In the first week after surgery, I had tremendous swelling with dark black/blue bruising down the back of my knee ending in a distinct line around my ankle. I figured out that I wasn't elevating high enough or icing long enough. So, I started consistently elevating really high, with my heel above my nose on 3-4 pillows, and icing night and day; within a few days, the massive swelling and bruising dissipated. I'm almost 9 weeks post-op now and I still elevate high and ice whenever I sit down.
Lately, I've been getting really dry skin on my TKR lower leg. My OS will not allow me to get near the scar yet, but I've been using a lotion on my leg called 'Amlactin', that my dermatologist recommended. It contains Alpha-Hydroxy Acid, an ingredient that sluffs off dead skin and moisturizes at the same time. Don't use it on open skin, like after shaving, as it will sting!
Take it easy at school. I am a retired teacher and, in my experience, a school is an environment where it's hard to not get caught up in the busyness and lose sight of the fact that you are still in major healing mode. My OS does not like his patients to go back to work until 12 weeks.
Wishing you happy healing thoughts!
United States
