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Gillian1954
Gillian1954

Am 3and a half moths post op and wake up in the morning not being to move the knee it seems to be very stiff. Still not back at work but having lots of physio . Things seem slow to improve thinking is this as good as it is going to get.have one good day then two bad . Still taking strong pain killers . My knee bend is at about 88 bend . I all so have a lot of pain at the bak of the knee this seem to have just started . Is this normal ? Have found out that when they tell you that you will have a nice new knee no one seems to tell you about the pain afterwards it is seems to me that I have along way to go and I am a bit fed up think will it ever be better.

 

3 likes, 120 replies

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  • peter73207
    peter73207 Gillian1954

    Posted

    Hang in there Archie, it takes time. There are many ups and downs with this op but things do improve. Bad attitudes here are extremely rare, don't be put off when encountering one. Folks here are really very helpful. Tons of experience here at every different level with some very helpful advice. 
  • joanne20295
    joanne20295 Gillian1954

    Posted

    Archie, I am also 31/2 months from my second tkr, I still have swelling and a bend of

    95, I don't have any pain, but can have stiffness. I also get pain in the back of my right knee which I had a tkr 5 months ago, it does go away when I rest it. I know it will get better, because I have faith and I know yours will to don't give up, keep doing your exercises.

  • joy24273
    joy24273 Gillian1954

    Posted

    I am reading all these remarks  at 4.20 because I woke up with a really stiff knee. I am five weeks post op and before my op kept fit walking the dog and going on walking holidays. I am also a hurrier! I do everything at speed, not now!! Thank goodness I had this op after I retired because I am learning to slow down a bit. I took up learning a language to have something to do while sitting down! If I had still been at work I would have pushed it physically and maybe too hard. I saw the physio yesterday who is pleased with my progress, not as good as I thought it would be a few weeks ago, 95% bend but very luckily not a lot of pain, just stiffness and heaviness. She also told me to walk slower and get the correct walking gait, I was trying to hurry a bit! Hoping as soon as the weather is better I can extend the lengths of the morning walks, my dog is learning to slow down a bit too!  I have learnt a lot from this forum and the most important bit is that we are all very different and I am not going to push myself to attain the fantastic results that some people are apparently achieving! Everything in its own time, as long as you are doing what the Drs and physios tell you. Now to have another couple of hours sleep if I can if not get up have a drink and a nap later on. 
    • gillme1955_UK
      gillme1955_UK joy24273

      Posted

      Hi Joy. Your progress sounds good to me - well done. Could I ask how much walking you were able to do before the operation as I know you mentioned walking the dog? I need new knees but my Surgeon recommends leaving it for now as I'm only 59 and it's mostly my knee caps although the rest of the knees are affected which they saw in an arthroscopy a few years ago. Last time I saw him he said people he gave new knees typically couldn't walk 20 yards. This shocked me as I can walk quite well on the flat - not do good with slopes. I am seeing him again    in just over a week so would be interested in your experience. And anyone else who can help please!!

      Kind regards and best wishes for your continued recovery.

      Gill 

       

    • joy24273
      joy24273 gillme1955_UK

      Posted

      Hi I was walking about three miles a day in the winter and five in the good weather. I have had trouble with my knees for about 12 years and had an arthroscopy ten years ago on my left knee, they removed a torn cartilage and the cleaned it OU a couple of years later. I tore the cartilage in my right knee I think on a walking holiday in Spain in October 2013 but it did not get diagnosed for a year. My doctor said it could not be torn because I was not in real pain. However I have  taken Glucosamine,Chondroitin and MSM for 12 years and also been on a meat free,dairy free diet for just over a year.  Anyway I insisted and I had an MRI, the consultant I was referred to said he could just do another cartilage removal but in his opinion the bones were touching and I would be better off having a knee replacement and because my muscles were strong  and I am fit and healthy I would recover well and get back to walking well. I am 65 and worked full time up until July 2014. I am not sure about the remark about 20 yards! Seems a bit negative? I was very lucky though, I had my arthroscopy covered by Private Medicine through work  and although I am now NHS I chose the private hospital on Choose and Book because they do NHS operations as well now and I had an outstanding orthopaedic surgeon. Good luck! 
    • gillme1955_UK
      gillme1955_UK joy24273

      Posted

      Thanks for getting back to me Joy. You were walking further than I am! Presently about one or two miles a day. He did extensive X-rays last year which showed my knee caps are bone on bone but there is still a gap in the main part. He said I may be disappointed with the outcome at this stage and in view of my age I would probably need them doing again.

