Partial knee replacement

Posted , 8 users are following.

I’m at 10 wks and still have pain/touch sensitive areas around knee cap. Haven’t slept thru the night yet. No matter what I do, I just can’t get comfortable. Knee continually stiff and swollen. Trying everything. Have  physio 3xwk. Knee is strong and stable with good range but the swelling is driving me crazy. I ice after PT or working it out, then it stiffens up and I feel like I have to start all over again to loosen it up. I feel like that little mouse on the wheel going in circles. I really surprised at the continual amount of swelling and stiffness. I really didn’t expect that. 

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    I am a week ahead of you at 11 weeks and I too suffer a bit with this. My range is slower struggling to maintain 120. But I just keep struggling along knowing one day it will be different. I don’t sleep either picked up some Melatonin which I will try tonight. We just need to believe it will one get better in the not so distant future smile I think what we are experiencing is very normal according to a lot of people here on this site and my doc wasn’t too worried about my progress either so on I go! Best wishes
  • Posted

    One thing that really  helped me before going to bed was icing my knees. I had a bilateral knee replacement and icing helped me get to sleep. I also iced my knees if I woke up in the night. It helped to go back to sleep. Hang in there. It will get better.
  • Posted

    Janis,tuesday i will have 15 weeks from my bilateral TKR.Still very uncomfortable at night and also during the day! it is not a pain per say but the swelling and tightness are just not pleasant at all. i am doing daily exercises,walk a lot,ice ,and at night i take a norco,just a few left and use them with great  care,tho it is not a big difference after i take it. It is a time of this TKR that everyone talks about the same symptoms.. i truly hope that it gets better as many more advanced patients are taking about....hang in there,not to much advise ,unfortunately, but i think we all have to go through this times in order to arrive at the  'feeling good' moment. Good luck to you,and continue with the same regimen:exercise,bycicle,walking,icing and a painkiller of your choice or what the doctor is recommending you to take..

    i also take at night a clonapin,very low dose,and that also helps a bit with sleeping. my family doctor did recommend and tho i do not take it every night, when i do take it i do sleep a little better at night.. just a thought...

  • Posted

    Try putting pillows between your knees and constantly bend and straighten your leg during the night. A bit of flexing and stretching the leg before bed helps. 

    It will get better, I promise you. I went over 12weeks without sleeping all through. It gets better 

  • Posted

    No one expected what happened to them...no one.  This might help with the sleep...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/trouble-sleeping-post-tkr--539591

    Everything else is totally normal.  You will see a lot of decreasing tenderness and swelling over the next 30-60 days.  However, swelling will occur if you push the knee too far...but that's different from post-op swelling.  It just takes time...a lot of time.  We hear a lot about people feeling much more "like themselves" around 10 months and then kicking this at 12...although some minor symptoms (stiffness, numbness, clunking, etc.) may last 12-18 months.  Get rid of all your expectations...they mess with your head.  Your knee will be better when it's better...

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