TKR JWS recovery journey since April 24/24

[mendogal]

Yes indeed! I had some good "prehab" as well and agree - being in the best possible condition going into surgery, physically and emotionally, helps set us up to succeed.

 

[EalingGran]

my knee will still ache if I over do it which I have tended to do a few times climbing up and down ladders putting the roof on the greenhouse. I

Go easy! That sounds like heavy work for four months out. It is very easy if you are an active person who likes to get things done- to overdo things and have a setback. It really is a marathon not a sprint.

 

[Layla]

I still have some swelling it seems to be permanent but hopefully over time it will go away.

At only four months post op, many still have swelling. As you've read, icing and elevation will help.
It is our lymph system that rids the body of fluid (swelling). So you want to get the fluid to the lymph nodes in your torso area so your body can more quickly process it. The lymph system works rather slowly on its own and much more efficiently with the assistance of gravity. The fluid isn’t draining into the hips, but contained with the lymph system and moving to the torso and lymph nodes located there.
Building a greenhouse at only four months post op is quite impressive!
Take care and have a nice week!

 

[JWS]

Well it has been a while, here I am marching towards the 9 month mark so thought I would give an update on where I am at. My knee is basically pain free, I have no pain at all unless I really over do it such as shoveling snow we have had this week in Central Oregon. Even then it is not really pain I guess I would call it more tired. It seems I still am not up to full strength in my surgery knee but it is getting better. The most noticeable thing is the tightness I feel around the top of my knee cap. I am not an expert, so it is the tendon or muscle that is attached to the top of my knee cap that feels hard thus a tight feeling.
As far as flex I don’t know what it is, But I am walking with basically no limp unless my knee is tired. Steps are no problem at all up and down either foot leading.
I know my bend is not nearly as much as my good knee, I am guessing maybe 120 but not worried about it because it does not bother me at all. The scar is fading slowly day by day and I am sure all the redness soon will be gone. Of course my surgery knee is never going to look like my other knee and I knew that from the beginning. One last thing I was not prepared for is the “clunk clunk” feeling I sometimes get when moving my knee. My Dr said it is because I have metal, bone and plastic in there all banging together. Anyone else experience this? This turned kind lengthy but just wanted to write down my experience.
I hope everyone has a great New Year and I promise those of you experiencing pain right now it we’ll get better. You might not believe it but it well

 

[benne68]

Thanks for continuing to share your recovery story, @JWS!

I was not prepared for is the “clunk clunk” feeling I sometimes get when moving my knee. My Dr said it is because I have metal, bone and plastic in there all banging together. Anyone else experience this?

Yes -- this is quite common. I've had it with both knees. The first knee (now 3-1/2 years old) barely does it any longer; my 1-year-old knee is still pretty "noisy" but I know it will diminish with time.

You might find this article helpful: Clicking/clunking knee joint after surgery

It sounds like your recovery is going well. But know that most of us find we continue to improve into our second year. Our flexion continues to improve and that tightness you describe dissipates with time.

Please do come back and give us updates as you continue on your journey. It is so helpful to others to be able to read recovery stories like yours.

Happy 2025!

 

[mendogal]

Happy New Year @JWS !

My nearly two year old L knee still clicks like a metronome when I walk and still gets cranky if I stand longer than it likes.

My over 18 month old R knee is quiet but gets profoundly cranky with prolonged sitting.

Both have been totally functional since my second one was 10 months old and I continue to do weekly strength training at the gym with regularly increasing weights and slowly bulking up of shrunken post op muscles.

I look forward to your one year update!!!!!

 

[Layla]

Hello JWS,
Nice to hear from you as you move toward your nine month anniversary!
Thanks for stopping by and for the encouragement you offered those following behind you.
Have a great 2025!
@JWS

 

[JWS]

Hi, here I am just a few weeks past my one year anniversary, April 24th 24. April 15th I saw my Dr for a 1 year check up an X-rays he said everything looked great and to come back in two years. Now real life experience, my pain level decreased weekly up until about 9 months. From 9 months on it seem to remain about the same. No really painful but I can definitely feel it even after a year. My surgery scar has healed up to the place it is just a faint line. Dr said I healed up very well. I still get the clunking feeling and my knee feels loose but am told it is normal. I have a classic car I work on and if I kneel down I definitely need a nice thick cushion under my knee. When kneeling it still puts a lot of pressure on my surgery knee, so it helps to have something close by to hold on to help get up. I am looking forward to year two and further healing. Scary thing now is left non surgery knee is talking to me and X-rays shows there are problems. I well come back in a few months with further progress report.

 

[Layla]

A belated Happy One Year Anniversary, JWS!
Sorry about your left knee, let us know how you're doing in a few months and know that we're here for support if you need us.
Have a lovely Spring 2025!
@JWS