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Left TKR ice or heat
Hey all. Do you use ice or heat on your knee and leg. Before surgery heat was my go to, but I didn't have much swelling, mostly pain. Now at 3and1/2 weeks I have swelling and some pain and I know heat would feel so good. But, I do not want to make the swelling worse. Thanks
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When I first had my TKR my go-to was definitely ice (specifically for the swelling). My surgeon and therapist both told me that either would work ... but ... ice does help with more with swelling. Hang in there - it "does" get better! I am now 8 months post-op of my first knee replacement and am "counting the days" to get my other knee done this August!!!!!
Thanks, if you are having your other knee done, it must really get better. Right now I am lending to wishing I never did this. But my leg was starting to bow and I knew it had to be done.
I am at 5 1/2 wks. My doctor stressed ice packs...not heat. And the ice packs do help. I use them frequently every day.
@topdog11, it gets better, it just takes time. My recovery from a total right knee replacement and two following manipulations took quite some time. Ultimately, I ended up with 0-105 mobility, but no more pain. I had a hard-fought and slow recovery, slower than most, but in the end, it was absolutely the right decision. I understand how frustrating the swelling, pain, and rehab can be. There were days that I didn't get out of bed, but you can do it. I had to learn to set mini goals that I could accomplish over the course of a few days or a week rather than focusing on the immediate task. Keep your head up, things can and will get better.
I only used ice and was instructed not to use heat, but I also have a rare genetic bleeding disorder where my blood doesn't clot on its own without my medicine, so heat when there is internal swelling is admittedly my nemesis!
I'm 4 months out from a partial knee replacement and still ice several times daily.
Thanks guys. Just to let you know I soak in hot water for about 15 minutes before I go to PT. I really don't know if it is the right thing to do or not. Yesterday was the first time time I did it and my PT said it looked like my knee finally gave and I might be over the hump. I iced after PT. So it helped me. But last night was the worse night I have had since replacement. Did the heat and loosening everything up make me go to far in PT? I don't know. Today, I still have a good bend and stretch, which usually the day after PT falls back quite a bit. I am not telling anyone to do what I am doing just passing on what seems to help me. I will try heat and ice Friday before I go to PT, and depending on my night, will decide weather to continue or not.