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I had total knee replacement surgery almost two weeks ago. I can straighten my leg well and can bend when walking. I still cannot lift my leg off the bed without hooking my other foot under my operated leg as there is no strength there. I am resting, using ice and elevating and still taking meds. My issue is when I sit on a chair and my leg is bent in the sitting position, I am getting sharp pains in the knee. These pains go as soon as I lie down or straighten my leg. Knee is still very swollen but I understand can take weeks to go down. I'm having my staples removed tomorrow and am hoping that this may alleviate the problem. I can bend my leg but it seems that keeping it bent is causing the pain. Any advice please?
1 like, 31 replies
Colito elainey19669
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ng as the knee us swollen it will be very difficult to bend it. I have started to use Arnica ointment for the swelling. Right after surgery I was taking. Three pellets of 200 Arnica. 3 times a day and boy , did it ever help. I am also taking Lyrica for nerve pain.
elainey19669 Colito
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cheryl90571 elainey19669
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Sounds like you are doing well!
Be kind to yourself first and foremost! If something hurts more than another part chances are your surgeon had to do some extra work in that area.
Swelling is common I hear, so expect you will have it, too! It makes bending and straightening quite challenging, though!
I have two areas that are much more tender than others. I have noticed them getting less tender and not as painful as the days pass. You probably will find this to be true also.
I am six weeks post-surgery.
STAPLE removal is not fun, but you will feel better without the staples. It is easier to move without them.
Bending is challenging for me, but I am getting better slowly. Your pain could be a number of things. Maybe scar tissue, your incision, places where Doc had to do more cutting...all reasons for pain.
Rest when you are tired. Ice frequently throughout the day, wear your bandages to aid in reducing swelling, too. Elevate your legs above your heart.
Keep up with pain meds in these early days, weeks. Later you may not need them as often.
Wishing you LOTS of success in your journey!
elainey19669 cheryl90571
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cheryl90571 elainey19669
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My X-RAYS PROVED that surgery truly was my only option at this point, so I was a GO 100% to get FIXED and be able to get on with my life. I am very glad I had the surgery because my SURGICAL LEG is now my GOOD LEG!
THIS Thursday I go to see my surgeon for my six-week check-up. I am hoping I get permission to drive AND a date set for KNEE #2!
I LOVE this website, too! It is unlike any I have visited. There is SO MUCH support, VERY CARING individuals, and a great amount of both prior experiences and knowledge to draw from that is SO HELPFUL!
I am interested in hearing how your days and weeks go. I have kept a journal which is fun to go back and read! I thought it would be fun to keep a Journal for EACH KNEE just to see how each compares with the surgery and healing afterwards.
When I am at PT and throughout the day I "talk" to each KNEE. I make it a kind of GAME or COMPETITION. It keeps things light and often quite funny! My Physical Therapist laughs and laughs, but really likes my competitive nature. Keeps things positive, too!
Yesterday at PT I got a new exercise that is GREAT. YOU sit in a chair with arms. Sit so you can put both feet flat on the ground. Take your NON-SURGICAL leg to a comfortable place on the ground with a decent knee bend. Your SURGICAL leg won't be able to bend that much yet. That is OK. This is your starting place. Now, rise a bit off the chair. Keep holding to the arms. Move your surgical leg foot BACK about an inch. Ease back into a sit. Hold that for about twenty seconds. When you are ready, get up a bit, move your surgery leg/foot back another inch ir so. Ease back into another sit.
I kept doing this MUCH LONGER than my PT expected, but the slowness of it all AND me doing a little competition between RIGHT KNEE and SURGICAL LEFT KNEE really helped me succeed! I actually was able to bend LEFT KNEE as far as I had set RIGHT KNEE for the challenge!!!!
I was shocked that my little competition game produced the great results that it did!
Bottom line is TRY TO KEEP THINGS LIGHT! Be kind to yourself. You will do great!!!
elainey19669 cheryl90571
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Colito cheryl90571
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This exercise booklet contains general information for before and after your knee joint replacement surgery.
for those of you who nay not have seen this webpage, I highly recommend it. I bought rubber bands at the yoga section at Winners and use them attached to a chair or the railing of my stairs to stretch this and that way. It hurts a lot let than forcing the operated knee with the good one.
cheryl90571 elainey19669
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Glad you are noticing improvements! That is a good feeling!
I have heard HIPS are easier than knees. Maybe by the time RIGHT KNEE gets HER day in surgery, I will need Hip 1and Hip 2 done!
Take care! Keep us posted on your progress!
elainey19669 Colito
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cheryl90571 Colito
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sarah87162 elainey19669
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I had TKR 3 years ago and while I was still in hospital one of the nurses showed me an easy way to get my leg back on the bed.
If you have something like a dressing gown belt, use it as a lever.
I had to do this for quite a while afterwards.
I had quite a few problems with bending my knee afterwards and it took me a long time to get to ninety degrees.
If you have been sitting for a while get up and move around.
I'm sure it will help when staples are removed.
Take care and keep in touch
Love Sarah xx
elainey19669 sarah87162
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sarah87162 elainey19669
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That is a very difficult question.
I am now nearly 65 and have had trouble with both my knees since I was a teenager so can't really remember a time when either of my knees were what you would call normal.
But having said that it is certainly a lot lot better than it was before. I suppose I was never expecting it to feel normal again.
Hope this goes some way to answering your question.
You will have ups and downs but it does get better.
Take care and keep in touch
Love Sarah xx
mary_ellen42595 elainey19669
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elainey19669 mary_ellen42595
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