4 months post tkr and recently having some soreness in the evenings
Posted , 4 users are following.
I'm just coming up to 4 months post tkr. My surgeon was pleased with me at the 5-week check-up and my physiotherapist says I'm doing well. I have at least as good ROM as I had pre-op and some activities - up and down stairs - even better. Am more or less pain-free when walking but stiffness is there when I sit for a while.. However, for the past week or so, I find that when I sit around in the evenings there's some soreness on the outside of the knee and sometimes a bit of an ache in the front of my thigh. Does anyone else get this? I know it's early days and everyone says a year and even 18 months. I tell myself that it's healing going on inside my knee and that I'm more aware of it because I'm sitting quietly (usually!). I have no pain at all in bed (I sleep on my back and have done for years) so at least I can sleep at night. I do my PT exercises daily. I'm just concerned because I feel that this is going somewhat of a setback.
0 likes, 7 replies
BarbaraBeck jane41470
Posted
It's not a setback, just normal healing. Pain often occurs during the healing period, especially at nighttime. That was my experience after knee replacement for at least a year or so. Great self talk by the way.
jane41470 BarbaraBeck
Posted
Thanks Barbara. I know that it's only to be expected that there are seemingly some setbacks and it's always a bit worrying - imagination running away, so it's good to hear that other people experience these too. Thanks for the 'self talk' compliment!
lynda49844 jane41470
Posted
It all sounds pretty typical and you seem to be doing well. As all those traumatised tissues start to heal and we move round more, they're adjusting to their new positions after our gait changes. It might be the IT band causing the soreness on the outside of the knee. I'm having issues with mine still at 8 months. Ask your physio for stretches to help.
jane41470
Posted
Thanks Lynda. I will be seeing my physiotherapist this week for the last of my sessions and will check with him. I do have stretching exercises and squatting ones, which I do daily - well, almost. It all sounds very logical - the more we regain movement and resume pre-op activities, the more all our "bits" are reacting and adjusting. I just spent about 45 minutes gardening. Can't kneel - still afraid to put that sort of pressure on my knee - but found I could squat even better than pre-op (holding on to a branch of a tree most of the time!) It did feel good to be able to do something that's been annoying me for weeks - husband hasn't had time - and that in turn is a confidence builder.
jenny80029 jane41470
Posted
I found kneeling on the bed.. nice and soft, just taking some weight on my hands... very helpful. I am now over 2 years post op. So grateful and happy with knee. I kneel... not a sitting on my bottom kind of kneel but can be on hands and knees easily.. I enjoy yoga and swimming. Swimming is excellent post TKR if you enjoy it, it's a win win!
Wishing you all the best,
jane41470 jenny80029
Posted
Thanks Jenny. I found myself kneeling on the bed the other day quite by chance. I put my other knee on the bed to reach something, couldn't quite make it and without thinking brought my tkr knee up. Actually I was kneeling on the pillow. I quite surprised myself and decided i should practice it.
lynda49844 jane41470
Posted
I usually kneel on a cushion or pillow. I can kneel on carpet and do to,get up off the floor, but feel more comfortable with some extra cushioning especially if I'm on my knees for longer.