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After knee replacement surgery

Joint Replacements | Last Active: Dec 1 9:12am | Replies (623)

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@nancylh

Hi Beatrice, Today is day 30 following my TKA. I can empathize. Still taking pain meds, will begin NSAIDS tomorrow to reduce swelling. I can finally get my shoe on and somewhat tie it. Those exercises that the PT have us do are painful. The knee is very tight, stiff, and tender. I was told to ice, ice, ice and have been trying to do so. I exercise two of the three times a day that i am supposed to. I acquired a complicated popliteal cyst post op so some of the swelling i guess could be from that. Last week i purchased those compression socks ($74 yikes). I lost my sock butler so it is harder to put them on now and i have yet to figure out a good way to take them off without bending the knee and causing more pain. I can only wear them about 3-6 hours because the dig into my leg right about where that cyst probably is. They do help with the inflammation and swelling as does using a wedge pillow to elevate the leg above the heart level. Hang in there. Not all of us are speedy healers. At first i felt bad because someone told me that their friend had the TKA on a Thurs. and was back to work on a Mon. Go figure. Super human or something. Rest and get better; be careful not to push too hard too soon. That's all the experience/advice/etc. i have to offer. Blessings.

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Replies to "Hi Beatrice, Today is day 30 following my TKA. I can empathize. Still taking pain meds,..."

@nancylh, keep working! Your experience sounds quite similar to mine. I had a real battle with swelling and scar tissue. Unfortunately, I let the pain and swelling get to me and I started slacking on my PT. Even though I had extremely aggressive scar tissue formation, I know that I am also to blame because backing off of my PT allowed for the development. Hang in there, however long it takes. You will reach a point where you can't remember the pain and how hard it was before the surgery because you are able to return to activities that you had to give up for so long.

Hi Justin,Thanks for the encouragement.  I think i will print it and keep it for my next knee replacement.  Don't know when it will happen.  Was supposed to happen last August.Thanks again.BlessingsN-----------------------------------------

@nancylh
I had my second knee done last June and after a long healing period feel great. I also tried wearing the compression hose while my knee was still swollen but it hurt too much so I stopped. Instead I wear it now when I have a long airplane flight. Too bad you developed a cyst. I thought the swelling would never go down but eventually, after many months it improved. 30 days is not very many days after the operation so don't be affected by others progress. Good luck,
@beatricefay