Knee replacement

It's only 9 days since your TKR. Very major surgery you don't get over it in a few days. Do your physio and exercise as often as possible , take your medication to control your pain, don't forget to ice and rest. Watch a few videos of the op on youtube and you will realise how serious the op is. You need to be patient you will get there in the end, but everyone recovers at a different rate. Don't worry if you appear to be taking longer than someone else, you will probably be doing better than some others. It's worth it in the end and you should have many pain free years to look forward to. 

Hi , you are early in too worry with anything at the moment, i and 6 weeks post op and will tell you ice needs and should be your BEST friend for the next 2 months, icing and elevation will help with that sharp poking pain. Stay on the pills if you can, try and eat something with them when you take them... 

It's very early in the process yet. Your knee won't bend much because of all the swelling. That's a major surgery you just came through. The important thing at this stage is to keep it elevated with ice on it constantly.

I am 4 weeks since my tkr and I'm still on pain meds and still not sleeping.

Keep exercising it but don't push it to the point of pain and keep the faith that with time it will get better.

Way way to soon to worry about bend! Do what you can and follow the advice of pain meds and ice. It gets better but takes a long time. Sleep is not easy so grab it when ya can. Eventually, you can use a pillow between your knees but that's still a ways off so you can sleep on side. 

Hang in there this is a huge journey! 

Read around the forum as well as the answers you get. There are many pages to it and if you go to the main page you can select pages going back over the years.

You certainly have a lot of other people who can share your experience!

Be kind to yourself and your knee.

Are you in UK?

Have you an exercise booklet to follow and are you going to have a physiotherapist visit and physiotherapy sessions, or is the system different where you are?

Ps, for the first two weeks I could do hardly thing! It's the worst time...it will get better!

Hi there Smithers, I agree with everyone else, it's far too soon to start worrying about the bend. With exercise & physio that will come, you just need to concentrate on the exercises when you can do them. Little & often is best & quality over quantity! When you rest & ice your knee try to lie down & get the knee above your heart, it really does help get rid of the swelling if you do it regularly. I used to build up pillows to rest my leg on with my head & back flat on the bed. Never, ever compare yourself to someone else, you are you & your recovery is not going to be the same of another persons. Look up Chico's link on the bell curve. It really does explain how different each of our recoveries can be.

Also try not to get down, I know only too well how difficult that is, but try to think positive. You will get there but it is a long, long journey to full recovery! Not one that can be rushed or shortened. Know that we on this forum will always be with you, should you need to rant or a shoulder, or just for a chinwag!!

All the best to you, have a wonderful Christmas 

Marilyn 

XX

You are just starting this journey of recovery.  Follow the exercises that the PT and surgeon have suggested. I have just seen my surgeon for my one year anniversary appointment.  Be patient. It really takes a year to get through this brutal surgery. I can walk miiles, up and down stairs easily, in and out of car and pretty much everything I did well before my TKR.   I never thought I would be pain free. I never thought I would be walking without a cane.  This forum has been my lifeline. There is someone always here to listen to you vent, understand the tears and give you support.  My suggestion: eat a muffin and watch Christmas movies on TCM.   AND DO YOUR EXERCISES.

Ellie