Please tell me if my swelling is normal im worried!

Oh debbie, i feel for you. Im 25weeks po and im exactly the same. I didn't think i was doing enough so I tried to increase my activity and now the last week in pain and swelling agian. I spoke to my physiotherapists and she says its all normal and my body telling me iv over done it. So i to have been resting and icing again,its just soo frustrating.😟

hi Debbie

I'm also 18 weeks post op.

My knee has been always a bit swollen even with icing and elevation. Go and see your surgeon. I went back to work , I'm a nurse lots of walking but no excessive swelling , just thightness.

Can I ask you if at night when you wake up your knee is stiff, mine is so stiff and I have to fully stretch it.

I do hope all goes well with you.

Maria

Hi all, I'm 4 days post tkr on right leg,my first tkr was left leg 11 months ago, my specialist has told me that every knee is different so I'm going from a comparison journey to a new journey. Swelling is all part of recovery I believe, nature's way of protecting us from ourselves sometimes ! I still get stiffness in my first knee and do exercises that will keep me fit in general, ive also accepted I'm not Superwoman so I'm not going to be going silly and do myself an injury, just one day at a time I'm getting better. Be gentle with yourself

Hello Debbie, I am 28 wks post op after a full knee replacement and my knee is still swelling after I have been on my feet for 1.5 hours. I don't go to work as I have osteo arthritis in my back & I have really awful back ache as well as knee and lower leg and foot swelling after I have over done it!

My physio and doc have advised it could be as long as 2 yrs before swelling goes or if I am really unlucky it may never go completely which is really inconvenient. Any how I think we have to learn to pace ourselves - which is difficult. Everyone has different expectations, for me I am just going with flow as worrying only has a negative effect - keep positive.

Regards Janey

Hey Debbie

I am 9 months post op and still have stiffness and swelling, more so after doing 10 minutes on my stationary bike! I just think we just have to keep going and do as our body tells us...rest and do the exercises when you can.

It is such a long road and we don't see improvements do we but everyone says it will be a year or more til we feel happier about the whole situation.

Some days I think  when will this whole knee thing stop taking over my life. It is the first thing I think of when waking up and the last thing at night. 

One day eh? We will get there!

12 weeks post op on a LTKR.  Yes it looks swollen compared to the other knee; yes, it's a bit stiff.  Doc said to expect both for up to a year.    Great site out there called bonesmart. They have pre- and post-op forums for knee and hip.  I was warned by many, many people (including the RNs and NPs) that recovery from a TKR would take a long time and that you cannot push it (like I did with my hip replacement...full recovery 8 weeks from day of op).  If you do too much, the knee will swell.  You have to back off and let it heal.  I have taken their advice and have had no major problems.  Then again, I'm avoiding all the heavy stuff I used to do. The one time I pushed it, I walked around a mall with my daughter for over 2 hours.  8,000 steps on the FitBit.  I paid for that mistake for a few days.  Simply put: Swelling is the knee's way of telling you that you did too much with it.  

Hi Debbie, I read thru your discussions.... Everyone seems to have it right. Can only add n pray your pain n discomfort eases with time. I'm 12 weeks post op,still can't drive, goin stir crazy, but see small changes for the better each day. The swelling, stiffness n tightness still there. I don't know how u all do it by going back to work, I don't think I could do it at this point. If your really concerned, I can only suggest talking with your doctor or phisio. This is a tough operation.  I had both hips replaced n lower back fusion years ago, doctor tried to convince me the Tkr would be a tougher operation. I kinda of laughed, n thought to myself, no way, boy was I wrong!   I have found a whole new world of appreciation, humbleness, patience n strength thru this whole ordeal, the big guy upstairs does a whole lot for me too.  Blowing healing prayers your way 🌬🌬🌬 a little soup helps too 🍵 Some luck 🍀 And if you drink a little wine always helps too 🍷... Hang in there girl. Today was another terrible day for u.s. With mass shooting in Orlando Florida.  G-d bless them all... Prayers going out to all of them n the souls lost.  N then I think my little world of pain is but a pin head of what could be. We Tkr patients are lucky to have this support group n to also know " one day at a time".  We will get back to ourselves eventually, sooner rather than later.   Those people affected have a long struggle of healing ahead.  What a terrible terrible state of affairs.  Humans wanting to hurt other humans. I'll never understand it.  🤔😇

Wow that sounds like your body saying too much too soon but I'm guessing you don't have a choice. I would suggest you wear a support hose, those white ones they give us after the op, and a tip for putting them on is to put a small plastic bag over your toes which you pull out once you've got the sock on. Also wear one of those strap on ice packs when you can at work, even if you can't elevate this should lessen the inflammation. Such a shame you can't lessen your hours or sit down more, my heart goes out to you, remember nothing lasts forever, good luck