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Unicompartmental knee replacement - 6 days post op

Posted , 20 users are following.

sandra07433
sandra07433

I found this forum last night when I was unable to sleep, I was lying awake worrying about my progress - should my knee still be so stiff and swollen?  Can I lie on my side as I can't sleep on my back? How often should I be doing my exercises and walking around on my crutches?  How do I know if I am doing too little or too much?  I know it is early days in my recovery but I was really reassured to find the answers to my questions on here and find that everything I am feeling is normal so thank you.

2 likes, 42 replies

42 Replies

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  • federico08565
    federico08565 sandra07433

    Posted

    Sandra you will get better as time progresses, I like you and many more went through what your going through, I don'the know how old you are and if you can get to the floor, I ask this because I am 72 and found that sleeping on the carpet ( floor ) was painless, I did post on it .

    Get well soon x

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 federico08565

      Posted

      Hello Federico, I will be 50 this year, needless to say a knee replacement wasn't how I had envisaged celebtating!  I am not sure if I could get to the floor as I am a bit worried I wouldn't be able to get up again, but many thanks for your advice, I will look for your post about it. x
  • susan89127
    susan89127 sandra07433

    Posted

    Welcome Sandra,

    This is a great site with many knowledgeable people who will be able to help with

    any problems you may be experiencing. It has helped me enormously

    even if it's just to have a rant. Good luck with your recovery, Susan x

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 susan89127

      Posted

      Thank you for your words of support Susan, I was feeling quite scared and alone until I found this forum. x
  • maria1957
    maria1957 sandra07433

    Posted

    Hi Sandra

    Give it time I'm 12 weeks post op and just now I'm sleeping better, but in the morning my knee is very stiff

    I was told not to turn on my side to sleep for 2 weeks

    The exercises should be done twice a day and walking in between , icing should be 5 to 6 times a day. Analgesia it's also important , they say after 2 weeks we shouldn't take any but believe me I still take Panadol once a day

    By weeks 3,4&5 I started to feel depressed due to pain, lack of sleep and loss of independence

    Wishing you all the best

    Maria

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 maria1957

      Posted

      Thanks for your advice Maria, I have resigned myself to having to lie on my back for the next few weeks, at least I can now have Company from thi forum in the early hours when I cannot sleep, pleased to hear things are starting to improve for you, it is good to know there is light at the end of this long tunnel! x
  • charlotte81954
    charlotte81954 sandra07433

    Posted

    I'm 19 days out and still have trouble sleeping. ..can't get comfortable any way I lay. ..I'm walking unassisted with a limp but it is bending . Swelling is still there too...just ice , ice and more ice when sitting . It will get better I don't think you can exercise too much, but I do think to little will put ya behind....stay positive and it will be worth it..
    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 charlotte81954

      Posted

      Thanks Charlotte, it really helps to hear what others are experiencing, well done for walking unassisted so soon, I cannot contemplate being without them at the moment but they are so restrictive!  x

       

  • Laura3333
    Laura3333 sandra07433

    Posted

    Hi Sandra,

    I'm eight months post op from my second TKR,and with the second you don't worry as much, the pain's the same but you know roughley how it will go.

    Excercise several times a day, and ice whenever you want, 20 mins per hour.

    Walk and potter whenever you are able.

    Remember it is still very very early days, this is a major surgery and both you and your knee are still very much getting over the anaesthetic and the assault on your body.

    Look upon it as. Car accident, would you expect to be without pain so soon?

    Don't think, should it be still so swollen, yes of course it should, it's still healing.

    As the days and weeks go by the pain and swelling will improve and at the end you might not have a perfect knee but I hope like me you'll be so glad you had it done.

