BB57,
Welcome to Bonesmart, glad you joined us.
A stiff swollen knee is normal after a TKR, a major surgery. Your bones were sawed off, soft tissues cut, the pulled back, metal parts pounded, screwed and glued into place, the soft tissue stitched, glued, and stapled.
Your ROM is there, when the stiffness and swelling goes down your knee will be able to bend. Your job is to let it heal, you cannot rush healing.
Exercising to the point of tears is only irritating and inflaming your poor knee and soft tissue is counter productive and will only cause increased swelling and pain. Suggest you cut your exercise way back, doing
Heel slides and how to do them, and your normal activities and walking around is enough.
Spend more time following the Bonesmart Mantras, Rest, Ice, Elevate, and Medicate on schedule as prescribed.
I'm afraid they will hurt me & be upset that my ROM isn't any better.
They should be no more than concerned about your ROM, and then give you help reducing the swelling and stiffness with Ice, Elevation, and gentle massage pushing the fluids back towards your heart. Do not let them push and shove on your knee, causing further inflammation, swelling, and pain.
Remember the PT works for you, when you say NO, they have to stop. Do not allow anyone to push you past the point of discomfort.
Please add your surgery date to your signature, hover over your username, click on signature and add your information there, Thanks!
First are the BoneSmart mantras ....
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rest,
elevate,
ice and
take your pain meds by the clock
- if it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physiotherapist - to do it to you
- if your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again
- if you won't die if it's not done, don't do it
- never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can go to sleep!
- be active as much as you need to be but not more than is necessary, meaning so much that you end up being in pain, exhausted or desperate to sit down or lay down!
Next is a
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) thread.
And here are some very crucial articles
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
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Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Activity progression for TKRs
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Home physio (PT) and activity progress: suggestions
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
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Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?
And then some wise words from members who have shared their experiences ...
Where are you in recovery?? (TKR)
Five “P’s” of knee recovery
TKR: work “smarter” and not “harder”
Recovering a knee - from one who knows!
It's never too late to get more ROM!
It's worth the wait for ROM