Guest viewing is limited

TKR Today 8-13 LTKR

Status
Not open for further replies.
Day 9.
I did my own thraphy at home yesterday morning and knee felt good. Almost felt i could walk without the crutches. Went to reg. Pt that afternoon and knee was very tight and swollen. Camehome and been on ice since.. The pain level about 6. I had to take two oxycodne to help with the pain. I had stopped taking oxyodne since day 3, but the pain is to great . May have did too much.
My doctor filed my return to work full duty as December 1. (Police Officer) Hope I'm on schedule. Today ice, recliner and tv remote will be my best friend (Friday).

Thank you.
 
@hiway9380 Yes, you probably over did it! Hubby usually doesn't do exercises on the days he has PT. I know you want to be better NOW, but the harder you push the more you will be set back. You have to pace yourself.
You will be fine by December!
 
hiway9380 said:
Went to reg. Pt that afternoon and knee was very tight and swollen. Camehome and been on ice since.. The pain level about 6. I had to take two oxycodne to help with the pain.
Click to expand...
Do you mind if I ask you some questions?

It would be very helpful if you would answer each one individually - numbered as I have done - in as much detail as you can then I'll come back as see where you are ....

1. what are your pain levels right now? (remember the 1-10 scale: 1 = no pain and 10 = the worst you can imagine. And don't compare this with the bone-on-bone pain you had before surgery!
[Bonesmart.org] Today 8-13 LTKR
)

2. what pain medications have you been prescribed, how much are you taking (in mg please) and how often?

3. how often are you icing your knee and for how long?

4. are you elevating your leg, how often and for how long?

5. What is your ROM - that's flexion (bend) and extension (straightness)

6. what is your activity level? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and

7. what kind of PT/exercises are you doing? How much and how often? (and detailed details would be appreciated, please! Reps, sets and session and all that)

Note:
If you're not familiar with this, it goes like so:
1 lift of a 500kg bell bar = 1 rep or repetition.
Doing 5 reps and then a brief rest = 1 set of 5.
And doing 5 sets and finishing = a session.
 
Day 13 rehab.
Got 25 staples taken out of my left knee and it hurt. I hate pain, but feels better without them in. It means I'm healing. My ROM is about 95 bend /4 straight. At pt I can ride the bike and foot goes all the way around. Great milestone. Another milestone leg lift. At pt they were using a tens unit to fire up the muscle. I am still walking with both crutches, but don't think for much longer. Maybe down to one . I don't want to walk with a cane.. No disrespect. I cannot get into a swimming pool for another week or so..pain level is a 2 to 3 using Tylenol when needed. I trying not to take anything stronger just deal with the pain. I am not a drug guy, but I do have pain and staying on top of it is the key.
I ice/elevate leg almost all day when not up. I use gel ice packs and cryo cuff air cast. My wife say the swelling is down but I still have black/blue area behind my knee.

Also today my good knee hurts worst -

Guys from work stopped by today. They investigated a plane crash that killed four kids. So said.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
@hiway9380 Sounds like you are moving along okay! I think if pain is a 4 or 5 you need something stronger than Tylenol, plus you need to watch your Tylenol intake as it can lead to liver damage! Your ROM is good, and will improve when all your swelling is gone.
 
Thanks tired wife. I lowered my pain level to a 2-3. My good knee has more pain from over compensating. Been hurting for the past few days with little swelling. How is your rehab going and your strength level in your knee?
 
@hiway9380 It is my husband that had the TKRs. He can't type worth anything, so I do the thread. His first knee (13 weeks post today) is doing great except for some stiffness once in a while, his second knee (3 weeks post today) Has better ROM at this stage than the first knee, but he isn't walking as well with this one. He uses a cane and often walks around the house without it, but he limps more with this one. He was doing so well though that his home PT released him last week. We still haven't gotten the okay for his outpatient PT yet from the insurance. He says his strength is, "getting there, the strength is coming back quicker in this one than the first one". He has had more pain with this one because he overdid it in the hospital, and had blood pooled behind the knee cap. The blood was finally absorbed into the body, so his main pain now is in the thigh muscle that they cut above the knee.
Glad your pain is down to a 2 - 3 now. Before his 2nd knee was done it was getting to have more pain in it too. He is glad he has them both done now. If you want to ask anything of him, I will quote his answer, he lurks on bonesmart.
 
