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Knee

Posted , 9 users are following.

terrie_77563
terrie_77563

Hi, I am back with a question. , it's been2 1/2 months since RTHR and my right knee seems swollen and stiff, it was recommended to do more strength exercises, and stretching which I have applied to my workouts , but the stiffness and swollen feeling is still there. I apply ice and moist heat ..

What is,causing this? I have no pain it's just becomes annoying trying to bend my knee.

Has anyone else have this happen.

I am going back in for my second replacement and want this problem cleared up before I do.

Thanks for your help..I always seem to get answers here ..

My next doctors visit is July 6. And want to have some,answers sooner then that.

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • norm50620
    norm50620 terrie_77563

    Posted

    Terrie, post surgery I had a swollen knee and thigh, and had great difficulty in bending my knee at all. My surgeon attributed this to quadriceps tendonitis, which he said was a side effect of my surgery (anterior right hip replacement). It took about five weeks of work (twice a week for physical therapy and my exercising at home on non-PT days) plus icing the area several times every day, but it did resolve and my knee now bends normally. Hope your problem ckears up soon!
    • terrie_77563
      terrie_77563 norm50620

      Posted

      Thanks you, I've been using moist heat at night and ice during the day with no relief, I am no longer doing PT, only because my insurance won't cover any longer.

      I am having a LTHR in September and need to use the rest of the 12 visits for that .

      Is there a site to go to so I can get the exercise to help this along.? Thanks

    • norm50620
      norm50620 terrie_77563

      Posted

      Terrie, the two exercises that I did at home to facilitate knee bending: (1) sitting on a bed or platform that was high enough to allow me to dangle my surgical leg freely, and using my other ankle to bend the dangling leg back, thereby bending the knee; (2) lying on my back, with both legs straight out, and sliding the heel of the surgical leg back, thereby bending the knee. Hope these help!
    • terrie_77563
      terrie_77563 norm50620

      Posted

      Thanks for the exercisesnow I'll give them a try . I plan on staying home tomorrow this will be part of my PT I do on my own. Thanks,again and stay well.

  • peggy15811
    peggy15811 terrie_77563

    Posted

    You're in the hip replacement forum, not the knee. However I had my left knee replaced 11 months ago and my left hip replaced 5 weeks ago. My left knee is STILL stiff and sore, while my hip is not at all. I have leg restrictions because of my hip for 8 weeks and I think that has made the stiffness worse. I am not a terribly active person and I notice if I do not bend the knee often, it becomes stiffer and more painful. I find that massaging my kneecap also helps. I don't have swelling any longer. I also have noticed that if I walk more then I am used to, I can become quite sore. It's a fine line to get enough exercise but not too much at this point. I would not be concerned with swelling and stiffness at 2 ½ months. Ice and raise it often and exercise it some. We all heal at different rates. My knee has taken a long time but my hip has been super fast. My neighbor was the opposite, so you never know. I bought some knee gel pads for my knee and used them a couple times a day. Also be sure to go to physical therapy! It helps! 

    • terrie_77563
      terrie_77563 peggy15811

      Posted

      Hi Peggy,

      Yes I did have total hip replacement surgery right leg, and my knee (right ) seems to be stiff and swollen and was looking for a answer as to why.

      Like I mentioned my insurance will no cover PT any longer.

      I am due for my LTHR this September and was wondering if this was a common complaint .

      I visit my surgeon in July and was looking for a answer sooner then later.

      I am very active and this came on in the past 2 weeks I've been icing it during the day, and moist heat at night with little relief.

      Looking for some new exercises to help elevate some of this discomfort.

      Than you for your advice. Feel well..

  • maree32074
    maree32074 terrie_77563

    Posted

    Hi Terrie

    I think most people can relate to some knee issue/s after hip replacement/s as we put strain on our knees.  I found walking in a heated pool or even having a spa concentrating on the knee area very helpful. Of course there is voltaren rub and knee support bandages too.

    All the best.

    • terrie_77563
      terrie_77563 maree32074

      Posted

      Thank you, unfortunately aqua therapy is unavailable, but the rub I'll will try along with the supportive bandage.

      I find this site to be most helpful in my quest for answers. Thanks again Terrie.

      Keep walking smile

  • renee01952
    renee01952 terrie_77563

    Posted

    hi terrie, 

    well ..... you still might be doing too much too soon - I read  your previous posts and apparrently you are like a Little Speedy Gonzales going with a vengeance - 

    It must be challenging for you to slow down but I think your body is asking you to .. strenghtening exercises are great when you slowly build it up - 

    Any type of major orthopedic surgery causes disruption to the rest of your body. 

    A new hip prothesis might also affect the pelvis , causing the femur to bear weight differently and also might cause some knee pain as a result.

    With time it will go away as your body re-adjusts to the new alignment.

    Please come back here and let us know how you are getting on, okay?

    October is still some months away - 

    tender loving care Terrie ...

    big warm hug

    renee

     

    • terrie_77563
      terrie_77563 renee01952

      Posted

      Thanks renee, yes I am hard on myself and tend to be speedy Gonzalez lol..

      U am staying put all day today icing my knee, and keeping it up, I have so much going on this month I just don't want to set myself back.

      Thanks again and I'll continue to keep posting my progress.

      Keep walking, terrie. smile

  • Bionic_Gran
    Bionic_Gran terrie_77563

    Posted

    Hi,personally I think your doing remarkably well,I'm 3 years post op and still having knee issues after walking , although I do have other medical issues.Its very early days for you and you've had invasive surgery ! Your tendons,ligaments, nerves etc have been cut and disturbed ,these can take longer than broken bones to heal and settle. What disturbs me about some of the letters on here is the short recovery time from the first replacement to the second replacement,whether it's hip or knee! 

  • michael11283
    michael11283 terrie_77563

    Posted

    Terrie

    Whilst I understand that your physiotherapy is no longer funded by insurance I'd advise going to a physio even if you have to pay. Not being able to bend a knee fully is annoying though probably not a major disability. Not being able to straighten it, however, can create problems over time. In the country here in the UK I pay £42 for a session but I'm sure it is more expensive in cities.

    Mike

    • terrie_77563
      terrie_77563 michael11283

      Posted

      Hi, its a bit more here$220.00a session. .I can't afford to pay out of pocket I am not working. .

      My new exercises & icingot a,few times a day seems to be helping.

      Thank you for your response.

  • susanj427
    susanj427 terrie_77563

    Posted

    My surgeon told me that it takes up to a year to completely get back to "normal". My TRHR was far from normal, so I can't really be a good judge of that. i was the .00001 % with issues. I won't go into them, but even with a revision due to a fracture and another hairline fracture found after revision- three surgeries in two weeks- I can tell you that it was just about 6-7 months until I started feeling better. Your stiffness can be the surrounding tissues being affected by the procedure and rod. I'm told this also causes inflammation that takes time to go down. I've heard that from people who have had knee replacements as well. Just keep up with your exercises. If you're anything like me and get lazy or forgetful, ask for a prescription for PT. HOPE this answer helped you. I'd say that it will be a bit different having another replacement. Favoring the other side is common, so it might take a little longer for you to feel 99% better. Good luck with your surgery. 😃

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