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stiff knee

Posted , 11 users are following.

andrea30334
andrea30334

Hi im 11 weeks Post Op and when I stand from sitting or getting out of bed I get this awful stiffness like someone pulling a belt tight around my knee??? Does anyone get medication for what I assume is stiffness or do we just deal with it???

0 likes, 98 replies

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  • sarndra
    sarndra andrea30334

    Posted

    Hi Andrea, I'm 10 weeks bilateral knees.  Still have up & down days, but if I miss massaging my knees first thing before I start the day I pay for it in the same way as you. I did get a bit lax with my strengthening exercises & now that I have been more consistent with my quads, massage & icing things are on the improve again. We just have to accept that it is really going to take a lot longer than we would like & not to sit back on our laurels when we have a good day. I have decided to look at it as a get fit exercise program by doing other areas of my body as well.  Hope I can keep it up.  Hope you improve soon as well.  Bit like nose to the grindstone, but good results at the end, no matter how frustrating it is.
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 sarndra

      Posted

      yes I suppose it is all down to hard work lol I will try harder!!!!
    • hazel14959
      hazel14959 sarndra

      Posted

      Sandra, I massage my leg - even do both - as soon as I have had my first cup of tea in the morning.   Physio said to always have a drink handy when massaging.  I am also looking at this as an exercise regime and hope to lose some weight with using my exercise bike again.   Frustrating it can be but I know it works as left knee done 8 years ago and is good.
  • terri59470
    terri59470 andrea30334

    Posted

    Good morning you lovely lot...

    This discussion is just what I needed to read - Im 12 weeks and 1 day post TKR, and having just the same problem with stiffness - i can sit in a chair, with my feet up on a pouffe (I love that word!) and can literally forget Ive had my knee done: then I try to get up and OUCH!! The stiffness is a killer, and I also get a sharp pain as I bring my leg forwards in the step. BUT the horrible stiffness at the back of the knee and in my calf seem to have gone, so I guess its just another stage in the TKR journey.

    TKR - THE GIFT THAT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING eekcheesygrin 

    • irish_linda
      irish_linda terri59470

      Posted

      pretty normal i used to get that when i put my leg on a step of the stairs it felt weird and you knew it was a foreign object in your leg it will pass ive heard that when you get a new knee you dont realy own it for a year and that is true so ive 3months to go for the year and i know that will make all the differance
    • hazel14959
      hazel14959 terri59470

      Posted

      I find it harder going up stairs at night, must be because I am tired or my body is tired...even though not sleeping well.  If anyone wants an alarm call at 1.30;  3.15 and 5am just let me know before hand!   wink
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 irish_linda

      Posted

      ooooo thats strange linda about owning the Knee but its cert got me thinking lol
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 hazel14959

      Posted

      Thats one of the reason's I can't face going back to work cos ive not had a full nights sleep since 5.3.15 my op date and im still shattered!!!
    • hazel14959
      hazel14959 andrea30334

      Posted

      Same date as me Andrea and even if I was younger couldn't face working as yet....  I am 75 though. and its one thing I can't do is sleep or nap during the day...

       

    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 irish_linda

      Posted

      indeed!!!! and then my hubby has the cheek to tell me hes never known be so snappy and grumpy lol
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 hazel14959

      Posted

      no hazel I cant either????? il see how long the doc gives me when I see her on monday????
    • irish_linda
      irish_linda andrea30334

      Posted

      my hubby used to say that black dog has got into a habit of following you around and yes it did i was like a yoyo down days were frequent and happy days few .many times i thought il never smile again
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 irish_linda

      Posted

      They dont tell you all this before you have it done though lol mind you if they did perhaps more would decline lol
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 terri59470

      Posted

      ooooo mine was 5 march lol and it does seem ages ago but realistically its not?????
    • pru57396
      pru57396 hazel14959

      Posted

      I think the sleep deprivation is as bad if not worse than the pain. The night seems so long when you're the only one awake. Always available for a chat! lol.
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 pru57396

      Posted

      I agree pru folks cant understand why im always shattered and as I mentioned in an earlier blog my hubby keeps tellin me im sharp and irritable lol hmmmmmm I wonder why ha ha
    • susan20089
      susan20089 pru57396

      Posted

      I remember it so well, it was christmas when I couldn't sleep.  Spent many nights looking at the Christmas tree and outdoor lights whilst laying on the sofa...lol
    • pru57396
      pru57396 andrea30334

      Posted

      I'm not just shattered from lack of sleep, I'm also very tearful some days. Is anyone else like this? It's only 2 1/2 wks since my op.
    • hazel14959
      hazel14959 pru57396

      Posted

      Pru the tears are part of the healing process...have a good cry, let it all out!   You will also start to feel very cold and this is the blood thiniing drugs, I just snuggle into my fluffy housecoat and often had a throw over my legs.
    • sharon52158
      sharon52158 pru57396

      Posted

      My husband jokes that I am making it up cos I'm always fast asleep when he gets up for work God knows how I am going to get on when I go back to work because I don't hear his alarm going off 
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 sharon52158

      Posted

      Lol sharon thats soooo true I manage to just drift off as my better half is going to work so he thinks ive been like that all night lol
    • caroline46398
      caroline46398 pru57396

      Posted

      This is all very normal - tiredness makes us emotional even when we are fit. You are not fit at only 2 -3 weeks. it takes quite a while. I am 18 weeks and have been on a rollercoaster but more good than bad since weeek 10. Today I braved going to a swimming pool as i was so fed up with the stiffness - it was amazing - and really helped. However, I slet for 6 hours afterwards and have just woken up!  Some days I am a bit tearfulf ro no apparetn reason but it passes much more quickly than those early days. Stick with it and accept the major nature of this op - its all about time healing - mind and body. From total regret up until last week, I finally today feel that perhaps having it done was indeed the right thing. 
    • pru57396
      pru57396 caroline46398

      Posted

      It's so good to hear about other people's experiences and it really does prove that we are all different and recover at different speed. I think I expected too much of myself ! I used to go to aquafit before my surgery and am looking forward to returning after my consultant appointment. Doing excercises in the water is so much easier. 
    • tess94652
      tess94652 irish_linda

      Posted

      Thank you Linda that is so helpful! I've already heard it takes a year to recover fully but the idea of owning your knee hits the nail on the head - my new knee does feel like an alien thing -I'm at 5 months since R TKR - and it all feels so abnormal!! So its great to think that can all change eventually and feel more normal!
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