knee problems
Posted , 4 users are following.
I am 4 months out of TKR. everything was good except for swelling and my knee would get really hot .. But now I am having a lot more pain and it hurts to lay my right of left side when my knee is laid on anything. Does anyone know if this is normal .. It is still swelling a lot and still feels hot .. Thank you
0 likes, 11 replies
marilyn10235 rhonda58211
Posted
Sorry Rhonda, are you saying that the right side of your left knee hurts when your leg is laid on, say, a sofa?
Are you still icing & elevating your knee? If it is still hot & swollen you need to do that regularly?
As you have no doubt read on here, 'normal' covers just about everything, but if it's suddenly worse then maybe step up the ice & elevation & if necessary get advice from a medic?
Sorry I'm not more help!
Take care
Marilyn
XX
rhonda58211 marilyn10235
Posted
kristin0607 rhonda58211
Posted
I also experienced the pain around this same time and while trying to sleep
It did go away after a while I'm out 6 months
I made sure I was doing PT and icing and rest it got better
rhonda58211 kristin0607
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CHICO_MARX rhonda58211
Posted
What's changed? Activity increased? TKR knees swell and feel hot when you push them too hard. So...what's different now than before the swelling started?
Plus, at 4 months, you are still in "The Pain Zone" {cue the dramatic music...}. I'm at 13 months and still working on leg strength. You have to tell yourself that this will take a year...period. If it's less, give thanks but this is a long recovery.
If you back off what you're doing, ice and elevate as everyone has recommended, you should see improvement. I used a FitBit to track my steps every day. Early on, I did 8,200+ steps one day and my knee swelled like a hot air balloon. From then on, I kept track of my activity and increased gradually.
If, however, you do all the right things and the pain still increases, go see your doc. Don't let this hang out there too long.
rhonda58211 CHICO_MARX
Posted
CHICO_MARX rhonda58211
Posted
All of that extra walking, standing on your feet longer, keeping up with a grandson, going more places...duh... Been in IT for 46 years. In the early days, worked in computer center Aid Stations. People would come in trying to get help on why their programs, which once worked, no longer did. The first question was ALWAYS: What have you changed?
I would really recommend a FitBit, SmartWatch or even a cheap pedometer. Use it EVERY DAY! Keep a log! You will see the correlations between major increased activity and swelling. With that information, you can CONTROL your progress, not be a victim of it. Taking small steps forward is preferable (and less painful) that two bold steps forward and three painful steps back. Slow and steady...
rhonda58211 CHICO_MARX
Posted
CHICO_MARX rhonda58211
Posted
You can...and should...do a little more but just monitor that activity. Keep the log, note the days you have swelling and pain. Lots of those fitness devices plug into your computer and smartphone so the historical data is there to review over time. Watch the graph go up as you progress. If there's a spike that corresponds with a day of pain, you'll know your current limit. Back off a bit and increase again gradually.
I used a basic FitBit for a long time. A few weeks ago, I traded in all my gift cards from Christmas, Birthday and Anniversary for a uber-watch...the new Samsung Gear S3 Frontier. Send and receive phone calls on the watch, messaging and texting capabilities, news reports, voice control of everything plus all the features of the Samsung S-Health app right on the watch. Very similar to the AppleWatch Series 2...just works with my Android phone instead of Apple. Even reminds me every hour to get off my butt and walk a bit. The last watch I'll buy for a looooong time. Does literally everything...I keep my phone in my pocket and do everything on the watch.
But you can get away with a real basic FitBit to track your steps and activity. Not expensive and is a great technology to help with the recovery.
jenny80029 rhonda58211
Posted
If you are worried go and get it looked at. I wouldn't personally risk relying on a forum for advice! You are a good few months out from the operation and you are used to how your knee is. Maybe rest it a lot for a couple of days and see how it goes, but as said, it's worth trusting your instinct if you feel not right.
rhonda58211 jenny80029
Posted