After TKR, when did you stop elevating/icing?
Posted , 5 users are following.
I'm nearly 14 weeks p.o. I feel that my progress has been really good.
I have around 125-130 ROM, knee still a little warm and swollen.
No real pain to speak of, just aching if I 've been on it for a while.
Stiffness & discomfort when I push it at the extreme of motion, but that's no surprise!
Still have a lot of numbness of the skin on the outside of my knee.
It also still clicks quite a bit, but I have no pain with it.
My main question is, do I still need to routinely ice & elevate at this stage?
When did you guys stop?
Cheers 😃
0 likes, 3 replies
lynda49844 Nezza_42
Posted
Hi, it sounds as if you're doing well. I would say if it swells and is warm carry on icing and elevating, but maybe as you feel it needs it rather than to a strict timetable. I don't know how many times a day you're doing it currently, but maybe cut down and see how it goes. My first knee is a year old, but since the second was done 7 weeks ago I'm finding that sometimes I need to ice both
peggy_56092 Nezza_42
Posted
Over exertion may need icing/elevation after two years. The idea is to strengthen gradually and every day. Not exercising and then too much can cause the need to ice again. The clicks can occur after two years also.
CHICO_MARX Nezza_42
Posted
Simple answer: when you don't need to do it any more. Everyone is soooo different that there is no proscribed time duration. If you have swelling from doing too much any given day, then rest, elevate, ice. Look at your step count and back off, recover and increase gradually.
Understand that a TKR involves a typical year-long recovery. Yes, some do it in less time...some need more. It's all very individual. However, you have to remember one crucial thing : Unlike a hip or shoulder, a knee CANNOT be pushed to recovery. It will just swell up and laugh at you. Respect the knee and give it time to heal. This is not a race...give it time.
After your ROM work, you now need to rebuild all your atrophied muscles...
Muscle Rebuild
Endurance before strength. This will take months of dedicated work. Easy at first...you will get there. I'm 4 years post-op; I was doing 11,000 steps by 8 months and climbing stairs two at a time without holding a rail at 14 months...all with no negative effects. Yes, again, everyone is different so don't use my numbers...you will set your own. Time, work and patience are your tools. Use them every day.