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Week one after tkr

Posted , 10 users are following.

simon27733
simon27733

i had my tkr 96 hours or 4 days ago, just wondered how swollen everyone else knee and leg was at this stage. I can bend to almost 90 degree but very painful, I’m walking 100 meters every hour or so and then icing and elevating. 

Trying to raise  knee without leg up gizmo is virtually impossible due to swelling and pain. I’m hoping this is normal but would be happy to hear other views

thanks

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • trees1234
    trees1234 simon27733

    Posted

    Hi Simon

    It sounds like you are doing too much walking 100m every hour, I’m 5 months Post TKR and was doing minimal walking at one week. I was doing exercises Physio gave me two or three times a day and walking to and from bathroom and around house but it was minimal. I was icing 5 or 6 times a day and increased walking and exercise once staples were out. 

    I know each person is different; hope this helps. 

    • simon27733
      simon27733 trees1234

      Posted

      Hi Trees

      im just going by what the Physio said I could/should do. I’m more interested or concerned by how swollen my knee is all the way to my ankle. 

       

    • Guest
      Guest simon27733

      Posted

      Hi Simon,

      I remember those early days with dread. Yes, the swelling is hell, I had really bad swelling but I kept up with what the physio told me and iced and elevated everyday. I am 41/2 months and I can honestly say this is the best thing I have done, I have turned a corner, my knee is still a little sore, get a bit of swelling but am back to the gym and normal walking and the best thing, I sleep through the night 😃 hang in there hope you get on top of your Swelling very soon x 

      Louise 

    • trees1234
      trees1234 simon27733

      Posted

      That’s really not good. When myine swelled like that to my ankle at 3 months I was taken off of exercise and made to elevate above hip level to drain it and ice. Are you in U.K. Simon. I really think your pushing it way too quick. 
  • natalie04381
    natalie04381 simon27733

    Posted

    Hi

    I'm 4 months post TKR and still got some swelling, you are very early days , rest ice and elevate , I couldn't walk for ages after I was just told to do the physio exercises. Xx

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX simon27733

    Posted

    You are four days into a one-year recovery.  Plenty of pain, swelling and sleep issues the first 60-90 days.  Stay on your med schedule...relentlessly!  By three months, you will have completed all your PT sessions and have your target 0 / +120 ROM or better.  At 4-5 weeks, I was still drooling on my pajamas.  You will hear over and over again that "everyone is different".  Completely true on an individual basis.  After reading over 4,000 posts on here and being 2+ years post-op, I can tell you that it's all normal...

    Here's some extra ROM work for home...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-rom-work-at-home-620053

    #3 is an absolute KILLER...but oh so effective.  Gravity can be a real b**ch...  Also, hang this on your fridge...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-reality-of-a-tkr-recovery-in-one-picture-626038

    Better to face the reality of a TKR recovery now than be blindsided like the rest of us later.  Yes, there are exceptions who just skate through this.  I can count them on less than one hand...  Give up all your expectations and timetables.  The knee, not your brain, controls the recovery.  Push the knee and pay a very painful price.  Time, work and patience...those are your tools...

  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 simon27733

    Posted

    I hardly walked at all for two weeks apart from to the loo and back. Tree trunk is a good description of my leg at that time. Now 13 months post op and over the moon. It's been well worth it.

  • nwf477
    nwf477 simon27733

    Posted

    If anything follow Chico's advice I will vouch for what he wrote as well I have had 17 surgeries on my L knee which also include 5 total knee replacements. There is no way you are going to be up and running in a week or 2 or even 3 it is going to take time as in months. You are going to have lots of swelling but after time goes by it will go down you are also going to have days when you do way too much and then your knee is going to swell up the pain is going to hurt pretty bad and it will drive you nuts. After one week and your walking that far that amazes me it took several weeks to walk to the end of my sidewalk. As far as leg lifts once again it will come back it takes time unfortunately no one heals the same there is no chart that says you will be able to do certain things after so many week or months. You have to do the exercises like you were instructed to take your pain meds as directed do not wait till your in pain to take them ( it takes even longer to feel the effects ) When your watching TV or relaxing keep your leg elevated and ice as needed. I am a firm believer in icing if it was not for pain meds Ice would be the next best thing. Be patient you will get there but not right away.

  • simon27733
    simon27733

    Posted

    Thanks for all the replies. Thankfully I’m sleeping really well, at least 9 hours a night with just an age related pee or two, but going straight back to sleep. 

    Sadly I take warfarin which may help the swelling increase. My leg does resemble and feel like a tree trunk so I’m icing and elevating quite a lot. In the hospital they wanted me to sit with a 70-90 degree bend for 30 min and then elevate for rest of remaining hour. 

    Thankfully found this forum about 5 weeks ago and bought lots of extra heat/freeze blocks with very wide elastic which has been great for icing knee with out going near staples. 

    Whilst I’m generally a glass half full guy, the last few miserable years and this forum has made me set really long term hopes and keep thinking next Easter I’ll be in a position to enjoy holiday with family. 

    Thanks again everyone who posts, this is a remarkable site because I think the being on your own and the set backs are the problems not just the physical knee 

  • linda88757
    linda88757 simon27733

    Posted

    Yes mine was very swollen could not raise my leg without the strap. It stayed swollen for about 2 1/2 weeks then slowly started to go down. I am 4 weeks post tomorrow but it is still 1 inch bigger that my other knee. I can only bend 85 but can lift it now.. Going to therapy 2 times week.Still taking percocet. Hang in there it will get better.
  • ruth39320
    ruth39320 simon27733

    Posted

    Far too much walking! I’m now 12 weeks post op and still have pain so I learnt early on ice ice ice rest rest rest do your exercises then ice and rest! If your having a bad day give it up and rest I know it’s hard but do your exercises. And remember every week is a bonus maybe you won’t feel that now but it will get better. Don’t beat yourself about what you didn’t or can’t do but what you have and can achieved!!
  • jancon
    jancon simon27733

    Posted

    They say the swelling can last from 6 month to a year.  I think you are doing too much exercise, you need to be kind to yourself, be patient and just do the exercises your physio gave you. 
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