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 Laura3333

      Posted

      You are right Suzy, I don't know exactly what I was expecting prior to the op, but at this stage it's probably just as well as I probably wouldn't have gone through with it.  I have realised after reading a lot of the posts on here that I am expecting too much too soon.  I am going to try and relax and take each day as it comes, I have been doing the exercises 3 times a day but can only cope with about 5 repititions of each, I will try to start increasing that and I am walking round the house and pottering a little bit. x
  • cathyhignite
    cathyhignite sandra07433

    Posted

    Hi Sandra.  Cathy from Alabama here.  I'm 5 weeks  post.  I felt everything you wrote.  Two things helped me at that stage:  Ambien and PT encouragement and guidance.  I've never taken sleeping meds before but the doctor said he prescribes them because TKR patients HAVE to get rest to get better.  My physical therapist is my go to person with the "How much should I be doing" questions.  And believe me, I have a lot to them.  Hang in there, it will get better)
    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 cathyhignite

      Posted

      Hi Cathy, I am in the UK, I have never had to take sleeping tablets, I was a bit silly and cut out one of the painkillers because I don't like taking lots of tablets, but I have started taking it again so I will see if I manage to get a better nights sleep tonight.  I asked the physio how much I should do before leaving hospital and she said listen to my body, but I am not sure if I am understanding my body at the moment, so I am worrying I am not doing enough or too much, though it's reassuring that others are saying you can't do too much, I guess I will know if I overdo it. Thanks for you advice. x
  • pam92068
    pam92068 sandra07433

    Posted

    Sandra,  welcome.  Yes, stiff and swollen..is very normal....your knee will love you like this a lot in the next few weeks.  You can sleep on your side whenever you can get comfortable with a pillow between your knees...I was several weeks, but we are all different.exercises at this point should be done 2 times a day, then rest, elevate and ice after completion.  Walking around is individual....I did walk around a bit every day...switched rooms to change scenery.  Then sit in big comfy chair with leg elevated....read, watch tv...see by hand.....something to occupy your mind.  You said you are 50...I turned 55 5 weeks po.  I have overdone several time during this recovery, believe me your body I'll let you know.  Then you have to take a day to rest. It is something my PT teased me about every week.  Well Pam, how did your weekend go????as he smirked.  I am now almos 14 weeks po and started fazing back to work.  I have that as an option, since I run my own house cleaning business.  I practiced at home...overdid it....learned some limitations and am pushing forward.

    ​biggest advise I can give you is, rest at least 1 hr 2 X per day laying down, elevate your feet above heart and ice for 20 minutes on...20 minutes off...this was hard for me to continue when I started feeling better....it is essential...you body heals while it rests.  Listen to your body...make your decisions based on how you feel....every operation is different, they are done for different reasons and at different stages, therefore recovery is different...do not compare your recovery to anyone else.  That said....we can all advise on different stages of swelling, pain...etc.  we have all been there.

    ok I ranted enough....Good luck Sandra..keep posting.

    pam

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 pam92068

      Posted

      Hi Pam, thank you for your support and advice, I am finding it all rather frustrating at the moment, I am not used to be inactive either, before the op I couldn't walk very far so I rode my pushbike everywhere instead and did the housework in phases with rests in between each thing.  I will try the pillow between the legs thing so I can lie on my side though I will wait another week as a lot of people are saying to wait 2 weeks, I have never been able to sleep on my back.

      Pleased to hear that you are recovered enough to be able to phase back into work, I hope that continues to go well for you. x

  • Damy
    Damy sandra07433

    Posted

    Hi Sandra,

    welcome, glad u found this forum. Yes, it is very helpful. You are still VERY EARLY DAYS. I barely left my bedroom at that point. One has to learn and get used to sleeping on the back. I raised my leg up with 2 very large pillows and iced off and on. This helped.

    as others have sai, rest, elevate, ice, hydrate and get as much help as u can. Good luck, ,eep us posted.

    damy 😊

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 Damy

      Posted

      Thanks Damy, this forum is great and has helped me so much in the last 24 hours, it's so reassuring to know you can ask for advice when you need it and to read others experience, I am feeling a lot more positive than I was this morning. x
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