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Knee Tightness

Posted , 14 users are following.

tracey71146
tracey71146

Hello All

I am nearly five weeks post op but last Thursday I woke up and my knee was the tightest it has ever been and is still like it; it feels horrendous and stops me from bending and is just not getting any easier. It feels like someone has bound my knee with rubber bands.

Has anyone else had this happen?

Thank you, Tracey

0 likes, 92 replies

92 Replies

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  • gloria29023
    gloria29023 tracey71146

    Posted

    Yes Tracey. Welcome to the world of TKR. The bad news is it goes on for a while and in my case needed medication to put up with it. It does ease with time but I'm 6 months on my first TKR and still waiting for it to disappear. It isn't an easy recovery. sad
  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 tracey71146

    Posted

    This may seem a little off the wall but.....is your area going through weather changes, especially barometer swings. Tightness is natural but after watching the changes many people, including me e, feel like they are walking Doppler radar units. I can generally feel impending weather changes 24-48 hrs ahead of the system. I've been at it for 12 yrs  now so feel I've got a bit of an understanding. Doesn't Make it any less painful but it will go away  in a few days

     Extreme cold doesn't bother me as much as the changes. Keep moving and icing. Good luck

    • gloria29023
      gloria29023 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Good point oldfatguy. I must admit I have wondered if weather especially cold weather makes a difference. The longer I go on the more I think it. Good to hear the same from another.
  • Tucks
    Tucks tracey71146

    Posted

    Hi Tracey this is the problem with this damned op, some new happening all the time, just when you think you are getting there wham another problem! It's all tO do with the  healing process I believe, they have to cut through so much and now everything's trying to knit back together. It's so dissapionting for you but you should find it will ease with the days to come. That's what I'm telling myself. I'm 7weeks post op and having both good and bad days. I wish you well with your recovery from tucks
    • tracey71146
      tracey71146 Tucks

      Posted

      Hi Tucks

      That makes sense about the mending process just wish it didn't feel so awful. :-0

      Fingers crossed this eases up soon.

      Thanks for good wishes and likewise, all the best.

      Tracey

  • betty07083
    betty07083 tracey71146

    Posted

    Jennifer is spot on saying her knee felt like concrete! That's how mine felt at that stage as well as friends who had been through it. I'm 10 weeks today post op & still have the stiffness although not nearly as bad as when I was at your stage. 

    Looking back I credit the stiffness from preventing the pain from coming through, because as the stiffness & swelling subsides, I'm feeling the pain more! That too is all part of the process I assume, from hearing others experiences. This is a great forum where we learn we are all in the same boat smile

    Jen, you are 10 weeks too - do you find yourself still limping? When I notice I'm limping I quickly focus on walking correctly, but I revert back to it when I'm not focusing on it. I feel like I'm learning to walk correctly  again too, as I still tend to turn my foot inward like it did before the surgery. My PT keeps screaming at me to straighten my leg whenever I see her. Old habits are hard to break I guess. I think at the end of the day when I'm tired I revert back to the old way.

    • jennifer86104
      jennifer86104 betty07083

      Posted

      I agree, Betty, the pain has got worse since the swelling and tightness improved. It's as if you can feel the muscles trying to work again. I think the pain I get is from the muscles getting used to my leg being straight again. Yes, I limp sometimes, especially when walking downhill which I find is the most uncomfortable. Like you, I try to stride out properly on the flat 😊 

      I've decided to accept I'm going to get discomfort for a while and to just try to get on with things without overdoing it. Hope I can keep it up. Take care and keep in touch.

      Jen xx

    • betty07083
      betty07083 jennifer86104

      Posted

      Hi Jen,

      Oh walking down hill is downright scary to me! I feel like once I get going I won't be able to stop! My balance is off too. My PT gave me some exercises to do to work on my balance. One of them, which sounded like a piece of cake until I tried it is, stand with one foot in front of the other ( without holding on to anything) then close your eyes. I was horrified that I could not do it and had to grab onto something to hang on to. 

      So balance is another thing I guess we have to work on too during all of this.

      Happy October 1st! 

    • Tucks
      Tucks betty07083

      Posted

      Hi Betty . This balance problem is really annoying,I have always had a problem with it. I am acutely aware of it now and have added balance excersises to all my others. Although I am now walking without a stick I am carrying it with me for confidence. Will these problems ever end Betty? Take care from tucks
    • jennifer86104
      jennifer86104 betty07083

      Posted

      Hi Betty, just tried your balance exercise - really scary, felt as if I was on a boat 😊 Obviously something I need to work on too! Feeling a bit fed up again tonight. Went for the same walk today but my leg is aching something awful when I stand on it tonight. Sooo frustrating! Must keep positive though 😊😊 

      Jen x

    • betty07083
      betty07083 Tucks

      Posted

      Hi Tucks,

      Yes the balance thing has really become a problem for me as well, especially as my osteo arthritis became so bad in my knees.

      A friend made me a beautiful walking stick which I keep with me when I'm feeling a little unstable. Walking on flat ground is not so bad, but hills & slopes are very scary for me. Always something, right?

      Hope you are progressing well and keep up the balance exercises smile

    • betty07083
      betty07083 jennifer86104

      Posted

      Hi Jen,

      That balance exercise is deceiving, isn't it? When my PT told me to do it I was thinking " how easy!" and was shocked ( and a little embarrassed, ha) when I could not do it. I'm still struggling with it!

      I'm sorry you are feeling fed up this evening. I am so exhausted at the end of the day that I sometimes get emotional and feel like crying! What is up with that? Is that part of the healing process? Yesterday I was on my feet a good part of the day and was really feeling it that night!

      I've read from several people that it takes about 6 months to feel "normal" again, so I guess we have to just look forward to that and accept what we are feeling now is all part of this adventure, although much easier said than done when you are feeling fed up and discouraged.

      Hope tomorrow is a better day for you. I'm still in the middle of my day, actually at the beauty salon as I write this. 

      Take care - Betty

    • jennifer86104
      jennifer86104 betty07083

      Posted

      Thanks, Betty. Yes, I'm thinking 6 months is when we've a chance of feeling "normal". Feeling a bit better after putting my feet up for a few hours. Hope you're now looking gorgeous 😊😊 Jen x
    • betty07083
      betty07083 jennifer86104

      Posted

      Well don't know about the gorgeous part, ha, ha, but it's wonderful to drive myself and feeling more confidant getting in & out of the salon chairs!

      So glad putting your feet up helped your spirits. When we feel like that, rest is all we can do to get over it.

      Hope tomorrow is a better day! Take care, Betty

  • debbie02705
    debbie02705 tracey71146

    Posted

    yep , at about the same time too , couldnt sleep ,was wound up , 3 weeks later and im excited about going back to work in 4 weeks  , it wil all come together its just slow and dont worrie things happen when your not looking , ive started swimming daily again and cant tell you how much bette i feel , i also wiggle my feet lots noy sure if this works or not ,but feel like im running smile

     

    • tracey71146
      tracey71146 debbie02705

      Posted

      Great news Debbie! Wiggling your feet made me smile smile Am trying whilst typing.
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