Posted , 12 users are following.
Hi, in a couple of days it will be 13 weeks since my tkr surgery. So far I haven't had a single day when my knee hasn't been swollen despite my elevating, icing, resting continually. The swelling has contributed to my low ROM which is around 95 degrees. Is anyone else continually swollen after 12-13 weeks?
0 likes, 36 replies
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ali95530 Ozziegee
Posted
Hi Ozzie,
I'm 15 weeks post TKR today and my knee still swells when I'm on it for too long and I still have heat on my knee.
I was told by my Consultant and physio that this is normal and could last for up to 12-18 months.
I'm lucky that my ROM and straightening are both good but I agree the swelling gets me down too. I can wear my jeans again but as the day goes on the become tighter and tighter across my knee ... grrr
I've got my consultants appointment this Thursday so I'll keep you updated on here as to what he says.
Chin up as apparently we are both still in the early days of this long road to recovery
eileen15268 Ozziegee
Posted
Oxziegee, I am 16 weeks & still swollen. I ice , elevate etc. I saw my surgeon last week for check up & he wasn't the least bit worried. My rom is 115-not quite 20 & he said i am normal & it would take another 3 months to be recovered & certainly by a year I'd be fully recovered. Gosh i never thought of it being this long term. To get swelling down as much as possible I rest , I hate not getting out & on with my life , but I do find rest helps. They say the swelling mostly occurrs through stress of over doing it. When I look back I HAVE come on, but can't wait to be back to normal. Good luck
Ozziegee eileen15268
Posted
chris00938 Ozziegee
Posted
I had my first knee done on 1st March and expect the swelling to go on for up to a year. The surgeon told us that at the pre-op and it's also in the info they give you. I'm looking forward to getting my old jeans on, but they're still a bit tight round the knee.
martinarvelo chris00938
Posted
They don't give you information everywhere! I never received anything. . . Some places leave you to make your own investigations unfortunately!
chris00938 martinarvelo
Posted
My hospital is very pro patient and asked me for any suggestions I had that might help patients in the future, but there was a lot of information they gave me before the op. BUT there was also a lot of information they DIDN'T give me, which I found on this group! I guess they simply can't cover everything. But if they can cover some of it, it helps!
lynn53216 martinarvelo
Posted
Martinarvelo, I agree; I wasn't given any information. I am finding out a lot from this patient info.
marilyn10235 chris00938
Posted
My hospital also were very good with the info & all the checks before the op. I had 2 pre ops, the 1st after I went over to theatre to book myself onto the list, the 2nd 3 wks before.
At the 2nd pre op I was given bookets explaining important points about the op & aftercare, Hibiscrub to be showered in & hair washed in, the night before & on the day & a questionnaire which I had to take to the physio morning on the ward. On that I had to give the heights of the bed, sofa & loos. They wanted to know if there were stairs & at entry & exit points at home. If there was a bath or shower.
At physio during 1to1 the physio went through this to determine what equipment would be needed & ordered to be delivered the next wk. Most important was the blood tests, usual FBCs etc & 2 for the national blood transfusion service 1 to have that day (antibodies) the next 2.5 wks later (group & save). No reply strip from NBS no op!!
So lots of help & info, given the ward Tel no if any more questions!? Had to have 2 urine tests, the last on the day of op! Told not to shave legs for the wk before & after the op on that leg. One, the NHS info leaflet the other the hospitals own booklet.
But they did the same when I had my cancer diagnosis, I came away with a whole forest of paper!!
It does seem to a bit hit & miss as to whether there is info or not, but it should be standard! Everyone who has this op should have one! They can't go through everything but gives an idea. Not that anything the NHS could write would cover what we read on here!!
XX
chris00938 marilyn10235
Posted
Yours actually covered a few bits that mine didn't. Just googling various hospitals last night, I must have looked at loads, but only one asked about osteoporosis. One asked about cancer too. Mine wanted to know ANY operations I'd had since I was born! I didn't have any wee tests before BUT every wee after the op was tested. We had to wee into a thing that fitted into the loo and give it to staff, for every wee. And blood tests - lost count of those after the op LOL! But mine said to use the Hibiscrub from the neck down. I did that last time but next time will wash my hair in it too LOL! I bought some Sanex antibacterial wash and used that the week before the Hibiscrub as well, and even washed my clothes in Dettol laundry stuff to wear the two days that I was using the HIbiscrub and to come home in LOL! I made my husband change the bedding before he collected me even though it had only been done two days before, and fresh towels had to go in the bathroom, washed in Dettol laundry wash too LOL! I was totally neurotic. We were also given a ward number to phone the nurses if there were any questions at any time after the op and also the physio's number. Both went straight through to the departments, so very helpful - they encouraged us to use them if we needed to.
My hospital loads lots of stuff like toilet frames, raised seats, chair risers and all sorts - quite impressive. But because I'd had the arthritis for so long we were already well equipped with everything.
But yes, I don't think ANYONE could cover the range of info we get on here because you hear of so many experiences on here - things that COULD happen, but generally don't! But it's so good to hear what's normal! Isn't that a HUGE range!
marilyn10235 chris00938
Posted
Absolutely! I never ever realised that normal covered such wide range!!!
I guess that's the human condition! Covers everything, everywhere! Lol
XX
marilyn10235 Ozziegee
Posted
Swelling can go on for over a year, but you will notice it getting less! You may not notice it going at all for a while, but suddenly those jeans that didn't get past your knee are suddenly going on!
I at nearly 7 months & swelling still there but not so much, I can get those slim leg leg jeans on!! Yay! If I am on my feet too much or do too much, wham! The knee swells a bit, not what it was, but deffo swells.
So worry not, all will be well! Eventually the swelling will subside & all will be well!!
You just gotta believe!!
Marilyn
XX
chris00938 marilyn10235
Posted
lynn53216 marilyn10235
Posted
marilyn10235 chris00938
Posted
Oh yes!!! I lived in pull on, stretchy trousers when I came out of hospital. Couldn't wait to get those jeans on!! I live in my jeans, apart from at work, it is so good to be able to wear 'normal' clothes again!!
XX
chris00938 marilyn10235
Posted
I did too, when I left hospital Marilyn. They were soft against the scar too, but then I bought some wider leg jeans from Lands End and they've been wonderful, and I'm still living in those, but it will be nice to get back into the old jeans again:-)))) I'll try them on every few weeks LOL! But of course, with the other knee being done, if they do fit, it won't be for long LOL!