Four and a half months post tkr…. Depressed
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Hello. I am a formerly active 71 year old woman. I have aced a hip replacement and 15 other surgeries over the years so am a good healer and not someone given to whining during recovery. However, the new knee has me beat. After a bad physio session that set me back four weeks, I decided to do my own rehab and have achieved full extension and a comfirtable 135 flexion. I ride my stationary bike twice a day and still do recommended stretches. So that's all good. The problem is swelling and pain on the outer side of the knee. If I walk too far, which is not much really, maybe 2500 steps, it feels like something is catching and makes continued walking, standing or lying in bed incredibly painful. I manage with Tylenol, and the odd couple of Tramadol at bedtime if its really bad. but I am running out of those. Right now I am not doing stairs, exercising hard or going out very much: my husband is making me rest. But I am panicking a bit because I am afraid of losjng my ROM. I don't want to regret doing this surgery and I know logically its early days. But I think I need a pep talk from people with experience. Also has anyone else had this painful catching in a very swollen post surgical knee?
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barbara66703 vickio
Edited
you dont say when you had knee surgery . there is short term healing up 6 months or more then there is long term healing 12-16 months. I learned there is no comparison hip to knee surgery. this was major surgery as you know , you have had hip surgeries in the past. the hip is not as mobile or has the wide range of movement as the knee. remember RICE..keep icing deflect the swelling will help and OTC pain patch. keeping your leg on pillow or a riser and rest...rest...rest. the is also ice sleeve compression treatment available on amazon. really helped me big time.
i know how miserable these surgeries can be. experienced 3 hip and a knee too. its not easy to survive these brutal surgeries . we choose surgery because we expect to have a better quality of life and mobility. healing cannot be rushed... or as much as we would like to skip the painful recovery we cant.
sometimes when going thru the healing process it gets a bit overwhelming . pain can and does effect our usual behavior as well as our emotional strength. its not easy and you will get thru this one too.
i would like to suggest a favorite chocolate candy bar once in awhile ...can work wonders.
i am glad to hear you stopped the PT. they have no idea what we have been thru . it is our body not there's and we need to take control of our healing and not be pushed or encouraged to the point of undoing what was done or excessive pain. very smart move. i never did pt after the first time either and it really is not necessary. all the you toob videos are so handy now and doing it at our own pace is best.
sending healing blessings your way.