Total Knee Replacement 8 weeks Post Op
Posted , 148 users are following.
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
billy777 pegs_girl
Posted
My surgery is now 7 weeks out and I still have some swelling and a sharp pain that comes and goes behind the knee and at the bottom of the knee cap. This is my second knee to have surgery on in less tha 9 months, my right knee is doing well so far. But it gets stiff if I don't keep moving. I am 75 and I don't get around as much as i used to. My knee has a odd shape also but so does the other one? Hope you start getting some sleep as I to have more pain at night than during the day and sleepp has gone bye bye. God Bless. BC
clive45466 billy777
Posted
I am 3 weeks after full knee replacement, I am 61, I was walking without sticks yesterday so today very stiff and difficult to walk. Nights are difficult as after operation I need to pee a lot more , so between keeping my knee cold and peeing can only sleep in short spells. When I never used to wake up. I have suffered with pain from my knee to my hip, which pain killers do not seem to touch.I am making progress but knee bend after 90 is very painful and as I damaged my knee when I was 18 locking my leg straight is also not possible yet, but it has not been possible to do this for 20 years or more.. I am back to 1/2 knee difference between my legs
keisha79450 pegs_girl
Posted
merryman57 pegs_girl
Posted
Hi, I need a knee repalcement and I'm doing some research into types of replacements or implants. 140 sounds amazing from what I've read. I've been told to expect 115. To what do you attribute getting to 140? Do you think it had anything to do with the type of implant? And do you know what type of implant was used?
gtm1954 merryman57
Posted
Hi I'm 62 and just went through my second tkr one year apart. I'm 9 weeks out on the second one and I have 130,they put a Stryker in both of mine. I ride a bicycle a lot and I think and the doctors agree it helped with what I came out with. The PT asked me last year what my goal was and I said that I wanted to do a organized ride 6 months after my first one and they thought I was crazy but I did it a 68 mile ride in 90 degree heat and the last half was into a 20 mile an hour head wind. I about died from the heat but I made it, and my knee felt great. This last one is giving me trouble with pain and swelling and about five weeks into it I rolled over in bed and felt a pop and got a real sharp pain in the lower outside below the knee. They did X-rays and said everything looks normal but it still gets sore and painful when I move it certain directions. So remember what you go in with has a lot to do with what you come out with, so if you can start exercising your leg your going to have done to get yourself ready it will help.
kathryn_09293 pegs_girl
Posted
This has helped me I am 5 weeks post op and thought I was going mad but read your post and I know I am not lol I have got quite a lot of swelling still I have just started using cross trainer and have just ordered a small bike exercuser only thing I can't really do is walk upstairs like normal
mORAIRA kathryn_09293
Posted
kathryn_09293 mORAIRA
Posted
Hi I can bend my knee but it hurts still I have trouble sleeping get restless leg syndrome a hot bath works a little . I can't get up the stairs as I would normally but was told it will take time some days I wish I never had the op but know it is best for me just hope I never have to have another 1. Hope your recovery gets better and you are back to normal soon
mORAIRA kathryn_09293
Posted
prowsey63 pegs_girl
Posted
Hi all,
I'm now 2 weeks post op, from a bi-lateral tkr. I'm 53 yrs old.
Things are going reasonably well, I'm walking every day and seem to have reasonable strength/stability in both knees. My range of motion is a bit of a concern, but I'm doing physio and hydro therapy at least 3 times a week, so that is going to help I'm sure (love hydro-therapy btw, the sensation of "lightness" is great).
Apart from the sleepless nights, which I've read is a common occurrence, I am "suffering" from hot knees - and I mean hot (not good looking hot btw, but could heat a small room hot).
has anyone else experienced this? Today has been particularly bad.
I'm still on quite pain=killers, which I'm slowly reducing.
