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Frustrated!!!

Posted , 11 users are following.

sue37592
sue37592

Hi everyone, I am 50 and 12 weeks post op. I have been recovering well with odd backwards step but am glad I had my knee done as no arthritic pain. However as I try to do slightly more round the house or walk or even when I get of the static bike my knee gets stiff, really stiff to the point were I could sit and cry. I can walk half a mile which I have been able to do since week 6 but cannot extend this any further without discomfort and stiffness. I am still doing all physio exercises 3 times a day and static bike 20 mins  once a day. I don't feel I am doing too much but am getting quite concerned as to why it is getting stiffer after exercise. Has anyone any experience in this? Thank you Sue

0 likes, 27 replies

27 Replies

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  • deborah77015
    deborah77015 sue37592

    Posted

    Hi Sue just wanted to let you know that I do share in your frustration is far as the stiffness in your knee goes. I have mentioned in prior posts that my right knee is at 20 weeks of healing and my left knee is that 13 weeks. Believe it or not each week from here on out will bring improvement as far as everything goes,strength, stamina, range of motion, and especially with the stiffness and swelling. My once daily prescription inflammatories and my chondroitin MSM are my best friends in the relief of swelling, right now along with the advil that I take throughout the day. Taking these along with still icing elevating, stretching, riding the bicycle and generally just moving, cooking & doing chores, until your body tells you it's time to take a break and get off your feet!

    All I can say is have faith, take heart, and know that it does get better! As I had mentioned before, my right knee is a tiger at 20 weeks. So much better as far as the swelling and stiffness goes compared to the left me that is only at 13 weeks. Just keep moving and exercising & stretching in a healthy way don't give in! Hope this helps!

    Best wishes and healing, God bless.

    • sue37592
      sue37592 deborah77015

      Posted

      Thank you Deborah, my knee is improving everyway except the stiffness, sometimes gets so tight. I just wanted to see if this is common, I am keeping up with all moving etc as know if I stop it is not good. I am back to work in 2 weeks but at moment don't know how. I do ice in the evening when my leg is worst. I too need my other knee done and will do but you were very brave 7 weeks apart, my other will be next year.

      ​Thank you for your kind words and Love and prayers for your continued recovery.  Sue x

    • tracey46116
      tracey46116 deborah77015

      Posted

      Hi deborah, this is  good news for me as i didnt think i was doing enough at 24 weeks  and have been trying to increase it a bit more. i have spoken to my physiotherapist and she thinks iv got pain because im doing too much and my body is telling me. A bit annoying because i thought by now i would be doing much more than i am but they know beat.
    • sue37592
      sue37592 tracey46116

      Posted

      Hi Tracey, our body has a strange way of telling us to stop, either stiff or sore or swelling or tired. Noone prepares us for the long journey, I just thought I should be further on too...suppose just have to be patient.
  • scrannel
    scrannel sue37592

    Posted

    Sue, I had double TKR about five years ago.  The most important combo was using a leg curl machine and ice. 
    • sue37592
      sue37592 scrannel

      Posted

      Hi I am still icing in the evening when it is worst. I have not heard of a leg curl machine, what does it do?
    • scrannel
      scrannel sue37592

      Posted

      Leg curl machine is found in most gyms.  It can help you compress your leg (bend the knee inward) without the pain of forced compression. 
    • sue37592
      sue37592 scrannel

      Posted

      Thank you, I googled it and my physio didhave me use one which I found good, I have finished physio 5 wees ago. Thank you
  • grammie52
    grammie52 sue37592

    Posted

    My TKR was on April 14th so I'm 9 weeks post op.

    The stiffness I have after therapy, exercise and also upon waking is somethings unbearable. It feels like my incision sight will pop open from the pressure. Also, I have massive swelling in the knee and leg as the day goes on.

    I'm told this is a NORMAL part of the healing process.

    My knee itself feels great and my range if motion is over 120 degrees. I can do steps etc and ride a bike. I'm happy with my recovery but the swelling and tightness is unreal!!

    Hope you keep on with your recovery. Just push on through!!

    • sue37592
      sue37592 grammie52

      Posted

      Hi Grammie, yes my stiffness is unbearable to, to the point I also feel my leg will burst, more so in the evening when i wll ice and elevate.

      ​My bend is 120+ and I can do things, it is just getting so frustrating why getting stiffer as time goes on. Thank you for saying it is normal, I just have benn getting quite worried.

      ​Best wishes to you for your continuing recovery.

      ​Sue x

    • suki51
      suki51 grammie52

      Posted

      Hi just a thought, are any of you guys wearing support hose on your leg, my physio recommend this for the swelling so I put mine on first thing then exercise then elevate and ice while I eat breakfast, this a

      has help me a lot, good luck all its a journey!!! smile

    • sue37592
      sue37592 suki51

      Posted

      No I am not, may get some and try them, thank you 
  • suki51
    suki51 sue37592

    Posted

    Hi Sue I feel your frustration progress with the ligaments and muscles is slow!!  My physion recommends using heat before exercise/exertion and then as soon as you finish put your leg up and ice back and front...I have noticed a enough of a difference to keep me doing this.  I hope this helps you too, its a long haul and we just need to keep the faith, 6 weeks is not long for the amount of carving and cutting that goes on..... Isnt it wonderful to be without the arthritic pain......Good luck Su

     

    • sue37592
      sue37592 suki51

      Posted

      Hi Suki, thank you I will try heat,  have been wary before as my physio just kept preaching ice! ice! ice! no heat. I finished with pyysio 5 weeks ago at seven weeks and just told to religiously keep doing bike, walk and physio, which I have done. The one I am most paranoid to do is leg raise with weights as my leg has been very weak and still would give a little.  I don't know how I will fit all in when I go back to work as well as looking after the house. Everybody else seems to have backed off now.

      ​I totally agree being without the arithritic pain in one knee is brilliant, just to get other one done.

      ​Thanks Sukie, best wishes for your continuing recovery. S x

    • suki51
      suki51 sue37592

      Posted

      Well we are in same boat visa vie other knee, mine's so bad I'm going to ask my pain specialist if I can have a steroid shot as its holding me back walking!  My physio explained that the idea of heat first is open up veins and get the good oxygenated blood flowing and exercise then close down the veins ASAP with ice to stop the inflammation buildup which he says is what makes the pain and stiffness... Makes sense to me.  Also he recommended exercising just 3 times a day and listen to your body, there will be changes as different muscles and ligaments heal and get involved...just make sure you are stretching everything as much as you can and ice immediately after. There are special ice pack holders that you can Velcro in place, my sister used them I could get name for you? I just use cheap frozen peas lol I am not sure when I could face a second op, at 65 they are exhausting .....
    • sue37592
      sue37592 suki51

      Posted

      Thanks Suki, i will try the heat in the morning. I iced immediately after walking tonight and it did help, thank you.

      ​I got one of the ice packs with velcro, a friend reccommended it as it came with 2 ice packs...one on and one in freezer, was very useful especially at night when i was trying to get to sleep and it did not move.

      ​I had a few steriod injections with my first knee but they did not help.

      ​Thank you for you advice, take care x

      ​

       

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