Knee replacement recovery

It will.*Callistemon*. I think we all meet people who say they were up dancing the day of the op etc etc but that's no help. We're all different. Pain wasn't an issue for me luckily! My problem was the inflammation set up by me doing the beep beep physio exercises after my first knee. After a manipulation under anaesthetic caused by this I sacked all physio. Interestingly, for my second knee the physio dept had been disbanded. Research showed that physio after joint replacement made no more difference than just walking about. Give yourself permission to rest and recover your energy and introduce natural movement such as gradually increased lengths of walks and stairs up and down. But no rush!! Sleep and bowels can be often overlooked problems.

Thanks cornergran

I try to keep telling myself that this will be a memory before too long and I'll be like a spring chicken in a few weeks' time.

One TKR down and on the way to another (via the muscular skeletal department and their insistence I attend a six week exercise course which will make not a jot of difference) I’m nothing but positive about my new knee and when the time is right will welcome a second replacement.

My surgeon explained that while prosthetics can never be the same as a natural knee they are infinitely better than constant grinding pain. Exactly so in my experience. The hospital physio plied me with exercises, some of which aggravated a spinal condition. The surgeons advice was just walk. In the end I did some exercises and walked as much as my body felt it was right to do. So fortunate in that post op pain was never a huge issue, lack of energy was for many weeks. I just went with each day as it came. Ice and elevation kept swelling to a minimum. A few visits to a private physio who has treated me for years helped, NHS physio was unavailable once I was discharged from hospital.

Joint replacement is major surgery, the body needs to recover at its own pace. Three years on I rarely notice my replaced knee is there. I think the majority of people go through the ‘what on Earth have I done’ stage, same after most surgery surely, go gently calli, you’ll get there.

Charleygirl5 We are all so different. The day after my last TKR in 2018, a man came stomping into the ward having had both knees replaced the previous day. He had had a shower and wanted to be discharged as he was fine! I was lying in bed in agony so we are all different.

Indeed, we're all different.

And for each of us, 2nd tkr is different to the first.

My second knee was considerably easier than the first (5 years on). I knew I had to push myself, I knew to ice constantly (it seemed), I knew to stay ahead of the pain with the medication. Most important, I was home quicker, I knew to begin physio first day home and keep trying no matter the pains.

We are all so different. The day after my last TKR in 2018, a man came stomping into the ward having had both knees replaced the previous day. He had had a shower and wanted to be discharged as he was fine! I was lying in bed in agony so we are all different.

Re when you should have surgery- usually the decision is made when your knee is painful at night and the knee is grade 4, bone on bone. Because of pain I had problems getting to sleep.

Aveline

Callistemon on no account 'work through the pain'. Its very early days yet. You can safely assume that anyone who tells you to work through the pain is an ill informed idiot who has never had a joint replacement.!

Thank you Aveline

I was just having a little shuffle back and forth with that leg and thought "That's enough!"

Callistemon on no account 'work through the pain'. Its very early days yet. You can safely assume that anyone who tells you to work through the pain is an ill informed idiot who has never had a joint replacement.!

Athrawes

I find these comments interesting - and scary! I have a 'crunchy' knee and I'm seeing a physio tomorrow [the same one who deals with my back]. I've had xrays at our local hospital and nothing was found. It's walking that lets me down but reading people's experiences about their knees I feel I'm not so badly off after all and I think you're all very brave. The exercises I've been given don't hurt - just an occasional twinge so I guess I'm pretty lucky really.

I don’t really know how bad my knee is or how bad you have to be to need a new knee.I’ve had arthritis in my knee for years’ struggled to walk at one time but an osteopath got me walking again. I have a friend that’s just had a new knee: she was in a walking group that walks in Dartmoor, something that I wouldn’t have been able to do.My doctor saw an x ray of a knee once and said ‘ blimey, whose knee is that’ and I replied ‘mine’.

Exercises to help build up the muscles supporting the knee do help. However, once the cartilage has gone it's gone and it's new knee time. Good luck with these exercises, long may they defer the op.

