Posted , 9 users are following.
Is there any other thing to do other than ICING to do to get the swelling down? Know its normal and not expecting a miracle BUT it is so getting in the way of my therapy and prevents me from doing exercises and bending.. any advice is appreciated .. thanks
0 likes, 17 replies
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jenny80029 MarieMichelle
Posted
Are you resting and elevating your leg?
How much are you on it each day?
Make a note of how much standing, walking and exercising you are doing, then may try reducing a bit to see if it makes any difference?
This is what I would personally try.
Swelling is telling....
It is normal, as you say, and will be with you for a while, but if it is a lot then I would be tempted to take it as a sign my knee needs rest.
Pibpaula MarieMichelle
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Lywn MarieMichelle
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CHICO_MARX MarieMichelle
Posted
Try some Voltaren Gel (RX in the US)...great topical anti-inflammatory. Check for interactions and side effects but I've never had a problem with it.
Tomins MarieMichelle
Posted
I too am at 5.5 weeks. Was to see surgeon yesterday. I had exactly that same complaint. He ended up putting me on an anti-inflammatory which I have started today(Celebrex). I also thought I was icing well. I usually would ice 4-5 times a day with foot elevated. Both doc and physio said not enough! Ice every 2 hours while awake!.... seems a lot but they have said that is key! And when resting to have foot quite elevated... above heart level. Now having told you that I too need to do it! Doc also said it's a major surgery! We are only at the infancy stages of rehabbing!! I gave him a copy of ChicoMarx's drawing of expectation.....vs. REALITY!! He loved it...
so that picture is now going up in a Toronto ontario hospital!! Good luck!
im off to physio now for my torture session!
CHICO_MARX Tomins
Posted
WOW!!!!!!!! That's too cool!!!!!!
Tomins CHICO_MARX
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MarieMichelle Tomins
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CHICO_MARX Tomins
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I'm a Brooklyn Sicilian living outside of Fort Worth, Texas. It's a culture clash like The Sopranos meet J.R. and family from the TV show Dallas... I'll be 70 in February and still work full-time (47 years) as a Sr. Process Architect for AT&T's Global Solutions Center in Dallas. As a member of that 750-person worldwide "virtual" team, I work from home so I've been very lucky that I found this job after my TKR.
Wisdom? Really? I just see things from a very different perspective from most people. Got married in 1971 to my high school crush and did a masters degree. Our daughter was born in June, 1978...six months later, the docs found stage 4 breast cancer. Sue battled it for 4 1/2 years but died in August, 1983... we were both 34...Kate was 5.
When something like that happens, you lose all your expectations about life and that's why I'm so vocal about people's expectations when recovering from a TKR. We, as human beings, crave structure and order in a chaotic Universe. There's no explaining why someone has little to no pain and mostly everyone else writhes around in it day after day. So there are no expectations...no reasons for "why me?"...
I thought I had it figured out when I turned 61 and married my current wife Sage. We were just fated to be together even though separated by 2,000 miles but we did it. Then I "expected" a great rest of my life...I was so wrong. Six months later, she has brain aneurysm surgery and we've been dealing with the consequences of that procedure and two strokes for the past seven years. The depression and anxiety got so bad, she started electroshock therapy a few weeks ago. Unbelievable struggle but it seems to be working...she's the bravest, strongest, brightest soul I've ever met...even through all the bad years.
You know how people say that when "man" says the word "plan" the Universe just laughs? Same thing. We have the right to expect NOTHING from the life given to us. We need to walk our different paths hopeful and joyful...not angry that someone got a better deal than we did. We try to make up "rules" for this Universe when we have no idea what the real rules are. However, I do take comfort in the belief that there is a thing called Karma and she's a stone-cold b**ch!!!
So...I now expect nothing and take joy in every smile that comes my way. Last week, I got a call from my neurosurgeon's nurse who said: "Dr. Ellis just looked at your lumbar MRI and wants to see you next Tuesday to DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS." Now...really...does that sound good? All I could do was laugh...
My work feeds the left side of my brain and my 59 years as a musician the right side. I have a beautiful wife, a roof over my head, a good paying job, food on the table, a new band and healthy, adult, professional kids...and a grandson. I ask for nothing and enjoy everything. It's the only way I can be after lots of years on the planet and getting about 4 1/2 pounds of metal put inside me...docs are turning me inexorably into a Terminator...Ahnold would be proud... Be good to yourself, love the ones that love you, be thankful and happy for the life you've been given...toss away everything else...
JC
Aunt_Dee MarieMichelle
Posted
I am 6 weeks out same issue and then some. I was hoping to return to work Dec 27 (8 weeks after TKR) it's no go at least til Jan 9. Even with a desk job no way! How long have you all been out of work for this?
CHICO_MARX Aunt_Dee
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We've had the rare report on the Forum about going back to work at 12 weeks with just a few issues but the vast majority of people here who try to go back to work at that 3 month mark seem to have a very tough time...even at a desk job. Swelling, stiffness, pain... They get home, have to take meds, ice, elevate, try to get some sleep and then wake up having to do it all over again.
Your knee will heal when it heals. Try and speed that up and it swells like a balloon. There are sooooo many factors to consider like age, how much scar tissue your DNA makes, your ROM, the work you put into your exercises, how quickly you regained the muscle strength in your dead quads, glutes and core, occupation...and more, a lot of which are out of your control. Reality: most of us got back to work in the 4-6 month range.
Aunt_Dee CHICO_MARX
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Oh wow. The Dr makes it sound like 8 weeks is sufficient. I also had large toe synthetic joint implant same leg Dec 5. Right leg, what about driving of course when I am off hydrocodone. The PA says to try but I don't feel like I could even try.
Snoozy69 CHICO_MARX
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I'm at the 3 month stage and I'm no where near ready to go to work yet. Stiffness and swelling is a big issue still, I can't exactly go to work with my leg elevated with ice on it. My doctor told me to relax and enjoy the ride!! I'm not sure enjoy was the right choice of word 😂
MarieMichelle Aunt_Dee
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Lywn CHICO_MARX
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I thought I'd be able to go back to work after three months. I know it won't happen. I'm nearly 11 weeks post op and was quite swollen and sore today. I'm allergic to all anti inflammatories in every form.
CHICO_MARX Lywn
Posted
I have no clue how people get this "back to work in 3 months" expectation and then get blown away when it doesn't happen... Three months is VERY optimistic and very few people are back by then. There are so many factors to consider that no one can predict in advance when you can do it. You've heard the "everyone is different" mantra over and over again...it's especially true when considering a return to work.
Just don't let it get you down!!! Ever!!! Stay on track, do the work, be good to yourself. It all comes in time...it's just that no one can put a date on it until your knee is ready...whenever that is.