Tkr

louise, ice and elevation are still the go to  for pain and swelling. that said once my incision was healed  my PT encouraged my to massage for 5 minutes 3x a day. I used lotion and/or  vitamin e oil whichever has handier. I still do at 5 months and 2 months.  

Hi Louise. Once my incision was healed- about 2 weeks as I had no clips of stitches to be removed- I started gently massaging my knee. Used Bio-oil or some bland body moisturizing cream and when I started physio at 3 weeks the guy used E45 cream to work on soft tissues around the joint. Really helpful in improving range of movement and also wound scar. I only massaged night and morning and was careful over actual wound. Felt a bit strange as had ,and still have, a numb area at one side of knee but expected this. I'm now 4 + 1/2months post op,no swelling but still some pain especially if I do too much during the day eg the ironing. Have now accepted that other knee needs operated on too and may have to do it all again in the new year- don't know if it will be easier knowing what's ahead this time or if I know all the tricks now! This forum saved my sanity when I discovered it 3 weeks after my op!

Hi Louise 

I’m 10 days post op and I feel that by massaging the thigh muscle especially during exercise is very helpful and using baby lotion would be as good a lubricant as any.

My advise is to really massage the muscle to get maximum strength 

Hope you find this if sone help 

That type oil is a waste of time and money. I've always used pure Vitamin E oil massaged in twice a day. Others use Bio oil but it takes a product that penetrates and heals. Vit E heals all the way to the bone because it penetrates rapidly. Keep in mind, this isn't an overnight remedy. It takes time and continuity.

I used magnesium lotion to aid muscle relaxation and healing; once the incision was healed,  I used organic castor oil. Now 6 months post TKR the scar is well healed and almost invisible in most places. 

My pain and swelling is bottom right of my knee so I just rub voltarol gel in that area. I still massage bio oil around the scar and on it and it's disappearing in places. Rest of the time ice and elevation X 

I used and still use Shea butter and coconut oil or cocoa butter. 

Elavation and ice pack help with pain swelling. 

Around two weeks post op I massaged olive oil with frankincense which I was doing pre op. Pulled hands upwards towards heart while elevating. Whole leg, avoiding incision of course. I found the smell of essential oil totally relaxing, and relaxing after a TKR is very good for the whole body!