6 Weeks out from TKR and wishing I’d never done this ...

Trust me you are not a lone, and this surgery does improve but very slowly. Everything you said you are going though I have been though too and a lot of other people so don't think you are going crazy, it very normal. I am at 6 months now and still swollen and stiff and sore , I am hoping to go back to work in 2 more month. I so miss working and being around other people ,so I can take my mind off this knee. Take each day with an open and positive mind and keep working on it.

Jeannie

I am 11 weeks postop I know how you feel Please use ice ALOT! Ice actually takes my pain away. Try to obtain an ice machine from a friend or online They work excellant I borrowed my neighbor's Couldnt get one even with good insurance! I felt like I would never get better Had a horrible experience with a physical therapist who tried to put me on an elliptical machine with no demonstration first! Was never on one in my life! I'm 66 yrs old I quit her & found an excellant one I almost quit going altogether I was so emotional , didnt care if i ever walked again! Just discharged from PT! I go to aqua therapy which really helps Every week gets better Please keep talking to people with same experiences It really helps Take care and God bless!

Yep, at 6 weeks I was debating whether I should have left well alone, but then things slowly began to improve so I hope it might be the same for you. At 10 weeks I'm still on painkillers, between 3000-4000 mg paracetemol daily, but sleep is back to normal. What helped my sleep was taking an antihistamine and wrapping my knee in clingfilm (need to wrap kitchen towel/paper round it first if you still have sutures, scabs or any open areas). I don't know how the clingfilm works, but it does. I also used a pillow lengthwise under the whole of my leg. I was told to expect pain, clinks and clicks for 6 months, so there's a way to go yet. I can't be sure it will all turn out ok for either of us, but working on statistics that 5% wish they had never had it done and a further 10% feel they are no better than before surgery, I remain optimistic.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement and for chiming in on my 'woe is me" post. I know we all feel sorry for ourselves at some point during this journey and it’s nice to know a lot of you understand where I’m coming from.

I know that water therapy will do me good. We have a swimming pool but it’s a little too cold to go in yet. Having said that, I have stepped in it and moved my leg around for 15 minutes or so. The cold water felt good along with the water movement. But yes, that night I really swelled up . Yesterday I also did some leg presses with no weight on the machine. It did not feel too bad. I have also done my elliptical a few times. I have a bike but I’ve only gone on that a couple of times. So I am working out it… I have learned from some of you on this board and Google searches the exercises I should be doing and I try to do those. And I see a PT a few times a month only because of the cost .

I also take antihistamines (sp?) at night and have for most of my life because of allergies and they also help me sleep so I am still doing that now. I called in a new prescription of percocet yesterday so I should find out today if my doctor is giving me more or not and if he doesn’t, he will definitely be getting a phone call from me. . It’s very discouraging to not see your surgeon after surgery until seven weeks later. I am very upset about that. It would just be nice to know what he thinks is going on.

Like I said in my first post, I feel very fortunate because I have been driving since week three and have not used anything to help me walk since 10 days post op. I can walk around fine. Sitting is what seems to hurt more. Being isolated in the house is hard for all of us, I know. I have been getting out a little bit though. I’m going to do my best to accept that it is a long journey and pray for a good outcome. Thank you all again for chiming in and I wish the best for all of you who are still suffering as well.

Hi TomKat,

I promise you it will get better. I had my TKR 4 years ago. It was pure hell for the first 3 months. The best thing I can recommend is ya gotta keep moving. Make sure you go to physio everyday to make progress. That percocet will latch onto you and your neurosystem so try and wean off it. I weaned myself slowly off the oxycodone they gave me only to discover that my body was addicted to them. I was shocked. Give yourself some credit. You are through the worst part. It will start getting better.