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6 months - can the healing continue after this time?

Posted , 11 users are following.

catherine62931
catherine62931

hi again

Just had my 6 month check, X-rays all good, blood tests ( for infection) negative, but still pain when walking, it becomes very sore and inflamed within a few minutes. Eases when I rest and sit. Surgeon just says it should get better in time , soft tissues healing etc..and doesn't want to see me until the 1 year mark. I have rested it for the last 4 weeks as suggested by my physio with minimal exercise to give it chance to heal, but am still in the same position. I was a fit and healthy 61 year old and looking for a light at the end of this tunnel! 

Has anyone else improved significantly after the 6 month mark? My understanding is that most people are doing much better by this stage? Can't help wondering if something is wrong, but have to try and stay positive and trust my surgeon. Interestingly, it seems more sore after drinking wine?!!!! 

Any thought / ideas welcome.?! Catherine 

2 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • nicky14342
    nicky14342 catherine62931

    Posted

    Hi,Catherine,general rule of thumb says healing can take up to 2 years so try to be patient. Everyone has different rates of healing. Make sure you try to eat healthily,continue to ice and elevate if this helps and keep taking painkillers. Good luck.
  • andrea30334
    andrea30334 catherine62931

    Posted

    Are you takin anti inflammatorys?????
    • catherine62931
      catherine62931 andrea30334

      Posted

      Yes I am especially if I go out , they do help a bit but still don't stop the pain entirely. My surgeon just says he wants me off painkillers whenever I can, as it's been a long time on them now! 
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 catherine62931

      Posted

      Its just I had my op 5.3.15 and was still avin problems so was sent to physio who told me it was my muscles or ligaments that were weak causing my kneecap to drop into a fatty pad rubbing it anf causing it to be sore and inflammed so ive got strong anti inflammatorys and doing loads of leg lift exercising and its def improving its not as sore??? It was worse when got up to walk anywhere but it was fine on sitting??
    • patsyrose
      patsyrose andrea30334

      Posted

      That sounds a little bit similar to me, Andrea, although I've been told that my problem is excess scar tissue (I can't straighten my knee now and standing and then walking is agony after a while).  I'm going back into hospital at the one year stage in Sept, for an open arthrolysis.  Not looking forward to having a wound again, but I really need to see the light at the end of the tunnel!
  • anne07663
    anne07663 catherine62931

    Posted

    I am much the same as you. It's seven months for me and it was ok for a week or so, now it's back to the exercises again. I think it's the tissue sticking and pulling tight. I figure it is going to take me all of the year to heal. I'm planning on getting some laser treatments to break it up. Good luck. I'm 63 and still working. 
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 anne07663

      Posted

      Yes ive got scar tissue which doesnt help but the physio gives it a right kneading to break it up and he told me thats what I should do with the bio oil really knead it in and not just rub it on???
    • pyesangel
      pyesangel andrea30334

      Posted

      You should use the bio oil or cocoa butter on the incision (if completely healed), massage it right into the scar. I'm 11 weeks po and still do this. The scar tissue will keep your knee from bending properly and pull. My PT gave me an exercise to do to help. Using the oil, move your knee cap up and down and side to side for about 3 minutes. The knee cap can become 'stuck' and also contribute to the knee not working right. It does hurt a little at first but after doing it a few times, it feels great.
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 andrea30334

      Posted

      At the insistence of my therapist I have used vitamin E oil after the wound has completely quit showing any signs of draining. Apparently bio oil isn't sold in the US so I have no way of comparing results but I know the vit E has done a great job of keeping the scar soft and pliable. It's an over the counter product and the brand I use comes in a thick clear bottle which I use to deep massage it into the incision. As soon as the healing gets to the proper point, I will once again start the process. This will be the 5th time going through it on this same area and I expect the same results. It's strange how these products differ in the viewpoints of professionals. A week or so ago someone on here said their medical professional said bio oil was a hoax so not to waste their money. So who knows the answer. I guess if if it works for you, that's the route to take
    • pyesangel
      pyesangel Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      I've seen Bio oil at CVS, Wal-Mart and Rite Aid. I've not heard much about it, like I have vitamin E oil or cocoa butter. I've been using Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula, Skin Therapy Oil on my scar and love it. Surprising it's not greasy or oily feeling, even though it is an oil. Good luck, this time around!!
  • Hagarjane
    Hagarjane catherine62931

    Posted

    I am three moths pre op but that sounds really bad to me that the wine don't work, but seriously I think your doc has disgarded you. you still don't seem 100%.I read this forum every morning to cheer me up. I have more pain than I could ever imagine and I havn't even gone there yet.According to my readings it should be all over and dusted by 6 months

    Good luck from me

    Hagar

  • gill13890
    gill13890 catherine62931

    Posted

    Hi Catherine I am 3 months post op still getting lots of pain when walking. Just been back to my doctor today still not ready for work, he was keen for Me to continue with all my pain meds. I also take 500 gram Naproxen twice daily. And you need to keep up with the physio. I am only 49 and have only had a partial knee replacement. I think it does take time I had an X-ray at my post op check and mechanically fine. The pain I think is all the insides healing. Worse after wine that's a shame I find I can sleep better with a couple ☺️
  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 catherine62931

    Posted

    With all of the significant and various damage that has to be corrected, nerve damage is the slowest and most evasive. The best example of this I ever personally witnessed was when my wife had Guillian'beret syndrome and was virtually paralyzed from mid torso down.. The Dr's explained it was similar to polio except it came out of the other side of the spine. This was in 1977 and was associated with the swine flu. Which she never had nor did she have the vaccine. Nevertheless she had to retrain and strengthen the muscles and learn to walk again. Months after she had learned walk and had slowed down the physical therapy, occassionally the legs would sort of weaken and she would have to sit and rest but she would always feel it coming on and make the adjustments. About 10-11 months after the onset I asked in one evening and found her sitting in front of the kitchen sink wit a paring knife on the floor a a potato in one hand. The legs just went and she sort of slid down the front of the cabinets into this unladyllike heap getting rid of the knife as she fell so she didn't hurt herself. The subsequent call to the neurologist refreshed an earlier conversation about the healing time of nerves and we migt see this go on for several more years. We were living in a muliti level house and stairs were the real hardship in the healing process so we eventually moved into a home with 2 fewer level and reduced the stairs by 70 %. It took her 3+ years to finish the healing process. Long story but did show me how long the body can take to mend
  • irish_linda
    irish_linda catherine62931

    Posted

    hi catherine oh my i so understand you !!! im now 10mths post op  for revision im now starting to get energy at 6mth stage i had not got that and everything was a struggle plus pain was a factor when walking any distance  oldfatguy the very wise old man (excuse the pun)he is like a wise father to us is so right at how long it takes to heal mine has been through so much ops in a short time is working hard to heal a few months ago i felt il never get there and was very up and down with myself but its like all of a suden im coming out of a cave and seeing light you will get there i got pretty simular results on 6mth visit hold on in there you nearly there good luck
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