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Total knee replacement day 6

Posted , 23 users are following.

Jillystev3012
Jillystev3012

hi,

can anyone please tell me how i should be feeling and doing on day 6 total knee replacement.

I know everyone's different but if anyone is feeling the same as me iit may reassure me.

my leg feels like a ton weight and is so stiff and tight.

I am performing all my exercises as told by physio 4 times a day and it is quite a struggle due to the pain in my kneecap, especially straight leg raising. When walking with my elbow crutches which i try to do more of each day,my leg feels very weak and i feel like my knee could give way. I am presuming this is due to weakness in the quads muscle. I am probably wanting to run before i can walk, but i don't feel like i am performing very well, which is making me feel very tearful. I am not usually a giver upper and i'll try my very best as i want the most out of this new knee! Please tell me what you was like in week one. Xx

1 like, 82 replies

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  • cheryl90571
    cheryl90571 Jillystev3012

    Posted

    Everyone so far has done a STELLAR job of explaining Day 6!

    I would just add that although we all may have HAD the surgery, only YOU have had YOUR surgery. It seems there is a very wide variation of feelings, results, pain level, pain tolerance etc. with everyone.

    Be kind to yourself.

    Rest as much as possible.

    Look for small victories.

    Be confident that you WILL feel better the more you heal.

    You ARE very early in the game.

    You can do this!

    Sending prayers of calm and strength and courage to you today!

    • leslie92039
      leslie92039 cheryl90571

      Posted

      Thank you, Cheryl, for the encouraging words.  It is hard to be patient with myself--want to be done with it NOW.
    • lesa70198
      lesa70198 cheryl90571

      Posted

      Excellently said Cheryl90571. She WILL feel better. I'm at 9 weeks and I still have some very stiff days and some painful points in the day or night. I'm much better though. Yes, I have some "surgical/healing pain" but it is NOTHING like what I experienced with bone on bone prior to surgery. Nothing. I continue to remember that. I still have PT 3 times per week, I've joined the gym and love to swim and stretch. I walk every day 1-2 miles per day and have....even gone to a museum which was nearly IMPOSSIBLE before. Prayers sent. You'll make it.
    • Jillystev3012
      Jillystev3012 lesa70198

      Posted

      my husband and I liked to go hiking in the countryside and it was our goal to walk the Dales Way. We haven't been able to walk properly for a couple of years now and we really miss it, so i really hope it makes a big difference.

      i also go swimming twice a week. When were you able to go swimming? I haven't asked my consultant that yet.

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 leslie92039

      Posted

      Totally understand!

      When I was looking at my leg in the hospital, unable to move it without help from the nurse or aide, needed three to help me to the bathroom due to hospital protocol and one just transporting the pole of IV fluids, I wondered what the heck I had gotten myself into!

      Things got better each day. My persistence kicked in, and my stubbornness was there for backup. When PT came in and asked me to do these incredibly difficult things, I learned to say, "I will try whatever you ask, but I will take my time doing it." That was the best thing I did because they knew I wasn't a quitter, but I wasn't going to go against what my BODY was telling me either.

      What doesn't kill you really DOES make you stronger. I talked to God all the time and got strength from Him to hang in there.

      What a journey!

      Wishing YOU a great journey, too!

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 lesa70198

      Posted

      I sure do hear you on the lots less pain thing following surgery! The surgical pain is SUPPOSED to be there. After all there must be some pain after getting your leg cut open and all the stuff that a knee replacement entails! It is a different kind of PAIN though. I looked at it as pain that means I am HEALING.

      Sounds like you have a good plan of attack going!

      Prayers sent for strength to continue your great recovery!

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 Jillystev3012

      Posted

      Sure thing!

      There are many of us here who have or are experiencing similar issues. I have learned SO MUCH from everyone on this site.

      Keep reading.

      Keep up all you have learned.

      It will get better.

    • lesa70198
      lesa70198 Jillystev3012

      Posted

      Dear Jillystev 3012,

      I got the approval at my 4 week visit. My scar was closed so I got the go ahead.

  • leslie92039
    leslie92039 Jillystev3012

    Posted

    Hi Jilly.  I am also at day 6 of my left TKR.  I am experiencing all of the same issues.  I am glad to know that I am not alone, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel, albeit farther away than I want.  My surgeon made me feel that it was going to be a walk in the park.  Best wishes to your and the others for steady progress.
    • Jillystev3012
      Jillystev3012 leslie92039

      Posted

      Best wishes to you too leslie. Keep in touch re progress as we're at the same stage!
    • lesa70198
      lesa70198 leslie92039

      Posted

      WHAT? Hard to imagine that your surgeon led you to believe that TKR was "a walk in the park". My surgeon told me that it was a very serious surgery and would take a lot of hard work but in the end I would see the results. He said 6-12 month recovery.
    • chris08117
      chris08117 lesa70198

      Posted

      I was amazed that a surgeon would say that too. When my husband asked him how painful a bunion op would be he told him it's sore but nothing is as bad as TKR. So I went into it with eyes wide open! 
    • lesa70198
      lesa70198 chris08117

      Posted

      Even my PT said that she "hoped to NEVER need a TKR because it is the most painful and difficult recovery" to work through. This said, it never kept her from doing what she had to do to help my mobility to improve......which was very painful, sometimes even requiring her passing me a tissue. You'll get through it, even if you shed a tear or two.
    • leslie92039
      leslie92039 Jillystev3012

      Posted

      Definitely, Jilly!  I am sitting here trying to swing my leg over the edge of the bed, as my surgeon told me to do.  Hopefully that will help over time.  We'll compare notes all along the way!  It helps to have all of these folks hlpeing us!
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 leslie92039

      Posted

      Hi Leslie!

      My home care PT showed me how to make a loop out of a belt, stick my foot through and use the long leftover part as a handle. You can then safely and slowly move your leg up or down or anywhere you want.

      As your muscles get stronger and you heal more, you won't need the "leg lasso" anymore.

      REALLY built strength and independence for me in my recoveries. I bet it will help you, too!

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