Good evening @brenda65 and before we explore your TKR recovery let me welcome you to Connect. It just so happens that I had my second TKR in August. I am 79 years old. When you speak about physical therapy are you at an Orthopedic facility? Are you also using ice and elevating your knee above your heart? I just re-read some medical research and it does indicate that the surgery is perhaps the best way to handle osteoarthritis in the knee. However.....stiffness is one of the post surgery situations that was mentioned as problematic.

This surgery and the recovery was amazingly easy for me to deal with for a couple of reasons. #1, I started pre-op exercises a month before the surgery. #2. I had robotic same day surgery. That went very well and was much more accurate and was also minimally less invasive than the regular surgery.

So what are you thinking of doing now? You are O.K. with the post surgery exercises......walking, stretching, practicing balance and other recommended movements. Have you ever heard of Myofascial Release Therapy? After my PT session I went directly to my MFR therapist so that she could eliminate residual pain and compression. The result was that I had less pain and more movement. My ROM was 137 degrees and I had "0" extension. I had no problem driving and was able to handle stairs in a few weeks. I know that some recovery periods can take 12-18 mos. I feel so blessed to have been able to move more quickly.

What has your surgeon shared with you about your situation? Has he mentioned the possibility of scar tissue build up?

If you could tell me more about your sleep patterns and any other post surgery symptoms, I will be here to help you.

Chris

Hello @brenda65. I'd like to add my welcome along with @artscaping who has come in to share some of her own experiences which I hope you find helpful.

You will notice that I have moved your post into an existing discussion by another member who also was experiencing some of your same concerns. I hope you and @4russcoll might also be able to connect to compare notes on your knee replacements.

12 weeks is early I would hope your physical therapist has given u exercises to do at home to help this I’m i7 months post op and feel like I have regular knee having said that I do my exercise regimen given to me by my therapist to continue for ever so far so good.

Hello Brenda. I was mentioned by Amanda and will share my experience.
TKR left knee April 2021 that I consider highly successful. 9 months out: occasional minor soreness, mostly after exercise + some continued tightness that I attribute mostly to continued healing. A year is not an under estimate.
Flexibility 110 +. I really haven’t bothered measuring lately but whatever the “number” good enough for me.
I had flexibility problems until post-op swelling finally reduced at about 6 weeks. A course of prednisone helped a lot.
I found icing several times a day and elevation- particularly after exercise - critical for first 3 months to control pain and swelling.
I am not a PT but exercise followed by being non-functional due to pain and stiffness? Could be doing too much too soon?
Hope you are able to figure out what works best for you.