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knees replacement surgery

Posted , 8 users are following.

joan10406
joan10406

Hi everyone I have my knee replacement surgery done July 20th I am doing well walking good just a little limp I am driving my problem is my knee get so stiff it's very uncomfortable especially at night I don't know how to position it in the bed to feel better is anyone else experiencing this problem

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • cheryl86544
    cheryl86544 joan10406

    Posted

    Hi Joan, Yes, I think all of us have had that problem.  To  help you with driving - find the length of time you can drive without the knee stiffening up.  At that point, stop your car, pull over and stretch out your knee.  You'll get to understand where your limit is, but it luckily keeps changing throughout your recovery.  Just try and get in tune with your body.  Bedtime - what often helps is to save some pain meds till half an hour or so before bedtime.  You may find that sleeping on your side on the non-operated side will help.  You're so very early in your recovery, good for you that you are driving.  The stiffness can stay for a number of months so try ice to see if that helps.  Elevate as much as possible.  Ice may help you sometimes, but possibly all times. Warmth may help you and heat (not too much) may help you.  

    See a PT as soon as you can. if you're not already.

    • kathleen19751
      kathleen19751 cheryl86544

      Posted

      Everything written here is excellent advice. Yes, trying to get into a comfortable position to sleep in is still a bit of a problem for me at 4 weeks post-op. It does get better! Gradually, very gradually...but it does and it will. As jenny80029 wrote, have you tried placing a pillow between your knees when you sleep on your side. It helps me to do this. Position yourself on your non-surgical side, tuck a pillow between your knees and see how it feels.

      I still wake up at night, still have some stiffness. A full night's uninterrupted sleep eludes me but I make every attempt to be calm about it: know that this will get better slowly and it is not forever. Of course, if you have to be atlert and on your game the following day this can be frustrating. Have you thought of asking your MD for valium or maybe a muscle relaxer that will make you drowsy? 

      Or try an OTC antihistamine. It will make you sleepy enough to doze off.

    • cheryl86544
      cheryl86544 kathleen19751

      Posted

      Hi Kathleen, thanks for your comments.  I'd just like to mention that, as much as sleeping between your legs may help, it is definitely a NO NO.  It usually messes up people's bend and other problems, so please don't.

    • cheryl86544
      cheryl86544

      Posted

      Lol, let me try that again.  Instead of reading "as sleeping between"  should have said "as much as sleeping with a pillow between your legs may help.  It is a definite NO NO. 

  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 joan10406

    Posted

    Mine used to wake me up and I found moving it around helped, then I could nod off to sleep again. Also having a knee pillow between knees when lying on side was good. I did need to change sleeping position a lot.
  • mona92713
    mona92713 joan10406

    Posted

    Hi Joan, oh yes, sleeping positions are terrible! I asked my Dr for valium to help me sleep which it did. And driving, you're really early to drive! I don't even get to drive until six weeks! Mine is on the right leg so I assumed you had yours done on your left? It took me two months to feel comfortable sleeping and part of the time I am able to change positions. Ice and take pain pill half hour you go to bed. It helps. Continue therapy too! Give yourself time.

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX joan10406

    Posted

    Stiffness or a "tight band feeling" can last for 12 to 18 months.  If you're really lucky, it will go away sooner...but I wouldn't count on it.  At almost 17 months, I still feel it a bit from time to time but nothing really worrisome.  It's one of those things in TKR-dom that you will notice early on and through the 6-month range but then it gradually disappears over the next six.  One day, you might feel it again and think "Gee...I haven't felt that in months!"  When it loosens up, you tend to just not realize that the stiffness is not only gone but has been gone for a while.  Just takes time...

  • Linda_ann
    Linda_ann joan10406

    Posted

    Hi Joan, im sure evrybody is going to say the same or they have done, pillows pillows and more pillows.........and i found massage the knee helps sooooooooo much its unbelievable, it will get easier just takes time, as they say its a marathon not a short jog to get your knee right , hope that helps Joan x
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