6 wks post tkry & very stiff and swollen
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi. I am 6wks post surgery for TKR and finding it incredibly difficult to get more than 80 ROM due to severe swelling of my whole knee and some wound ooze in two places. Also am wondering whether the cause of the swelling is that I am doing too much. My leg becomes as hard as iron and I get stabbing pains at the site of the wound leakage. Haven't had that much physio yet due to the complications.
0 likes, 4 replies
CHICO_MARX kim87231
Posted
Gotta do the PT plus some work at home to break down the scar tissue. If you're doing too much at home...STOP! Ice and elevate. Get a fit bit or other pedometer and track your steps. When you have swelling, note the steps. Back off, ice, elevate, recover, resume slowly. Extend your max steps very gradually.
Your PT should be helping you manage this as well as your doc for the pain meds. However it's up to you to know your knee's current limits. Listen to your knee!!! Slow and gradual increases. I did 8,200+ steps at 5 weeks and had a balloon knee for 3 days! It only took one time for that to happen...I learned my lesson. By 8 months, I was up to 11,000+ steps (~5 miles) with no swelling ever again.
Here are some extra exercises for home...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-rom-work-at-home-620053
If you have swelling, go easier...once a day instead of three...10 reps instead of 15. We're all different and you have to know your own knee. However, that scar tissue has to go. I started PT at 3 weeks and -14 / +84. Took me to the 12 week mark (3 months) to get to -1 / +123. Got stuck at -4 for a long time. Slow and gradual but the work has to get done. Give yourself time...it will happen...just do the work and have patience.
linda84382 kim87231
Posted
Try taking a day or two off. Rest, ice and elevate. Make yourself rest. When the swelling goes down start trying the exercises again-gently. That is what worked for me. How can you bend or straighten a knee that is swollen and " hard as iron". By six weeks your wound should be closed. Let your doctor know. Hope all improves soon.
kim87231 linda84382
Posted
Thank you Linda. Your advice is very sensible. I have dental & hospital appointments over the next two days but fully intend resting, elevating & icing on Thursday and Friday. I will speak to the surgeon on Wednesday re wound. It's so difficult to just rest though... everyone around me seems to think I should be doing more by now so are doing less & less for me. I have a friend who never has health issues who keeps asking me if my leg is better!! And when do I think I will be going back to work!!!! I am going to have to ignore them or try to
plea for some understanding/help for a few more weeks. I must admit I thought I would be in a better position by now. Kim x
linda84382 kim87231
Posted
It is hard to ask others to help so much. Kim, I had my first tkr on rt knee in 2011. Recovery seemed easy compared to this time. I thought I would go back to work at 6 weeks but that just didn't happen. I did go back at 8 weeks but I was able to work short days.
Now I am 9 weeks from tkr and it doesn't compare to the first one. I still have pain every evening and still have swelling. I can go down steps properly without pain and have good bend and straighten. This only happened after I stopped pt, let swelling go down and did exercises on my own. You just can't bend a stiff swollen knee. I pray all goes well for you. I am retired and rest all I want to. Lol.