TKR RTKR 2nd March 2022

[Jockette]

Many of us have more heat in the healing knee while it’s healing, though I don’t remember noticing it with mine. Mild warmth is fine, but a hot knee could be a concern. Keep an eye on it and if it increases, do call someone.

I‘m not sure what to tell you about the varicose veins. I have some, too, but they haven’t bothered me in years. I did go through a time years ago when they would flare up with extra activity, becoming more noticeable and sometimes even red! At the time I figured it was just extra blood flow. I never had it looked at and it all settled down. Maybe a call to your GP on Monday would give you a better answer. But, as always, if it increases and you‘re very concerned, do make a call over the weekend.

By the way, I merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread, as we prefer that members in recovery have only one thread.

This benefits you because all your information is in one place, easy to find, and maintains a nice journal for you.

This also benefits our staff, as your information is all in one place, and we often go back through your thread for previous details, so we know what you‘ve been through which helps us advise you better.

So, please keep all your posts in this thread. If you’d like a new title, let us know what you want, and we’ll change it for you.

Many members bookmark their thread in their computer browser, so they can find it when they log on.
How can I find my threads and posts?

Best wishes on your continuing recovery!

 

[glidefloss]

I think I am recovering well from my TKR on March 2 2022, but am slightly concerned that the mild varicose veins I had in my lower leg are much more noticeable now and there is slightly more heat in the calf of my operated leg than the other. I do not have any pain in the calf or massive swelling although the leg is larger due I am sure to the hammering it got during surgery. Is it usual for the operated leg to be warmer? Being a Saturday I cant easily contact my GP and dont want to demand a hospital appointment for something that is absolutely normal.

Hi @Tortoiselady , today is my new knee's 110th day and it is still warmer to the touch than my left ... a sign that internal healing continues to take place. In re veins in the lower leg, once most of the swelling subsided a few weeks post-op, the veins started showing up again. As I always had veiny legs (from previous years of running and biking), I was very happy when they reappeared - as it was another visible sign of reduced swelling ... and it matches my left leg's veins.

That said, it's always a good idea to check with your GP, if possible, for concerns.

All the best on your continued recovery/rehab!

 

[Jamie]

It's normal to have warmth in your knee or leg as part of the healing process. As long as your swelling is minimal and not increasing and you aren't experiencing any pain in your calf when you give it a good squeeze, things should be fine. But...if at any time you believe things are getting worse, don't feel guilty about getting it checked out. That's what emergency services are there for.

 

[CricketHip]

Hi Tortoise, I’m not an expert but can tell you, from my experiences with both my THE’s that my veins and capillaries look much darker for quite some time after.
I figured it was the excess bleeding and bruising lingering in them. Like they were stained.
Are they painful to touch? Oops sorry. You said no pain..I think that is a predominant symptom that you would have, too.
Sometimes the leg can feel a bit warmer from the resulting inflammation needed for your body to heal your injury (surgery).
Hopefully that is what it is but definitely call your surgeon if you are worried!! Most surgery offices have someone in call who could advise you.
Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

[Mar]

I did not have a noticeable vein through my calf prior to my LTKR. I already had the one twisty vein removed years ago in that leg. But shortly after my surgery I noticed another twisted vein down my calf. I was a little worried but never had pain. More worried how many veins can I have that are twisted in there, lol.
But it’s funny this morning I was in the tub and I don’t see it anymore. My surgery was almost 1 year ago. Of course it’s probably still twisted in there but no longer visible.

 

[Tortoiselady]

Im now 32 days in and had been feeling optimistic about my improvement, ( slow and steady as my name implies,) but over the last day or so the wheels have fallen off slightly. I thought I could completely straighten my leg but now there is a small but definite bend when I try to lock it straight, Pre op I had a Bakers Cyst and it seems to have reappeared which is a shame and is now one of the main pains I feel when walking any distance. I dont use walking aids as I find them distracting and as well as everyday pottering around the house and garden, I have been doing a 20 minute dog walk most days or a 20 minute scuttle round the supermarket and have been very obedient about keeping my leg up and straight etc. I have felt confident to drive for the past week. I had a virtual PT session a couple of days ago and he was pleased but said my straight leg was pretty good as opposed to brilliant. Yesterday something twanged very painfully in the area just above my knee, for no apparent reason, and last night it was almost impossible to get comfy. Am I just having a glum day? Should I be doing more to straighten my leg? It is still swollen as you would expect but not massively bruised. By the way my previous panic question about varicose veins seems to have if not resolved itself at least not turned into anything worse and my GP says all seems fine.

 

[Jaycey]

Are you icing your knee? Ice for 45-60 minutes several sessions per day. Once that swelling eases the range of motion will just naturally increase.

I had a virtual PT session a couple of days ago and he was pleased but said my straight leg was pretty good as opposed to brilliant.

Rubbish! You are only one month into a process that takes 12 months or longer. There are no timelines for any of this recovery.

 

[Tortoiselady]

Admin please could you change my thread title to RTKR 2nd March 2022 Thank you Jaycey, Yes I am icing at least 2-3 times a day. It is the back of the knee that is causing the main problem, but I think I am expecting too much too soon as after the first ghastly 72 hours I really did feel like it was onward and upward,

 

[Jockette]

This recovery is not always a steady improvement, it’s more like a rollercoaster with many ups and downs.

Many of us were not at 0 for straightening at 32 days post op. It can take a long time and your baker’s cyst can slow that down. Don’t worry about it, treat it gently so you don’t upset the baker’s cyst, all will be well in time.

 

[sistersinhim]

You can ice the back of your knee, too. Many of us have Baker's Cysts that flare up every so often. Be gentle with it, you don't want it to burst. Icing it will help to reduce its size. Mine still comes and goes depending on what I've been doing.

 

[Tortoiselady]

I hope I’m writing in the correct place. Since my op on March 2nd my knee has continued to improve and the joint itself is working beautifully. There was a mild panic as I had calf pain and raised levels of the marker for DVT but a scan gave me the all clear. However my lovely new knee progress is being marred by a continuing pain behind my knee. I describe it as a continuation of the baker’s cyst I have had for years, which generally didn’t play up too badly, but the physio said they were usually removed at the time of the op and the registrar who signed me off at my 6 week check up was equally unbothered and the consensus is that it will resolve. Do you think it might just be the general swelling from the operation and that it will indeed resolve? It doesn’t stop me getting out and about but it certainly takes the shine off the walks and rambles I was hoping for.

 

[Jockette]

Yes, I would think the baker’s cyst is bothered by the swelling that the surgery causes. They are not removed with the surgery, they are not like a separate thing, that can just be removed, so I’m not sure why your PT would say that.

Also, you are only 2 months into a year long recovery. You still have lots of healing to do.

Baker's cysts and other knee bursae

Fact is that the 'cyst' is a normal part of your knee and acts as a reservoir for the fluid in your knee. You know how most car engines now have an overflow tank for their radiator? So if the engine overheats, instead of the water all blowing off as steam, it overflows into the bottle, cools...

bonesmart.org

 

[sistersinhim]

No, a Baker's Cyst is not removed during a TKR. Mine has flared up once in a while even before my surgery. The more I do the bigger it gets. A few days of rest and it goes back down some. It never goes away completely, though, but it doesn't hurt when it's down. I suggest you rest until it goes back down.

 

[Claire56]

I have had back of knee pain with both knees. It has gone away for the first knee and is improving for the second knee.

 

[Tortoiselady]

Thankyou all.