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Total Knee Replacement 8 weeks Post Op

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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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  • sherrilynne
    sherrilynne pegs_girl

    Posted

    Hi Pegs Girl,

    Wow, sounds like you are doing really good.  I am almost 7 weeks post op and I am no where near as well off as you. I have so much swelling behind my knee it's hard to bend it. I am at about 90 degree but painfully.  I am not taking as many meds but only sleeping 2 hr naps cause pain wakes me up. When I wake up my leg is bent and hurting and it is hard to straighten it up,  You sound really good and I am so happy for you. You said your knees a funny shape, is that due to swelling and the bursea (I do not know what that is).

  • tess94652
    tess94652 pegs_girl

    Posted

    Hi - am new to this site and finding it very helpful!  So thanks to all of you. I'm 8 weeks on from a TKR and feeling bit more optimistic than a couple of weeks ago when the whole thing felt like one big mistake!! It's really helful to glean from others' experiences to help see the bigger long term picture. One thing which no-one else seems to have mentiond though - that is, my operated knee clunks like crazy, on both bending and straightening. It doesn't exactly hurt but it's uncomfortable. Has anyone else had this? Physios and surgeon say it will settle down in time and that it's soft tissue moving about.Otherwise things seem to be going pretty well. Can walk slowly indoors without a crutch but need one outside where there's nothing to balance on if needed! Still need painkillers but trying to cut down on the stronger ones. But do still get moments when worry my leg won't ever feel "normal" again...
    • veronica91735
      veronica91735 tess94652

      Posted

      Hello Tess, I had to go back to see my consultant toady re fluid build-up - when he examined me I actually mentioned the awful clunking & clicking & he said it was perfectly normal - in fact, he was making the knee do it!! We could both hear it, & both feel it too (me more than him!)

      One more thing to get used to!

    • caroline46398
      caroline46398 tess94652

      Posted

      Five weeks on and know how you feel. I am worried about having a limp and was told to use 2 crutches even if not really needed for leaning on until I walked tall, balanced and straight and then discard them. This makes a lot of sense even though its awkward not being able to carry things. I have the tight band feeling above the knee mentioned by others but only occasionally and think its when I have walked too far. Just started sleeping more - I agree leg wont feel normal - but the feelings we have now will actually become a new normal if that makes sense 
  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo pegs_girl

    Posted

    Wow, a 140 bend!!  Still at about 95 at eight weeks and struggling to get more!  I can also go up stairs, but not down, and I think the reason is that the muscles in the calf have shortened a bit, so when I try to put my good leg down two steps, the heel of my operated leg lifts automatically . . .working on that but it seems even harder than the bend!
  • Caldy
    Caldy pegs_girl

    Posted

    Last night I was signed off by my consultant, 6 weeks post a bilateral TKR. Reading some of these posts, I've been very fortunate in my recovery - without crutches/sticks since week 2, 130 degree bends, full extension, navigate stairs up and down, drug free, all in all very happy.

    However, I've seen little mention here on the dangers of withdrawal from pain relief medicine prescribed by the hospital. I left hospital after 3 days with a prescription for Paracetamol, Tramadol and Nefopam, backed up by liquid Oramorph. All excellent at relieving pain, but no guidance on ceasing to use them. I foolishly just stopped when I felt I no longer needed them, occasionally taking an odd paracetamol when I suffered the odd twinge. All along, particularly during the night, I felt fractious, irritable, aggressive, altogether not happy. I existed on small 1 or 2 hour snippets of sleep and I was really depressed at my overall feeling of being unhealthy. It was only when the physiotherapist mentioned opiate withdrawal that the penny dropped.

    Please ask for advice on how to manage your pain control, particularly when trying to go 'cold turkey'. These drugs are potentially addictive and can lead you down a very dark and dangerous road. It would be a shame to overcome one health issue only to replace it with something far more debilitating and dangerous.

