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Discouraged after partial knee replacement 11 days ago

Posted , 13 users are following.

debbie72922
debbie72922

I am so discouraged and concerned . Had partial knee replacement on right knee , lateral ( outside) of knee.Thought I was doing good . Went off pain meds after 4 days. Now back on , trouble sleeping , have terrible pain on the inside of knee . It's like a pulling or something with the ligament . Could something have happened on the other side during surgery . It only hurts when I walk on it . I wouldn't need the cane except for that . Is this all normal . My doctor doesn't send you to PT with partials but I am going to go on my own . I will need to return to work in two weeks which from the beginning my Doctor said after 4 weeks I'd be able to . I'm still so swelled up, never expected it to be like this .

Lynn

0 likes, 58 replies

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  • tracy2364
    tracy2364 debbie72922

    Posted

    Hi I had right (inside) PKR last oct. Got very down and frustrated by the whole experience but it did get better. Sleeping was an issue at first but got easier. Was given exercises to do at home and went to physio at 2 and 6 weeks post op and then got signed off. Even though I had a desk job working for the NHS as admin I had 3 months off sick as I wasn't ready to go back to work as still needed to elevate and rest. It is along recovery process. Knee is great now, good rom and occasionally an ache. This site is great. Best wishes for a great recovery.
    • debbie72922
      debbie72922 tracy2364

      Posted

      Hi Tracy

      Wow 3 months off work . Yikes . Was that because of pain, swelling , overall not feeling well ? It's frustrating that doctors say it's a much shorter recovery when clearly it is not . Did you have pain on the opposite side of the knee ?

      So nice to hear you are doing great now ! Love that and am happy for you ! Seems like I will never get to that point but have to keep on thinking positively.

      Debbie

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 tracy2364

      Posted

      Good to hear your knee is doing well 6 to 7 months post op, it gives me hope too. How long was it before you were able to drive?
    • debbie72922
      debbie72922 tracy2364

      Posted

      Hi Tracy

      Was wondering if you can straighten you leg , I just realized that while I thought I was coming along with the bend I am not able to straighten my knee, leg full out. I found an exercise to help with this but am concerned . It's as if it is a brick and won't loosen up to move . Ugh this is all so awful .

      Did you go to a massage therapist like others on here have . They all call them " sports massage therapist". I looked around and we really don't have any specific with that title . My Chiroprator has a message therapist at his office I may try .thank you

      Debbie

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 debbie72922

      Posted

      Hi Debbie, I am 3.5 weeks post op and,I can't straighten my leg yet despite doing various exercises designed to help, lying on bed face down and relax leg hanging feet over edge, when standing make a conscious effort to stand with straighten leg, place folded towel under knee and pressing back of knee into towel and lift your foot and hold for a few seconds then relax and repeat a few times. My bend is at about 90 degrees but I still have to really concentrate on nit walking really stiff legged when walking. Keep at it, it's still early days.
    • debbie72922
      debbie72922 sandra07433

      Posted

      Hello Sandra and other friends smile

      So I am now 19 days PO from rightr PKR. At day16 I felt I had turned a corner. I decided I would attempt to drive. Much to my surprise it was great. I could actually move my foot/leg from pedal to pedal without using my hand.  It nearly sent me to tears of joy.  I feel like I have a new leg, no more bowing in , no more needing to use my hand to move it.  The pain I have had on the inside is gone. I have started to work on stairs.  Anyway............... now I am saddened sad( ( your all saying "I told you so")

      I feel as though my knee is this heavy brick I am carrying around. Was I just not noticing it before because I was so happy about the driving and other things with my "new "knee . I guess I have been moving around more becuase I dont want to go from the house/couch and then right back to work. I need to see how it will be . My question is : is this normal? Am I overdoing it? Thing is I have to go back to work in two weeks. I see Doc. tomorrow for 3 week follow up. I also was not sent to PT so have been doing all things on my own . Any thoughts, guidance much appreciated.

      Debbie

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 debbie72922

      Posted

      Hi Debbie

      I would say you are overdoing it, funnily enough I was trying to describe how it feels to a friend today and said sometimes it feels like a lead weight is in there, so try and pace yourself a bit, I have been trapped in this cycle of having a good day and overdoing it, then having a bad day the next day, I am slowly learning!

      I haven't tried driving yet, but I do think I could now, so I am going to give it a go in the next couple of days.

      I am due back at work on 20th June, I am going to make the decision next Wednesday whether to go back or get signed off for another couple of weeks.

      Take care and make sure you get plenty of rest between activities.

