3 weeks post op total knee replacement frustration

Very common and I take percoset before PT also.  I am 5 weeks out and found heat helps me bend more.  Using a handsprayer in the shower over my knee I can bend much easier.  But they do say not to use heat till the swelling is down.  I find the knee heats up in the middle of the night and there is a need to ice then or first thing in the morning.  If you can research how long nerves, muscles, bones and tendons take to heal, you will see that you are still very early in the healing stage.  I'm only bending 105 so don't worry.  You can increase your ROM up to 2 years post op.

Be patient - don't overdo it.

Hi it will get there. You nend to ice more 3 to 4 times a day is not enough. I am 4 months out and I iced every hour 15 mins 15 mins off. Also need to do home exercises 4 to five times a day. Sounds like alot but it helps. Then all of a sudden you will past 90. It takes time and everyone is different. Three weeks is early. Ice ice ice elevate then more ice ice ice elevate. Good luck

Very common - one day at a time. I am 5 months, still swollen , but getting better since a couple of weeks ago. Good luck.

Hi mate I am 4 weeks...I can just bend 90....the pain is bad...the swelling just going down...gets hot at night but this is normal just ice it....still can't walk up stairs....I joined this yesterday...and people have been great....I am drinking four pints of water a day...going to physio he bends it...!!...we just have to be positive ...!!

I'm 4 weeks out and my ROM is 123.

Remember we all are diff and react diff to the same procedure and meds.My nurse told me the goal with pain meds is to get it to a managable level depending  on your tolerence.For me 1 Tram & 2 aleve does it.

I only take it before bed & 1 hr before PT.

You are totally normal and actually doing extremely well. You must be an athlete and/or very young. It takes at least a couple of months to notice a reduction in swelling, and I'm told it may take up to a year before it's gone completely. I'm 65 and at 12 weeks post op. Knee looks good but swelling and stiffness are still factors. Don't bend past pain unless a physical therapist tells you to do so.

Wow. Thanks for all the great advice! I can see that I am right in the normal range. I wish everyone luck with their replacements! 

Just an added note. I had a compound fracture of the femur on the same leg many years ago (1978.) I had limited ROM before the surgery. The leg is an inch shorter than the other and over the years this has caused my knee, ankle and foot problems.

@ 3 weeks, you're just beginning.  Minimum recovery time is 3-6 months with stiffness, clicking/popping and a slightly swollen look possibly continuing for 12-18 months.  Personally, I don't think the clicking will ever stop.  It's a mechanical device with metal on plastic...I can live with that.  Some of this may help...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499

Welcome to the club.

Too much emphasis on worrying about measurements - functionality and quality of life are what's important. At 18months some days I'm 99 others 122 - but I don't care any more. I just go with the flow. I am able to do almost everything I could do before the op apart from jogging. I'm pain free though get some stiffness and occasional discomfort when I overdo it - or stay still too long. Life gets better when not taking so many drugs, sleeping better and less dependent on others. But until then it's a case of self help and taking care of the knee so no trips or falls - as everyone says keep icing and elevating - psychological recovery is important too - rest and reading a magazine etc especially before going back to work - which is a major hurdle for some - and one lifesaver for me is internet shopping - was dead against it but had no choice living alone and now converted.

As far as I can tell from here and based on my own experience so far (9 weeks) a general target is to get ROM back to where it was pre-op and anything above that is a bonus. My surgeon told me it is primarily a pain relieving operation and that he should be able to straighten my twisted leg somewhat. He has suceeded in both of these but ROM is stuck exactly where it was pre-op.Lot of talk of icing but I've found it makes no difference to me although I don't have pain or much swelling, just a bit of heat in the knee.

I think you are doing great at three weeks and 90 degrees.  I found the swelling for me came from water retention.  A water pill might be all you need.  However swelling because you are brused, is very normal.  Because of the swelling you would be doing well past 90 without your P/T specialist forcing the leg to go beyond.  I find that they will push your leg, however that is not where you are at.  My opinion is they must see progress, or else the insurance company will not pay them.Pushing your leg past 90 shows progress and the company gets paid.  However I do not see a benifit to that, except for having pain.  I like to swing my leg and push it a little farther each day. 

Good luck.

Deborah

knee was great till 3 weeks. all of a sudden totally more pain stiffness. ??