    • Camper
      Camper Caldy

      Posted

      Sound advice Caldy and all the things you mention are the reason I only ever have paracetamol in the cupboard.  At almost 6 weeks post op my MS is coping reasonably well with pain and increased exercise but the thought of taking stronger painkillers and feeling "light headed and woozy" scares me.  I have had to get out of bed every two hours in the night for about 16 years now and have always viewed it as a positive thing because the walk to the loo prevents my body getting stiff!  Hope your recovery continues well for you.
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Caldy

      Posted

      I have finally managed to stop the tramadol.  I first tried cold turkey, not realising I was 'hooked' and the results were pretty horrible. . hallucination type dreams of horrific reality, breathing problems, diarrhoea, anxiety, insomnia, trembling, irritability, dry mouth . . .just about all the possible side effects except seizure, which is another possible!  I was never on a high dose, under 100 mg a day plus paracetamol . . .As I had run out of tablets, I went back to the doctor, who also takes tramadol ocasionally for acute back pain, and he warned me against the 'cold turkey approach'  I cut down to half a tablet twice a day (18 mg twice a day) and I've now been 48 hours without any tramadol and without any side effects.  However, I have to say that without a strong pain killer, in the early weeks I do not think I would have been able to do the exercises and suffer the physiotherapy just on paracetamol . . Well, yes, of course, I COULD have done it, as others have, but whether I WOULD have done it is another matter . .and as those first weeks are rather vital to the continuing progress, I'm glad I had the drug available.  As you say, it's approaching the day when you stop taking them with proper care which is important. 

       

    • Tucks
      Tucks martinarvelo

      Posted

      Well done to you my freind, with the trauma of the op ect you need the support of drugs and its not easy to be without your backup. You are slowly and surely getting there and what a hard rocky road it is x
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Tucks

      Posted

      How's your weather now?  Any better???  Yes, I'm noticing much more the pain in the knee today without the tramadol . . I hope I've done the right thing getting off it. . .It was worrying me being dependent on it, but on the other hand, I'm already finding the walking and exercising a lot more difficult!cry  When you are taking it, and the pain is much diminished, it's easy to think 'Oh I'll give it up!'  I'll give it a week, and if I think I am slipping back down the hill, I'll start with a minimal dose again!  enjoy your hols!!!

       

    • Tucks
      Tucks martinarvelo

      Posted

      Hello to you, weathers been a bit sunnier today but a cold wind. Still we had a nice lunch and a couple of beers which went down well. Hope your knee settles soon so many things seem to keep throwing you backwards. I was never on tramadol but I believe its quite strong and can be addictive, on the other hand you still need pain relief it's a no win situation. My knee is a bit sore today, not painful but hot and tender, a bit like me lol. Hope you manage to get a good night x from tucks.
  • elizabeth46338
    elizabeth46338 pegs_girl

    Posted

    HI Everybody

    Just found this forum and I feel so much better having read through lots of your experiences. 

    I am just over 8 weeks after my total knee replacement. I live in France and the care here is excellent. I have 8 days in a clinic for the op and then 2 and a half weeks in a centre de reeducation, a residential physio centre which was daily physio, excercise and pool time. I also have daily physio and extra pool work.

    Having said that, I can still only reach just over 90 degrees and have quiite a lot of pain. I take Tramadol which is good and works well. I feel sometimes after physio that the pain in unbearable. But luckily that happens less and less. I too have been told that if I do not imprive my 90 degrees, I will be returned to hospital and under anesthetic they will bend it for me. Has anyone had that done?  Sounds like it will sting a bit!  I would then have another  2 weeks in the residential place.

    The health service here is excellent (and expensive!) and I am reasonably fluent in French but I do miss this kind of interchange. I have to be just factual and not air thoughts as that is all my language skills will allow.

    But I agree with mst of the comments. We all heal differently. We all heal at different times. I thought I would be much further on than I am but then I can see I am lucky to be in a better place than some of the difficulties some of you are having. I walk unaided, can climb stairs normally but not descend properly. One at a time like a child (or an old woman as my OH commented. Hmmmm. He will be in hospital soon at that rate!). I can sleep but Tramadol is good for that!

    My other knee will need doing and as someone says, there is no way they are getting near me with a sharp knife anytime soon. It has been a lot bigger than I ever thought it would be. But eventually when this has receded in my memory I will go in with a better kniwledge. I wish I had lost weight before the op (I have lost 11 kgs in 8 weeks). I am now in better physical health with all the excercises and I think this is really important for this type of op. 

    But for those who are newer, it does get better. Don't do too much. Push yourself yes but not to the point of crying.

    I will keep you all posted on my French experiences. I am off to see the pain doctor, yes the pain doctor next week. I think they are going to see what the threshold is before they need to give me big medicine and then bend me. My eyes are filling up as I speak!