      My main problems are getting up from low seats, stairs and slopes.  Like you I used Choose and Book for a very good private hospital and the Surgeon is a very eminent Professor who also practices at a local NHS orthopaedic hospital.  He thinks I should carry on with steroid injections which I have every three months. I too take Glucosomine Chondroitin MSM daily.

      i think this time he will suggest discharging me from his patients. I wonder if it's worth asking for an MRI?

      I don't particularly look forward to the operations (!!!!) but know both knees need doing and think maybe it's better to do them when I'm young enough and fit enough (at the moment) and also get the benefit of them!

      I'll have to see what Prof Raut says!

    • joy24273
      joy24273 gillme1955_UK

      Posted

      Hi 

      The MRI for me was to ensure that the cartilage was actually torn as my GP sent me for an ultrasound which does not always show a tear but I had some symptoms exactly the same as my other knee I.e my leg collapsing under me and falling down. It was the consultant who then said he wanted an xRay as well and showed me the bones. I think it is better to have a new knee while you are still able to walk a fair way and keep fit. If you wait until you are in real pain and can't walk I think it would be worse. My consultant agreed with me there! Hopefully a walking holiday at the end of the year, easy grade , in the warm Spanish sun! 

    • gillme1955_UK
      gillme1955_UK joy24273

      Posted

      Thanks Joy! I agree with your thinking and will see what the Prof says! 

      I'm sure you'll have a wonderful holiday.

      Kind regards,

      Gill

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 gillme1955_UK

      Posted

      I can't figure out for the life of me what he was referring to. Albeit, with the use of a walker they had me going a greater distance than that on day 2/post op. I found the leg would carry you as far a your general body strength would. By that, I mean surgery takes a toll on the entire system and you have rebuild Cardio as well a muscle tone. With the excercise program it all ces back together. You are considerably younger than I was so it will bounce back faster

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo gillme1955_UK

      Posted

      I don't know what your surgeon was talking about with the twenty yards comment!  On the first week after the op, OK. . twenty yards feels like a marathon . .but I'm at seven weeks, and I've been walking two kilometres a day now for the last three weeks . . So he's talking nonsense I'm afraid, or he is not a very good knee surgeon!  If his patients can't walk 20 yards, he should probably take a long hard look at how he is doing this operation!  Gopod luck what ever you decide to do . . .
  • Butthillrob
    Butthillrob Gillian1954

    Posted

    Hi Archie, firstly I have to say that I am saddened to read what I consider to be a totally inappropriate response from a respondent. That person needs to take a long look at herself and ask her self a few questions. A course in psychology I would suggest is needed. Take heart from everyone else's replies. They will help you as they have helped me.. I can't really add anything further as it's been said. If still having problems, go back to your doctor and see what is said. Hsng on in and best regards and I wish you better.

    Robert

  • susan20089
    susan20089 Gillian1954

    Posted

    Hi Archie I have just woken and seen these absolutely appalling and insensitive remarks from this person on the forum. I am so glad that all the others with more common sense and at different levels of healing have responded.   I can only  reiterate that this is one of the worst surgeries you can have and recovery is usually long and arduous.   We will all get there in the end at different speeds.  Take heart from all the others here snd listen to them, not someone who to me just wants to stir everyone up.  Good luck.  
  • john_1964
    john_1964 Gillian1954

    Posted

    Stick with it Archie 

    im only 18 days post op and I think I'm struggling .... It's a different process for everyone such as Age.size and level of treatment etc etc 

    The most complicated thing known to Man is the human body and theres no two the same !!!!!! 

    Stay positive ........

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