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Severe swelling of foot after knee replacement 7 days ago

Posted , 19 users are following.

mark32801
mark32801

7 days post-op total knee replacement.  Foot is twice normal size and cant do PT or even ambulate with this (What feels like) 10 extra pounds of weight.  It feels like I'm walking on a waterballoon.  I am doing cold therapy and elevating the leg as I was told to do.  Anyone experience this after knee replacement??

0 likes, 18 replies

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  • candace55
    candace55 mark32801

    Edited

    Mark

    This was what my leg looked for about three weeks after surgery. Yes, it is very hard to get around and go to physio. I did not go until the 2nd week. Then all the therapist did was work on the incision and scar so scar tissue did not build up. I am now 9 months and all is good with my knee replacement. It was a horrible surgery and recovery. Also was hard to get off of the meds but I saw a ray of sunshine after the 4th month and it has been good since. Hang in there, it will get better. Maybe check with your Doc about a DPT, just in case. I did and there was not one. Just a lot of swelling. It get better.

    • mark32801
      mark32801 candace55

      Edited

      Wow  -  Thanks I just needed affirmation that I was not alone in these experiences.  I just need to stay in bed with leg elevated I gues.....No PT this week.....Thank you Candace
    • maria1967
      maria1967 mark32801

      Posted

      was just reading some of the comments here. I'm 6 days post OP and still having severe pain at night and most of the day. I feel like my knee could bust wide open. I've doing my exercises and walking during the day the most I can. just looking for reassurance this does get better.

      I'm down to taking pain meds in the Am only because I have two very small children I had received custody of 2 days after my surgery.. of all times. I saw a picture of another person's leg on here that looks alot like mine. All I can do is keep pushing along to walk further and get better as quickly as possible. If anyone has any tips I'm open for suggestions

  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 mark32801

    Posted

    This is just a possibility......during surgery the sometimes have to use a tourniquet for blood loss control and this can cause temporary damage and swelling which can create swelling. I would call the surgeon and see if there are any concerns and if you can get something for relief. Otherwise, they may tell you to back off the excercise a little, elevate and ice and just wait for normal blood flow to return and pull the fluids off in a natural course of time. Either way, I don't think you are looking at a quick fix. Swelling is so painful and you feel completely helpless.
    • mark32801
      mark32801 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      You make a very good point in that yes, there is a tourniquet involved.  That explains the bruising on my thigh as well. I have no chopice but to back off the exercises.  I cant walk on this bag of fluid that is my foot.   Thank you for your input - very helpful
  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 mark32801

    Posted

    This is just a possibility......during surgery the sometimes have to use a tourniquet for blood loss control and this can cause temporary damage and swelling which can create swelling. I would call the surgeon and see if there are any concerns and if you can get something for relief. Otherwise, they may tell you to back off the excercise a little, elevate and ice and just wait for normal blood flow to return and pull the fluids off in a natural course of time. Either way, I don't think you are looking at a quick fix. Swelling is so painful and you feel completely helpless.
  • lorene30860
    lorene30860 mark32801

    Posted

    Hi Mark

    I'm almost a month post surgery and suffering with a still swollen foot/leg and severe limitation in movement of the joint. My medicos have said the first 6 weeks it all I'll get so have been very distressed. I read Candace55's comments below with interest and just hope our recoveries will follow suit! Good luck. 

  • lou1982
    lou1982 mark32801

    Posted

    Im 2 weeks post op and i still have good swelling,its just part of the package i think,and if you do exercise/physio then it swells even more..elevation and ice is the key thing,but it is a long road to recovery and we all mend at different rates,good luck 
  • susan27029
    susan27029 mark32801

    Posted

    Hi mark

    im 11 weeks, and I'm now transformed when I go back to mty first weeks.

    i had a concern with ankle foot swelling more than my knee, expected to walk and excercise from day one, but after telephoning for advice was told, rest ice elevate, loads of water, and only toilet trips!    But any excercises you can do on the bed do, ankle pumps. Leg raisers and heel slides were extremely difficult but do your best.

    i was still extremely worried watching the bruising and swelling hourly and I couldn't understand why when I'd had my leg up and iced "all night" the swelling had not gone down!

    2 weeks I saw some improvement, but had trouble with ankle swelling after sitting upto 7 weeks.   

    Chin up!      Sue x 

  • patsyrose
    patsyrose mark32801

    Posted

    Hi Mark

    My whole leg swelled up considerably the day after I came out of hospital (2nd TKR).  I rang the hospital and they advised me to come back or call my GP.  My GP thought that it was either a DVT or infection, so I went back in.  However, my consultant said that it just needed elevation.

    I would call your hospital or GP, to be on the safe-side.

    Patsy

  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 mark32801

    Posted

    I had this but certainly not as severe as you are experiencing. Also I experienced it quite a lot later on down the road to recovery than you are. (6 weeks or so post op) Dr said it would settle down which it did.

    Hope this settles down for you.

    Sarah

  • cheryl90571
    cheryl90571 mark32801

    Posted

    I am three weeks out from surgery, and my whole left leg (surgical leg) and also my right (surgical TO BE leg of the future) to some extent is swollen.

    Doc said this is common and swelling is EXPECTED for the first YEAR!

    I agree with you...foot feels JUST LIKE a water balloon!

    The one day I wrapped my foot all the way up to my thigh with the ace wraps from surgery. That helped a bit. Ice sometimes is helpful, elevation, too. Ankle pumps help a bit.

    I am trying to drink lots of water, watch amounts of sodium, keepnup with pain meds, and do exercises I have been given.

    Hang in there!

    Maybe a call to your doctor would put you at ease, OR maybe he/she MIGHT want to check you out.

    Let me know how it goes, OK?

  • kenneth41748
    kenneth41748 mark32801

    Posted

    i had partial knee replacement done 5 weeks ago and my foot is 2 times the size as other one and calf as well hurts like hell dont hink thats normal either
    • david230549
      david230549 kenneth41748

      Posted

      It's 18mths since my total knee replacement and I still get swelling of the ankles and aches like clamps I am waiting for the second knee to be done and dread what will happen next. Even the leg not operated on swells and badly a year a go and same now.  

  • john28643
    john28643 mark32801

    Posted

    I am nine weeks post operative. Pain and movement has been horrendous. This morning the foot on the operated knee is quite badly swollen. I have had two heart attacks in the past. Anything for me to worry about ?
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