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Swelling and stiffness

Posted , 10 users are following.

robin15577
robin15577

Hi Everyone! 

I am almost 8 mos post op and have picked up now the last three weeks my physical activity. But I still have some swelling and heal slides still painful but I do believe bend is getting deeper when doing them. I just really need reassurance this can still be normal thi far out. I am walking a few miles and also going to gym back on ellipticalsmile and doing weight that strengthens quads, hamstring and gluteus (leg press) 

its such a long process I really thought I would be recovered by now although I realize it’s a marathon so just wanted to make sure swelling and some pain can be normal. Leg sometimes has a hard time settling in at night. I do rest if needed though but try everydayto be active. 

Thanks

0 likes, 30 replies

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  • Delboy1735
    Delboy1735 robin15577

    Posted

    Everyone is different and no two knee ops are the same even for me who has had both knees replaced two years apart. I am 16 weeks into the second discharge and still getting pain and stiffness. My first knee has been great but even that gives some pain now and then. Excercise is the answer. “Use it or lose it”: keep up the excercise and encourage the joint to heal. You have had the most traumatic of the authorpedic ops. This is on good authority. Give it a year. Cheers.
    • robin15577
      robin15577 Delboy1735

      Posted

      Thanks so much for replying ~ use it or lose it I love that motto smile yes I will struggle on getting leg back I to shape. I don't see doc until Aug year anniversary but the last two visits with x-ray showed no complications with new hardware. So I should be ok just wanted to double check. Best wishes to you as well.

  • marilyn10235
    marilyn10235 robin15577

    Posted

    Yes Robin all 'normal', you are 8 months into a recovery that can take up to 2 years for some. Just keep on doing the exercises & ice & elevate when you get swelling. The more you do the more swelling you may get, but let's face it, the name of the game is getting back to normal for you. So keep up the good work, as long as flexion & extension is good, what you need now is to rebuild those muscles that have wasted due to arthritis. Look up Chico's posts on that!

    I still get swelling, if I do too much, on my right knee which was operated on October 2016.

    Marilyn 

    XX

    • Delboy1735
      Delboy1735 marilyn10235

      Posted

      Good. Very positive attitude. I watched a Utube video of the op and I was shocked at just what my surgeon had done. No wonder it takes time to recover.
    • robin15577
      robin15577 marilyn10235

      Posted

      Wow, Marilyn thanks for reply. This is good to know that issues can arise for a few more months to come lol I never took I to account how handicapped knee was prior to surgery as well. Then of course surgery so makes sense it will take long time.  Best wishes smile
  • max07424
    max07424 robin15577

    Posted

    Hi  i am now in my 6th week after having knee replacement, got to be honest didnt think for minute i would be in so much pain, no matter what tabs they put me on the pain wouldnt ease, had to go back into hospital as the pain was getting worse, anyway i am now on cocodamol high strength and shortec, and gabapentine, these tabs are now making my life easier and pain reducing, my knee kept getting hot but has now cooled down since being on these new tabs, i was iceing my knee regular but as soon as i took the ice off my knee would start to get hot again even though they told me i had no infection, i am on the mend now pain easing every day and knee doesnt get hot anymore, so thank god they put me on these tabs, cant wait to go back to work obviously not yet but i am healing nicely, whether these tabs would suit everyone i dont know but they have worked for me.  max
    • Delboy1735
      Delboy1735 max07424

      Posted

      At 6 weeks my Surgeon took an X Ray and told me ‘yes’ it was ok and he would see me at 3 months. 6 weeks is just about looking to see if the prosthetic is in place and whether you can bend and straighten the knee. It’s just the beginning. You have had major surgery and not a tooth extraction. Your knee will be hot/cool, swollen/not swollen for many weeks. You have a good way to go so take it a day at a time and a week at a time. YOU WILL GET OVER IT!
    • robin15577
      robin15577 max07424

      Posted

      Thanks for reply! So glad things are better for you! It will continue I promise. 
    • MiXCSkier
      MiXCSkier max07424

      Posted

      Did they ever tell you or find out why you were having the pain and heat after that long? (curious)
    • nate1990
      nate1990 MiXCSkier

      Posted

      My surgeon and my Physio both said the same thing: the muscles, the tendons and tissue have been damaged and need time to recover. I asked about clicking in the knee and that is perfectly normal as the tendons/ muscles are trying to get back in place. My latest knee is just starting ‘to stop’ clicking.
  • charlane19436
    charlane19436 robin15577

    Posted

    O yes restless leg syndrome definitely goes with this surgery. The doctor prescribed requip for that and I can  finally rest.. don’t let that stop your rest there is help. If you are walking that much you are well on your way , but yes you will have pain . It’s a waiting game I’m 4 months out with my left knee and 10 weeks out with my right... just keep doing pt and have hope .. it just takes time. Praying we all get to where we don’t even notice our knees!!!
  • Guest
    Guest robin15577

    Posted

    Hi I’m 8 months in from 2nd knee replacement, the first 6 months previous, what a journey, painful, depressing and worrying. Yes knee replacements are different for every individual. My first was in retrospect was pretty straight forward, bend and straightninng pretty text book.The second my worst knee😩😩was incredibly slow, very painful I freaked out on this site several times (thank u Chico’s) My bend hasn’t caught up with the first yet, I stick to being active, walking and up the stairs 12 times a day and just every day living, slowly but surely things are progressing, time element I think. So thankful I haven’t got three knees !,but a positive conclusion for the future😀😀

    • robin15577
      robin15577 Guest

      Posted

      Thanks Jackie! I am glad you are progressing. It's interesting that each knee is different. I have had only one knee done hoping to escape other knee. I must say though I think this knee is stubborn and recovery bend is still a bit difficult but improving. But the knee was bad for years beforehand  so I am taking that into account as well. Appreciate so much everyone's journey as it helps me along the path to have fewer freak-outs lol we all shall keep on trekking 😘

  • MiXCSkier
    MiXCSkier robin15577

    Posted

    I so appreciate everyone posting their stories - helps to know both that I am not alone in what I'm going through, what I might expect later on (I'm at 6 weeks now) despite my current condition, and that it does get better.

     

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