TKR Total Left Knee Replacement - This hurts!!!!

[Seatides]

Hi, @2020Tracy! I had my left TKR on November 13, so it's been almost 4 weeks. Day-to-day improvements are hard to see, but looking back over several weeks now, I see so much improvement since that painful swollen first week. Things will gradually improve for you too. And as many people have observed, slow but steady improvement is so much better than the way things were with our old knees, which only got more unbearable every day. I'm learning that, although it's not an easy process, we'll get through it and it'll be worth it!

 

[Macknit]

Another thought about the cramps, which could easily be dehydration as @Helizabug says, it also could be the straightening that the TKR accomplishes, because the arthritis had thrown the alignment of the joint off.

My OS told me he would be straightening the leg quite a bit....I still have calf cramps and IT band/hamstring pain when I over do my activities at 3 months. It takes quite some time for the tendons and muscles to reorient to this new alignment. Icing, elevating and the muscle relaxants (along with pain meds) definitely help. I do have days now that these problems don't even exist.

I hope you begin to feel better as your muscles get used to the new knee!

 

[eliza61nyc]

Hi Tracy,
I often tell people it's is similar to childbirth in that no matter how much you THINK you are ready for it, until you go through it, you have no idea.

I had my left knee replaced two years ago, let me just encourage you to say that yes it was all worth it. My left knee is so much better and my quality of life is a aheck of a lot better.

Hang in there girlfriend. ice is your friend for right now. take your meds, now is not the time to try and play "Wonder women"

Oh yes I did experience charley horses but I use to get them beforehand also. annoying little people aren't they.

 

[NewToMe]

Calf cramping/pain first week or so, now at 12 weeks it is quad cramping.

I found the first few weeks that what pain I had 2 to 3 days ago was gone then replaced by a different spot of pain.

For me, the replacement fix a ton of misalignment issues. I had to learn to walk correctly, which made all my muscles go "what are YOU doing? We haven't had to do that in years!"

Easy does it and know it will take time!

 

[2020Tracy]

Hello fabulous forum! Was wondering how long everyone needed a walker after their TKR. I am 2 weeks post sugery tomorrow and I am nowhere near ready to walk without the walker. I know its still early, but its so frustrating. Feeling a bit sorry for myself.......

 

[Sara61]

I was never offered the option of using a walker and I used elbow crutches, I started with 2 crutches on day 2 of post op, by day 7 I just started using only 1 crutch, this made my life so much simpler as I was then able to carry things in one hand. I only had the courage at week 6 /7 to ditch the crutches and now I'm walking perfectly crutch free.
Maybe worth trying this method you are still at really early days - I promise it does get better - at week 8 I finally got my independence back and I'm driving too - keep smiling and be positive xx

 

[Jockette]

There is nothing wrong with using a walker. I really liked mine!

 

[sistersinhim]

Was wondering how long everyone needed a walker after their TKR.

I used mine in the house about 3 weeks. Outside in public, for at least six weeks. It wasn't that I needed it to hold me up, it was protection against being knocked down. I used the cane for at least 6 months while out with people. You should never rush to get rid of the walker, crutches or canes. They are safety devices and protect us from falling. I'd rather have an assistance device helping me than fall!

 

[2020Tracy]

Thank you so much @sistersinhim !!!!

 

[caredFL]

Walker 5 days and cane 4 weeks. Everyone is different and I agree don't rush it. You will know when feeling secure without it.

 

[Celle]

Use the walker for as long as you feel you need it. It's much better to use it than to risk falling. Some people have even used their walker for several months, until they have perfected their gait.
It's only a tool and there are no prizes for giving it up early.

 

[Helizabug]

My PT is the one who told me when to move from two crutches to one. It was quite liberating. You have a walker so I imagine the timing will be different because there’s no half step off of the walker. I wouldn’t rush, by any means. That walker doesn’t just give you some support, but it probably also protects you from falls and from other people. I hope it’s not wearing you down too much, though.

