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After knee replacement surgery

Posted by beatricefay @beatricefay, Jun 16, 2016

Had left knee replaced 9 days ago. Right knee two years ago. Having a problem with inflammation so hard to bend knee and exercise. Trying to ice and raise knee above heart. Doctor suggested getting compression hose. Anybody have this experience and can offer suggestions. So tired all the time from pain interrupting my sleep and painkillers. My insurance refused to pay for the painkiller recommended by surgeon so have to take one with more opiates. That's frustrating. Two years ago it was covered but now too expensive for me to use. Seems the drug companies, not our doctors are determining what we use.

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gmajen61 | @gmajen61 | Jun 28, 2017
In reply to @niazumbanut "I just read your post again and for sure you are doing too much PT.Who told..." + (show)
@niazumbanut

I just read your post again and for sure you are doing too much PT.Who told u to use ankle weights...makes no sense to me. The bike (stationary) should be your primary tool. Start with a height that is comfortable and gradually or weeks lower it as the bend in your knee increases.And don't PUSH gears..keep the gears low so there is very little resistance and gradually increase. I understand your moxie but you are trying to hard! Forget the no pain no gain therory,it's wrong and unless you are a kid you must rest...I would say workout and rest the next day...just walk.

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I have a question. I had a TKR 8 weeks ago and my scar is very sensitive. I've been rubbing vitamin E oil and lotion on it a couple times a day. Did anyone ever experience this? If so, how long did it take to feel "normal"?

REPLY
gailfaith | @gailfaith | Jun 28, 2017

Hi gmajen61,,,, I am replying to what you didn't say as opposed to what you did say! After 8 wks post TKR, is your only concern about the scar? If your replacement and the joint is doing fine, consider yourself very fortunate. How much bend do you have at this point? Hopefully you have close to maximum bend at this point with little of no pain that prompted you to have the surgery in the first place! If you are healing from what most people go thru after TKR, you apparently heal fast and the skin will follow suit. I was talking to someone the other day about her about husband's response to his TKR. He was in physical therapy and he called his therapist a physical terrorist! I had both knees done 2 years apart and when I showed up in about two weeks at the surgeon's office for a post surgical check, the nurse asked where was my cane. I never needed one and she said they were going to put me on a pedestal in the waiting room! If I am reading between the lines correctly, I am very happy for you. Hope to hear as how you are doing! @gailfaith

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gmajen61 | @gmajen61 | Jun 28, 2017

Hi gailfaith -- Thank you for pointing out to me how blessed I am with my knee replacement! I have some very minor concerns, and to put it in perspective, my concern about the scar is minor, too. My knee is coming along as expected for 8 weeks post-op, and in general, I'm doing very well. My range of motion is 107, and I'm working hard to increase that number. Thanks very much for your reply!

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16 replies
leh09 | @leh09 | Jun 28, 2017
In reply to @niazumbanut "I just read your post again and for sure you are doing too much PT.Who told..." + (show)
@niazumbanut

I just read your post again and for sure you are doing too much PT.Who told u to use ankle weights...makes no sense to me. The bike (stationary) should be your primary tool. Start with a height that is comfortable and gradually or weeks lower it as the bend in your knee increases.And don't PUSH gears..keep the gears low so there is very little resistance and gradually increase. I understand your moxie but you are trying to hard! Forget the no pain no gain therory,it's wrong and unless you are a kid you must rest...I would say workout and rest the next day...just walk.

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Hi gmajen61, I think the sensitivity is very normal. Mine was sensitive for about a year. At first it was VERY sensitive but gradually faded each month...as the color of the scar faded. I am 18 months post op from a PKR. I have great bend in the knee but still have trouble kneeling. I can hike again! Last month I did a 5 mile hike in the mountains that had a steep elevation gain, so not being able to kneel is an ok trade off. Best of luck to you!

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jun 28, 2017
In reply to @niazumbanut "I just read your post again and for sure you are doing too much PT.Who told..." + (show)
@niazumbanut

I just read your post again and for sure you are doing too much PT.Who told u to use ankle weights...makes no sense to me. The bike (stationary) should be your primary tool. Start with a height that is comfortable and gradually or weeks lower it as the bend in your knee increases.And don't PUSH gears..keep the gears low so there is very little resistance and gradually increase. I understand your moxie but you are trying to hard! Forget the no pain no gain therory,it's wrong and unless you are a kid you must rest...I would say workout and rest the next day...just walk.

