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100 days -- Knee still swolen

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John Shannon

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I had tkr Sept. 24. Is it normal to still have discomfort and swelling? Also I can hear and feel clicking when I walk. Even my pants rubbing against my knee is uncomfortable. When can I walk and knot have my knee be uncomfortable?
John in FL>
 
John,

I had my trk done on November 27th I am still having swelling and clicking in my knee. My PT told me untill the swelling goes down I will feel it click. I was also told it takes 12-14 months to fully heal. My scar is also sensitive I cant have anything except light weight cotton pants on. I can tolorate Jeans for very short periods of time.I was told give it time and everything will fall into place.

Debbi
 
My right TKR was Oct. 18th. I also still have swelling. My physical therapist said some people are more chronic swellers than others. She said there can be proteins in the extremities that attract and hold onto water. She suggested that I continue to elevate and ice my knee frequently, and also that I gently massage, using strokes from my knee up my leg. The idea is to move the swelling from your knee to the lymph glands in your groin.

I only got this advice a couple of days ago, so I can't tell you yet whether it's going to help.

I also know that I swell less when I don't overdo. But that's hard! I am so ready to get on with my life. So I sometimes push myself when I really ought to spend more time sitting around.
 
I am so ready to get on with my life. .

Sometimes I think the psychological effects are harder to manage than the physical! Well, they're at least as difficult for me. My bilateral TKR was Oct 23rd and I still have swelling, stiffness, pain, scars that won't stop hurting. I get so frustrated with the repetition of working through it each day. Typical - yesterday I did my exercises, iced, felt loosened up, didn't really overdo. This morning when I got out of bed, I could barely walk at first - had to really work the joints to get moving.

I want so much to get back to working, seeing friends, just managing my life on my own.

Ironically - I'm a psychotherapist. I spoke with others in my practice about this before my surgery - there were two other therapists who had TKR done. No one ever mentioned the depression that can set in, and these were mental health professionals! I thought I was really odd until I saw in this forum that many others experienced depression.

On the positive side (yes, I really believe there is one), there really is progress. It's just slow, and it's not linear. We don't get better each day with a definite end point. But, compare how you're functioning now as compared to right after the surgery. I try to remind myself of this when I feel down. And some days are so much better than others - we may not feel better each day but we do get better over time.

I guess what I'm encouraging others to do, is what I am trying to do with my own thoughts to cope with my own frustration - keep a long-term perspective and force myself to take a look at how far I've come already. And stick with the rehab.
Susan
 
Nothing I can add to these three answers - personal experience speaks louder than professional every time.
 
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