Swelling and ROM with Knee Replacement
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Hi everyone. 46 y.o male here who just had a total right knee replacement on Monday. Tuesday I did really well. ROM was measured at 0 degrees and 90 degree and I went home to recover. Today (Wednesday) I really feel like I regressed. Only able to get to 5 degrees and 60 and the knee to me feels significantly tighter than yesterday. My PT said that this can happen and to not worry to much about it.
Just curious if others have had the same experience and if this sounds normal. Its kinda frustrating because I really felt like I was doing very well and feel like I took a step back. Thank you in advance.
0 likes, 12 replies
mark32801 webrn
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martinarvelo mark32801
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mark32801 webrn
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webrn mark32801
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candace55 webrn
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denise35025 webrn
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The tightness may hang around for weeks or months, so stay focused, take your meds before the pain gets bad (& especially before excercise), hydrate & ice. Follow your excercise regime and expect it to take as long as it takes. Not everyone's the same, but you've had major surgery, and when you consider what's been done to your knee, you shouldn't be surprised that it needs a long time to heal.
Best of luck,
Denise from Oz
kathryn42410 webrn
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You may not feel like it yet but you are actually very lucky to have that sort of ROM. I've never had that so further surgery is in my immediate future.
Stay positive.
lou1982 webrn
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caroline46398 webrn
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martinarvelo webrn
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Oldfatguy1 webrn
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cheryl90571 webrn
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I had TKR on my left knee three weeks ago. I have found that my range of motion is almost always completely dependent on the level of swelling/tightness that I am experiencing at the time.
I was VERY fortunate to get home health care and have a PT come here to my home just five days after my surgery and two days after I was discharged from the hospital. An added bonus was that my PT had had her DOUBLE TKR just four years before at age 42. She KNEW FIRSTHAND what it was like!
When I expressed difficulty achieving good range of motion on this one particular day, she said, " Cheryl, of COURSE your range of motion isn't as good today! Your whole leg is much more swollen, AND don't forget all the RAIN! Weather is a BIG FACTOR in the process."
I felt relieved and I started to look at the swelling issue more closely.
At my follow-up appt.a couple days ago, I asked my surgeon about swelling. He said to EXPECT swelling for up to a YEAR. After all, there was a lot of trauma to the tissues with all that was happening during my three-hour surgery!
I am trying to follow the exercises, walk frequently, rest as much as is possible, ice, elevate, and above all STAY POSITIVE! I am learning that I pay the price of overdoing things, and that only sets me back further.
Each TKR experience seems to have similarities, but each also has differences. Pain tolerance varies as well.
I would say just evaluate yourself each day based on whether you slept well, if your swelling is better or worse, whether it MIGHT be a day to spend icing and resting or whether it might be a day to push a bit harder. As many have said, a TKR is NOT a sprint. It isn't even a MARATHON. It is a bonified ULTRAMARATHON!!!!
Wishing you well!
Let's promise to be patient with ourselves.
We will each do this...in our own time!