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After knee replacement surgery

Joint Replacements | Last Active: Oct 27, 2021 | Replies (618)

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@johnbishop

Just thought I would give an update on my progress. My right foot and leg still remain swollen quite a bit although my rehab is going well and I don't have any pain to speak of. I think I can get the knee to almost zero and the flexion is close to 120+. It's been a little over 4 weeks since the knee replacement surgery and I was getting a little concerned with the amount of swelling in my right leg since it looks similar to when I was diagnosed with lymphedema and started wearing compression socks. Haven't been able to wear them since the surgery but I did buy two pairs of zippered compression socks that I can get on and have used them off and on but they didn't seem to help so stopped wearing them too.

Yesterday my surgeons assistant called for follow up and I told her all was well except the swelling. She asked me to contact my local care team and have them take a look. I sent a message with photos on my patient portal and got a call that I should come in. I went in yesterday and the nurse practitioner gave me an exam then wrapped the leg and ankle and sent me to get some tests D-Dimer, CRP, and the test for uric acid for gout. I got the results last night on the patient portal - the D-Dimer was 2010 ng/mL FEU -- Normal range <=500 ng/mL FEU and the other two were normal. She explained to me yesterday that the D-Dimer test indicates the presence of broken up pieces of a blood clot and if it comes back positive I will need more tests to verify it it is a blood clot and locate where it's at in the leg.

I woke up last night around 2 am with a pain in my leg which I think was caused by the wrap. I took it off and boy did my leg look funny when I removed the wrap - an unswollen circle around the leg where one of the wraps were tighter. This morning the leg seems less swollen so I took another photo and sent another message to the care team on the patient portal. I'm waiting to hear back now to see when they can schedule the follow up tests.

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Replies to "Just thought I would give an update on my progress. My right foot and leg still..."

Good luck to you. My swelling lasted 6 years and now told it has come lose. I dread another replacement. Pain for 6 years but i use ice and hope for the best. Do not trust my surgeon.

@johnbishop- Oh John, it's always something extra isn't it? Blood clots are scary but since you have stayed on top of it I hope that all will be fine.

@johnbishop, Oh Dear. And everything was going so well. Thank you for sharing with all of us. We are your support team and cheerleaders. Chris

@johnbishop - Wow! That must be scary. I didn't quite understand the D-Dimer test. I think you said it was normal but then it sounded as if the nurse was explaining that it could be pieces of a blood clot? I think you are so wise to keep sending them photos and stay on top of anything that doesn't look 100% right. Even though you don't seem to be in pain, the swelling would concern me too. Does it impede your mobility? Are you still using a cane or any kind of support? At 4 weeks, you may have already quit the cane, but I think I would go back to it until the swelling subsides. I think the swelling could impact your balance. Please let us know what the results are of your last photo submission. Take it easy!!

@johnbishop Keep us posted, I hope all is going well and that it is not a clot.
JK