1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Knee Problems

Cry daily due to swelling and stiffness

Posted , 15 users are following.

faybubbles
faybubbles

I'm out 9 weeks now, and stiffness and swelling is so unbearable. I just got done with PT last week so now will be on my own. I cry daily, and I have tried Ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, for Inflammation and nothing helps. Ice and elevating are my best friends. If anyone has any ideas, advice, anything will help. Much appreciated. Was hoping to be back to work by now but no way.

0 likes, 29 replies

29 Replies

Prev
  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 faybubbles

    Posted

    Are you in uk, or elsewhere? How much exercise have you been doing each day? Is it possible you are doing too much?
  • cynthia89958
    cynthia89958 faybubbles

    Posted

    I'm at 6 weeks and although I know it is early days, can relate to your post. The tears do show up a lot and the feeling that normality as we knew it will never return. This can be a huge mountain to climb with many backward slips.

    ?I have had lots of pain that did not respond well to meds and my bend has never progressed, severe stiffness and swelling after movement or exercise, whether I do a little or a lot. Keeping up the ice and elevation as this is good but it does not seem to progress.

    ?I have to go back to surgeon to see why the stiffness,  pain and swelling and lack of ROM. Have you got your knee bending OK? If your bend and extension are allright, then I'd guess you need to give things more time and they should improve. Easy to say I know.

    It seems early to go back to work - I've read of people going back at every stage of recovery but the norm is several months as Chico has said wisely. My job has been made redundant so I don't think about that at the moment, though the income is no more which is tough. An employer is not going to hire me as I am right now. I hope you will be able to take more time.

    ?There is so much support here so any time you are feeling alone, don't hesitate to reach out to the good people here.

    • faybubbles
      faybubbles cynthia89958

      Posted

      I'm so glad to have found this site. My knee bend is at 105, should be at 120. I have stiffness and swelling all the time whether I'm exercising or not. I can't even get my jeans on as my knee and thigh is so swelled. I wanted to be able to go back to work but am realizing I won't be. I want to heal properly and walk normal again. I'm walking with a limp right now, which thats the biggest thing that bothers me the most. I'm 53 and don't want to walk with a limp the rest of my life. I know things could be worse. I hear and read so many different things, exercise to much is not good, but you need to be moving your knee all the time. Dont know what to believe anymore. Thanks for listening, its so uplifting. 😊😊

  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo faybubbles

    Posted

    Apart from anti inflammatories, have you got good pain medication?  I had tramadol,m and although it certainly didn't get rid of the pain in the dose I was given, it did help to make life a little more bearable. . . .

    • faybubbles
      faybubbles martinarvelo

      Posted

      I do have Tramadol, dont like to take it if I dont need to but the stiffness and swelling is so bad that I have been having to. I'm not able to take anything for inflammation (ibuprofen, Aleve, advil) as they irritate my stomach. Its a long long process. Hoping for better days ahead.

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo faybubbles

      Posted

      The thing with tramadol is that it is a slow acting painkiller, which needs to be taken regularly.  It's not really an 'on demand' type of pain killer . . . and 120 at nine weeks is no bad thing!!!

    • faybubbles
      faybubbles martinarvelo

      Posted

      I should be at 120, I'm at 105. Wish it was better. I was on hydrocodone but hurt my stomach.

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX faybubbles

      Posted

      Stop saying "should be"...Jedi Mind Trick!!!  You will get to 120 when you get to 120...and not a moment sooner.

      Hydrocodone is codeine based.  With acetaminophen, it's called Vicodin and Norco.  Can cause stomach irritation and constipation.  The alternative is OXYcodone which, when acetaminophen is added, goes by the name Percocet. Same pain relief, different molecule.  Ask your doc to switch you...might help.

  • Duckfan
    Duckfan faybubbles

    Posted

    Well I'm at 10 weeks and I'm still stiff and have some pain. I've been released from pt to work on getting better on my own.

    My rom was 90 and 0 straight leg. When he measured again for my release I was so stiff and sore that day that I was crying when pt started. When he measured I just knew it would be at 80. We'll it was 98 and I'm sure I could have eked out a few more day poor husband. I got in the car and burst into tears again. He said what's wrong and I sobbingly said my rom is 98. Isn't that good he said, yes I sobbed. Why are you crying he said. I don't know!!

    Poor guy. He will glad I'm back to normal. All that to say that I'm less stiff walk better although my back hurts and working on that

    You will get better. It's a long hard road

  • amanda1827h
    amanda1827h faybubbles

    Posted

    No one should be in pain.I would urge you too talk with your doctor. Also Reflexology & Hydrotherapy will both help.regards Amanda

Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.