TKR Frustrated after TKR

[vegaslady]

6 months post tkr. One side of knee is numb and flexion is not happening past 90 degrees. Knee hurts to bend can't go down the stairs normally and still have swelling. The scar hurts. After 6 months of therapy I am now using a dynasplint . It's only been 4 days but I do not feel any improvement. I never would have done this had I known had bad this was going to be. Does anyone have any advice? I just want to bend my knee without pain.

 

[Jaycey]

@vegaslady Welcome to BoneSmart! Can you give me your exact surgery date and which knee? I'll put the information in a signature for you.

Are you icing and elevating your op leg? Ice is a natural pain killer and it will help reduce the swelling that is preventing that bend.

After 6 months of therapy

Was your therapy aggressive? If so, that could be part of the problem. Aggressive therapy is counter productive.

I'll leave some reading for you. The articles are short but they might answer questions you have about this recovery.
Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary

2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

don't overwork​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​

b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

the BoneSmart view on exercise​

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this Activity progression for TKRs

6. Access these pages on the website

Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.

 

[vegaslady]

Surgery was April 2nd on my right knee. I don't ice any more as it didn't really make any difference. Muscles feel tight and pain goes up the thigh with pain now behind the knee. I am hopeful the dynasplint will help. I do massage my scar trying to soften it. I don't use any pain meds

 

[Jaycey]

@vegaslady Icing does indeed work but perhaps you aren't icing for long enough. Ice for 45-60 minutes several times per day. That stiffness and tight feeling behind the knee is swelling. Icing will ease this.

 

[vegaslady]

I will take your advice and get back to icing.

 

[Jockette]

I would also ease up on the therapy. Sometimes we can overdo it which ends up being counterproductive. Taking a step away from it for a time and just doing our daily activities, which will give your knee plenty of natural movements, can help it settle down.

At 6 months your knee is only half healed in this year long recovery.