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I had a knee replacement op 10 days ago.

Posted , 143 users are following.

ann02425
ann02425

I have a continual, deep pain/ache in practically the whole of my leg. I use ice on it (frozen peas!) a great deal of the time and I take my pain killers. At night I cannot sleep because there is nowhere New I can put my leg which does not become become equally painful within a few seconds. Anybody else have this problem? Also, I had to stop taking Diclofenac a few days before the op. How long before I can take it again?

15 likes, 331 replies

331 Replies

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  • janice77150
    janice77150 ann02425

    Posted

    Im getting cramp in my foot everytime i put icepack on my calf,any idea y.im 5wk int tkr.x
  • fostersmith61
    fostersmith61 ann02425

    Posted

    Hi Ann

    I assume things are better now 1 yr out. I'm 3 weeks post tkr and still reliant on 10 mg oxy plus 2 extra strength Tylenol 3x a day. Like everyone else, nights are a killer. Without medicating 1 hr prior to bed, it's a toss and turn game. I'm young, 55, and fit but this surgery knocked me on my butt in terms of pain and general sense of well being. How long till the swelling and stiffness abates?

    • Dcweather
      Dcweather fostersmith61

      Posted

      There is some very good advice on  this thread but there is one very clear conclusion which should be heeded.

      1. Each one of us is completely different

      2. Different things work for some but not for others

      3. Most people are not giving their age and what the reason was for their op and what their range of movement etc was before.

      All of this is critical really. It would appear that some are relatively young and had the op because of pain to others who were older and effectively crippled with twisted distorted legs (me!). The expectations will probably be different in each case.

      Good luck with your knees and best wishes,

      Dave

    • corinne06587
      corinne06587 Dcweather

      Posted

      These are all very good points. I'm 62 in November and had the op for pain reasons. I'm hoping that at the end of my recovery to walk further than I could without pain. 

  • rakollar
    rakollar ann02425

    Posted

    I had my TKA 31 days ago. The first 10 days were hell. I was only in the hospital for 1 night and started formal PT two days later. I just finished my 13th session (3 days a week) and am able to bend to 118 degrees. The swelling is what my biggest impediment is. It swells all the way to my foot. What I have found helpful is to use the ace wrap. I tried not doing that today and am paying dearly for it.

    As mentioned, keep doing the exercises. It is so important to get the muscle strength back. I can do 12 inch up steps, balance on uneven surface and sqaut to almost a sitting position. I have never taken a day off.

    Agreed that sleeping is a major challenge. I can't go more than a couple hours without waking.

    • Dcweather
      Dcweather rakollar

      Posted

      As I suggested above - what were you like for range of movement say a year before the operation. Could you do 118 deg then? 

      Dave

  • johnny17592
    johnny17592 ann02425

    Posted

    I had my knee replacement 5 days ago i 5hink i am like a lot of others in the forum lifting my leg straight up is very painful and im still swelled uo hopefully it will get easier with the exercises i do each day i have taken the mediation regularly and im sure this helps but my knee is still quite stiff in the morning i feel for anyone who is going through this it isnt easy but i am assured by others who have been through it it does get easier .
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 johnny17592

      Posted

      Yes, it DOES get better!😊

      The body has been through A LOT. Healing takes awhile because there is a great deal cut and moved and glued and sewn and traumatized during surgery.

      When your quad muscles strengthen, the leg WILL lift. At first I was proud of myself when I could move my TOES.

      Swelling is very common, and ice doesn't always help lessen it unfortunately. Try thigh-high compression stockings and elevating your leg (use a looped belt over your foot to help lift the leg) higher than your heart.

      Stiffness is common, too. Anytime I sit too long or even lay in one position in bed, I am stiff. Rainy and snowy days bring ADDED stiffness as well. Try stretching in bed before you ever get out of bed. Stretch before getting up out of a chair or out of a car. It really is time well spent and provides more stability and better balance once you ARE up, as well.

      You are still very early in the game. Focus on small improvements rather than "SHOULD" be able to --------. Be patient with yourself , and get as much rest as you can. Rest HEALS, and rest provides a more positive outlook!

      You can DO this!

      Yes you can!🙌😊😁🙌

    • johnny17592
      johnny17592 cheryl90571

      Posted

      Hi Cheryl and thanks for your reply everything you have been through i am going through now the surgery its self is a great thing i dont know if its just in my case but i have found the aftercare is non existent i was lucky that a colleague knew about the belt routine and gave me the tip i have been worried about the thigh muscle and its good to get your advice that it gets better in time i think this kind of advice from others who have been through the same is best i will keep you posted on my progress if thats ok thanks .
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 johnny17592

      Posted

      Would LOVE hearing how you are doing as you progress through the healing process!😊

      You MAY notice the old "three steps forward and two steps back" method of progress. I know I did. No matter. Just keep believing in yourself! 🙌😊😁🙌 Keep as positive as you can. Positive feelings create endorphins which actually help with any pain you may have. LAUGH at every chance you can. I watched funny movies like "Animal House" with John Belushi and the "National Lampoon Vacation" movies with Chevy Chase to get me refocused on laughing and NOT worry or feelings of "poor me".

      I don't know if you are a believer, but if you are, PRAYER certainly helps and is my main method for remaining calm during this whole process of healing and getting back to feeling good again.

      Gentle squats while holding onto the kitchen counter are VERY GOOD thigh strengtheners. I continue to do them even now, a year after my surgeries, to keep my thigh muscles strong.

