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Total Knee Replacement 8 weeks Post Op

Posted , 148 users are following.

pegs_girl
pegs_girl

Hi 

I am 8 weeks Post Op and wondered how you were all getting on!!

I am pleased wit my progress other than having what is commonly know as a Bursea behind my Knee, this is causing me pain on bending but mainly through the night.

I am achieving a 140 bend, can walk properly up a full set of stairs going up, but still coming down with both feet on 1 step and need to work on this.

Physio have now reduced my visits to monthly and the consultant is really happy with the 'end' result, albeit i do have to go back in 6 weeks to check the Bursea. i have been told this may be drained or surgically removed if it doesnt go down on its own accord!! 

The on going issues i have is through the night i do have pain that keeps me awake and i rarely get a full nights sleep.

For all of you out there who have either just had the Operation or are due too i can only advise to be patient, the pain and disability gets better in my opinion after about 4 weeks, each day after this i found so much improvement, i am back driving, dont use any sticks at all now, and can walk quite a distance, i still have a slight limp when walking and am working hard on 'marching' when i walk advised by physio, apparently if i concentrate on swinging my arms when walking it makes me walk straight without a limp. I am still off work and dont imagine going back for a further 6 weeks. I use an static bike twice daily and try and beat my time each day, this is helping with my muscle wastage.

I could never imagine i would feel this way 4 weeks ago but now i am doing so well i know its been worth it. My scar looks good and is just a thin line although its a bit purple looking, i still have swelling on the knee but not much, and my Knee does look a funny shape!!

I hope you are all doing good and that my experiance helps you with your recovery.

Good luck and stay positive...

20 likes, 341 replies

341 Replies

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  • david45684
    david45684 pegs_girl

    Posted

    Has anyone had problems with the non surgery leg hamstring?  I am 7 + weeks out.  I still have considerable pain also.
  • kirk47842
    kirk47842 pegs_girl

    Posted

    I had my knee replaced 10weeks ago it has not been going well I only have 75 to 85 degrees I do physical therapy and work on my knee everyday Iam so depressed now
  • sueoz
    sueoz pegs_girl

    Posted

    Hi pegs girl, I feel for you but encourage you to keep smiling.  I have had two knees done in the last four months. Both doing very well I'm told, but I still get periods of depression.  Everyone is different but I am sure you will get there in the end.  It's a rollacoaster ride and from what I am told, it's 12 months for a full recovery so just try and look at the end result which I am sure will be great.  Good luck.  
    • kirk47842
      kirk47842 sueoz

      Posted

      Thanks today it's the depression that's getting to me I've never felt like this I think I need to see a doc about this
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo kirk47842

      Posted

      A good idea to see the doc.  I think a lot of post TKR patients suffer with some form of depression. i believe it's the lack of sleep, pain, worry about whether we are going to ever get a good working knee again, and the fact that suddenly we are no longer able to do everything for ourselves.  it's a sudden change of roles in many cases from carer to cared for. . . and it's not easy!  if your doc can help you give it a try!

       

  • darla61966
    darla61966 pegs_girl

    Posted

    I had TKR done about 8/12weeks ago. I did great after the surgery, went home after 2 days, did well with the home health put. When I graduated to regular therapy, I was very traumatized. The first day the therapist practically played on my leg to make it straight. The second visit, she put me on my stomach with her arm at the bend of my knee then bent my leg all the way back. She told me they had to break through scar tissue. I just wonder if everybody is experiencing the same thing. I'm nurse in a very busy clinic. I'mback at work but still have lots of swelling in my knee which limits my range of motion. I'm ready tube normal again!!!
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo darla61966

      Posted

      Sound like you have a sadist for phsyio there . .Mine tried to do the same to me but I opted out.  I'm not saying it may not be a quicker way to get an adequate bend, but I've got there anyway without actual agony, just a lot of bearable pain.  My surgeon says some physios actually do more damage than good . . I'm now at 125 and happy with that at my age and phsyical ability . . . maybe I could have got more if I had been prepared from screaming agony, but I wasn't . . The swelling does take a long time to go, and you'll notice an improved bend when it does . . . 
    • lou1982
      lou1982 martinarvelo

      Posted

      My physio is totally the opposite,he does not like forcing anything so that it  is causing great pain,as he says it may take a little longer but i will get the same results in the end,..
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo lou1982

      Posted

      there's a man after my own heart!  there is too much unnecessary pain in the health system.  We are not cars to be tinkered with regardless of pain and suffering. . . 
    • darla61966
      darla61966 martinarvelo