 

[Rockgirl4]

I needed (and I DO mean "needed") the walker until the middle of week 5 post-op. My PT helped me wean off of it during that 5th week, but I still needed it at night when getting up to use the bathroom. My knee would stiffen again while sleeping, and I had a "liquid fire" pain shoot down my leg to my ankle every time I stood up until sometime during week 5, so a walker was necessary to stand up and make those first few steps until the pain eased off. It was also useful late in the day when my hip/leg tired from doing more. By week 6, I could go without it full-time.

I agree with everyone----the walker is a tool, and we win no awards by getting rid of it too early. I was lucky and got my extension/straightening back quickly, otherwise I would have limped so badly I'd have still needed the walker. Limping creates more problems (like back problems for many of us!), so trading one problem for another is NOT the idea here.

 

[LarryB]

I told the PT's to stop pushing on my knee after I found this forum, saw the prevailing thought here, and it made sense to me. A few weeks later, I stopped PT entirely. At my next visit with my surgeon, he had heard that I wasn't getting along with the PT's (both the surgeon and the PT are the same company). He told me he had just read a study that found that 1 year after surgery, outcomes for people who did not have PT were the same as for people who did. That made me more confident I made the right choice. I'm 13 months out now, and don't regret either telling the therapists to stop bending my leg, or quitting PT altogether. I've worked my butt off on my recovery, but at my own speed, and it's worked out great. And none of it has involved anything that required me to bend or extend my knee more than it wanted to at the time.

 

[kbbroiler]

What the heck have you done?! 2020Tracey you helped yourself tremendously! I read your post and couldn't help notice your age and we are the same age so I had the surgery two years ago and it was the best thing I did. Yeah it does hurt but I guess it is too late to tell you now but maybe you already know. The best thing you can do for yourself is going in before surgery being at the best level of fitness. It helps in your recovery. I know it did with mine. I had my right knee total replaced and two years later no pain. Keep in mind yes there will be pain with P.T but you have to work through it because that is the only way you will get better. I'm not talking of totally going all out and over training your knee but there will be some discomfort there. Just saying but for me it is over 2 years and I feel great. It is nice to be able to walk straight again.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

I had my right knee total replaced and two years later no pain. Keep in mind yes there will be pain with P.T but you have to work through it because that is the only way you will get better. I'm not talking of totally going balls out and over training your knee but there will be some discomfort there.

The key to recovery is what works for you the patient.

The BoneSmart view is not to endure actual pain during PT, but just discomfort. Our reasoning for this is that pain is the body signalling that the damage caused during surgery is being compounded, not helped.

 

[Jaycey]

Keep in mind yes there will be pain with P.T but you have to work through it because that is the only way you will get better.

This might work for some. But in most cases pushing through the pain only lengthens recovery and can cause chronic pain issues. Reread our guidelines. Aggressive PT is counter productive.

 

[2020Tracy]

I know I shouldn't be fixated on numbers, but im getting very discouraged with my ROM. I am 11 weeks PO from LTKR. I have been stuck at around 105-110 flexion for WEEKS!!! It just wont budge!

Should i worry?
Should i consider an MUA?
How long does it take to get to the magical 120?

Feeling so bummed.......

 

[Julia1911]

First 2 weeks it felt like entire thigh muscles and calf muscles had horrible charlie horses. Self massaged thigh and when swelling started to break about day 9-10, so did that pain. Unless, I overdo, or go to PT, then it's back again.

Calf charlie horses have stayed and only gotten a little bit better, even when I self massage. In fact, before this week, major pain all night long has been horrible calf muscle aches. This past week nerve "zaps" and burning/aching in and around knee cap has started. Figure that is nerve and bone regeneration.

Have used heating pad for muscle aches, but must keep it away from actual knee or that really hurts. Have even used 4% OTC Lidocaine patches for muscle pain. I think (but not sure) they help some.

 

[Jaycey]

How long does it take to get to the magical 120?

There is no magical ROM. And it takes as long as it takes to increase. Sounds like you are doing very well for 11 weeks out. Remember this process can take one year or longer.

Should i consider an MUA?

I wouldn't. You just need a bit more patience and time.