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Dawn, Alumni Mentor avatar

Severe leg cramps: How do you relax severe leg cramps?

Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Apr 14 7:42am | Replies (256)
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Profile picture for marthas2026 @marthas2026

Hello. I am 69 years old and had total knee replacement 3 weeks ago (January 27th, 2026.) I'm in physical therapy 2x per week and using a walker. Although I'm making progress, I feel I should be further along. My anxiety is through the roof, and pain is still a 7 -10 most days. Sleeping less than 4 hours in a 24 hour period. Is anyone out there experiencing the same? I'm alone for 12 hours per day as my husband works long hours. So it's a lot to take care of myself but doing the best I can. I'd like to chat to share my frustration with others in the same situation. Husband doesn't want to hear it. He says I'm lazy because I can't walk without the walker yet. I hope someone out there will respond to this post. Thank you, M

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Replies to "Hello. I am 69 years old and had total knee replacement 3 weeks ago (January 27th,..."
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Feb 17 7:37am

Hello @marthas2026, Welcome to Connect. Sorry to hear you are struggling after your knee replacement. You are not alone and you might want to join others in the following discussion to learn what they have shared.
-- Total Knee Replacement Pain Levels: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/total-knee-replacement-pain-levels/

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steveinarizona | @steveinarizona | Feb 18 6:19am

@marthas2026

Recovery from a TKR is a bell curve. I had a great and successful RTKR (no pain). My surgeon's recovery protocol is to be a couch potato for the first week and to use the walker that week. The second week he had me start some household activities but he did not have me start PT until the third week.

You are only in that third week. Recovery from a TKR is unpredictable. I have seen many instances of a person having two knee replacements done separately: same surgeon, same implant, same method, etc. yet the recovery from each can be very different.

See if you can get your husband to sample the comments here and in the Reddit knee replacement subreddit to see the variability of recovery.

You are not lazy and you are not doing anything wrong. Keep up the PT...it is critically important.

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