    • debbie72922
      debbie72922 sandra07433

      Posted

      Thank you Sandra

      How many weeks PO are you now ? Do you feel that you are making progress ? I'm just wondering if and when it ever begins to feel normal or you forget about your operated knee .

      Although it hadn't been normal for long time but I never felt like I was carrying a brick around . I have to get back to work. Feeling so gloom about it all . It seems so many on here have been off work for months and months . Not even sure how that's possible but I can't do that . No one ever said I would need that kind of time off or I would not have had surgery . My Doctor said like 4 weeks . But I'm seeing I'll still be having issues when I'm back which I was not told . And then if your on it is it not continuing to heal or just takes longer. So depressed over it all . Plus being in sales I have to be upbeat all time . Trying to stay positive it's difficult .

      Debbie

    • sharon52158
      sharon52158 debbie72922

      Posted

      My first tkr was 14 months ago and I don't even think about it now have just had second one done 10 weeks ago was told I needed 3 months off work 
    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 debbie72922

      Posted

      Hi Debbie

      I am 4.5 weeks post op, I too feel I was misled about the recovery time, I was under the impression I would be fine after 6 weeks, but clearly it takes much longer and I totally didn't expect it to be so stiff, I had a good day yesterday but not such a good day today, so I obviously overdid it again yesterday even though I tried really hard not too, I feel I have to do a certain amount otherwise how would you ever progress!

      My physio told me it would be 5 to 6 months before it feels like my knee, I can't imagine it feeling normal at the moment and wonder if I will have to get used to a new 'normal'!!

      unfortunately it's going to take as long as it takes, I very much hope that it will be an improvement on how my knee was prior to surgery in a few months, I was signed off work for 6 weeks and I am considering getting signed off for another couple of weeks after that as I don't want to set my recovery back. You need to have a think about doing what's best for you work wise, everyone is different and recover at different rates.

    • debbie72922
      debbie72922 sandra07433

      Posted

      Yes ! Feel same way that you have to keep moving forward or you won't progress . But.....

      Today had 3 week PO with surgeon . The nurse who does most of the aftercare said I had a great bend ( no number ) but she said too good that I was over doing it and that is why I have swelling . The surgeon removed some fluid / blood , ooch! But boy did it feel better . Said have to really take it easy two days .

      I'm signed off to go back whenever I want .

      Guess I'll be my own Doctor now lol

      Good talking to you Sandra . We are close in recovery times . Here's to healing well .

      Debbie

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 debbie72922

      Posted

      I get physio every other week and have an appointment tomorrow. So it will be interesting to see what she thinks, I have definitely improved with the knee bending, I was 80% 2 weeks ago and I can tell I am definitely more than 90% now, still have a bit of swelling and numbness, hope they don't want to remove fluid, that doesn't sound very nice, though if it's helped it will be worth the pain. I don't see my surgeon until 6 weeks post op.

      Take care and take it easy for a couple of days, let me know how you're getting on.

  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 debbie72922

    Posted

    Dr's read too many books......everything to them is a text book case. Big problem.....they have never HAD the surgery. You are still in the infancy phase of re hab. Just keep working as you have....rest, hydrate and above all, don't worry. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 months but it will happen.one other excercise: lie on your back with head comfortably elevated. Roll a small towel and place it under your ankle so it is 3 or 4" off the bed. Slowly tighten all the muscles anusing the muscle push the leg toward the bed. Hold for count of 10 and repeat 10 times. Do a set of 3. Then do the excercise you described.
  • Cheryl326
    Cheryl326 debbie72922

    Posted

    Debbie - I hope you have recovered.  I had a partial knee replacement 3 weeks ago and found that due to significant weakness in my quads, it created other pain-related issues like the ones you described.  I was lucky enough to have PT available to me in my home and my therapist has had me working on muscle strengthening exercises as well as stretching.  I have been doing some combination of exercise every 60 minutes to try to get the knee to "unlock."  It has been a SLOW process to get a quarter inch gain. I also have been icing the knee every 90 minutes with 20 minutes on top of the knee and 20 minutes underneath the knee; this has helped to counter the swelling.

    • debbie72922
      debbie72922 Cheryl326

      Posted

      Hi Cheryl

      I am almost 7 months and doing really good ! I am so happy with my results . I pray it stays that way as you read so much about people needing revisions.

      Anyway you are still early on ! I had pain and swelling for probably a good 8 weeks . The random pain finally just was gone one day 😂. And I'm just now starting to really feel ad though I'm forgetting about the surgery knee ,

      Hang in there , stay positive, ice , rest , and take pain Med's If you need too !

      Debbie xo

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