New User 7 weeks out from knee replacement

[Lbee]

I have joined the ranks of the knee replacement squad, at the age of 52. The airport monitors will have a hay-day. After seven weeks, I still have stiffness, swelling and little endurance. My PT therapist has assured me that this is a normal progression and that knee replacement is a slow recovery. I cannot sleep because I can't get comfortable and have a dull deep knee ache. I was glad to hear that others have the same problem. The knee is still hot but ice helps. I seem to elevate the knee and ice allot. I purchased a soft gel pack that circles the whole knee. I love it. Well worth the $50.00. My knee clicks upon walking, I was told that this is also normal. I look forward to the day that I can do a full day of my normal activity. I have found a pool to walk back and forth in and in very refreshing too. I was told that this healing process can take six months or more and to be patient with myself. This is hard, I have a very active job and the boss wanted me back two weeks after surgery. We will all get better, in time. Keep up the PT, we will continue to get stronger and can lead a full life. I plan to spin circles around my friends in the next six months. Keep that knee moving! Lbee

 

[Doug]

Lbee,
Sounds like you are about where you should be.
I'm approaching 7 months and still have occasional pains. Speaking of which, the knee woke me up around midnight last night and had that deep ache until about 3am. Sure enough, it was raining when I got up.
The pool and a stationary bike will be your best friend for full recovery.
By the way, I was told to give it one year for full recovery.
I can tell you this, I don't regret it one bit. I have my life back, walk without a limp and actually caught my 14yr old when he tried to run from me the other day.

 

[hess]

Lbee,

I am not quite at 7 weeks yet, but I can relate to everything that you are saying. I find myself getting frustrated and wanting things better QUICKER, and I have to remind myself that it took a lot longer than this to get here! I do things now that I had to stop doing before, but that just doesn't seem good enough for me! We'll just have to keep plugging along!!

Bye for now,
Hess

 

[Lbee]

This site is soooo great! I wish I had known about it around my second week out from of surgery, I was feeling down about being house-bound and none of my friend's understood my frustration of having to depend on others for the simple things in life, like can someone assist me to get off the couch? I have a small callous at the base of each hand from pushing myself up off things, how funny. I really think more people would benefit from everyone's account concerning joint replacement. I know reading the stories from all of you has really helped me to feel better about what is going on in my body and my recovery process. Progress note: My knee is not as hot as usual this morning. I have been monitoring my temperature to determine if I had a fever but never did. I was worried about possible infection. My PT Therapist told me to move my feet back and forth during ice therapy. I don't know if this helps but it keeps the blood pumping in the calves. I told the PT therapist that if the knee continued to be this hot, I would rent myself out as a bed warmer in the winter. Now that the knee is cooling down I may have missed out on the second job opportunity.

 

[JudyS]

Hey LBee

welcome, Tomorrow I will be 7 weeks out of a hip replacement. I think it is just one of those things in life that others cannot understand until they are there in that situation. Or maybe very close to it as I am sure my OS understands completely. At my 2 week check-up he asked me if I was ready to shoot him. At the 6 week, he told me when I come back in 6 more weeks I will finally be glad that I did this!!!

I have felt in these last few weeks that progress is sooo slow and possibly only backwards. Then there is this wonderful group of people and Jo always there to remind you that a lot of things are still healing and it was a major operation.
Also I had the stomach bug the other day and sat around looking at old posts. It is funny to read my own and see just how much has changed in the last 6 weeks!!!