      Come here often. You will learn so much! I know I did early on, and I am STILL getting tips from those who are further along in the process. For me this site provided me with friends around the world who KNEW what I was going through and truly could sympathize as well as provide ideas to try. That has been priceless!💟

      Have a great day!

      Talk to you again soon!😊

    • johnny17592
      johnny17592 cheryl90571

      Posted

      Thank you Cheryl i felt a lot better after finding this site last night its so often the case that the Internet comes to your assistance i have took on board everything you have said and look forward to getting strong again i think i have been lucky that i dont think I have as much pain as others the surgeon who did it is very good he uses the aid of a computer to align the knee but after that i was struggling until i found the good advice here i will be watching for any more tips thanks once again for your help.
  • corinne06587
    corinne06587 ann02425

    Posted

    Hi I have the same. I'm 10 days post op. It's a deep nagging ache all along the outside of my leg from ankle to groin. It keeps me awake at night. I get very sore pain on the inside of my knee and other various pains from sharp stabbing ones to what feels like something stinging.  It also aches behind my knee a lot. I'm icing my knee regularly and trying to do the exercises, but no way can I raise my leg off the bed. I've been pottering about on crutches and going up and down stairs ok. I even managed a very quick shower the past two days, but it's quite unnerving with nothing to hold on to! I'm on my own in the day time as my husband is at work, so I have to be independent. 

    I keep thinking I'm not making enough progress so this forum is helping me to realise I'm not alone.and reassures me that I'm doing OK for this early in the recovery process. Good luck with your recovery. 

  • robert57719
    robert57719 ann02425

    Posted

    Good morning

    I had a TKR 1 wk ago I am 57 and play golf approximately 4 times per wk in my previous life I was involved in motorsport which included spending a great deal of time on my knees , after taking up golf I started getting knee problems and had a bakers cyst on my left a

    After many visits 2 my GP , I decided 2 go privately 4 a MRI scan which showed I had bad osteoarthritis!! I then paid 4 a private consultation within 1 hr I had been given a x ray , cortisone injection ( which is still working now 2 yrs later) on a visit back my consultant noticed that my other knee was inflamed and gave me a number of cortisone injections which did nothing he then advised me 2 have a arthroscopic op to acertaiin course of action key hole very painful 🙈🙈 he carried out a debridement and told me I needed a total knee 🙈🙈???? I have finally had it and am only 1 wk on I have looked on many websites some good and some bad but the only thing I have gleened is that it's the No Pain No gain sernario I am off my strong painkillers and sleeping ok u must push yourself and i ice every 20 mins including nightime ps forgot 2 say leading up 2 my op i cycled on my exercise bike 20 mins everyday

    Which apparently helped I sat on it yesterday and did 4 revolutions until the wife caught me ????😐😐😐😐

    Having staples out on 5th oct , Physio on 6th I'll keep you posted

    I'm not superman just dertimied ??????

  • richard26360
    richard26360 ann02425

    Posted

    My knee surgery was 14 days ago. I had stayed in the hospital 2 nights. I was not ready to go home after my first night do to my pain med was not working. Once they found what meds I need to go home with . The next day I went home. My pain was mostly in the whole leg. I felt the pain mostly on the back side. I took my pain med every 4 hr and iced the swelling constantly. I could only sleep on my recliner with my leg up on a pillow. My pain was always worst after therapy. It like they had me do things with that knee that I was not prepared for. The therapy had started 3 days after the operation. I do some exercises at home to stench the knee. I still have pain in my leg and not taking my meds as often. I had started walking with a Cain after nine days of the surgery date. The leg is stiff and takes a while to loosen it up. I can not sit in a chair for any length of time. I believe this pain will slowly subside in do time . Every body different into how the healing process goes. I was told that every day gets better.
  • vaughanpk
    vaughanpk ann02425

    Posted

    I had a TKR 4 weeks ago - pain has got a bit easier but l am really struggling to bend the knee or complete my exercises - concerned that l will not be able to bend 
    • johnny17592
      johnny17592 vaughanpk

      Posted

      Hi

      just take it easy first of all sounds as though your going at a thousand miles an hour exersie when you can little steps dont overdo it listen to your body rest whe you can give yourself time this is a marathon not a sprint you will see improvements as the weeks go by.

    • robert57719
      robert57719 johnny17592

      Posted

      Thank you Johnny

      Take care 😀😀🚴🚴💉💉💉🔨🔨💃🏼💃🏼

    • vaughanpk
      vaughanpk johnny17592

      Posted

      Hi Johnny- thanks for the advice , maybe l am expecting too much so soon after the operation

    • amanda32786
      amanda32786 vaughanpk

      Posted

      Hello

      I'm 4 weeks in too and struggling to get past 70 degree flexion, went to physio yesterday,she is concerned too. I think we are being too hard on ourselves at this early stage, my swelling and pain is really impeading any profess. I'm anxious though, we are bombarded with info regarding recovery milestones, this surgery has been horrific , trying to remain positive, my thoughts are with you hang in there.😃

    • michael61284
      michael61284 vaughanpk

      Posted

      Still early mate, dont push it. Found ice packs hurt more than did good. Found the best was in the evening during your shower i let the hot water run on my knee till it was real hot. After you get out the shower sit on your bed with feet on the floor and knee bent as much as you can. Keep your feet flat on the floor and move your body forward till your knee cant take the pain anylonger. Hold it there and you will get used to the pain. Hold it like that for as long as possible and rub your knee with something like voltaren. Worked for me. Was bending my knee to 180 after 8 weeks.
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