      Posted

      It was actually very scatey since all I heard before that was how careful I needed to be. Needless to say i no longer go to therapy, I graduated to the gym!! I plan to ask the surgeon if he is aware how they do their put though
  • AngieJC
    AngieJC pegs_girl

    Posted

    Hi! Girl I maybe having surgery both knees soon how was the pain after you the anesthesia wore off. And the therapy is a little more intense right then hip replacement surgery which I had also and still could walk. I will keep you posted have to see the surgeon next Friday 10/09. Getting stressed out 
    • andrea30334
      andrea30334 AngieJC

      Posted

      I will tell you the truth angie. The pain is horrific so you must take pain killers as often as you can . Keep icing ur knee and drink LOADS of water. I swear it was the worse thing ive experienc and here in West Yorkshire we dont get physio??? BUT8 months down the line im so GLAD I did it. I can walk miles free of pain I work full time and look after my grandchildren I do have some sleepless nights due to stiffness and I have pain in my foot??? But it was and is worth it. Good luck with yours x
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo AngieJC

      Posted

      Most people on this forum do find it painful after the operation, but you do have to remember that perhaps afairly large percentage of people on the forum do have more problems than some other TKR patients. I do find website which refer to 'some discomfort' after the op as being rather silly, as I think nobody in their right mind would expect such a major intrusion into the body to be succeeded by 'some discomfort.  however, it's worth it in the end so if you need it, go for it!
    • AngieJC
      AngieJC andrea30334

      Posted

      Whoa thank you for telling me I go see the surgeon fri. 10/09 I will know then  I worried about my husband how he's going to handle it. I'll get threw this.thank  your Andrea
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo AngieJC

      Posted

      Yes, it does throw quite a lot of responsibility on your partner if you are lucky enough to have one! i really feel for those going through with this with noone to help them and I honestly wonder how they can possibly cope in the early days.  If you are going ahead with the TKR make sure you have everything in place before the op.   I didn't. . big mistake.  An over the toilet seat is a godsend. .makes it so much easier to get up.  A large loose cross body bag is useful for transporting small things around, glasses, book, etc. as with two crutches it's difficult otherwise!  Best to remove loose mats which you could trip on (OUCH) and if your bath is not a walk in type, they do sell some sort of board which helps with getting in and out. Also a leg lifter is very highly spoken of (didn't have one, and for the first ten days or so getting out of and in to bed is a bit hair raising) and most of all, make sure they give you some 'strong' painkillers, not just paracetamol or tylenol or whatever it is called where you live. . .If you are having an intradrual or epidural anaesthetic, also ask whether they will be sedating you as well (depending on your preference. i didn't realise I would be totally awake throughout it, and did find the noise a bit off putting at times, and the cold really got to me.  . .. and don't let the forum scare you too much.  After all, most of us are on here because we've had a fairly rough ride.  MANY people come through this with much less pain and hassle.  Noboody will tell you it is a walk in the park, but please don't be scared by horror stories.  I'm 9 months post op, still have some nerve problems, but the knee is fine. . . . definitely worth it. 
    • lesa70198
      lesa70198 martinarvelo

      Posted

      OMG!!!! I cannot imagine having been awake during TKR!!! I had a spinal but was also "out". I woke very quickly , however, and was very alert, so it must have been a light sleep. All your suggestions were very good. I also cannot imagine having had no help in the early days. It is "no walk in the park" this surgery but you'll get through it. Taking the precautions prior to the surgery is very important.

       

    • alan45396
      alan45396 lesa70198

      Posted

      yes my husband had spinal numbed for his tkr and though you are awake they give you something to relax prob makes you talk a bit of rubbish ,but no bad after anaesthetic feeling , he said he would recommend have it done without anaesthesia , however next day when surgeon said he blunted his saw and had to get a replacement as my husbands bones were strong did make my stomach go over just a bit
    • alan45396
      alan45396 andrea30334

      Posted

      yes here in Essex no physio so pay ourselves from twice a week now once a week as costly but worth it
    • alan45396
      alan45396 AngieJC

      Posted

      My husband was originally going yo have double tkr at same time but his pt suggested just one because  you will still have a good leg to stand on, and though his other one will need replacing he's glad he just did one as its bad enough not sleeping with 1 painful leg but 2 can't imagine .. One thing though he now knows how bad pain can be so not looking forward to next op 
    • moandrieu
      moandrieu alan45396

      Posted

      True, it was pretty insane at the time. I was living in India and didn't want to be out of commission two different times. I went in hoping they would and the doctor never batted and eye. I was amazed at the number of people that were doing both at the same time. Looking back (it was October 2014), it was so much harder than I'd imagined it would be. But I was glad to not have to repeat it.
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