TKR Struggling

[Kazbon]

Hope everyone is doing okay.... so im now 17 days post op. The bruising and itching have eased somewhat but the tightness and pain is still bad down the lateral side of lower leg, around ankle and into the foot. My ROM is improving and im getting a 90° bend. I can put weught through my straight leg while walking and spend some time now on just one stick. My big concern is im really struggling with pain if i try to weight bare and bend and the same time for examaple from a sitting position or to bend down to get washing out..... is this something i should be worried about at this stage?

 

[Jaycey]

My big concern is im really struggling with pain if i try to weight bear and bend and the same time

At only 17 days out this is totally normal.

What I would question is why you are doing things like laundry. You should be focusing on ice, elevation and regularly taking your pain medication. The tightness is internal swelling and ice will relieve this.

 

[Kazbon]

I hear you @Jaycey and i am doing all that but am on my own.... I do have amazing support from friends but just gave it a go lol. I think im paranoid something is going to go wrong and might be "looking for things" or over analyzing every twinge, but thank you for the reassurance - be lost without this site! x

 

[Jaycey]

Please don't worry about what might go wrong. There is very little that can go wrong. I know it can be scary wonder about every little niggle. Unfortunately all that is part of the healing process.

Please do ask for help at this stage. You need to baby that new knee.

We are here for you!

 

[Kazbon]

Good morning... i hope everyone is doing okay.... Im now 4 weeks post op today and feel overall im doing okay, and am at the "average" place alot of members seem to be at 4 weeks. Sleep is still rubbish though, extension although doable gives an awful ache at the back of the knee and hip but what im really concerned about is a sharp "catchy" pain slightly to the left of my knee cap when i flex past i certain point. It really takes your breath away and then repeats as you extend back out past that point (hope that makes sense). Im worried theres something not right.... has anyone else had something similar? Guess im looking for some reassurance. x

 

[Itsabear]

TKR on my right knee - I had incredible itching as well - found out I was allergic to adhesive. Didn’t know it’s been horrible because I had the silver strip with the adhesive on until 11/20, which my surgery was 11/09 - so by the time I removed the adhesive my skin had bubbled up and blistered - and of course oozing areas. Incision cite was fine just everywhere else was horrible. So, if you still have your adhesive on - ask your doctor. I didn’t know I was allergic to adhesive until this.
Also was prescribed, hydroxyzine 25mg - that helped with the itching and the…what feels like internal itching. Hope this helps

I have been constant on my icing my knee - due to this forum. I purchased the cooler, and have been pretty religious about it at night, and constant on/off ice pads during the day, which I feel has helped.

I had a frozen knee at 90 degrees. My doc was able to straighten my leg, but my muscles are toast. So, I’m in a lot of pain - all the time. It’s slow going and nights are the worst. I cry on the days I need to which lately has been everyday. I go through the why’s of why did I do this to myself, but in my case I had to. My knee was frozen for 23 years, it was deviating inward and I was growing bone onto the left side of my knee also with my heel starting to come up off the ground. So fo me it just was time. Give yourself grace. Allow the bad days and moments come because they will and try to get through them however you can.

I have a wedge that helps with elevating my knee. I do wear my compression socks, but sometimes I just have to take them off. Try and do your exercises but don’t hurt yourself. As everyone suggests in this forum - healing it what is needed most right now. I hope some of this helps!

 

[Kazbon]

@Itsabear thankyou for your detailed reply. It seems we had our op the same day (9th nov) if im reading it right... the itching is a little bit better now to be fair, more inside than out but still also in my calf and foot which ive been told is due to minute tares because of the stretching of muscles and ligaments due to the straightening of the leg. I have been icing and elevating when i can and although i have reduced pain meds i havnt cut them out. Like you, i had no choice but to have this done in fact it was well overdue which i think may make it a bit longer recovery for us.... If the itching dosnt improve i will ask to be prescribed the medication you state above.

Its just this new catchy pain on flexion right now thats a concern partly because its new but also because its so sharp lol!

Thanks again for your reply and it will be interesting to see how we both go on moving forwards. Was yours a standard knee? Mine was fitted roboticly.

 

[Axx72]

@Kazbon Sounds like still lots of swelling in that knee. Good to keep rest/ice/elevation/compression on it. Sometimes the waiting is rough and we have all been eager for gain progress faster but you seem like you are in a good spot for 4 weeks post TKR. My knee had similar patellar and posterior pain when stretching to the maximum ROM at that stage too. Position of comfort was and is still, to a lesser degree, a moving target.

Lots of tissue and bone carpentry in there from your surgery. Sometimes we second guess ourselves that something is wrong with the last thing anyone wanting is to hear is that they need to be patient and consistent but look at your progress over 4 weeks? You are moving forward, which is splendid. It’s a long journey with lots little steps making life a little better than before.

