What should my TKR feel like at 5 weeks?

brian35
brian35 Member Posts: 58
edited 14. May 2009, 05:15 in Living with Arthritis archive
I am trying to get back to normal and have done some walking, gardening and mowing and keep up the recommended exercises but my TKR feels warm, swollen, stiff and sore and this extends to my calf and ankle, which is getting me down a bit. I am still taking 6-8 500mg paracetamol and 3 200mg ibuprofen daily but am not sure these are doing much good.

I felt that I was well prepared for the op but did not realise how long getting mobility back would take. I am doing all the recommended things like elevating the leg and using ice packs. I am disappointed at my lack of progress and wonder how others found it at this stage?

Comments

  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Brian

    I think you are doing well if you have done some walking, gardening and mowing the lawn.

    I looked in my diary at 5 weeks post op and I had got up at 8.00 and done my exercises and pottered about and was ready to face the day by noon. Went on my exercise bike. I had walked to the newsagents and back (about half a mile) and commented that was far enough and I sat down and rested. Hoovered, did some ironing, and made an early dinner. I went to the supermarket later in the evening as they shut at 8.00. I was knackered and had 2 tramadol and in bed by 10.30 pm. Leg ached a bit.

    Please do not be disappointed, it is a major operation and does take a long time to get back to "normal".

    Will you be seeing your consultant at 6 weeks?

    Chin up, it will all come out in the wash!

    Best wishes
    Elna
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • brian35
    brian35 Member Posts: 58
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Elna, thanks! Was your knee/ankle warm/hot, swollen and achy at that stage? Maybe I am overdoing it. I worry that it might be infected but my OH says if it was, I would have a high temperature. I find it difficult to bend the knee when walking and tend to swing it but my daughter says I am walking better and upright.

    My follow-up is in a week, on 12 May and I was thinking of seeing my GP this week but think it better to wait as the hospital appointment is so close.

    By the way, like you we have one grandchild. She was 3 on our 50th anniversary which I spent in hospital. She comes here 3 days a week and keeps us occupied and amused!
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Brian :D

    First of all I wish to make it clear that I was taken in the car to our local supermarket and then I pushed the trolley around and got a lift back. I did not do all that on my own at 5 weeks post op!!

    I agree it is probably best to wait to see the consultant if you feel ok with this. My knee was swollen and felt inflamed for a long time, but not my ankle. I was wearing the surgical stocking thingy's up to the knee for 6 weeks. I had a great deal of pain too. My knee felt hot sometimes I remember but on mentioning this to the surgeon he was not at all worried by this.

    I tend to agree with your OH that the knee is not infected. I think you would know, you would have a fever, severe pain and not be able to put any weight on the knee.

    I expect you do have difficulty in bending the knee and walking "properly" if it is swollen.

    Aw, so you have a grand daughter too. Goodness me, you two are kept busy looking after her 3 days a week. That was bad timing being in hosptial for your 50th wedding anniversary or did you find that a good excuse not to do too much celebrating!! We did not see our grand daughter this weekend and I did miss her. I have to wait until Wednesday afternoon but will look after her again for a few hours on Sunday too. :D

    Best wishes
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,397
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Brian,

    I think you could be overdoing things a bit, even with power assisted mowers you must be twisting your knee into unfamiliar positions when manoeuvering it around the garden. This is totally different to walking. I find that when going to the Supermarket and pushing a trolley around the aisles and round the corners my knees can get sore at the end with the weight of a weeks shopping in it.

    I can't remember pain down to my calves and ankles I got more of a stiff and tight feeling around the joints and still can nearly 9 years on especially if I've done too much.

    Try not to be too impatient with it afterall it's still early days yet.

    Luv Legs :D
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • brian35
    brian35 Member Posts: 58
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Elna and Linda! Things are a bit better today. I can cope with our local Waitrose but made my first foray to Asda after the TKR on Friday. That was a bit of an ordeal!

