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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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  • lyndawcanada59
    lyndawcanada59 pegs_girl

    Posted

    I was encouraged a bit by my pt. She checked my bend and it is still good at 115. While there were a few days where i didn't feel as if my bend was there it still is. Just discouraged about the possibility of having arthritis behind my knee! Isn't that one of the reasons for tkr?
  • denise709
    denise709 pegs_girl

    Posted

    Hi,

    Thanks for your reports, I just found this site.  Glad to have someone to talk to anonymously - some feelings I don't want  to share with loved ones.  First and foremost I am so glad I have had the surgery, this is a process and it is getting better with each day.

    I am now 6 weeks POST-OP and my mobility, I had exceeded my expectations, and my surgeons but based on the discussion above - there is nothing remarkable about my progress.  Resulting/compromised from a military injury, my knee was shot and after about 10 years I was finlly told it was time for the surgery. I am going up and down some of the stairs in my home, but I am still using the two step process and the hand rail.   I will strive for returning to a normal stride without using the rail.  I have about 122 degrees of movement, though my doctor's expectation was that I would have 90 degrees by 3 months post-op.   

    My issue is that my leg had a stange sensation in it coming down the outside aspect of my leg, approximately 2 inches above my ankle and 1 inch below my the lower end of my incision line, but o the lateral aspect of my leg.  It felt like I had an ice cold metal rod in my leg and the cold sensation was just unbearable.  This feeling was first noted immediately upon discharge from the hospital post-op. Though now 6 weeks post op, it is not as bad but my llower leg feels internally ice cold, though when touched by others they say it feels the same as the other leg, warm to touch.  My doctor is transitioning out of the military so it is now a challenge to get in - I have an appointment now for 6 weeks from noe - totally not acceptable.   Any suggestions as to whaat is going on?   They have tested, scanned, and ruled out a blood clot.  Any suggestions?

    I still cannot drive, still taking Percocete and needing it but ready to bite the bullet and just stop -- I need the drugs out of my system so I can drive.  My children (adults) are tired of having to help transport me around and told me to go get a cab.

    Any thoughts?

     

    • Annodoremouse
      Annodoremouse denise709

      Posted

      If you are not in the military now find a GP who will see you. I can phone today & depending on urgency, could speak to a GP today or tomorrow. I could see a GP tomorrow. We even have clinics at weekends and late night on Wednesday.

      Wean yourself off medication Drs will keep giving it

      Exercise/rest/Ice/elevate is also recommended

      I started driving an automatic car (two feet on two pedels) at 8 weeks

      With TKR the journey is, you have found out, are individual

      I am nearly 6 months and mostly pain free, doing most things I did before. Im sure you will get there

    • denise709
      denise709 Annodoremouse

      Posted

      Thanks!

      I decided I am going to go cold turkey so that I can return to driving- my automatic.  I will just have to suck it up and bear the pain though my doctor has said take the pain  meds because you can't catch up you have to stay on top of it.

      I am exercising.  I still have some swelling but not significan, especially since I can't ice it due to the cold throbbing feeling in my leg that with the ice feels like I am touching HOT ICE.

      Yes, this is a journey but I have stability in my knee that I did not have preoperatively.

      Any thoughts on the cold feelings in my leg?

    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo denise709

      Posted

      I tried the cold turkey approach after eight weeks on tramadol . but it is pretty horrible!  Hallucinations, trembling, diarrhoea, insomnia, anxiety, irritibillity etc. etc. . .and when I went back to the doc, he said it was actually inadvisable, and could lead to seizures. . so then I did it gradually, dropping from three tablets a day until I finally don't need it. . no side efects, and took about ten days. . .I have the opposite to you . . my thigh is sometimes on fire!  I am pretty sure mine is a damaged nerve, as the pain is greatly increased by a very soft touch, and not so noticeable if you press quite hard. . not sure if it can cause the cold feeling you experience. My knee often feels wet, when it isn't. . .the perception of feeling seems to have been altered in places on the leg  either by the tourniquet  or cutting the nerve. . .. . but you are right to seek medical advice, in case it is something else.  
    • caroline46398
      caroline46398 denise709