As far as loosing your job opportunity, it made me think, that I should be out counting some wildlife. Sit and count, I could do that!!!
Judy

 

[Lbee]

Bummer, stomach bug.... I hope you feel better soon. Hum, counting wildlife sounds fun. It makes me think of a forest ranger. I have enjoyed watching the hummingbirds fight over the feeder. I usually don't see what happens at home during the day because I'm usually at work. I wonder how long it will take to return to work? stir crazy. I usually work ten hours plus commute for a total of 12 hours per day (CA). I can't even sit in from of my computer for more than an hour without needing a walk to settle down the knee. I'm trying to be patient but things are changing at work and moving on...new hires, new policies...I feel like the train is leaving without me. I guess, it is what it is - a day closer to retirement. (smile)

 

[Rowdy66]

I am so glad that I am retired, no job waiting and no pressures. It must be awful to be in the situation many of you are in, and you are right, unless they have been there they do not understand. I had my two month anniversary on the 13th and felt it was such a milestone that I should do something, so I got rid of my pottie seat riser, bad, bad move. Was in terrible pain once again the first time I went without the riser and I swear that the john kept getting lower each time I had to go. Finally put the riser back on and I am back to my normal, happy, painfree self. I no longer care if I have to use it for the rest of my days, I will never again cause myself pain. I should have known better and you can believe that I won't try that stupid mistake again. Nights are even beginning to get a wee bit better. What gets me is how I can have painfree days and have such horrible pain begin within an hour or so of laying down to sleep, seems I have alarms all over my body going off to signal the pain to wake up and begin. The last two nights have been better and I can only say they didn't come a moment too soon. I just hope they last. Well, those are my complaints for the day. Hope everyone has a good day. Or should I say a painfree day? Rowdy

 

[Lbee]

Rowdy,
It's not a potty chair it's a thrown riser...you rank higher than the average person, a king. I feel asleep last night with the ice pack on my knee, woke up and thought, I had wet the bed, eeegads.

 

[beachcomber]

Rowdy,
Are you icing your knees before you go to bed? That can really help!. I also sometimes slept with my Polar Ice machine on my knee and that helped too.

Take it easy on yourself! No need to be a hero! Who cares if you are still using the extender months from now? With my two bad knees and back surgery--- I just finally put mine back in the box and in the garage last week. Hopefully it will stay there we replace my other knee--- but I won't hesitate to get it out anytime my knees are protesting about all those "short arc squats".

Be kind to yourself....

 

[Josephine]

Indeed, beach.

Lbee, are YOU being kind to yourself? Still taking enough pain meds? Heat and swelling can be a reaction to low level (and high level) pain. As can that dull deep ache, of course.

However, nice to see you still have a neat sense of humour.

 

[JudyS]

LBee,
I am in socal. I never had a commute problem here always going against traffic.
I spent 10 years in the Atlanta area. That is a traffic jam
Judy

 

[Lbee]

Josephine,
Auh, nope...I stopped the pain meds along time ago. I didn't think the heat would be connected? Humm, I see the doc on Fri. I will ask if I should take a pill or just a half of a pill. Usually, I just ice and elevate....allot. As the day wore on the knee heated up again...thank you for the insight and I will check on it.

 

[Lbee]

Hey Judy,
Now days not to have much of a commute can save you 1/2 of your paycheck, not to mention the environment. We are very lucky not to have the commute from the Atlanta area. I hope your getting better and stronger.

 

[hess]

I work out of the house, so I don't get to experience the commute thing---darn the luck!!! I'm glad to hear from Jo about the pain meds and fever, because lately, I have been having terrible sweats at night. I have thyroid problems, so I just assumed that my thyroid is out of wack, but maybe it is the pain meds thing, as I too am trying to cut back! I'd be more than happy to try pain meds at bed time!!

I've been packing my kids for vacation. They are SO excited. I just hope that I do okay. I'll just remember to be kind to myself with the pain meds! The OS gave me another script just for the trip. Be good to yourselves, and have a good night!

Hess

 

[JudyS]

I had stopped taking pain meds at nite. Sometimes only in the morning and one in the late afternoon. I have had some really tossing and turning nites. Last nite things hurt and the lightbulb finally went off to take a pain med at bedtime. I got a good nite's sleep
Judy

 

[stwalker]

I will be 7 weeks post op in 2 more days. I am glad I found this forum because now I can see where I am compared to others. I just got back from PT and I'm icing down my knee. I was a -4 for straightening and 110 degrees with bending.

