TKR New Here

[rubrinker]

I found this message board after my TKR. I had my left knee done on April 11, 2012. Each week after surgery I had some kind of issue; nosebleeds(had to go off coumadin); bad reaction to pain meds; had lots of nausea and loss of appetite.

Once all these issues resolved, I thought I was doing well. My ROM and extension are good at 0 and 117.

I have concerns now, however. I am 8 weeks out this week and I am having issues and cannot determine if they are normal or not, or when they will resolve. I still do not sleep (which I read on here is normal). I cannot get comfortable longer than 1 hour.

Here are my issues and I would appreciate any input anyone can give me. My appointment with the OS is not until June 21.
If I sit longer than 45 minutes, I get very stiff and can barely get my leg to go and it hurts to walk.
If I lay down to sleep and actually sleep a couple of hours; I have to get up to get the leg stiffness out and to try to feel better.
If I stand in a stationary position (trying to cook, for instance) my knee goes stiff and hurts and I can barely bend it and it really hurts. (OK - I am not really cooking, but trying to help some -- mostly making my own sandwich, breakfast, etc.)

I thought I was not walking enough and started a campaign to walk outside 3X a day. I only go 3 houses down and back -- nothing like I hear people on here are doing by this time. Anyway, by the time I am done, I can barely move for the stiffness. It is like my knee locks up and just won't bend.

I talked to the PT, however, they don't seem to have an answer except to keep trying and that with time things will get better. I am getting anxious because in 10 days my summer schedule really kicks in and I just don't feel I will have time to sit, nap and hurt so much.

I am still on pain meds and can still definitely tell when it is time to take them.

If you have any input, I would appreciate your thoughts on this. I think this is a great forum and I have already learned a lot from it.

 

[jcarter]

im going through the same thing but different kind of surgery . are u icing and evelating?

 

[maryo52]

Well, welcome to the club. Recovery from this surgery is tough.

First of all you'll be asked (so let me be the first one), are you icing? I like to put it this way. During surgery all of your muscles in, around, below and above your knee got injured. Yeah, it's been 8 weeks, but when you think of your tissues as so completely traumatized, it's easy to understand why they still swell and complain.

Another strategy to help with inflammation is NSAIDs now that you're off coumadin and your doctor thinks it's OK.

I think there is a period of time when we're ready to move on with our lives and our new knee isn't. Probably explains most of what you're experiencing.

 

[rubrinker]

Thank you for the responses. Yes -- I do ice and elevate. I was not elevating because noone had told me I should be doing this, but I read it on this message board and started doing it. I ice between 4 to 5 times a day. For the first month, I iced every hour for 20 minutes. I lived with ice on my knee. Should I be icing more than 4 to 5 times a day now? Since I started outpatient PT, it is harder to have the time to ice as often.

I finally had the TKR because I could not stand to cook or do hardly anything. I just want to be able to cook dinner and clean my own house!!

My knee is still numb on the outer portion and feels tingly and wierd.

 

[Campervan]

Hi, sorry to say but all sounds normal. Hang in there it does get better. All your descriptions of stiffness are very very familiar to me. At almost 6 months, still happens, just not so intense.

 

[maryo52]

Numb on the outside -- yeah, I still have that too.

Elevating and icing work together for best results. Injured tissues tend to leak fluid, causing swelling, and then the swelling makes it harder for the blood return to the heart and so gives fluid even more opportunity to leak out into the areas between cells. So we use gravity along with cooling to reverse that.

It is hard to think of these odd experiences as "normal" and therefore they concern us. It's like everything else in life (just about) -- no dress rehearsal.

 

[jcarter]

i had a osteotomy and im still numb its probally just ur nerves but u will be fine. just ice,elevate and get ur strength and rom back. i have rom problems i cant bend . im much younger than most :( u fine be fine like everyone tell me u gotta work though the pain. but dont bush too hard. ice is gonna be ur friend for some time goodluck

 

[RestAssured]

Hello and welcome to Bone Smart!

Would"nt it be nice IMF we could wave a magic wand and be "normal" so quickly!:wink1:

Have you ever watched one of the knee surgery videos on You Tube? You would then understand what your knee is going through!

The funny thing is our minds want to be in control but after a major surgery such as this, we need to remember to listen to our body.

You say you get stiff when standing? Normal
You say you get stiff when sitting, I am assuming that is with legs hanging down? Normal

It took me a while to learn that my knee was in control no matter how much I wanted to be!:biggrin:

 

[jcarter]

rest assured yes we need that wand where is it :biggrin:

 

[Josephine]

I have concerns now, however. I am 8 weeks out this week and I am having issues and cannot determine if they are normal or not, or when they will resolve.

