Pain & swelling after 10 weeks
Posted , 9 users are following.
I still have pain & swelling from Tkr even after 10 weeks. Nights are awful too. It seems to me a vicious circle. We're told to rest if knee swells & is painful but what @ exercising, I find knee is so stiff now I'm going backwards. This can't be normal or is it ?
0 likes, 28 replies
chris00938 eileen15268
Posted
Eileen, regarding the swelling, I think this is normal. Mine is swollen (yes, I know I'm only 5 weeks but everything else is going well) and I expect the swelling to go on for a very long time yet - that was about the only thing the surgeon DID tell me - to expect swelling for up to a year. I am elevating above hip height most of the day still but have dropped the ice because I didn't feel I need it, but will use it if I'm doing longer journeys in the car and it feels stiffer or hotter or something from that. Same as a couple of days ago I dared to stop using the compression stockings (almost five weeks post op then) because I reckon I'm active enough not to be at risk now. But re the pain - although this hasn't been my experience, it does seem to be that of a lot of people on here, unfortunately, so I'd expect it is normal:-( But I'm sure you'll get lots more replies and maybe someone can come up with something to help. You are in my thoughts a lot though. Please take care of yourself!
eileen15268 chris00938
Posted
Thank you Chris I wonder if the pain & swelling stops you from exercising as much as we should. I feel I don't do as much as thought it would only agrivate it more xx
chris00938 eileen15268
Posted
Well, I haven't got the pain Eileen, but if I did, yes it possibly would make me want to take it easier, but then, to be honest, I've been pretty relaxed about it all anyway. The swelling doesn't really make much difference - just an awareness, and the non-operated knee gets much stiffer and painful than the operated one ever has. Today I did the bike and treadmill and then we went out and walked round a garden centre. I don't know if this might help anyone but I've been worried about feeling 'unsteady' - partly because of the non-operated knee but I've started trying to distract myself when I'm walking - I THINK it's been that I'm so used to thinking about every step because every step hurt, that's the problem and it left me lacking confidence with walking outside but I don't tend to feel unsteady indoors! So now as I'm walking outside I'm putting hands in pockets and concentrating on feeling the fabric between thumb and fingers and I think this is helping! Maybe it sounds silly though. I was holding on the arms on the treadmill before but have stopped doing that - reckon walking slower not holding on is better and will give me more confidence.
joan17325 eileen15268
Posted
I still have pain and inflammation after 10 weeks I ice and use painkillers but instead of exercises cos I reckon I get flexion doing housework bending to fill washer steps rtf I now concentrating o walking bought myself a fitzip and counting steps Small amount at first 5 times around the house (detached) every 2 hours then onto down the street now soon total 2 mile a day and guess what the last 3 nights 10 hours sleep with only a few waking times 9/10 scored 😁😁
eileen15268 joan17325
Posted
Hi Joan , it's great you're getting more sleep now. My daughter said she thought doing housework , washing & cooking doing stairs & walking would be a good way of exercising , I just feel my bend may not feel good enough for the Pt when I next go. It's reassuring that you think similar thanks for tex x
sandra88710 eileen15268
Posted
In my 6 plus months post op I discussed housework, errands, walking, etc as a replacement gor my exercises. I was always told no - that stretching the knee to break up scar tissue is the only way to gain flexion. Also, the exercises specifically target your thigh muscles which are what you need to build to support your knee. Basically the exercises must be done for a year, daily - the easier they get, the more you should increase the reps & time. Daily walking is also needed to improve endurance & balance. Other activities - housework, etc is encouraged. The past three months I have not always been compliant with the exercises - I try my best - that's all I can do. I have reached my flexion goal. I did add more comments further down in this thread.
joan17325 eileen15268
Posted
I say listen to your body if I think I need to do stretching and flexing I do it just not on a daily basis as before I have 125 bend and can do straighten with no gap quads the lot not bad for 10 weeks but couldn't walk far BUT now I'm focussed for that 2 mile a day Not bad for 72 with a hammy leg and spinal injury to my back at 37 whilst I was lifting a patient who said she couldn't stand without help 😁😁😁😁😁
chris00938 joan17325
Posted
Joan, I am full of admiration!!!!! To do that at 10 weeks is more than I could ever hope for! If I can walk a mile at the end of this (yes, know I need the other knee doing first) then I'll be over the moon! What a change that would be from my pre-op days!!!!! 200 yards was a struggle then, nevermind two miles LOL! You've inspired me:-)))) Thank you!
eileen15268 sandra88710
Posted
Golly Sandra I'm going to have to try harder. I do the exercises first thing but not as much in the evening as am doing other jobs in day but thought it would all count ;-(
eileen15268 joan17325
Posted
Wow Joan you are amazing, I like to walk but at first I did 20 minutes & Pt told me I needed to do much more ,so the next day I walked fir an hour then was in bed for 3 days in agony. I know now I should have built it up but am wary walking again too far , I'm 78 :-(
chris02353 eileen15268
Posted
Eileen I had mine done on 6th Jan 17 and mine is still very stiff Icycle. Row, walk in swimming baths etc. some days I think improving then next day backward steps, It aches most days but keep going I'm sure we must see marked I provement soon. but one thing about this site you realise you are "normal" and not the only one with these problems
chris02353
Posted
eileen15268 chris02353
Posted
That's so True Chris, this site has saved me many times from going down. I just thought , like people around me think , I should be up & going by now. I told my husband that HE wants to try it . Sorry but that's how it is , with us Tkr s folk.x
connie80069 eileen15268
Posted
I still have swelling on part of my knee 18 weeks after tkr on my right knee. No pain, just discomfort from the swelling. I also have a collapsed bone in my knee (happened after the tkr) which I guess will heal on its own. I still can do some exercises but none that I put all of the weight on my tkr knee. Drs. say it can take up to a year to feel "normal". Good luck to you.
eileen15268 connie80069
Posted
Thanks Connie for encouragement . I'm sorry to hear @ your collapsed bone , hope it recovers soon x