Different stages of tkr recovery.

Second month...I find I do have a leg which kind of works but there is no life apart from the exercise universe.

Third month...I feel more like a normal person living in the real world and it all seems worthwhile but is still challenging.

Here's my conjecture on a recovery bell curve...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-recovery-bell-curve--563756

Typically...

- First Month: Hell on earth.  Rolling out of bed, drooling on yourself, insane pain, zero sleep, etc.  Gotta take your meds!!!  Use your crutches, walker and cane!!!  Ice...elevate.

- Months 2-3: Easing off the opioids, slightly better sleep, painful PT, still swelling when you push the knee too far, use of walking aids.  Still lots of icing and elevation.

- Months 3-6: Should have your ROM back or damn close to it, minor pain controlled by non-opioid painkillers, starting exercise after PT is done, occasional swelling (but you should be using a pedometer to avoid that!), should be back to driving, depending on job you may try work towards the end of this period, few or no walking aids.

- Months 6-9: Probably back to work...easy at first, getting stronger in quads, glutes and core, working on stair climbing, should not have any major pain, ROM should be 0 / +120.

- Months 9-12: Feeling fairly normal, back to work full time, no walking aids, stairs can still be an inconvenience, most or all of your leg and core strength is back, tight band feeling should be almost gone.

- Months 12-18: Can still have occasional minor residual knee "heat", band feeling, minor swelling if you're very, very bad that day, popping, clicking and clunking sounds may still persist (these may last forever), kneeling is now possible on a cushioned surface but you may still feel residual nerve tingling (any pain is NOT from the metal knee).

If you are doing way better than this, consider yourself lucky.  We had a guy on here a long while ago that went back to mountain climbing.  Haven't heard a word since.  Everyone's wondering where they found the body...

If you're doing way worse than this, then take a deep breath and keep on keeping on.  This will eventually end for you but not as soon as you would like.  We understand.  Talk to us...

This is all based on:

1. What people usually report on a thousand or more posts when describing their condition and activity at different stages.

2. An assumption that you actually work hard at PT and at home plus follow PT with an exercise program to regain your strength.  Sit around hoping you get better just doesn't cut it.  This takes commitment and work...period.

3. The recognition that we all heal at different rates and that this is NOT a measuring guide to what you SHOULD be like at different time period.  It's just a generalization...everyone's different.  Do NOT compare yourself to this or anyone else.  Your experience could be very different.

Eat healthy food, hydrate a lot, ice, elevate, stay on your med schedule, take PT seriously even though it hurts like hell, do your post-PT strengthening, treat yourself well, don't dwell on the pain, move your body, get involved in other activities no matter how much you don't want to.  The process usually takes a year...plan on it...own your recovery. 

Oracle out...

I'm twelve weeks out as well. Have not taken anything at all for pain since the first month. I still have problem with bend. Can do a 90 degree but nothing else. My straightening is good however. We all have to understand we will heal in our own way. And it may not be everything we expected but, I don't have that terrible arthritic pain that I had that had me doubled over with pain and a cane. Will I do my left knee? I want to be rehabed on this one first as his will become strong knee, hopefully.

Hi at week 9 my TKR seems to be settling down . Pain has gone just stiffness if I sit too long I have a 120 bend -5 flex . Physio have paid dividend . Dr has been supportive with time off work and I have set goals to achieve and it's helped. However each day is different and some days are not as good regarding mobility . My advice is work hard at physio do as you are told take your pain meds , listen to your body ice, heat and most of all BE KIND TO YOURSELF . It's a long journey with humps in the road and hidden bends . Most of all your not on your own .

Two knees. Two VERY DIFFERENT paths of recovery!

Knee#1(LEFT KNEE) Tree trunk filled with cement. SWELLING!!! Minimal pain after surgery, but SWELLING pretty outstanding for first few months. On the plus side, LEFT KNEE was noticeably stronger and less painful than non-surgical knee by the morning after surgery! Physical therapy was challenging due to SWELLING which didn't change much no matter whether I iced, elevated, rested, walked, didn't walk, exercised or sat still. Finally slept for four hours straight at 12 weeks post-surgery. Off opioids at two weeks. Ibuprofen did MUCH better job at reducing SWELLING than opioids which were not very helpful for me AT ALL. Pain minimal, but SWELLING was my toughest issue to deal with in first 12 weeks. Driving at six weeks. Used a step stool to get into my Jeep then used my cane to hoist it inside before closing the door. Lots of balance work and strengthening work and stretching at physical therapy. At 15 weeks I completed physical therapy for KNEE #1 (LEFT KNEE)

Surgery on Knee#2 (RIGHT KNEE) the next day!

Knee#2 (RIGHT KNEE) Could move my just-operated-on knee ALL AROUND in the recovery room! (Was waiting for THE TREE TRUNK FILLED WITH CEMENT, but that never came!😁 Was able to walk back from the physical therapy room on the day after surgery! I felt like my RIGHT KNEE was almost up to the level of recovery that my LEFT KNEE was experiencing by the first week! This was a VERY, VERY pleasant surprise!

Two knees. Same body. Same surgeon, Same hospital. TWO VERY DIFFERENT experiences during the first days, weeks, months of recovery!!!

Two years in...I'm able to walk quickly, fast enough to keep up with my long-legged family!😁 Can stand as long as I want to with ZERO knee pain. (Other arthritic body parts give in to pain, but my KNEES are strong soldiers!) Can spend all day in my beloved garden, can enjoy playing with our VERY BUSY granddaughter, can shop without having to lean or sit or leave because of excruciating pain, and can LIVE LIFE AGAIN!

Getting my knees replaced has been the single best thing I ever did for myself!??