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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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  • angela_100
    angela_100 andrea30334

    Posted

    I'm 15 weeks post op now I went back to work after 11 weeks had no choice didn't get paid but I felt it was too soon you can't excercise the same in work and also you forget cos you are busy. I was so tired and depressed couldn't even make my tea when I finished ,,,but same as you Andrea it's awful when I get up . Mornings are the worst getting out of bed , I'm discharged from physio doc told me it can take up to 2 years to recover , I go on my excercise bike every day for 30 mins but still can't do the stairs ! ..good to know other people are experiencing the same thing though ,,,,good luck ! smile 
    • irish_linda
      irish_linda angela_100

      Posted

      poor you it cant be easy i wasnt working so it was not an issue but i can tell you i wouldnt have been able to work even after revision i wouldnt have been ready its way to early to be discharged from physio  if the stairs is a problem get some private physio to improve your mobility if you can afford it ive got private physio in the last few weeks twice a wk its made such a differance one to one physio  just make sure the physio is familiar with knee replacements some are only used to working on fit people !!!!! also a second rail going up stairs so yuo have one on each side makes going up and down easier
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 angela_100

      Posted

      well when I saw my cons he did say remember that when you feel able to fully work physically you need to take another 2/4 weeks to recover mentally and to catch up with some sleep!!!!!!!
    • hazel14959
      hazel14959 andrea30334

      Posted

      Andrea, did he tell you how to catch up on some sleep! 'cos we would all like to know this.wink
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 hazel14959

      Posted

      no lol but im seeing my GP tom I might ask her for some mild sleeping pills lol
    • irish_linda
      irish_linda pru57396

      Posted

      ya they do help 4hrs is about what i would get with them too when you decide to stop taking them i find if you half them for a few nights and then half them again to get off them ,what i mean by that i find if i stopped taking them even if i only took them for a week i cant sleep at all if i stop so by reducing them it works better
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 pru57396

      Posted

      The trouble with me is im a bit of a coward and dont like asking for owt???? in my head im determined to ask but when I get there I chicken out lol
    • irish_linda
      irish_linda andrea30334

      Posted

      i think any GP should be very willing to give something to help  especially after what we have been through  as they say bite the bullet and ask !!!!!
    • pru57396
      pru57396 andrea30334

      Posted

      How did you get on at the Drs. Did you get something to help you sleep? I am absolutely shattered tonight. A friend came at 11am to sit with me and my husband went out for a few hours peace. When he came home he invited my friend to stay for tea and she has only just gone so I haven't had a minute to myself literally.  I'm really glad she came but now I feel so drained and weepy again so I've taken myself off to bed. 
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 pru57396

      Posted

      oh bless pru I really feel for you make sure you rest tom. Well I dint get any sleeping tabs she said because shes reducing my pain killers she dint want me really depending on something else???? she said its all part and parcel and as im napping it will return naturally BUT she did give me a strong anti inflammatory which should ease the stiffness which might help my sleep I DOUBT IT and shes referring me for physio cos the stiffness is scar tissue that needs moving????? so I was a bit disappointed in one way. Ive got to see HR at work next week so im gonna tell em im not sleeping and im not in a fit state see what they suggest???
    • caroline46398
      caroline46398 andrea30334

      Posted

      My scar tissue needed moving and was done with deep tissue massage and water exercises. It caused terrible stiffness and was really getting me down but though not perfect I can feel that it has moved and my muscles are more normal. And I am sleeping eight hours Keep going - you will get there - frustrating but won't be forever
    • sarndra
      sarndra andrea30334

      Posted

      That sounds a bit rough. Is there another G P you can see. Without sleep & proper rest your body can not repair as efficiently. 
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 caroline46398

      Posted

      Hi Caroline thanks for that. How many sessions did it take for it to start moving???
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 sarndra

      Posted

      I no I was a bit deflated and this morn im sooooo fed up and shattered????? I might try the herbal route?????? so if anyone has taken owt that helps please share cos im sure loads of us will appreciate it????
    • pru57396
      pru57396 andrea30334

      Posted

      I can't believe you didn't get anything to help you sleep but I'm sure there are herbal things you could take. Have you had any physio at all? I go for my first proper session tomorrow. Quite looking forward to it! Hope your meeting with HR next week gives you the time off you need. You can't work if you're not getting enough sleep.

      i was asleep by 9pm last night and apart from a loo trip, slept till 4.30am. when I got up and went in my craft room. I make cards so I'd made a beautiful plant pot of flowers card by 7am when my husband woke up. After my exercises and ice I shall have a lay down again and hopefully have a nap. 

    • pru57396
      pru57396 andrea30334

      Posted

      I just googled 'herbal sleep remedies' and found 'herbal nightol' available at Boots , Superdrug, tesco etc. maybe you could give it a try. 
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 pru57396

      Posted

      I got another 4 weeks off work and a referral for physio cos she thinks its deep tissue scarring thats causing the stiffness? ??? ive not slept a wink all night worrying about stuff lol.. Its ridiculous the op is bad enough without worrying about jobs etc and how long it will be for physio????? I cant put my mind to owt this morning I have a cross stitch to do but can't settle to it???
    • pru57396
      pru57396 andrea30334

      Posted

      Anything is worth a try when you're so desperate. A friend of mine suggested eating a banana before bed but I haven't tried it. 
    • hazel14959
      hazel14959 pru57396

      Posted

      A friend of mine always eats a banana before bed and has a restful night...I thought bananas needed digesting a lot but never tried it and anything to help will do.

      I did try nightol and I had nightmares so stopped that and still woke up the same times during the night  I bought some floral herbal tea...didn't like the smell or taste and that didn't work either.  Maybe we could try self hypnosis?   anyone any ideas?

    • hazel14959
      hazel14959 andrea30334

      Posted

      Just googled...foiund a page with 10 things to eat or drink before bed...not all at once redface

      Bananas; Almonds; Yoghurt; Oatmeal; Hard boiled Egg,Cheese or nuts; Slightly salted edamame; Cherry juice; Low sugar whole grain cereal, Green or Chamomile tea; Miso soup.

      I like bananas, almonds and Yoghurt (make my own) I was told eating porridge before bed made you put weight on...so thats out!  Hard boiled egg, cheese? not sure....don't fancy the edamame, like that in a salad.

      Don't like cherries..have no cereal at all, got Green tea and don't fancy soup before bed!rolleyes

    • tess94652
      tess94652 andrea30334

      Posted

      Valerian is the classic herb to help with sleep - you can buy tablets in most chemists, and there's a tea bag version too you'll find in health food shops. Also passiflora, hops, camomile help relax you. Hope you find something to help, sleeplessness is so awful isn't it? Good luck x
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