Posted , 19 users are following.
Hi, I've noticed different stages/phases in my recovery after my knee replacement surgery. The first two weeks were almost unbearable, after that the pain was still there but a little less. At 12 weeks most of my pain was gone and I noticed considerable improvement in strength, bend, etc. What has been your experience as to the different significant stages in your recovery?
2 likes, 84 replies
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jan01779 Ozziegee
Posted
Its going to be different for everyone some people sail through more than others look at chicos Bell curve post !
Im just over 6 months first month was most painful mainly at night and agree 3 months was a turning point with the bend still working on extension and building quads. Went backt o work at 4 months stuggled at first and knee still swells but still ice.
Seems like you are on track just keep up the exercises Im so glad I've had this
done. Keep us informed.
jenny80029 jan01779
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lmacfrd Ozziegee
Posted
I am post op day 20 of a right tkr. First week was the worst. Second week better. Stopped taking the narcotics. Took Tylenol for break thru pain. After week two, the compression stockings come off. A relief! Then the bandages come off. Relief. Home pt in and hurts quite a bit to bend and stretch. I walked outside as much as I could with the walker. Week #3- less pain. Must do the exercises daily as much as possible! Some days I overdid it and hurt the following day. Have to find a happy medium! In pt pt said I could try the elliptical machine so I did for 3 minutes stents. Output pt starts tomorrow. Doc told me you must work hard during the next three weeks to prevent scar tissue. Told me after the next three weeks that is where your knee willl be at. If you don't exercise hard you will not see the results you are looking for.
Ozziegee lmacfrd
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Imacfred, I'm surprised by your Dr's comments. It seems to me you're doing great. I'm no doctor but I have mixed feelings about "exercising hard" during the early stages. Good luck!
Guest Ozziegee
Posted
I'm 4 weeks post op today, at 43 , I thought I would have an advantage in my recovery and rehab. I have been dining on humble pie! This is hard work, I need to discipline myself to do more at home exercises aside from my PT regimen that is currently 3 days a week. I have 4 opioid pills left and then will remain on ibuprofen and ice. The pains have changed over the past few weeks. The first 2 weeks were so excruciating for me, Percocet did not control my pain and I was better managed by Vicodin. Bone pain is by far the worst pain, once I turned the corner on that crushing knee pain, I was able to distract my mind more. This was a real lesson in mental strength as well as physical. The stiffness and calf pain bothers me the most now , I'm at -9/87 degrees. I walk with a cane, stand to cook, shop for 20-30 min intervals without much leg fatigue. Need to take frequent breaks to sit and elevate. Sleep is interrupted at least 5 times in the night. Psychologically, aside from being on meds, I feel overly emotional. My body knows it has been through a traumatic experience in the operating room. Whenever I see violence on tv I instinctively cringe, cradle my knee and get vey upset. There is definitely a emotional guarded component , a surgical PTSD if you will.
Ozziegee Guest
Posted
Well written Diane! I liked your "lesson in mental strength", and "surgical PTSD" comments. I can relate to that. Good luck!
CHICO_MARX Guest
Posted
Did someone mention PTSD????
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-ptsd-569521
When you have only four Percocets left, you learn how to really evaluate your pain...because then you'll only have three...then two...then one... Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah...humble pie...me too. Hydrate...wash it down... Lots of us were never prepared for the pain. After a hip replacement, four knee scopes, three spine surgeries and four kidney stones, I thought I'd skate right through this. WRONG!!!!! Stick with it, kiddo...the worst is behind you.
PS: The emotional part is called Post-Operative Depression...a known result of replacement surgeries that the docs don't tell you about. Totally normal. Now that you know what it is, kick it out the door. Just a Jedi Mind Trick.
jenny80029 Guest
Posted
Cooking and shopping! Wow, you are doing a lot... miles more than I did at that stage. Have you got someone helping you? You may be very over tired. It doesn't help at all!
Duckfan Guest
Posted
My acupuncturist addressed surgical PTSD yesterday at my appointment. He reminded me that my body went through a brutal surgery, a very skilled brutality. Then he reminded me that my knee is very strong now and the pain is coming from scar tissue needing to be broken up.
It was a needed lecture. I'm 15 weeks out and need to do more. I signed up for a personal trainer and need to work those quads.
It will get easier for you but I sure related to holding your knee. I live in a Oregon Coast small town and went downtown on Memorial Day weekend. I just knew those tourists were going to knock me down. So glad to be back in the car😀
Guest jenny80029
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Guest Duckfan
Posted
I love the way he put that "skilled brutality ". Excellent way to describe it without discrediting the surgeon. I know the medication gave us amnesia but something in my body tells me the trauma that has taken place. I will remain on guard for awhile especially that I was always guarded of my bad knee to begin with preop. I will have to learn that it is stronger than ever now and I can rely on it once I rehabilitate.
Guest CHICO_MARX
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jenny80029 Guest
Posted
Guest jenny80029
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jenny80029 Guest
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That sounds like a great idea! I have found exercising in water has had a very positive impact on my rehab. It is good for children to know mum needs looking after a bit. Mine are teenagers, so more independent, but still it's been good for both me and them to accept my limitations.
Guest jenny80029
Posted
You are right about that, it is a great lesson in caring. They have been so resilient through this process and it has made all of us stronger. They had to be more more mindful of my needs, which I say the earlier the better because we don't want to be raising little self-serving people haha. An experience in their little lives they will probably process much later.
lynn30931 Duckfan
Posted
I traveled 6 weeks post op on a planned family trip, and I was SO scared of people knocking into me or knocking me over. The brutal surgery rings so true! Rest, ice, elevate have been my mantra, but it's also all during a kind of frantic time I'm feeling to get that bend! My doctors will decide with me on June 22 if I'll need manipulation surgery, unless I'm okay with the less bend. I'd guess to be at 95/97 degree bend right now.
chris00938 lynn30931
Posted
I'm so glad y ou went Lynn. I know exactly what you mean about people knocking into you. At three months I'm still like that, despite closing cupboard doors with my operated knee and not giving it any thought generally! But when I was about five or six weeks post op I was walking around a supermarket when a kid came tearing round the corner pushing his mother's trolley, totally out of control, heading straight for me. I was utterly terrified he was going to go straight into me! I called my husband who hadn't even noticed (he was pushing the trolley) and got no response from him, BUT, thankfully, the kid's older brother shot round after him and grabbed the trolley about two feet from me and stopped it. Honestly, it shook me up! But in a shopping centre the other day a woman's bag went against my knee. Obviously it didn't hurt at all but I'm still SO protective over it when we're out LOL! When we were at my son's and daughter in law's when it was about five weeks post op we were telling funny stories and I made her laugh and she slapped her hand down, laughing, on my operated knee LOL! 'The KNEE' I cried out, but still had to laugh. It didn't really hurt but I didn't want her to do it again LOL! I suppose eventually I'll not be so protective about my new baby LOL!
Re your bend, maybe at the end of the day it depends on if you've got enough bend for what YOU want to do. But you still have time to increase it if you want to without manipulation.