Connect
Comment receiving replies
My surgery was March 29. I’m 73 and have been doing exercises before and after surgery but still cannot walk normally without pain
Replies to "My surgery was March 29. I’m 73 and have been doing exercises before and after surgery..."
Hi there @sherrygk, thanks for responding. Oh my dear....you are not even a month post-surgery. I think I was just beginning to "walk around the house" without an assist at this point. And....there was always some discomfort. I was beginning to carefully keep my balance. Are you still using ice and elevation? That is such a necessary and important "treatment" several times a day to prevent and relieve pain. I had an ice wrap that fits around the knee. I could even walk with it. However, I usually hauled out my foam-tilted lift so that I was sure my knee was above my heart and just relaxed.
What kind of pain medication are you using and how often? Do you use any topical at this point? How would you describe your pain? Is it constant and sharp or does it just appear when you try to walk or do your exercises? Are you doing "sit-to-stand" exercises yet?
I sure wish I could just hold your hand right now. Can you drive a car yet? Sometimes that depends on which leg had the TKR and how your car implements the function.
Your surgeon may provide some additional advice and can take a look at your progress at this point. And finally, I would like to recommend a video about what goes on inside your knee. There are so many tissues and structures. Some have been cut or bruised and are healing. Others are finding their way around new mechanical elements that have to settle.
If you would like to take a look inside what your knee might look like at this point, I heartily recommend viewing this video. It is called "Strolling under the Skin".
And one final question......what is your PT saying about your progress and pain?
May you be safe, free, and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris
Hi Sherry, I had a TKR on January 30,2023. I am 77 it has taken me 3 months to be able to sleep at night. I take two voltaren pills a day (previously only 1 before surgery) plus 1 neurontin only at night. I still have pain on side and back of knee. It's not as bad as it was after surgery but it sure isn't what I want. Hopefully it will be gone in 6 months! It has been extremely hard to recover with all the pain, but I am trying to be optimistic.
Connect
I'm guessing the pain is in your knee when you flex it to walk. It's still early, so work on the ROM exercises you have. And give it time and ice, ice, ice.