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Total knee replacement 5 weeks

Posted , 12 users are following.

susane91705
susane91705

I am now 5 weeks in tkr and still feel unsure what I should be doing. I also feel tired, not sleeping, irritable. Knee, hip and lower back pain, still taking coidene phosphate, should I still be taking them. Finding it too painful to get my knee to 95 degrees. My husband is saying be brighter tomorrow and get going more. I am doing my exercise but in pain with them so fear doing them. Have pulled a muscle on my operated knee, very painfel, should I keep excercising. I am still sleeping on my back, very uncomfortable. Can I sleep in another position. Just weeping most of the time, try to be happy, put on an act when friends come to see me.

1 like, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • susane91705
    susane91705

    Posted

    Thankyou for your reply it has been a great help to me Susane

  • mary81398
    mary81398 susane91705

    Posted

    Hi Susane, i'm just 7 weeks LTKR and have found i HAD to take the pain relief to do the exercises. Sleeping is terrible without pain meds. I had mine ready beside the bed so i could take it easily. some days seem way too long, but at7 weeks it's easier than 5!

    We'll have to stick to everyone's advice.

    pain meds, exercise rest ice elevate repeat. I'm still struggling with night shin pain but trusting the advice to slow down and be more patient. It's early days.

  • mary81398
    mary81398 susane91705

    Posted

    Hi Susane, i'm just 7 weeks LTKR and have found i HAD to take the pain relief to do the exercises. Sleeping is terrible without pain meds. I had mine ready beside the bed so i could take it easily. some days seem way too long, but at7 weeks it's easier than 5!

    We'll have to stick to everyone's advice.

    pain meds, exercise rest ice elevate repeat. I'm still struggling with night shin pain but trusting the advice to slow down and be more patient. It's early days.

  • susane91705
    susane91705

    Posted

    thankyou Mary, I have felt so out of things over the last few days. The top side of my leg has been painful and I have just felt dreadful, but finding it difficult to explain this to my husband. He just says ' whats a matter with you', and I blow and say things I dont mean, so hasnt been a very nice christmas. I'm not sleeping, just cant get in a comfortable position. Plus I have spinal stenosis, which doesnt help. Thanks for letting me chat to you, hope all goes well with you. Could I just ask, how much excercise do you do. I dont feel my knee is at 95 yet, its feels too painfull, Susane

    • mary81398
      mary81398 susane91705

      Posted

      hi Susane, i did type a long reply but it didn't load?

      I've been using a pilates reformer bed to do all my leg work with two red springs. I also hold onto the kitchen sink and do SLOW squats and hold 5 seconds. repeat only as often as you can! Stretch slowly afterwood by holding on to the sink and stretching each leg behind you. ICE and ELEVATE.

      If you lie on the bed face down knees on the edge and let gravity straighten your leg as soon as you get up in the morning(less swelling hopefully) it's great at straightening the leg. I'm having good and bad days. Today as i'd done more, i ached ALL over. hips, legs, shoulders..i was so miserable i went to bed then had some pain killers... wow it's a rollercoaster! good luck with everything, but say it how it is if you're miserable! xx

  • sue180461
    sue180461 susane91705

    Posted

    Hi Susane im 4 week post OP its the worse part sleeping id say..

    ive started putting a pillow between my legs and rolling onto side , just gives some relief from laying on your back..only problem im having with doing that is straightening my leg flat. its so painful ..ok with bending , just give it a go see if gives you any relief , so glad i found this forum i thought i was heading backwards with my recovery..good luck .

  • JRS11
    JRS11 susane91705

    Posted

    I had mine done 9/14. I still have stiffness, once in awhile it is quite a bit less but that seems like a tease i have been very good with my exercises. my ROM is good as is my straightening but my pain persists i am weaning off of meds, 1/2 dilaudid twice a day it does nothing for the pain, I am simply weaning my dependency. i will cut to 1/4 twice a day soon and then I should be done keep doing your exercises, but don't force. I have pushed through pain, not sure that is the best, moving your knee is important discuss your difficulty with your physical therapist and doc. I was reading and posting on bonesmart for a bit, they are a forum out of the UK. They advise very light phy. therapy and no strengthening for quite sometime I have decided to continue my exercises as I believe my knee feels better when I do .

    5 weeks is still very early, I was in severe pain and could barely walk at that point. Docs do not really prepare us for the aftermath of surgery and recovery

    Good luck.

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