      Posted

      I'm eight weeks and still not able to drive though don't think it will be long. Doing lots of stepping on bottom step to get glutes strong operated leg up first and good leg up and operated leg down, and suddenly felt I could try going up properly operated leg first I literally ran up holding rail and whooped with joy . Was swollen a bit afterwards . That was at just over six weeks . Physio said coming down takes longer. Don't know about coldness.
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo caroline46398

      Posted

      Yes, I didn't manage coming down until ten weeks, and I'm afraid not running !!  However, a couple of days ago I did discover that I can actually move faster than I thought!  coming back from the hospital, in the car park, a car pulled out and started to move away in the proper direction, so I started to walk behind it. suddenly, he went into reverse without looking and was coming at me at a fair old speed!  that's when you discover that you can actually move faster than you thought!
    • Annodoremouse
      Annodoremouse denise709

      Posted

      Going cold turkey can have its own problems. If you take painkillers 4 times a day cut down to 3 times, morn, 2pm & night for a week then morn & night then try out which, morn/night suits you best and cut out the other one. Try replacing with paracetamol only
    • tess94652
      tess94652 denise709

      Posted

      Hi Denise - am wondering if it could be nerve pain/sensation - i know nerves can get damaged in the op and can generate quite unpleasant sensations. for a few weeks after my TKR i had an area on the inner side of my leg by my knee that felt as if it had been badly burnt  also a numb patch on the outside going down to the ankle area which often feels cold - to me - not to touch. The burn bit had improved but the numb cold bits...i understand nerve damage takes quite a long time to heal.
    • denise709
      denise709 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Wow! Thanks for the advice. Yes, the pain has been unbearable but I have been a bull head, after reading several comments this was probably not smart on my part. I trully was having some heavy mood swings - and great depression.  Very snappy to my loved ones, especially after my daughter told me I could go and take a cab anywhere I wanted to go.  In other words she did not have time to transport her non drivong mother.  In retrospect, I guess it is hard on our children who are use to us being the GO TO PERSON.  Got to look at the situation all ways.

      I will, wait and transition off under medical advice.  Thanks for writing,

  • denise709
    denise709 pegs_girl

    Posted

    Thanks, yes I was told that possibly a nerve might have been compromised.  My surgeon is trying to figure out what is going on - he is really excellent and will be a big lost to the Military Medical System.  I am hoping that this is short term and will resolve itself soon or with some medical intervention.

    I will tell you though I have called on the DOCTOR OF ALL DOCTORS and asked HIM to intervene.

    Thanks so much for r esponding, this is a very interest and has been very helpful.

  • PattyLee
    PattyLee pegs_girl

    Posted

    Wish I had found this site before my TKR surgery. It's been almost 4 weeks and  like most of you I was not prepared for the pain and sleeping is quite difficult.  If my hospital had offered a "muscle memory" exercise class before surgery I def would have gone, I think it would make therapy easier. I'm doing good but my concerns are... my therapist can't get my knee past a 90 degree angle, I have a hard time straightening my leg and I can't bend my leg to "touch my butt".  I know everyone's progress is not the same, but am I right to be concerned?
    • lyndawcanada59
      lyndawcanada59 PattyLee

      Posted

      Keep up the good work! Sometimes you have to push yourself to do your exercises at home, but in the end it makes a difference! Make sure you are drinking lots of water and you will get there!
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo PattyLee

      Posted

      Good heavens. . 90 degrees at four weeks is doing fine!  Whoever suggested you should be able to touch your butt at this stage?  or any stage??   No, I really don't think you have any need for concern . . just keep on exercising and more bend will come. . .don't be cruel to yourself and get all the rest you can whenever you can. . . . 
    • elizabeth46338
      elizabeth46338 lyndawcanada59

      Posted

      Hi

      I dont think I couod touch my rear end before the op never mind after!!! LOL.  90 o at 4 weeks is fine.  Really good. And you may stick there for a while but all totally normal.  

      Muscle memory souds interesting.

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