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knee replacement

Posted , 10 users are following.

peter77427
peter77427

hi all, its me again. 13 weeks post op, can go up and down stairs ok, but coming down, is a bit more harder, lying on my back i can lift my leg up quite straight, also on my back, i can pull my leg back say 3 quarters, exercise bike is ok, going forward and going backwards, after exercising my knee and front and back of my thighs are sore. i should ice more, do you elevate your leg, and how many times a day, and for how long. i have just ordered a gell ice pack, as comments sound good, how many times should you ice and how long, should one put the ice gell onto the bare skin or use a towel under. your comments would be appreciated

                        peter

0 likes, 33 replies

33 Replies

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  • Delboy1735
    Delboy1735 peter77427

    Posted

    Do not, repeat, do not put ice in contact with your bare knee. Twenty minutes max in any hour is the limit for application. This was the advice from a senior Physio nurse. Ice pack yes but under those limits.

    Going up and down stairs: pre op when I was having injections in my first (pre op ) knee the Physio told me that coming down stairs is ALWAYS more painfull than climbing the stairs. I’ve tried to figure out the mechanics but failed. It has proved right after my second op. I can go up two stairs at a time even nbut it’s one step at a time coming down, sometimes I do single steps and sometimes I walk with following steps straight down.

  • MAT2018
    MAT2018 peter77427

    Posted

    I am also 13 weeks post op.  I was given a Ice therapy system which I still use.  I ice almost every time I am sitting down and often go to sleep with ice on my knee.    Ice packs should never be used on bare skin so use a towel.  
    • Delboy1735
      Delboy1735 MAT2018

      Posted

      Yep! Always use a towel. Recently finding that sitting to long e.g. at the dining table causes both knees to stiffen. That applies to the knee operated on, successfully 2 years ago. Anyone else have this discomfort?
    • peter77427
      peter77427 Delboy1735

      Posted

      yes delboy, same here, sit down, stand up, lie down, just dont know what to do, anyway cheers.
    • peter77427
      peter77427 MAT2018

      Posted

      thanks for that matt, i will do more icing, how are you going otherwise, good luck.
  • nwf477
    nwf477 peter77427

    Posted

    Every therapist I have been to all say 15-20 minutes max for ice. I also have the gel packs ( 6 of them ) as long as you have a towel cloth or like me I have a wrap that I put 2 gel packs in and it has velcro straps to hold it in place around my knee and I will leave the pack on till its no longer cold. I will not put ice directly on my knee that will burn the skin if left on too long. As far as how many times my answer as long as I need to it could be 6 x a day it could be less it could be more depends on how your knee feels with the swelling. As far as sitting well my knee is not one to judge yourselves by but as of right now I can only sit for 20-30 minutes with my knee bent before I have to straighten it another thing that hurts if I stretch my leg on the coffee table with just my heel resting on the table that becomes rather painful as well but if your looking for a way to get your leg straight this works well gravity does all the work. I still stink at steps one at a time going up and down.
    • peter77427
      peter77427 nwf477

      Posted

      i will do more icing, swelling went down alot after the op. the size it is now, has remained like that for the past 2 months,doesnt seem to lessen.
    • nwf477
      nwf477 peter77427

      Posted

      We are all different I understand your concern but well my case is different but the swelling as long as there are no issues it should go down. It may not look exactly like you good knee but it will lessen give it time. If your still not comfortable with the swelling the next time you see the Dr. ask. Speaking from what I have been thru if something does not seem right I am going to find out why. 
  • wayne1231953
    wayne1231953 peter77427

    Posted

    13 weeks post op...1 week post MUA.  buy yourself a CYRO CUFF, the best £40 I have spent...wish I got it after my TKR instead after the MUA...has made a big difference in reducing the swelling of the knee to where I am getting 100 degrees in ROM now where before I was at 78.

    • anna59931
      anna59931 wayne1231953

      Posted

      What is a Cyro cuff please can bent my leg to 0 and 120 bent physio told me last week. Still brusin g round my knee cap any help you could give would be helpfull.
    • davidjk22
      davidjk22 anna59931

      Posted

      Cyro cuff is like the cuff used to take blood pressure. Connected to a container of iced water. Google for images and descriptions. I found it very helpful after my ops. 
    • anna59931
      anna59931

      Posted

      Thank you David have ordered one now still onwalking stick as still need to strengthen my quid more
    • anna59931
      anna59931 davidjk22

      Posted

      Thank you David I've ordered one do you know how long you need to use a walking stick for also doing exercises on my exercise bike which you sit on a chair started backwards in it and then forward.

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