18 weeks

Hello Peter,  I am 19 weeks post op on my right knee TKR.  I am in the states and at week 12 my surgeon x-rayed knee and told me everything was looking great.  Did you have a x-ray?  I would think if you did it should be ok unless you did something to get it out of alinement.  But if you are worried, the best thing to do is contact your surgeon or your family doctor.  

 I am not having pain in my knee except when I overdo it.  I can manage the stairs somewhat "normally" it is painful going going down, the pain goes down my shin and even with my bend of 120 it seem like my leg doesn't really want to clear the stair.  Going up stairs my knee does feel very heavy and I have to work to try and go up normally.   I think that is because I am not strong enough yet.  At the gym I am doing the bike and elliptical with no problem.   

M.A.

Not sure where you live but I had TKR 6 years ago at Hereford and had an excellent consultant.

If you live anywhere near Hereford I could give you his name if you like. I would recommend him to anyone.

Good luck with all this, hope it is nothing serious and settles down.

Keep in touch

Sarah

Hey Peter, sounds like your doing good, what does doctor think about your pain ? Or physical therapist? I'm 4 years post-op RTKR / left knee 3 months later. It takes time to recover from knee replacement / physical therapy and daily exercise really is the key. I'm better now than I was a year ago. Spent a year and a half in PT 3 times a week. Good health to you.

Time, work and patience.  That's it.  We hear "concrete" all the time...a very common description.  Click on my name and then "See All Discussions".  Lots of stuff out there to answer your questions...

Hi Peter,

I had a similar issue, although I described it has having a knot in the side of my knee. When I went back to see the surgeon for a follow-up visit, he told me not to worry, my knee was fixed and it was was the body's reaction to surgery (the body trying to build scar tissue due to the trauma of the operation) and it was extremely important to keep going with physio and exercise. I always felt for the first 6 months I was going two steps forward and one step back, but I kept going with stretching and bending exercises diligently. It probably wasn't until I got 12 months out from surgery that I could look back and say that I was happy with the decision to have a TKR. I've now got 130 degree bend, and only some very occasional momentary twinges of pain (probably wouldn't even call it pain). Of course, if you're concerned, it doesn't hurt to speak with your surgeon just to be certain, but it sounds to me like you are doing well and your journey is quite normal. My surgeon told me I could expect to be making small improvements even up to 2 years later. It's now been 4 years and I get around like I have a normal knee ... up and down stairs all day without any problem, no more aching at night whilst in bed etc. I can walk 10,000 steps a day without any problems. Having said all that, though, I still make sure I follow my surgeon's advice ... I don't go running or jogging or lift heavy weights at the gym. 

Of course, I realise that not everyone who has a TKR has a great result, but it sounds like your journey is quite normal.

All the best.