5 months post TKR

Hello,
I think it may be that you are sitting and maybe it's causing the swelling and stiffness. Well here's a couple questions. Can you ice it at work?
Do you by chance have a tens machine you can wear at work? Can you get a little stool to elevate your foot periodically through the day?
Amazon has ice packs that wrap around your leg like a knee brace, that might help. Good luck to you.

I ice while I work. Take extra steps when I’m up. I do have the portable leg compressors from surgery.
Elevate sometimes during lunch.
Thank you for the suggestions.

Hello @aml01, I would like to add my welcome to Connect with @roxxxy2626 and others. I was working from home and sitting at my computer for long periods of time also when I had my TKR. I found that I could do several of the leg exercises (ankle pumps and raising the leg while sitting) once or twice an hour which helped. I used another chair to elevate the leg but @roxxxy2626 suggestion for getting a little stool would be better. I also had canvas like gel packs that you could put in the freezer and used them several times a day. If you have a refrigerator at work you could get a couple of sets of the ice packs and rotate them during the day.

The icing and elevating along with the exercise is extremely important for the recovery process. My surgeon scolded me pretty good at my TKR surgery follow up exam because we had different ideas of how much icing and elevating was required. I thought a couple of times a day was enough and got a rude awakening that it was not enough. He basically said if I wasn't exercising, walking or sleeping, I should be icing and/or elevating.

I have seen on YouTube exercising in a chair.

I can appreciate one must return to work but, I’m now 5 mos out too and if I didn’t do my exercises I’d be in trouble. Im still needing to do them 2x day and as long as I do I have very little to no stiffness. And yes, icing will help with the swelling. I’ve been able to cut that back to once or twice a day. I know it’s hard working it all in (and I’m fortunate to be retired) but my bet is if you can find the energy to do the exercises even if you’re tired, in short order you’ll find yourself with less stiffness and will be better able to continue with the routine. Add in some of the quick chair exercises noted here and icing at your desk should (hopefully) leave you much more comfortable. I can empathize - it’s real work to recover from this surgery and we have only so much time and energy. Best wishes.

Thank you all for your support and suggestions.
I know I need to do better. I know we all recover differently, but I guess I was also needing to see how others are feeling at the 4-5 month mark.
I’ve noticed most people talk about pain. I have next to nothing pain. It’s mainly the swelling and stiffness that makes it difficult to walk.

I don't know the answer, but swelling is slow to decrease when you have to sit for such long periods. Is there any chance you could work from home and find a way to either use a recliner or otherwise get some elevation for the knee, take more frequent walking breaks, and ice?

Without other info, that sounds like the issue. Fortunately I was retired when I had my knees replaced. I wish you all the best.

I work as a call center rep 2-4 days a week and calls come in back to back. I try to get 15 minutes in at least once a day, which isn’t always possible and I take extra steps when I get up to get prints and mailings. Working from home is not an option at this point. I also ice my knee. I recently bought ice bags with screw in lids and have a velcro strap so I don’t have keep holding it in place. I ordered from TEMU.

Finding some chair exercises to do as you are working as opposed to stopping work for mini sessions might improve the benefits. I don't know your work station situation and you may feel awkward if coworkers are watching, although I'm sure they would understand. One simple exercise that is recommended and simple is ankle pumps. Extend your legs under your desk and flex and point your toes firmly up and down 10-15 times or as long as you can stand, you can vary your leg position. You could easily do this many times an hour as you were talking on the phone, and it beats doing nothing! Check for videos on the internet if you need a visual example.

Hi John. Did your surgeon say how long you should be icing? I’m at five months too.