I'm wondering If I have a problem!

Posted , 8 users are following.

It's 6 week since TKR surgery. As far as I can tell everything is going well but I still have swelling in my knee and my foot but what concerns me is my leg is a different colour from the other. It also appears to be slightly warmer.

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  • Posted

    Hi I am 4 weeks TKR and my leg is also slightly more pink and warmer but when I asked surgeon he said it was normal nothing to worry about but if you are concerned then phone your consultants secretary or speak with physio.... how is your bend coming on as my leg is really tight and heavy and wondered if this is better in week 6

    Jan

    • Posted

      Thanks Jane - most ncouraging. My bend is coming on slowly but I wonder how good I can get it as my knee was very fixed in the months before surgery.

      I can sit better than I did before surgery when I had to stretch it out.,

      You will be so much better in two weeks - promise.

  • Posted

    Unless you are walking on your leg then it will be a different colour because to make blood flow from foot up leg you need to do heel to toe walking as this pumps blood up, ask your Dr or PT to confirm but mine sometimes looked very reddish purple and swollen. Once you get more mobile it will turn a better colour, it takes a while to be perfectly the same colour as your good leg.

    If your really worried though don't hesitate to ring your consultant or there secretary.

    • Posted

      Thanks I feel better all ready! I walked so badly in the months before surgery and I'm already seeing an improvement.

      I have to practice walking properly. Seeing my physio on Monday - hopefully she will see the improvement.

    • Posted

      You can ask her about colour as well, sit with feet raised and spin feet as well, keeps the circulation moving
    • Posted

      ERM spin was wrong word rotating thems much better :-)
  • Posted

    Hi. I was exactly the same. The discolouration is simply from the trauma some is very deep and will disappear eventually. massaging te area with arnica based cream really helped me. Mine at 3 months nearly is now a normal temperature. This is the inflammation and swelling and will also disappear with time. keep drinking water and doing the exercises all will be well smile I have some progress shots and when I look back on them the colours are quite stunning !!!

    • Posted

      Thanks! Right now my foot feels as if it's on fire - swollen and painful. Always happens during the evening.

    • Posted

      I know that feeling !!! I have been found to have a neuroma on a nerve in my foot. It makes me feel as if i have a stone in my shoe and the area under my toes has gone numb. I also get dreadful restless leg in the operated leg and it s always in the evening when i stop and put my feet up. The knee is the lesser of my issues now smile

    • Posted

      I already had some sensation loss in both feet before op. It's reassuring to find others in the same boat.

  • Posted

    Hi Elizabeth, Your knee will be quite warm for a few more months, the warmth is from the pain & swelling, I am 3 months post op, Bilateral knee replacement, I still have swelling and heat from my knee. Where your stitches/ cut is it will change colors slightly as it heals, if your leg is a different colour I would suggest you should ask the Doctor

    • Posted

      Hi just wondered how you are doing at 3 months is the knee still stiff and painful on bending or does this ease with time

      Jan

    • Posted

      Hi Jan, Yes my knee is still stiff & Painful especially if I have been sitting down for a while and go to move, also at night, but its starting to improve, I'm getting 3 & 4 Hrs straight sleep now but when I wake up the pain is pretty bad, I have to get up and walk around a bit and take a pain killer

    • Posted

      Jan, I forgot to add I went for my check up the day before yesterday and he said I'm doing great, dont have to go back until Aug next year. also yesterday I mowed the lawn, I thought I would be paying for it today but I'm ok, knees are no worse than normal

    • Posted

      Thank you that helps a lot just thought there was something wrong with my knee as sometimes so stiff doesn't want to bend but I will be patient for now and keep exercising

    • Posted

      Hi. I am also at three months amazingly looking back on it !! My knee is still stiff at times especially after standing for longer than 30 minutes or lifting anything that is too heavy or lifting too often. I find the best remedy is to get on my stationary bike and do 5 minutes. It really loosens it up again. I don't have swelling now but when I did i would ice when it got tight feeling which helped heaps. How far out from surgery are you ?

    • Posted

      Hi I am 5 weeks post op doing well walking without any aids can bend the leg at 95 flexation but it's so stiff and really hurts when I do exercises but will keep positive

    • Posted

      Wow that sounds great !!! The most difficult thing is not being disheartened both others amazing bends lol. I am at 113 and only 1 to go on the straightening. It has been a long haul to get to this for me. I have a great physio who does not believe pain is the tool so she does not recommend pushing too hard into pain just to get the bend as this in itself creates more swelling etc for the knee to recover form. I would love to get more but at this stage I am able to walk pretty normally and go up steps normally. Still double step coming down but that is improving - a confidence issue more than anything. My surgeon says anything over 90 is a bonus too. Apparently that is enough to do basic daily things. I am sleeping well but still use a pillow under the knee when I lie on my side. My pain is minimal and only comes on when I overdo things. It was such a relief at around six weeks to lose that awful tight feeling. I go to a pool physio session twice a week and normal physio twice a week plus accupuncture for the foot issue once a week. I am now able to operate my home accomodation business again but with the help of a cleaner from time to time. I am starting to find my new normal and feel very positive about the future of this knee smile

    • Posted

      Well I think you have done amazing I don't have much pain apart from when I go to physio and uncomfortable night sleep but not painful so hopefully it will settle down soon which I am sure if the tightness / heaviness gradually goes it will be so much better ... thanks

      Jan

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