I was wondering, does anyone know what kind of knee replacement they have, like I know mine is by Stryker? (not sure which one though, I plan to ask my OS at next appt.) Is there a difference on how much you can bend with different types? I read that some people are bending better than 110 and my PT says that I am at about as good as it gets.

My pain is tolerable most of the time I use Ibuprophen. My OS is not real generous with the pain med so I hang on to them like they are jewels. I take them when I go to PT. They really worked me today, more than what I am use to. I have a feeling I will be feeling it later. I walked on treadmill for the first time and did some weight machines that hurt pretty bad.

Thanks
SueW

 

[Josephine]

ROM (range of movement) is not governed by the prosthesis, Sue. They all do the same. It's governed by the soft tissues and health of the ligaments and muscles.

You also should not deprive yourself of pain relief. If your OS is disinclined to dish them out, try your own doctor. In the UK it's usual for our own doctors to handle post op meds, not the surgeon. From what others have said, would seem to be much the same in the US as well.

 

[hess]

I will be 7 weeks post op in 2 more days. I am glad I found this forum because now I can see where I am compared to others. I just got back from PT and I'm icing down my knee. I was a -4 for straightening and 110 degrees with bending.

I was wondering, does anyone know what kind of knee replacement they have, like I know mine is by Stryker? (not sure which one though, I plan to ask my OS at next appt.) Is there a difference on how much you can bend with different types? I read that some people are bending better than 110 and my PT says that I am at about as good as it gets.

My pain is tolerable most of the time I use Ibuprophen. My OS is not real generous with the pain med so I hang on to them like they are jewels. I take them when I go to PT. They really worked me today, more than what I am use to. I have a feeling I will be feeling it later. I walked on treadmill for the first time and did some weight machines that hurt pretty bad.

Thanks
SueW

I just made it to 7 weeks yesterday! I'm at 116 degrees, and 0. My knee is a Wright Advance Stature, but I do not think the particular knee that we get determines ROM. My OS said that he would be happy with 115 degrees.

I too believe that pain meds are really important. When I'm feeling a little sore, I'll take a pill. I also have problems with the weather. If it is rainy outside, pain meds are a given. I have problems at night time too, and I try Melatonin, which is a natural supplement. I'm not sure that it works, but I'll try anything! Last night seemed pretty good, though! Maybe I'm getting over the hump!!!

Good luck,
Hess

 

[1jt@atime]

I am 7 weeks out from my second knee replacement. I have two DuPuy Rotating Platform knees but like said above, the brand has nothing to do with the ROM, otherwise everyone would be getting the knee brand that provided the best ROM. My ROM in both knees is around 125 and between 0 and -2 for the extension. I am very happy with this outcome though I did have to have a manipulation on the first to get it to this point.

I am still taking about one vicodan a day. I also need a hip replaced which has been bothering me quite a lot since the last tkr so I take meds for that also.... Hoping the hip pain decreases once my gait improves as I've had 4 surgeries in 16 months and I am just not ready to go through it again. I also need to get some work time in there between all these ops!

I am actually sleeping very well the past couple of weeks and am relieved about this. I go back to work on Wednesday. I commute a total of 4 hours per day in addition to the regular 9 hour day so I really really dread it. I was already trying to figure out the next holiday! Ha! Not until Labor Day so that means an entire month before an extra day off. Oh well...... back to the grind...... 13 hour days, here I come!!! Karen

 

[stwalker]

Thanks Hess,
Sounds like I'm not far behind you. I need to get my knee a little straighter though. I am really swollen since PT this morning. I am icing down the knee again and thinking about taking a pain pill. I will be going along feeling pretty good thinking its getting better then I have a day like this. I was hoping to get in the pool tomorrow and doing an arthritis class but I'm not sure I will be able to make it. Will see in the morning. The water does make it feel better.
good luck to you too
Sue

WOW Karen! You are doing great. You are ready for work? I'm nowhere close to being ready for work. Keep up the good work. I hope all goes well for you.