and allow your knee the time it needs to heal. It will go at its own pace. You will get there!
In the long run it will be so worth it . I took pain pills for about 3 weeks at night to sleep. I also slept on my back with my ice machine on all night. I am coming up on 7 months post op and doing really well. Wish I had exercised more, but hindsight is 20/20 . It is a long recovery.Hang in there & use ice .
HI
I HAD MY KNEE DONE OVER A YEAR AGO. Every day I SAY THE SAME THING YOU DO. WHY DID I DO THIS. I want my old knee back. ALL I can say to you is in time the pain and suffering will get better.
I’ve decided that there is nothing I CAN DO ABOUT IT now so I must accept it. I DO walk better. they save the other one had to be done but believe me that will never happen . I wish you luck and good health and just don’t stop doing the exercises they are very very important to keep the knee OK .
Hi Penny we have all been where you are don’t despair! I now 7 months on and waiting to have the other one done! I was on pain killers for 3.5 months. The operated leg still feels stiff and tight sometimes but I do not get the dreadful pain that I am now experiencing in the un operated leg!
Take a day at a time do your exercises and use ice every 2 hours for 20mins to reduce the swelling. The recovery takes time its a big op but you will recover!
Keep going!
I am sorry that you are feeling this way, but completely understand how you feel. I too felt the same way for 8 weeks. I am now 13 weeks out from my partial and things have gotten better but there is still alot of work to be done. I am far from feeling 100%, but i take it week by week. wish someone would have told you this recovery was this long, huh? wishing you well and hang in there!
Poor you. I am day 7 today too. I agree nothing prepares you for the muscle pain. Tears, yes I have had them too. However on the plus side knee feels amazing so there must be a light somewhere at the end of the tunnel! We need to keep in touch to compare.
i am 6 months post op. it will gradually improve. i could not take any narcotics due to severe vomiting. The pain was immense. Could not sleep. (Finally was given a muscle relaxant that did not make me sick but helped me sleep a bit.)Dealt with sciatic pain due to not walking correctly for a long time. felt just like you. Too bad they do not tell you the real story of recovery.
The key is to stay with the physical therapy. (I cried too the 1st couple of weeks). use ice as much as possible. KNOW THAT THIS IS PRETTY TYPICAL…and that it will eventually get better. HANG IN THERE!
Hi Penny
welcome to the club i for sure feel just like you i’m 4mth and it has not been a success at all it feels just like it did b4 i had my op Iwent to see my DR Thursday morning due to the lain and that it gave way while at work i still cant bend it enough to get up the stairs i do my exercises daily i have good muscle tone doctor was impressed with how I could raise my leg and how strong my muscles are I cannot understand why I’m still suffering my left knee also needs a full replacement but I can’t even think about that until this one is right I’ve got to wait at least 12 months because in a way it’s still early days and hope for a miracle im so sad that i feel like this as i was so positive about the operation
stay strong keep positive keep doing your exercises and make sure you take your medication don’t suffer in silence
ty lorri xx i needed to hear that xx
hi Sue yes it will be good to have someone to compare and keep up with and cry to lol xx seems normal from replies to feel so crap about it all at this stage xx
Hi penny it’s early days and yes it’s uncomfortable it’s horrendous seems like it’ll never get better but it does. I’m 7 months been there too but now it’s fab. Pain free even thinking of getting my other knee done and if you’d said that I would even be thinking of it I’d have laughed and said no way will I put myself through this pain ever. Well like childbirth it’s in the past so keep on with medication ice ice ice and rest. You’ll get there so good luck chin up xxxxx
hi Penny
i know your frustration im coming upto 6 months and some days are worse than others but on a whole hell of alot better than before op.
i still take some pain killers but less each day. i am feeling stiff was wondering cos its turned so cold xxx
I don’t think it is a good idea to compare one recovery against another. Every recovery is different. Its not a linear process there are ups and downs, sometimes 1 step forward 2 steps back, other times it may be 3 steps forward 0 steps back. Read other posts on this site you will find many different stories and not all are bad, you will also find some good advise and encouragement. We are never told before the surgery what the recovery will be like or how long it may take, I think if we were fewer people would have the op. Don’t despair you will get there in the end and be glad you had your tkr.
Penny
The first few weeks are hell - but put everything you have into Physical Therapy - ice and elevate as much as possible and I promise you that it will improve. Also, take the pain medicine as prescribed so the pain does not get out of control. Stay out ahead of the pain.
There were days in PT I actually cried from pain and frustration. I feel certain that many people felt the same while going through all of this. But again, PT is the key for a smoother full recovery.
Hang in there and listen to your body - but again ice and elevation (knee above your heart) are key factors in your recovery!
Wishing you best in your recovery.
I had my TKR this past April - still stiff but no more pain like I had prior to the replacement.
Susan
it’s one tough operation , very tough but very worthwhile, your only a week or so post op, give it time it does get much better , I’ve had both mine done and wouldn’t go back to how I was before , it’s worth all the sleepless nights and pain , it really does take time don’t do too much take it easy but don’t stop , it will be so much better honest
reading you post brings back memories , nearly 5 years post op and I still find things I can do without really thinking about it till after I’ve done it , hang in there ,