Day 23 I seem to be overdoing it

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hopeful788

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HI all, My LTKR done Nov. 16th, dealing with swelling. I can't seem to a handle on the swelling. I know I'm pushing myself. I'm a business owner, find it very difficult to sit still. I went to work for 4 hours this past Monday, and 4 hours yesterday. I'm able to sit at my desk with leg elevated and iced. I also got the okay to drive. I will say home today, we are having a snow storm in Hartford CT this morning. I would stay home and back off even if there was no snow. I need to get this swelling under control. I spend most of my waking hours with ice and elevated. I do very well at PT. ROM last Friday was 108. I have a stationary bike, ride it a couple of times per day, 10-15 minute per session. I need help with the swelling. I sleep with my leg elevated. I wake up with swelling and stiff. It takes a few minutes to get it to loosen up. Is that normal and will that go away? thanks for the help. Bob
 
Well, the first thing you need to accept is that this is not something that you can control. Healing is nature and your body at work. You have to resign yourself to that fact and let nature take it's course. If you think you can 'beat' this by doing more exercise or more of this or that, then you'll be in for a big disappointment. And I really don't think that going back to work at 3 weeks helps any. What ever possessed you?

My recommendations are to chill out more - a lot more. That swelling may hang around for another 3 weeks yet so get that leg elevated more, ice more, take your pain meds regularly. Remember that pain causes swelling and swelling causes pain. Nice little vicious circle there for you if you're not careful. Get the picture?
 
Bob, I'm sorry to tell you, but Jo is right. I had some swelling up until 6 months after my knee replacement! Some people have more...others have less.

You are simply pushing yourself too much and you're going to pay the price. The swelling you are experiencing is your body telling you it needs you to slow down. Your recovery will be faster and much more comfortable if you can come to terms with this and give your knee a little more time to heal before you try to get back to a somewhat normal activity level. You are not even a MONTH out of this very major surgery yet.

Oh, and when you say you were at work 4 hours each of those days, are you counting your commute also? You need to because car rides are pretty significant activity at this stage. And it will be even MORE activity for you if you are doing the driving to and from work. Your body counts that as activity and you need to also.
 
Based on my experience you are in good shape. The swelling that I had with both knees really started to go away about week four. Doubtfull that many people have been more aggressive than me in recovery. I went back to work the second Monday after surgery but would spend time with my leg on my desk and ice on my knee. Since you are working hard on re-hab you will have some swelling.....especially after exercise....at least for the short term. As the swelling goes away your range of motion will increase.

Continue to work on your strength and stability at physical therapy.....extremely important.

Also....after sitting for extended periods I would get stiff....but could easily walk the stifness away. This probably lasted for up to two months.


Steve
 
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