I still do not sleep (which I read on here is normal). I cannot get comfortable longer than 1 hour.

You need to take more pain meds, and to rest, ice and elevate more.

If I sit longer than 45 minutes, I get very stiff and can barely get my leg to go and it hurts to walk.
If I lay down to sleep and actually sleep a couple of hours; I have to get up to get the leg stiffness out and to try to feel better.

Read previous comment!

If I stand in a stationary position (trying to cook, for instance) my knee goes stiff and hurts and I can barely bend it and it really hurts. (OK - I am not really cooking, but trying to help some -- mostly making my own sandwich, breakfast, etc.)

You shouldn't be cooking yet! Standing for periods is counterproductive.

I thought I was not walking enough and started a campaign to walk outside 3x a day. I only go 3 houses down and back -- nothing like I hear people on here are doing by this time. Anyway, by the time I am done, I can barely move for the stiffness. It is like my knee locks up and just won't bend.

Read this article Progression of activity for TKRs. By the way, your progress thus far seems exemplary so you shouldn't worry about that aspect.

I talked to the PT, however, they don't seem to have an answer except to keep trying and that with time things will get better. I am getting anxious because in 10 days my summer schedule really kicks in and I just don't feel I will have time to sit, nap and hurt so much.

What do you mean by 'my summer schedule'? You do know that you are not in charge of this recovery, don't you? You do know that your KNEE is in charge and could care squat about your summer schedule? Always listen to the knee!

I am still on pain meds and can still definitely tell when it is time to take them.

1. so what pain meds are you taking, how much and how often?

2. read these articles which will give you a lot of essential information about knee recovery and how to manage it
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
How Long Does Healing Take ......
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevating your leg to control swelling and pain
Using ice
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Progression of activity for TKRs

Knee Replacement - Where Am I in Recovery?
So What Is It Going to Take? The Five “P’s” of Knee Recovery
Work “Smarter” and not “Harder”
About recovering a knee - from one who knows!
Some suggestions for home physio (PT) and activity progress
Myth busting: The "window of opportunity"

MUA (manipulation under anaesthetic) and adhesions
It's never too late to get more ROM!
It's Worth the Wait for ROM
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it

 

[Onestepatatime]

I am glad you found this board. First of all, follow Josephine's advice. She has been right so far! I experienced everything you describe. All I can tell you, is it does suck, and this is not easy. No matter how many meltdowns I have had, and cursed at my knee and sometimes even wish I did not get the surgery, it DOES NOT help. We cannot rush the healing, the knee is going to do things at its own pace and we have to be prepared to give in. I think the PT is ssssooo important. Other than that, lots of ice and elevate. I know it is nice out and we all want to be out enjoying the summer. I go plop myself at the community pool, so at least I am tan Write me anytime......this is also a great community here.

 

[jerseychick]

It's all very normal, especially the stiffness. It will get better, but slowly and depends on how active you are. I think you have noticed that the more you do, the stiffer you get. Do less, ice elevate and take your pain meds. You are still very early.

I am 2 years out and still get stiffness when I stand for long periods of time. It all takes time and patience.

 

[PooShay]

Rub tinker: your concerns are all "normal'. They will resolve with time, and the knee will decide on that time. Patience is the key.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

If I sit longer than 45 minutes, I get very stiff and can barely get my leg to go and it hurts to walk.
If I lay down to sleep and actually sleep a couple of hours; I have to get up to get the leg stiffness out and to try to feel better.
If I stand in a stationary position (trying to cook, for instance) my knee goes stiff and hurts and I can barely bend it and it really hurts. (OK - I am not really cooking, but trying to help some -- mostly making my own sandwich, breakfast, etc.)

My knee is still numb on the outer portion and feels tingly and wierd.

In my experience all of this is perfectly routine.

If it hurts or makes you stiff, don't do it. It is slowing your recovery because each swelling or stiffness incident is a reaction to damage.

You don't say whether you are doing stretches (gently) for flexion and extension. If not, please start, they will help.

