Is it just the cold?

greyheron

Hi everyone

I'm recovering from a Total Knee Replacement for OA, it's about 2 1/2 months now since I had it, and while consultant and physio seem OK with my progress, I thought I'd be further 'along the road to recovery' by now than I seem to be.

The main problem is that my knee tends to be very stiff and ache-y when I wake up in the mornings. Some days doing my first batch of exercises loosens things up and I'm pretty pain-free for the rest of the day. Other days (like today) it doesn't seem to loosen up and the aching persists, sometimes reaching a level where I would call it pain. This is depressing ...

I gather from other threads that people with RA can find the cold and damp makes their pain worse - does anyone think it could also have an effect for post-TKR people like me too?

Wendy

lindalegs

Hi Wendy,

I had bi-lateral TKR eight years ago and I still think it's early days for you. When you consider what they've done to your leg there's alot of tissue inside which you can't see that needs to heal yet and I think you're probably being a little impatient with it.

It sounds as though you're doing all the right things if you're exercising it as instructed but are you doing too much? Do you rest your leg during the day and have you tried ice packs to help soothe the ache? If you're not doing so already could you treat yourself to a couple of paracetamols or other analgesic and sit with your feet up in the afternoon for an hour?

As well as doing the exercises rest is important too and I think you need to take care of your new knee and try to be gentle with it

Luv Legs

elnafinn

Dear Wendy

I looked back in my diary of last year and saw that I had made a note on 16 April - that was the first good night's sleep I had had in months. I had the TKR op on 4 January. I also read reference made to pain in knee/leg in the day after 2.5 months so I am sure you are doing just fine.

My consultant reminded me on a few occasions that I had undergone a major operation when I mentioned to him that I did not feel I was recovering quickly enough.

I am sure that this damp cold weather does not help anyone's moral - it does nothing for me anyway!

Love
Elna x

greyheron

Many thanks Legs and Elna - you both have the knack of getting to the heart of the matter and being reassuring and realistic at the same time. I will follow your excellent advice and keep positive!

Wendy