5 weeks post op partial knee replacement

Im 13 wk trk and im the same.xx

I'm four months postop and I still have to sit down often when doing my housework. My doctor said it takes about a year to fully recover. I still have a little pain once in awile if I sit too long like long car rides or if I sleep in the wrong position. As far as your knee slipping out I would call the doctor on that. I have a clicking noise once in awhile with mine. They say it is nothing to worry about. I wish you luck on this journey and hope that your pain level goes down as mine has. I'm looking forward to getting the other knee done soon. I need to be able to keep up with our 2 year old grandson and our little grandchild that will be here in March.

Wow I think you're doing too much for only 5 weeks out. Have you been resting and icing the leg? Is it still swollen? I know you're probably ready to get on with your life lol! But it takes time to heal. It sounds like your mobility is good but it's really soon to expect to be pain free. I know the Norco doesn't work that great. But ice ice ice when you are in pain. And elevate the leg with a pillow when you are on the couch. Good luck in your healing. Prayers.

Sounds like you are pushing way too hard. Don't believe all those stories about being normal in 6 weeks........many aren't even thinking about driving at 5 weeks. Rest is as important as any otherwise of this process and ifvyoub try to skip it you are going to be in trouble. Get completely off the leg for a couple of days. Hydrate and let yourself get pain free. Then start over again and go very, very slowly back into the exercise. Forget about all the other stuff and concentrate on getting better not all of the shopping, housework and socialization. Rest every time you have a chance. A nap in the afternoon isn't a sign of weakness.....its a sign of being human. In some countries insurance wouldn't allow you to be driving.

Planning on going to work 8 weeks post-op?  Really?  Seriously?  Good luck with that...

Norco is acetaminopen plus hydrocodone, a major opioid.  If you are on 5-325, ask your doc to up you to 10-325 or 10-500 for a short period of time.  However, your body might not react sufficiently to hydrocodone (some people don't).  In that case, acetaminopen plus OXYcodone, another major opioid, is called Percocet.  It might work better on you than Norco.  Talk to your doc.

Warning:  These are highly addictive drugs.  (Note: The infamous Oxycontin is pure Oxycodone without the acetaminopen.)  Most TKR patients use them for 60-90 days to get past the really bad pain, then move down the med scale and off the opioids.  If you are considering going back to work too soon and think you'll get past the pain by continuing to take these killer meds long term, you're just kidding yourself.  Think real hard about your choices...Vicodin (like Norco) will make your teeth start rotting out in about two years.  I would recommend not even considering going down this road...

"...feel as though I should be doing much better by now...."  Yes, we've all been there.  I don't think anyone was prepared for how long a TKR recovery takes.  Talked to some people before my op, told them I had a hip replaced and rehabbed in 6 weeks.  They just laughed and told me that a knee is totally not like a hip.  This is a slow, steady, long recovery in the 3-6 month range for most people, with stiffness, a "swollen look" and clicking/popping lasting 12-18 months or longer.  Some less, some more but this seems to be the typical range with a return to work being on the longer (4-6 month) side.  

Gotta get past the pain and off the opioids before you can at least drive.  You can't make decisions at work on these pain killers...period.  Then you need to achieve full flexion and recover the strength in your legs, glutes and core.  Not an overnight thing.

Do NOT compare yourself to any other individual's progress or to what your mind "thought" it would be like.  Feeling down about it?  It's called post-operative depression...normal.  Kick its butt down the stairs...interferes with your will to get stronger.  Clear your mind of all the crap, concentrate on PT and getting back to normal.

Sleep?  I put my leg up on a pillow (against MD advice) and iced it...helped a lot.  50 mg Dyphenhydramine (generic Benadryl) or 3-5 mg Melatonin are OTC sleep aids plus some lavender oil in a diffuser.  Turn off all TV and cell phones 1/2 hour before bed.  Read a book.  Turn off the light; make the room pitch black.  Gotta find some ways to get to sleep.

In the end, give up what your mind is saying and listen to your body.  Do too much?  The knee will swell.  Eat healthier...lose weight, if necessary...hydrate a lot...sleep as much as your body tells you to do.  All your energy is being directed at healing your knee.  Don't listen to your head...give up expectations and deal with what is actually real.  And...

"Never give up!  Never surrender!" - Tim Allen, Galaxy Quest

Take it easy! I'm now 15 weeks post op TKR and not driven my car yet and not expecting to for a while! I never expected to feel so totally wiped out after this op but getting used to resting and icing. Take it easy, it's a major op, don't worry about housework, it will still be there when you are feeling better. 

WOW !  I am wondering who is advising you on what to expect during your recovery. This sounds so very different to my expectation timeline. At 6 weeks I am expecting to be able to drive again and to resume some light home duties. I am approaching three weeks post op and can now walk confidently with one crutch and so can now make myself a coffee etc and carry it !! That feels like a huge milestone let alone thinking about doing what you are. I am concerned you are putting your future outcome very much at risk and the potential for it all going wrong is considerable. Please take note and slow back down. Not easy I understand but critical for a good long term result. Take care.

I'm 2 years post op, I had a TKR on my right knee, the first 3 months were a living He** , I was put on Oxycodone it seemed to work ok, it didn't get rid of the pain but it did help dull it, and I took them every 4 hours. I didn't drive during that time either, I went back to work after 3 months, but on light duty and only half days for another 2 months.

 I see you had a partial but I'm sure your doing to much, it took me a year to finally start feeling good and now at 2 years , if it weren't for the scar I would forget I had a bad knee.

as for it feeling like it slips out I'd call and go see my surgeon if I were you, good luck