 

[jancat]

Rub,
Welcome to BoneSmart! This IS the BEST place for info and support for TKA, so glad that you found it!
At 10 weeks out- I still ice and elevate 2X a day. It just plain feels good and I think it still needs it. When I saw my OS a few weeks ago, he told me that the knee will wax and wane with swelling for up to a year post op, so icing/elevating is still warranted.
Everyone heals at different rates, and I also notice that my knee tends to feel a little 'cranky' with humidity; maybe this is part of what is happening to you?.
You might need to adjust your summer schedule, as overdoing so early (which you are at 6-7 weeks) could hinder your recovery.
Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[amf013]

Welcome...This has been the best place for me to realize that I am no alone..I am one day further along than you and I feel the stiffness, everyone heals at a different pace and some parts of the recovery process go quicker than other...

"My knee is still numb on the outer portion and feels tingly and wierd." I still cant feel most of my lower leg well, after reading about all of the nerves that get cut, I can now understand why! I kind of feel that everytime I get a strange tingle in my leg, the nerves are reattaching themselves. As my swelling has gone down, my sensation is improving.

The lack of sleep was my worst problem, I hope that it becomes better soon for you. As soon as I was sleeping better, so many of the other issues became less important(they were still there, but I had a much better attitude about them)

 

[rubrinker]

Thank you for all the replies. I appreciate everything you all said. Josephine asked about "what summer schedule". Well -- we host a child from another country in the summer. She has been coming for 10 years and this is her last year with us, as she ages out of the program. According to the surgeon I would have PT for 4 weeks and since he did not say I would not be good to go by then, I thought I would be great 2 months after the surgery and ready for our child. I had no idea until after surgery and I began my recover, how difficult it would be or how long it would take.

Finding this forum told me more about that. I was given lots of information about the actual surgery but was not really well informed regarding recovery.

Our granddaughter also comes for a month and will be here 2 days after Nastia arrives. Then my sister will be here for a week. My sister has alzheimers and cannot help me with cooking, etc. I really need to take care of her. If I have to crawl, I will do whatever I need to do for her. She will forget day to day that I cannot do things, etc., which makes it more difficult. ]

I have an entirely different disease which causes me to have to use a wheelchair if I go any distance. I guess I can still go shopping with her if I use the wheelchair. I just don't have any stamina. My husband is quite concerned about everything since he sees how limited I am and he will do everything he can, but he still works and can only help out in the evening and weekends.

I still go to PT and do the exercises at home on days I don't have PT. I do gentle stretches and do not do anything that causes real pain. I go to a pain management specialist and take the pain meds prescribed. He would only let me take pain pills every 4 hours for 2 weeks after surgery; I now take them every 6 hours. I told him at my visit last week that I felt I still needed them every four hours; however, he said no.

I appreciate all the information everyone has given me and I thank you for caring and trying to encourage me.

 

[grabbit97]

All that you describe is normal, I am 10 months out, and still have issues, numbness near the TKR, but I walked alot the last 2 weeks, river cruise, lots of walking doing tours, a year ago, I could NOT have done that.. I did use a cane stool, (tripod with a seat that looks like a cane) and when tour guide talked, I sat, it works, little rest, and I was ready to go, hang in there, it takes a good 6 months before you see some really big differences... ice, elevate and rest, let your KNEE tell you what to do.

 

[Lori-M]

Welcome! I'm a newbie here too and have not yet had my surgery but I'm really learning a lot. You mentioned everything you'll soon have on your plate - do you belong to a church or a women's group? Maybe someone from there (or a few someones trading off) could help? Also, what about the granddaughter's parents? Can they pitch in some? From everything I've read here you really shouldn't push yourself so early. I hope there are other options for you and that you're able to relax and let yourself have the time for healing.

 

[rubrinker]

Lori-M, Thank you for sounding so caring. People in our church provided meals for 3 weeks after my surgery --- several different women came and stayed with me for a day to help me and I'm sure they would help again.

We can go out to eat - no problem. I just won't be as much fun for Nastia (child from Belarus), but she will be ok. Our daughter is taking her to the beach for a few days in July. Also, daughter will be here July 3-7 and she can do all the cooking then.

The only one I am concerned about is my sister. I am so broken hearted over her disease and how fast it is progressing that I am sure I would not mind hurting, if it means I can help her. She is faced with something that is only getting worse and is so horrible I cannot imagine. I will get better with time. Thinking about her is good for me -- it keeps me from whining so much about me.

When I originally wrote the first message, I just needed to know if my symptoms were normal and now I know they are. I will not overdo too much because I want to get better.

My surgeon said it is difficult to get people to have the other knee done after the first one and now I know why. I know that eventually I will do the other knee, but not until this one is really doing well.

Thank you for your concern.