Any comments / feedback would be much appreciated.
gwen1024 pegs_girl
Posted
I am pretty much exactly where you are. I don't have a bursa but I still have pain when stretching in the back of my knee. I can only walk about 1/2 a mile. Still doing pt twice a week but he says I'm doing awesome. I too still have a little trouble sleeping. I have to get up and take a pain pill sometimes. When I walk i purposely tell myself to walk normal otherwise your knee wants you to limp. Good luck with everything Peg I still have to do the other knee in a year not looking forward to that.
Haggis49 pegs_girl
Posted
Hi, hope everyone is OK and doing well, I am 8 days post op and I have to say that it has been a positive experience do far. I have had very little pain since day 4 although leg is quite swollen and my foot more so. I take paracetomol and liquid codene as needed and I have some tramadol which so far I haven't needed. The swelling makes some of the exercises difficult and when my body says stop, then I do. Physiotherapist says to push it but after reading these posts I think I am better doing it my way. I have been home 3 days and although I live alone I am finding that I can manage OK. I am using one stick and can walk quite well, I think I would be OK without the stick as I don't put any weight on it, but it's a little confidence booster. I have noticed that the knee seems to give slightly and clicks when I walk. Has anyone else had this? I went in for a double replacement but the surgeon decided at the last minute to only replace one.
This is a great site and I'm so glad I found it, all the articles that I read are worth nothing compared to the experiences shared by people who have been there.
lors23 pegs_girl
Posted
I am 6 weeks post op and was at physio 2 weeks ago and was at 90 bend she seemed very happy with my movement. I still have a lot of pain but am still reliant on painkillers l go back to work in 2 weeks as a phased return. I have had both hips replaced and 1 knee in 8 months. Been off work for about a year. I have to get my other knee replaced but decided to have a break in surgery for a year as my other knee is ok just now. I like you took 4 weeks until l noticed everything getting better. I seem to be very tired with this op and need a lot of sleep but my problem is my sleeping in my bed l can only last 4 to 5 hrs at most then l am in pain and have to move to the couch but l have been the same since my 1st hip replacement. I found the knee replacement much harder than the hips and my scar sounds just like yours. I get the pain now and then from hips and knee but think its just healing pains.
My knee does swell now and then but l have used ice since my op and it helped. I have had quite a year with 3 joint replacements my mum is now in hospital getting treated for cancer and my husband fell ill just before my knee replacement which turned out to be a brain virus this was a very scary few weeks for me.
I know work is coming up and l am starting to get a pit nervous about going back because l have been off for so long. I am scared l dont cope with work because of my sleeping pattern and think l might be going back quicker than l should but l am maybe just talking myself out off going back but l have to as l need my wage. I started driving about 4 weeks but it was really hard at first its getting easier now but depends how long l am driving. When you say tou are at 140 bend how much more have l got to go before l reach this how can l tell. I have physio next week so l will find out what l am now. I still walk with a limp depending on how far l have walked or driven my car. I feel my moods not great but thats because of whats happening in my life.
But like you l would say be patient as it does het better through time. But l could not cope with another replacement at this time as l found it quite hard going. 43 and l feel like l am 63 with all these replacements lol
kerrie_30523 pegs_girl
Posted
Hi I am 4 weeks post op and still in a lot of pain. SO reading your post gave me hope. as up until now I've been thinking I'd made a mistake in having the surgery. THe worst is sciatica on the side I had the TKR. This and the constant throbbing in my new knee has been driving me mad since I came out of hospital. I had to stay in hospital for ten days post op as I had complications. my whole leg was swollen from groin to toe for the first two weeks and is going down slowly. My GP has given me Oramorph today so I can try and get on top of the pain to try get some sleep. I've only been averaging 1-2 hours a night. So fingers crossed as I'm exhausted. SO thank you for your post. It really has given me hope. Xx
Laker kerrie_30523
Posted
Kerrie, I'm 5 weeks post op and I still take pain meds and will probably continue for a couple more weeks. So don't worry about still taking meds. I take oxycodone and it's worked great. I get about 7-9 hours of sleep but I do wake up and have to change positions a few times. I also take lunesta for sleep.