1. < Joint Replacements

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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JK | @contentandwell | Apr 20, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "JK I moved the pedals back to make the stride a little longer for the elliptical..." + (show)
@johnbishop

JK I moved the pedals back to make the stride a little longer for the elliptical and was able to do 10 minutes after my last post. The pedals were at the end of their travel for the bike and it stressed the knee pretty good. I think I might stay with the elliptical until I can get more flexion in the knee. I do like the bike the best since I can sit ☺

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@johnbishop Ten minutes is great! I do the elliptical at my club and barely make it to 20 minutes. I manage to do just over a mile in that amount of time.
JK

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1 reply
ellerbracke | @ellerbracke | Apr 20, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@johnbishop Ten minutes is great! I do the elliptical at my club and barely make it..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@johnbishop Ten minutes is great! I do the elliptical at my club and barely make it to 20 minutes. I manage to do just over a mile in that amount of time.
JK

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To all the landlubbers and gym rats..... I’ve been heavily concentrating on swimming for exercise since it is so gentle and really loosens up the knee for the whole day. Currently up to 1/2 mile 2 to 3 days/week, once I got crazy and did 100 10-meter laps (55 minutes, part-time dodging fellow exercisers in the pool). For some reason recumbent bike aggravates my behind after 20 intense minutes (heart rate of 120 to 125), but I’m sure it is also great for getting the knee back in shape.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 8, 2019

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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5 replies
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | May 8, 2019

Thanks for the update, John, @johnbishop. Sorry to hear that a blood clot might be an issue. Has anyone suggested taking a children's aspirin? If not, you might ask about it. Will you provide updates as time goes on? Praying that all goes well for you.

On another note: For those of you who know @harriethodgson1, she is having heart surgery (I get the impression today or very soon).

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2 replies
win sturgeon | @cobweb | May 8, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "Just thought I would give an update on my progress. My right foot and leg still..." + (show)
@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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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.

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2 replies
Harriet Hodgson | @harriethodgson1 | May 8, 2019

I'm having surgery in a few hours. A cardiac surgeon is going to replace my failing mitral valve with a pig valve.

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4 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | May 8, 2019
In reply to @johnbishop "Just thought I would give an update on my progress. My right foot and leg still..." + (show)
@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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@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.

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | May 8, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Thanks for the update, John, @johnbishop. Sorry to hear that a blood clot might be an..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Thanks for the update, John, @johnbishop. Sorry to hear that a blood clot might be an issue. Has anyone suggested taking a children's aspirin? If not, you might ask about it. Will you provide updates as time goes on? Praying that all goes well for you.

On another note: For those of you who know @harriethodgson1, she is having heart surgery (I get the impression today or very soon).

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Hi Teresa @hopeful33250, the surgeon put me on chew-able baby aspirin twice a day starting the day of the surgery. I'm still taking one in the morning and one at night. The nurse also mentioned it to me yesterday and said it's good that I'm on it.

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curlsnj | @curlsnj | May 8, 2019
In reply to @harriethodgson1 "I'm having surgery in a few hours. A cardiac surgeon is going to replace my failing..." + (show)
@harriethodgson1

I'm having surgery in a few hours. A cardiac surgeon is going to replace my failing mitral valve with a pig valve.

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Best to.you!!

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lioness | @lioness | May 8, 2019
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Thanks for the update, John, @johnbishop. Sorry to hear that a blood clot might be an..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Thanks for the update, John, @johnbishop. Sorry to hear that a blood clot might be an issue. Has anyone suggested taking a children's aspirin? If not, you might ask about it. Will you provide updates as time goes on? Praying that all goes well for you.

On another note: For those of you who know @harriethodgson1, she is having heart surgery (I get the impression today or very soon).

Jump to this post

@johnbishop I'm sorry to hear about the blood clots I've also been on baby aspirin since my heart surgery have you thought about this ?

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