    Maybe I'm on the mend after the kind words from both of you!
  • greyheron
    greyheron Member Posts: 167
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    brian35 wrote:
    Thanks Elna and Linda! Things are a bit better today. I can cope with our local Waitrose but made my first foray to Asda after the TKR on Friday. That was a bit of an ordeal!

    Maybe I'm on the mend after the kind words from both of you!

    Hi Brian!

    Just wanted to add to the very helpful things Elna and Linda said.

    I didn't keep a diary like Elna but I'm pretty sure that at 5 weeks I felt very much in the 'recovery / work in progress' stage. I was walking well but if I did too much (and it's hard to gauge what 'too much' is till you've done it!), the knee would be painful. My knee was hot down one side which was worrying but the consultant assured me at my 6 week check-up that it was nothing to worry about, just the knee adjusting to 'all the hardware' that's in there. And as I've posted before on this site, the bending was a struggle!

    The only difference is that my calf and ankle did not join in - but I have read on information sheets that that can happen. Obviously I'm not a medical person so I would suggest maybe ringing your GP if it continues? Or perhaps you have your follow-up soon?

    All in all what you describe sounds very normal to me and it sounds to me like you are definitely 'on the mend' - but it is a long process and you have to adjust your mind to that. You are right to keep as active as possible (and don't forget the exercises!) but as everyone says, do try and keep a balance between rest and activity and 'listen to your body'.

    All the best and keep us updated!

    Wendy
  • brian35
    brian35 Member Posts: 58
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Had this yesterday and surgeon said all was OK and gave me clearance to drive and swim, but not do the breast stroke as a TKR cannot cope with the movement.

    I said I was a bit disappointed with my progress but he said I was too impatient and that most people did not thank him until 3 months was up. He assured me that things should settle by then and offered to do my right knee if and when I needed it - I think I will.
  • greyheron
    greyheron Member Posts: 167
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    brian35 wrote:
    Had this yesterday and surgeon said all was OK and gave me clearance to drive and swim, but not do the breast stroke as a TKR cannot cope with the movement.

    I said I was a bit disappointed with my progress but he said I was too impatient and that most people did not thank him until 3 months was up. He assured me that things should settle by then and offered to do my right knee if and when I needed it - I think I will.

    Hi Brian

    Great news - sounds like you're doing really well!

    Have you been referred for physio? Consultants seem to differ on this but my consultant likes his patients to do exercises at home for the 1st 6 weeks, then provided everything is OK at the 6 week appointment he then refers for physio.

    Because my appointment with him was just before Christmas I had to wait another 2 weeks before starting physio, so it was 8 weeks after the op.

    I started physio in the hospital 'gym' but was then recommended to hydrotherapy, I had twice weekly individual sessions for two weeks, then a review, then another four sessions of hydrotherapy. It really made a difference to the flexibility, bending, straightening and strength of my leg. I have continued on attending hydrotherapy maintenance sessions with up to 4 patients at a time - again, I find this really beneficial.

    I am also trying to keep on with exercises at home although to be honest it's hard to find the time (motivation?) now that I'm back at work and living what passes for a normal life!

    Anyway, that's my experience - what have you been offered?

    Keep well and keep going steady! (I used to have a narrow boat and keep going steady is what the old working boatmen used to advise - don't rush but don't dawdle!()

    Wendy
  • lindah
    lindah Member Posts: 445
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Nice one Brian.
    Keep up the improvement,it's great to see positive outcomes.
    Linda H 8)
  • brian35
    brian35 Member Posts: 58
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Wendy & all, thanks for your comments. I was not offered physio and forgot to ask but will contact the Outreach Team at the Community Hospital where my wife had physio for her neck and back.

    The US book I bought has many useful exercises using stairs, kitchen etc. and we have a weekly half hour slot in a private pool.

    First drive yesterday. I found the clutch action a bit difficult but had a reasonable night's sleep and the knee is not too bad today.