Jump to this post

@gmajen61m I think have a pretty good pain tolerance, I was a redhead and have read that is a redhead trait. I have no recollection of my scar bothering me at all. I thought I felt normal fairly soon, I did definitely within a couple of months but my knee was not well done and I have never gotten the range of motion that I should have gotten. I discovered that the surgeon I used has been replacing with the same knee for @ 30 years. Now really, I think in that amount of time there have been improvements. My next knee replacement will be done by a stellar surgeon. But back to topic, the pain was not bad and I was able to get around well, it's just that I never did regain the ROM and that knee does hurt. I am pretty darned sure that my experience is not typical.
JK

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Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Jun 29, 2017
In reply to @gmajen61 "Hi gailfaith -- Thank you for pointing out to me how blessed I am with my..." + (show)
@gmajen61

Hi gailfaith -- Thank you for pointing out to me how blessed I am with my knee replacement! I have some very minor concerns, and to put it in perspective, my concern about the scar is minor, too. My knee is coming along as expected for 8 weeks post-op, and in general, I'm doing very well. My range of motion is 107, and I'm working hard to increase that number. Thanks very much for your reply!

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Hello @gmajen61, I would like to add my welcome to everyone else who has greeted you. If I remember correctly, the ends of the scar (top & bottom) were where I experienced the most discomfort. I was told to gently massage the scar with a fingertip to slowly decrease the sensitivity. Eventually, as with the knee, the pain will decrease and eventually disappear all together. I am 11 years out from my TKR, and the only thing that is weird with the scar and top of my knee is that I still have "dead spots" where I can't feel anything. It's more annoying than anything.

107 degrees 8 weeks out is great progress. I only made it 110 degrees in total, so keep pushing!

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win sturgeon | @cobweb | Jun 29, 2017

i made 120 with pure torture. Been 3 years and after golf i ice the tkr, the stem cell knee is fine. i am thankful i can garden on one knee. My scar is ok. Shows how tough we are. In my travels i find 3 out of 10 have bad luck with tkr. If the pollsters van publish their findings i guess i can also give my viewpoint.

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cheris | @cheris | Jun 29, 2017
In reply to @gmajen61 "Hi gailfaith -- Thank you for pointing out to me how blessed I am with my..." + (show)
@gmajen61

Hi gailfaith -- Thank you for pointing out to me how blessed I am with my knee replacement! I have some very minor concerns, and to put it in perspective, my concern about the scar is minor, too. My knee is coming along as expected for 8 weeks post-op, and in general, I'm doing very well. My range of motion is 107, and I'm working hard to increase that number. Thanks very much for your reply!

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I had TKR 18 months ago and the other 6 months ago. I still have pain and sensitivity in my scar and the area around is numb. I think some of that will last for a long time. After both replacements had bad pain in my back hip area. Never had that before. I did get an injection for pain in my SI joint which helped some. For people with swelling an pain in knee I did PT with deep tissue massage and then pool work which greatly reduced the swelling.

REPLY
win sturgeon | @cobweb | Jun 29, 2017
In reply to @gmajen61 "Hi gailfaith -- Thank you for pointing out to me how blessed I am with my..." + (show)
@gmajen61

Hi gailfaith -- Thank you for pointing out to me how blessed I am with my knee replacement! I have some very minor concerns, and to put it in perspective, my concern about the scar is minor, too. My knee is coming along as expected for 8 weeks post-op, and in general, I'm doing very well. My range of motion is 107, and I'm working hard to increase that number. Thanks very much for your reply!

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i did the pool therapy and each time my knee swelled up. Finally just sucked it up and went about my business and try to ignore the pain. Swore i would not do it again and found out about stem cells.Costly but i have my life back.

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niazumbanut | @niazumbanut | Jun 29, 2017
In reply to @gmajen61 "Hi gailfaith -- Thank you for pointing out to me how blessed I am with my..." + (show)
@gmajen61

Hi gailfaith -- Thank you for pointing out to me how blessed I am with my knee replacement! I have some very minor concerns, and to put it in perspective, my concern about the scar is minor, too. My knee is coming along as expected for 8 weeks post-op, and in general, I'm doing very well. My range of motion is 107, and I'm working hard to increase that number. Thanks very much for your reply!

Jump to this post

Wow,tell me more...had bad was your knee.I'm confused how can stem cell therapy work after you had a replacement?

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