Total Knee Replacement

[down_home]

I've mentioned the subject here before but...
It has now been a bit over eight weeks since, I had it done on left knee.
Still lots of pain and popping. The outside or left side of the knee still, is inflamed and swells pretty large, making the knee and leg stiff and hurt more at times.
I was prescribed Oxycodine and it ran out, could get more up to three months. I've gone back to the Hydrocodine , fro back from VA to cover it and back.
pretty well worn itself.My left leg is now maybe an 1/8 to a little more longer than right which is pretty well worn itself.
How long did it take for others to recover completely?
Were you able to resume yard work etc?

[emzee]

Thunder Mountain weird you mentioned clicking. I had my LTKR June 30th 2014. I have given up on pain pills, do not like them. I am pill free thank God, but it comes with a few drawbacks like no sleep and bit shivery for a couple of days. Rather than than feeling weird.

But I do have that clicking you talked about, sure hope it goes away. It's on the outside of my knee, feels like a knuckle that needs cracked or pulled, then pop. Hate it. I am doing good other than that though, no pain to speak of and use a cane outside the house, just in case.

Down home, boy you have had way too much going on all at once. How is your wife doing??

[Tiger4x4RV]

I've had two TKR's, 2008 and 2013. My recommendations: exercise as prescribed, ice, and not letting the pain get ahead of you. I was back to light hiking 11 weeks after the first TKR, about 8 weeks after the second. Your results may vary. Don't do too much too soon.

Your legs need to be the same length or other problems will start happening - hips, other knee, tendons, etc. Talk to your doctor ASAP about this concern.

Re the meds: During the painful period, I took meds on schedule so that the pain would not build up to being unmanageable. I reduced dosage methodically, by lengthening the time between doses in small increments. This worked well for me. Don't just stop your meds all at once.

I still do my own yard work, but find kneeling (for weeding and such) quite painful. Try some different tools. I got a Hula Hoe and often use it instead of the hand weeding I used to do.

Yes, new knees have their problems, but those problems are not usually as bad as the awful pain of the old worn-out knees.

[Thunder_Mountai]

Sorry to hear about your continued pain. Something just doesn't seem right to me. One leg longer than the other, pain, swelling, redness and still on Hydrocodone? I would be camped out on the doctor's doorstep. Sounds like scar tissue that my need to be removed using a scope. Not to sound preachy at you, but I hope you have made rehab your full time job.

I was off all narcotics after 4 days. Used Tylenol to help sleep after that. I used lots of ice and elevation. During the rehab period I was either at the gym strength training, on an exercise bike, or walking in addition to rehab exercises two to three times a day. When I was exhausted I would take a day completely off.

I was kicked out of rehab at 7 weeks and dismissed by the doctor at 7 1/2 weeks. At 10 weeks I was hiking the Superstition Wilderness in AZ. It took several months for the clicking to go away when I walked on flat ground. I was about 6 months out before I felt fully recovered.

Most of the people I know are pretty much fully recovered from TKR in four to six months. My TKR was probably the exception rather than the normal.

Don't know how the VA works or doesn't work, but I really would be asking some very serious questions of my doctor and getting a second opinion.

[WyoTraveler]

I was in my 70s when I had left knee done. Took about a year. Been about 3 years now and I still get some aching if I do lots of exercise. I find sitting in recliner with leg propped up with pillows above heart helps. I was still getting swelling after 2 years if I farmed all day and on and off the tractor throwing bales of hay. Knee still pops. Not as good as real knee hut better than before surgery.

[Mfan]

I had 2 total replacements done on same day. I was back to work in 90 days driving or semi. Exercise, exercise.

[robert_elling]

Had a left TKR done 12-18-91, by the VA. Took about 4 months to get back to not using crutches or a cane. Did the therapy. Could not tolerate the narcotics for pain so I was on IB800, for pain. Fast forward to this month. Great pain on left side of left knee. X-rays, and MRI's. Knee is solid and in great shape. Left hip is on the verge of replacement, as that is where the pain is coming from. Recovery differs from one person to the next. There is no set time. Lay on your left side, and flex your leg. Lay on your back and lift your left leg for a count of 10 seconds and slowly let the leg back down. I did this exercise every 3 hours each morning. The one laying on my side, I did as much as I could.

Robert
FLY NAVY

[ChuckV1]

Up to a year depending on the person, keep up the PT and exercise
even at home you will heal faster, if you have continued problems
call your doctor and make a appointment, don't wait. The two worset
things you can do to yourself is let a problem go and there other
is sit around, i'm not say run the mile but keep moving only if
it's only to walk across the room a couple times a day....Good luck

[wayfun]

I had a knee replaced in 2012. I was at about 80% after 2 months and recovered to 95% at 6 months. I guess 100% came at about 18 months. Do the therapy. My range of motion equals my non-surgical knee. Good luck.

Dennis

[darsben]

I worked in a hospital for close to 30 years in X-ray, the O.R. and working with orthopods. I used to see a lot of post TKA patients and it was a good 5 - 6 months before they were feeling good. The ones who did the best were the ones that did their exercises every day. Lots of guys would try to B.S and say they were doing the exercise.
Take your pain meds to keep your pain at a minimal level do NOT try to tough it out. You cannot play catch up with pain.