Sorry, don't let me put you off Athrawes

Everyone's experiences are different and I have been assured that the first two weeks after surgery are the worst. After that onwards and forwards!

I find these comments interesting - and scary! I have a 'crunchy' knee and I'm seeing a physio tomorrow [the same one who deals with my back]. I've had xrays at our local hospital and nothing was found. It's walking that lets me down but reading people's experiences about their knees I feel I'm not so badly off after all and I think you're all very brave. The exercises I've been given don't hurt - just an occasional twinge so I guess I'm pretty lucky really.

Charleygirl5

GramaJ your daughter means well but I agree with every word Aveline says. Control the pain first and move- you can do exercises later.

Oh good! Thank you Charleygirl and Aveline.
If anyone tells me to work through the pain again I might explode!

It is a major trauma, isn't it and the body needs time to recover from the shock too.

How are all the 'Kneesies' today? Feeling better I hope?

GramaJ your daughter means well but I agree with every word Aveline says. Control the pain first and move- you can do exercises later.

I'm always saying it here but I did not do the exercises and my knees are just fine. I'm concerned at CrazyH and her decision not to go for TKR. Those of us who have had the operation can look forward to getting better and being painlessly mobile again. If she doesn't have the op things can only get worse.
Ice, elevate and walk GramaJ. Take time to recover from this major trauma and remember - just as you can't bend a hose full of water you can't bend a swollen knee.

GramaJ

I had a total right knee replacement last Wednesday and came home Friday. I’m in a lot of pain despite meds to help relief it. My daughter, who is an OT, is staying with me for a week, which is such a great help, despite her continual nagging to do my exercises and keep moving. All very necessary, I know, to gain full mobility, but all I want to do is lie down, with strong pain killers and sleep!!!!

Has anyone been through this surgery and can offer any words of advice and encouragement please.

I've had both knees replaced, as has my husband. For both of us the first week at home was brutal. Started physio 4 days out and all was fine within a few weeks. I did do all my exercises, ice often, and pray!

Gin

Oh you lucky people! You actually have got as far as having a replacement. In this part of the world it is taking years to get to that point. Eight years ago I had my left knee replaced and was told to have the other one done within a couple of years. We changed doctors to one close by who up until now has refused to refer me. I have to go through another hoop next month with a skelito- something-or-other organisation for them to tell me if I can be referred. Talk about delaying tactics.

I've been waiting years, Gin.

Gin how mean and nasty. It would be very different if he experienced what you have.

Unfortunately, we cannot have the surgery done privately.

crazyH I am assuming you do not have grade 4 which is bone grinding on bone and not pleasant. Also in my case, the tibia was bending as my surgery for various reasons had been left too long so I ended up with a Tibial Osteotomy as well as a new knee.

The information you have been given is misguided.

Aveline and I since our knee replacements have had new leases of life. I can walk around a supermarket, pain-free without looking for a chair.

Oh you lucky people! You actually have got as far as having a replacement. In this part of the world it is taking years to get to that point. Eight years ago I had my left knee replaced and was told to have the other one done within a couple of years. We changed doctors to one close by who up until now has refused to refer me. I have to go through another hoop next month with a skelito- something-or-other organisation for them to tell me if I can be referred. Talk about delaying tactics.

CrazyH I can only assume that your 'trusted medical practitioner' is very old. My new knees have given me a new lease of life. Recovery is not as quick as for hips but it's so much better than the grinding pain you're experiencing and which can only get worse.

Oh thanks.

I’ve been told by a very trusted medical professional, that knee replacements are never as successful as hip replacements. So, I’m sticking with my painful but manageable knees, with a bit of help from painkillers .

Thank you Aveline and everyone

🙂 Keep smiling through

I wished I had one of those Macadia but managed with ice packs etc.
It was a great day when I could finally clear away the extra pillows and general accumulated paraphernalia when my knee was better. That day will come Callistemon

They gave me a cooler cuff when I left hospital; it got filled with ice and water while we were in there but just goes in the fridge (not freezer) at home. It's ok but was better filled with the ice.