Total Knee Replacement: Swelling

@mamndink : Yes, you are expecting too much, too soon. I did not keep notes, but I remember well that I had a tight feeling - like a tourniquet around the knee - for at least 2 months, and the swelling took a really long time to go down. At the 6 month mark the TKR knee was finally at the point where it looked normal. The process was gradual, and extra activity usually made it worse. Hang in there, don’t overdo it. Even at 11 months after the surgery the TKR knee is still noticeably warmer than the other one, and it still feels foreign, even though it works perfectly fine. Perhaps because I am one of the unlucky people with a distinct clicking noise and crunchy feeling when walking. OS says it’s ok, many people have that. I’d prefer not to!

Thank you!

FYI: I decided this morning to actually measure my knees; had not done that in forever, since they look exactly the same size now. BUT: (11 months after TKR, and before doing any exercise today), the original knee is 14 1/4”, the TKR knee 15”, measured while sitting on the floor, legs straight out and relaxed. So I either still have some latent swelling, or there is a minor amount of extra (internal scar?) tissue there. No symptoms though that I can tell. Anyway, just wanted to mention this.

Should I have constant calf swelling 4 months after knee replacement?

4 months ago I had full knee replacement surgery, when I start to walk my calf swells.

Hello @donelpaso, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm a little over a year out from having my right knee replaced. I had a lot of swelling for a few months after my TKR. Mostly I think because I was lax on doing what my surgeon told me to do -- ice and elevate the leg and knee often. I had a different view of what often meant. At my followup with him a few months after the surgery he told me again that I should be doing it any chance I got during the day. I also have lymphedema and I normally wear compression socks over the calves. The swelling got better for me once I started elevating my leg and using ice on the knee after I did any exercises or walking during the day. I'm pretty sure I had some swelling past the six month mark.

Have you mentioned the swelling to your surgeon or care team?

I'm 10 months into a TKR and still have swelling that stays constant. I'm active and don't have pain to speak of. My range of motion is good. But the swelling is always there. I saw my surgeon and he didn't have anything to say about it.

You mention that you are active and you don't have pain. Maybe it's the activity that is causing swelling? Are you able to ice and/or elevate your leg during the day to see if it helps?

Thank you for your reply. I haven't iced it or raised it because I don't want to spend the rest of my life doing this all the time. The swelling is annoying, but since I don't have pain I don't want to mess with the hassle of icing all the time.

I wouldn't think you would have to ice and elevate for an extended time. I was just thinking you might want to try it for a period of time to see if the swelling goes down. It might be something else causing the swelling also so I guess if it were me, I would give my surgeon or care team a call to see what they suggest.