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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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  • gtm1954
    gtm1954 pegs_girl

    Posted

    I'm 8 weeks out on tkr on my left knee, i have 130 and 0 and only went to 1 out patient pt. They told me i was farther along than most people were after finishing 4 to 6 weeks of pt. So they told me that they weren't going to be able to do anything for me that I could rehab myself. I had my right one replaced last year and found this one much easier. I'm 62 and try to keep myself in shape with a lot of bicycle riding. I walk a lot and do 30 minutes on my trainer everyday, plus all the exercises they want me to do. I still get sore and sometimes have to cut back, but the key is to push through the pain at first and it will get so much better. Just do what they say to do and don't over do it because I over did it on my first one last year and had a set back, instead of 1 set of exercises daily I did 3 and 4 and gave myself tendinitis.

  • Twnurse
    Twnurse pegs_girl

    Posted

    Yes, that does help. I am 3 weeks post-op and to me the worst is all the aching through the leg when I try to sleep at night.
  • heather67106
    heather67106 pegs_girl

    Posted

    I'm 6weeks post tkr my knee  has healed well only trouble I'm having is pain on the top of the knee when I push on my legs  getting up from the sitting position  I does anyone have the same trouble?

  • Pat1965
    Pat1965 pegs_girl

    Posted

    Thank you for this! I had a replacement 6 weeks ago (wed) I have been having terrible pain behind the knee the past few days, It does feel better when I stand or exersize! I was released at 5 weeks and used no aided devices upon walking. I agree the first couple of weeks I wondered why I did this! but now I am glad its done. The few aches and pains I have are no comparison to what it was like before. I find when I have pain I get on my stationary bike and peddle. helps a lot. Good luck with your revoery!!
  • kmnau66
    kmnau66 pegs_girl

    Posted

    Hey there... Tomorrow I am 3 weeks post op.  My range of motion at 2 1/2 weeks was 2 and 100.  Pretty good I think.  Been using a cane since one week.  Back to work in my 3rd week. Too much sitting.  I am finding as I come to the end of my 3rd week my quad muscle is extremely tight as is my calf.    Is this normal?  I massage and ice and elevate throughout the day,  bike up to 20 minutes when I go to the gym, and 10 when at physical therapy.  My concerning is just how tight the quad muscle is just above the top of the scar.  Thoughts or suggestions?

    Thanks

    • gtm1954
      gtm1954 kmnau66

      Posted

      Sounds like your doing real good, I think most the tightness is just caused from the surgery and the way we tend to walk on the leg post surgery. I had tightness on both of my calves and soreness in my quad and especially just above the scar. You might tell your PT about it, they probably will a solution or cause for it. Good Luck
  • Eizie
    Eizie pegs_girl

    Posted

    Just a question...is icing still advisable 6 weeks post bilateral TKR?
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Eizie

      Posted

      I would imagine that if it is still swollen and painful, then yes. . . 

       

    • clive45466
      clive45466 Eizie

      Posted

      Hi I iced for 15 weeks but we are all different. If the knee still burns or is hot to touch, icing will help with the pain sensation.

      Good healing

    • Dutchmanscloud
      Dutchmanscloud Eizie

      Posted

      I also found a hot water rationing bottle,brilliant,I only iced,but was advised to heat ,instead,,ans it's worked for me,im eight weeks in,hope this helps

  • Nipper1956
    Nipper1956 pegs_girl

    Posted

    I am also 8 weeks into the total knee replacement and have still the problem of disturbed sleep , the ice pack they gave me has been wonderful and has give a great amount of relief , the swelling and bruising has almost gone in the knee but I am now having trouble with my left ankle below the new knee swelling and both my feet aching !! Is anyone else having these problems ?? .
    • janice49725
      janice49725 Nipper1956

      Posted

      At about 4 wks. post-op for tkr I had swollen and painful ankles and feet.  PT Guy said it was part of the healing process and yes it did gradually go away.  (I WAS worried tho)!
  • ted_13119
    ted_13119 pegs_girl

    Posted

    I am also 8 weeks out from a tkr.  I was very swollen for the first five weeks and only had a 80 degree ROM.  Since then I have seen alot of improvement 111 ROM.  However I still have trouble sleeping at night.  Actually I taught my college class the day I returned home from the hospital, have been able to work an 8 hour day on the farm,  moving bales, etc. and discontinued opiates one week after surgery.  I still walk with a limp.  I attend PT 3 times per week and the sessions run about 2 hours.   PT has been very helpful. Thank you for this forum.
  • donna06507
    donna06507 pegs_girl

    Posted

    Hi Pegs Girl,

    I am also 8 weeks post op. I totally agree that TKR symptoms are a lot better at the 4 week mark. I'm still having night pain with my knees too and can't seem to get a comfortable nights sleep. I can also still feel that hinged feeling and wondered if you feel that too.

    • Nipper1956
      Nipper1956 donna06507

      Posted

      Donna I am now 12 weeks post op your sleep will get better, I went through exactly the same I found my best aloe to be the ice pack around my knee it will give you a good 3 to 4 hours sleep at a time but it will wear off. As the swelling has gone down I have felt the clunking more and the leg gets tired easily but you must keep up the stretching excersises and push through the pain . Best of luck .

      Fred.

    • donna06507
      donna06507 Nipper1956

      Posted

      Thanks Fred. That is great to know. I've been reduced to two days a week of therapy but continue to exercise at home too. I'm having my left knee replaced in early June.

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