7 weeks tkr

Hi Ann, I know I've said this many times before, but at 7 weeks you are very early in a recovery that can take up to 2 years! Sorry to reiterate this but must be said. Don't think because you still have stiffness & swelling that something is wrong, your body, esp the operated area has to recover from a brutal operation, & it doesn't usually happen overnight. There are some who seem to recover quickly, some take a lot longer. Why I don't know, is it luck of the draw, fitness or genetics.....????

Just keep on doing your exercises & icing etc. 

You say you still limp a bit but your bend is at 120, which is excellent, but you don't say what your extension is. If the knee doesn't straighten you will limp, maybe you need to concentrate on the straightening exercises, as without a straight leg you will always limp.

Are you walking a lot? Overdoing it will end up with a swollen knee, also change of gait (after op & realignment of knee) can cause pain in the foot area too. If you are walking a lot, ease off a little until swelling goes down, then build up slowly. Swelling is usually due to overdoing it.

Pain in bed can be a problem, I still have discomfort if I sleep in certain positions, at 5 months! Try to find a comfortable position, it can take a while to find the ideal. If necessary use a pillow or cushion under or around the knee. Trial & error I'm afraid. 

Don't feel you are moaning. We all do that at some time, it goes with the territory! Just try to take each day as it comes, add a little humour & treats for you! 

You will get through this, look forward to walking without the pain & swelling! Just do it gradually.

Keep in touch here, someone will always reply.

Marilyn 

XX

Thanks I think it's impatience but no one tells you what it's going to be like after the operation. My right knee needs doing but I've cancelled that till a later date. Felt like I need to recover first from this one before thinking of the other. I am sleeping a lot better 2 paracetamol and 1 tramydol really helps. No other painkillers at all.

Hi. I am 9 weeks in now after right knee replacement, i am still in manageable pain and the swelling is still visable, i do the exercises and go to physio which helps, you are not moaning you just want to get right like the rest of us, it all takes time and we are all different, my knee went on me the other day why i dont know but its ok again now, my knee bend is good but after walking some distance i get severe pain so i limit myself now to how far i walk, i dont use a stick or crutches now i manage on my own, it will come just keep up with the exercises etc, good luck. Max

Nut you are feeling normal...exactly normal for where you are in your recovery.  What did you think?  Snap of the fingers and this would be over?  Silly wabbit...  I've read over 4,000 posts on here and a common theme is: "Hey, I'm starting to feel more like my old self again!"...but this statement usually comes at around 9 months.  Seven weeks...not a chance.  You've barely started.  The stiffness can last 12-18 months but it decreases imperceptibly slowly.  One day, you'll realize it's not there...but only if you keep the knee active.  5+ year veterans say that when they slack off the exercise, the stiffness returns.  No one told you this is a lifelong recovery?  Really?  Yeah...no one told me either...

After the ROM work comes the muscle rebuild as your quads, glutes and core are all dead...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/post-tkr-exercising-565527

Gotta do this to take the pressure off the knee and put it back on the muscles where it belongs.  This will enable you to walk correctly again, regain your balance and enable you to do stairs like a normal person.  Failure to do the muscle rebuild keeps all the pressure on the knee causing more pain, limping, etc.  You don't want that.  Welcome to the club...

Oh...  For your fridge...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-reality-of-a-tkr-recovery-in-one-picture-626038

Reality...sucks, doesn't it?