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo elizabeth46338

      Posted

      If you are at 90 at eight weeks I would think very seriously before allowing them to do a manipulation under anaesthesia . . Its a very agressive procedure. . .sometimes even breaking bones.  OK you won't feel it at the time but you will afterwards!  I was still just under 90 at the six week consultation, and my consultant said "fine' just keep on pushing it back, gently but to the 'ouch' point, not the 'scream' point. . Now I would say at nine weeks I'm certainly over 90 . .maybe 100 but don't have the way to measure it exactly.  Like you, coming down stairs properly is a big problem.  I had one of those footrest things and I practised on that where there was no danger of falling right down the stairs.  I think it is partly  fear which stopped me and maybe it is with you?  Once I had done it successfully several times on the single step, I tried on the stairs . . slow, yes, holding on to the bannister, yes, but two steps at a time . . . Still working on it though as it still isn't by any means natural.   What wonderful treatment you had in France!  I was discharged late from hospital, due to excessive swelling, but after that it was totally up to me to do everything. . .(Tenerife, Canary Islands)  Partly my fault though because it was a private hospital.  Not sure how it would have been if it had been done by the State system.  Just a word of warning about Tramadol. It is good, isn't it . . but when you decide to stop, please do it gradually.  I suffered a lot when I tried to go cold turkey, and in the end had to go back on it and do it gradually.  the withdrawal symptoms are pretty bad. . .
    • Camper
      Camper martinarvelo

      Posted

      My husband looked longingly at the GONIOMETER the physiotherapists use for measuring the "bend" of the new knee so bought it from Mr Amazon (£7) as a small "thank you" for helping me so much with the torturous exercise regime.  He is one happy man and uses it on my knee regularly.  The physio showed him exactly where to place it on my leg so the reading is correct!
    • cath70775
      cath70775 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Hi could I please ask you what was your withdrawal symptoms like from the tramadol 

       

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo cath70775

      Posted

      When I tried to do it immediately, first of all trembling hands, then a weird feeling in the stomach, cramps, diarrhoea, hallucinations, (terrifying ones!) sleeplessness, restless leg syndrome, unable to stay still in bed for more than ten seconds at a time, breathlessness, anxiety, irritibility . . . .I had run out of tablets, and thought it would be a good time to stop.  Big mistake!  Went to the doctor, who by chance also takes tramadol for severe back pain, and he said NEVER try to give it up like that.  Reduce the dosage, space it out more, do it slowly, and I am now down to 18 mg at night only . . . without symptoms.  I started dropping the one midday, then halfing the one in the morning, then finally dropped everything but the one before I go to bed.  Much easier that way, believe me!
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Camper

      Posted

      I would do that. . it's just that to import anything into Tenerife you have to pay import duties, and in the end it would probably cost me about 27 pounds, so a bit expensive!  I might get one sent to my daughter, and she can send it over. . sometimes private letters get through the customs undetected!!!  
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Camper

      Posted

      Actually, I;ve just ordered one. Fed up with looking at the bend and thinking. . That's more than 90 isn't it??? Or not???
    • cath70775
      cath70775 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Thanks for that I have been suffering with not being able to keep still for more than like you said 10 seconds but I only try and take them at night but as soon as I have taken them about 20 mins I am fine really wish I had never started them but when you are in so much pain you will take anything 
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo cath70775

      Posted

      I would never have been able to get any bend without them . .and when you feel you want to get off them, do it VERY gradually, and you wont get  side effects hopefully.  It's hard to explain to people this not being able to stay still isn't it!  My husband says / / Is it pain?  No.  But you just HAVE to move. . . One day I suppose I am going to have to give up that half a tablet at night, and I'm sure I may find some side effects then, but hopefully it won't be like before!  I take half a Zaldiar, which is 37 mg of tramadol and 325 of paracetamol . . so half is just 18 mg . . I think we really had to take them. I know some people can't tolerate the strong painkillers, and are stuck with just paracetamol . . I would never have had the strtength to do the exercises etc. with only that. .kudos to them all!
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Camper

      Posted

      Knowing the Spanish postal service, it's going to be along time before I see it!  Looking forward to it . . .
    • cath70775
      cath70775 martinarvelo

      Posted

      I no somtimes I just feel like screaming my legs are on the go all the time it is such a horrible feeling not being able to keep a limb still but thanks for athe advice you take care x
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