Day 18, need soom help here!

I have been icing knee everyday almost all day except when doing therapy. I cannot get the swelling down around the knee. My wife said it is going down, but its stiff and tight. I rest, elavate and ice. What else is needed beside time? ROM is about 95 at times and -4 . I still use one crutch sometimes 2 just to stay off my leg, but i can walk without. I was waiting until day 21 to walk without crutch. I would just feel better if the swelling would go down. Any suggestions would be great!!! I am doing all the exercises and spending as much time in my recliner and ice. Trying not to over do it. Leg strenght is coming back.
Need: Key to geting swelling down?

Thanks.
 
@hiway9380 The only way to reduce swelling is elevate your leg as high as comfortable, gravity has to be able to pull the fluid down (as they say toes above the nose). Do it often. Try not to do too much until the swelling is down, and then don't overdo it or the swelling will come back. You are still so early in your recovery. You will have the tightness and stiffness for awhile. They are slow in leaving, some will leave with the swelling! Your ROM is good!
 
There's no arbitrary date to be without a walking aid. Use the crutch as long as you need it. Lots of us were using canes or crutches into several weeks.
 
You are really very, very early in the recovery process. The best you can do for swelling is what the others have suggested....rest, ice, elevate, keep pain minimized with meds on a schedule. You can do some gentle massage moving your fingers from below the knee to mid thigh. That can help move fluids through the lymphatic system. But.....it really just takes time. Just be sure you're not doing too much activity each day. In these early stages....if swelling is a problem....all you really need to be doing is gentle bends and stretches several times a day for about 5 minutes coupled with your normal walking around the house to the kitchen and bathroom. It's a good idea to take a short stroll at least every hour or two. But....don't feel guilty if the majority of your day is napping and resting. That's the main goal of recovery!! REST!!! There is plenty of time for increasing activity once your injured body has healed.
 
Day 24
Had pt my ROM 105-110. Straight 8-10. Very little pain been using Motrin IB for pain and swelling. I just started driving with no problem because Its my left knee. I sat in car for 2 - 3 hours to watch my son football game. Knee became very stiff and swell had to let wife drive home. The knee swells on the outer and inner side. Is this because I had 4 screws removed as well. I have been working on stairs lately. I have 13 in my home. I have notice when I clime stairs my left leg does not go straight up. It kinda like go to left or half circle before I hit the next step. What am I doing? Am I favoring my leg to go up or is it not strong enough to make a straight leg lift?

I am going to cut my pt down to 2 per week. Due to insurance. Will go to YMCA myself once I see the Doctor on 9-11.
 
@hiway9380 If your leg hangs down it will swell! You are still fairly early in recovery. With your ROM your leg should be able to bend enough to go up the steps correctly. Try to concentrate on making your leg move correctly.
 
5 weeks today.
Had pt yesterday and it kicked my butt! Got my ROM to 105 and straight to -1. They pushed and put pressure on my knee to work out some scar tissue, but all is go. No pain no gain! I'm walking without crutches, as they are now in the basement. In pt I also ride a bike. On my own I go to the local YMCA. I ride bike, lift weights very light 10 lbs. Not pushing to get a set back. Will start swimming very soon, I don't go back to work until December 1, therefore time is on my side.

Knee feels good most of the time, but still a little swollen and stiff. I still ice, rest and elevation often. No pain pills except Motrin once in a while. I am driving,cutting grass, and don't have any of that pain I had before my TKR. Once the stiffness goes away I will fell normal. Also I get a popping sound. Dr. Said it was the knee cap. Still swollen causing it.

I hope all who read this is doing well. I thank bone smart for the website.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
@hiway9380 Sounds like you are doing good. As long as there isn't any pain with the popping don't worry about it. A lot of people have their knees make sounds but over time it usually goes away. It does take a while to get rid of the stiffness.
 
Please don't practice the "no pain, no gain" philosophy with your knee recovery!!! The stiffness you have is a form of pain. You have swelling. It won't help either of those if you push yourself to the point of fatigue or pain with activity or therapy. Patience is the word.....you are only five weeks out from surgery and your body is still healing.
 
You're doing just fine, so no need to push yourself too hard. It is a learning process listening to the knee.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Corganics CBD
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 1,070 (members: 0, guests: 1,070)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom