Total flexibility, but have tightness in muscles causing pain.

Posted , 10 users are following.

Had right TKR August 10, 2016. All went well, on course recovery, 128 degree bend, some stiffness bending going down stairs by 6 week post op checkup. Physical therapy 3x a week. Had left TKR November 30, 2016, seemed easier, less swelling with use of GameReady, continued PT 3x for both knees. Six week post op checkup great, 135 degree bend. Well... now both my knees are very stiff and I am experiencing pain from stiffness. Getting up from sitting, I have to wait and straighten up. Going up and down stairs hurts and I have to hang on to rail, most times I am back to one step at a time.

With my great flex in both knees, why the tightness and stiffness??? I am getting so down in dumps with this, seems like I am digressing. 8-(

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    Still pretty recent. I find that until I've done my yoga routine in the morning and walked on the treadmill and been in the hot tub I'm stiff and sore. After my morning routine I'm good to go, I wish I could get to a pool on a regular basis. That would be a big help. Hang in there and keep moving! Best of luck!

  • Posted

    Hello, it is part of the recovery process. It takes up to a year to recover. You are still not very far in the healing process. Be patient and keep doing your exercises and stretches. It will get better. Hang in there. It will all work out.
  • Posted

    Hi. I had my tkr 8/8/2016. I'm still off work I fired my surgeon and my family doctor sent me to the university of Michigan to see a knee specialist. They removed fluid from my knee and sent it to the lab. I'm waiting for the results. I'm still using a cane still can't climb stairs the right way. Went back to PT.today.I still have stiffness hard to bend knee to walk. I hope to see something good happen I'm so down. I'm trying to ride my horse after 5 months. I hope you start to feel better. I still ice my knee 2 to 4 times a day. I'm tired ofsitting on my butt feeling sorry for mysrlf

    • Posted

      Wow hope you are on the road to recovery soon! Try chair exercises and upper body exercises, can even be done sitting in bed. When I have a bad day, I yell, cry and am generally in a nasty mood. I acknowledge these feelings, say it's okay to feel like this, then move on. I know it could be sooooo much worse.

      Good luck, hang in there.

  • Posted

    My doc told me that the stiffness could last 12-18 months.  Meanwhile, try some Voltaren Gel (RX in the US); second best topical anti-inflammatory on the planet.
  • Posted

    Had ny left knee done in 1998 and right in 2000 , I was told after the first that physio was very important , I excercised several times a day and got very good bend 130 degrees and the leg wes straight . Returned to work after 6 morths , had no problems . Did same with second knee and got similar results , again back to work after 6 months . Its over 19 years since my first op and I have had no problems at all . About a month ago I stepped off a 3 foot high wall in the dark thinking I was going down 4 steps . I landed on a hard cement floor , fortunately I was lucky and did not damage my knees , so I guess they are tougher than I thought . I think your tightness and stiffness will improve with time and exercise . Good luck , and keep up the physio .
  • Posted

    Hi there!

    You will find that the amount of stiffness varies from day to day. I am about a year and a half post TKR with my first knee and about three and a half months less than that with #2 knee.

    Here are some things that help me:

    1) Keep moving and stretching

    2) A warm polar fleece does wonders on chilly days/ nights if you are sitting watching TV

    3) Ibuprofen helps eliminate swelling and stiff feelings

    4) Before you EVER get up from sitting at a restaurant, in a chair on the porch, in the car etc. STRETCH! Really helps!

    5) Be patient. Recovery is an ongoing process!

  • Posted

    Thanks everyone for the great information I know it's not wrote for me directly but it was for me. I'm having revision surgery next week and the posts are so helpful what I can expect

  • Posted

    Just needs more time , ice, ice baby.

    It was between 10 and 12 weeks for me before at times I did not think about my knee when going from sitting to standing.

    I am now nearly 8 months my bend it's around 120 still working on this but forcing the bend I get sone discomfort for a few days.

    Chin up it will be fine, but for the majority takes time.

    Good healing

  • Posted

    I had right TKR  in 2014 no problem quick and great recovery. I had left TKR in November 2016 great recovery, flexibility, I was doing very well now stiffness in left knee, riding stationary bike gives relief but stiffness, tightness come back within 30 mn ...I m experiencing the same problems that you mention ....I m getting so down too ... if you find help please share .... I was thinking about therapeutic massage maybe ..?
    • Posted

      Yes, was thinking the same. I use heating pads and tens unit which really help. Keep in touch!

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