Celebrate your little victories

 

[Kazbon]

Thankyou for your reply @Axx72 . It is reassuring to hear others have experienced similar and yes there is still alot of swelling, the tight band feeling and pain, although very different to the start of this recovery.

I have my first proper physio tomorrow and am determined to stick to my guns with regard to not over doing it but am a bit anxious,all the same.

It is,easy to over look the little but actually big achievements to be honest when progress is this slow but your right, i shouldnt loose sight of how far i have actually come. Thankyou so much x

 

[sistersinhim]

what im really concerned about is a sharp "catchy" pain slightly to the left of my knee cap when i flex past i certain point.

I had the same thing and was wondering what the problem was so I ordered my surgical report and found that my OS had done a medial release during my TKR so that could be your problem. Also, it could be this:
pes-anserine-and-mpfl-pain

I suggest everyone call their hospitals and get their surgical report for their replacements. It's quite eye-opening and will explain a lot of the different pains.

 

[Layla]

Good luck with physio today! Don't be anxious and remember you're in control.
I'll bet if you look for progress weekly you'll notice more than looking for it daily.
Have a wonderful weekend, Kazbon!
@Kazbon

 

[Kazbon]

@Layla thankyou! You have a good,weekend too. And you raise a good point about progress, will do the weekly lookback rather than daily. Thankyou x

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary!
I hope you're having a great day!
@Kazbon

 

[Kazbon]

Thankyou @Layla !! Its been a good day thankyou! Hope you and indeed everyone is having a good weekend x

 

[Kazbon]

Happy new year all! Ok so 8 weeks post op and i feel im doing well but..... is it right that there is still alot of fluid / swelling in my knee. Also i still have a "sharp catchy" pain on the lateral side of my knee on flexion (particularly when doing my heel slides). Im struggling to walk without a limp and my leg still dosnt ferl under my control or that it quite belongs to me lol. Sorry for the long post....

 

[raylo]

You might try wearing a support sleeve. I got some fabric ones that provide a bit of compression, but not too much. I don't understand exactly why, but the knee feels better and more like it "belongs to me" when I have the sleeve on and I can walk better for longer.

Happy new year all! Ok so 8 weeks post op and i feel im doing well but..... is it right that there is still alot of fluid / swelling in my knee. Also i still have a "sharp catchy" pain on the lateral side of my knee on flexion (particularly when doing my heel slides). Im struggling to walk without a limp and my leg still dosnt ferl under my control or that it quite belongs to me lol. Sorry for the long post....

 

[benne68]

is it right that there is still alot of fluid / swelling in my knee. Also i still have a "sharp catchy" pain on the lateral side of my knee on flexion (particularly when doing my heel slides).

At 8 weeks post-op, stiffness is normal, as are episodes of pain and swelling. Our bodies are only partly healed at the two month mark. If your knee is very swollen, however, it may be a sign that you are pushing to do more than you knee is ready for. Perhaps taking a break from exercises for a week will help.

Im struggling to walk without a limp and my leg still dosnt ferl under my control

Limping is very common as we recover as our body tries to adjust to the new alignment in the leg. The sooner you address it, the better or you'll be accustomed to limping.

One of the best ways to prevent this is with heel-toe walking. This involves striking the ground with your heel first, then rolling through your heel to your toe, and pushing out of the step with your toe.

Here is a visual

It's important to slow down your pace, and you need to concentrate through the entire step. It takes some practice, but if you do it consistently for a week or two, you'll notice a difference.

 

[Kazbon]

Thank you so much for your replies. I take it all on board and will give everything a go.

 

[mendogal]

Hi! A perspective on two TKAs one person (raises hand)...

My earlier TKA, the left, had quite significant painful stiffness that was terrible when trying to get out of bed... yes, at 8 weeks, yet there was almost no apparent swelling and my ROM was very good. At 12 weeks, suddenly I could get out of bed without pain and without using my hands to lift that leg.

My newer right TKA, at six months, continues to have visible swelling (again, despite very good ROM), there's aching quads pain on the lateral side of the knee and it stiffens badly within 20 -30 minutes of sitting.

Both experiences are well within normal. At eight weeks your new knee is still very much in the early healing stages and needs a balance of paced activity (walking and gently stretching mostly) and TLC (rest, ice, elevate).

Raylo is right; many people really appreciate the feeling of warm support from a OTC neoprene type sleeve. A few weirdos (raises hand) actively dislike compression... worth a try!

 

[raylo]

I find that the fabric ones work better for me with the TKR than more rigid and warm neoprene. At least at this stage of rehab. They are not as constrictive and provide a little ventilation. I can't post a link but I got the "Profitness" brand from Amazon, size L in my case. I am 6'1", ~200 pounds. Of course, others may have different preferences.

Raylo is right; many people really appreciate the feeling of warm support from a OTC neoprene type sleeve. A few weirdos (raises hand) actively dislike compression... worth a try!