post full knee replacement advice

[Spurslad]

I had a full knee replacement on 28/4/23, so just over a week post op. Have to say most painful thing EVER! Really struggled to get on top of pain relief and have ended up in local a&e due to how ill I was feeling, changed meds for last couple of days but feel a little better at this stage. Struggled with rehab exercises due to severe pain, concern I have now is, knee although painful seemed lose, yesterday muscles around knee seemed to have gone into a “locked” state, and has really restricted my movement which is worrying me greatly!Anyone had something similar and does it pass? Focused on rehab and getting better but worried they will have to give me another op to loosen the muscles around my knee, any advice/support would be amazing to try and out my mind at rest! Thank you 😊

[cyberbarn]

I haven't had a knee replaced, but have had several surgeries on my feet, and one week post op is probably the hardest time to get through. That is when the inflammation will have built up, which is a good thing as that is part of the healing process, but it can also cause pain, and as we now know, inflammation can affect the brain and cause depression too. I always called it the one week post op blues!

So while things might seem like they aren't going in the right direction at the moment, this too shall pass as they say. This is your body doing its thing to heal, and although it might seem like it will last forever, it won't.

So relax if you can, take one day at a time, and know that all those pesky pacman like molecules causing the inflammation are doing their job of cleaning things up, and the other molecules that are rushing around to the joint are also doing their job, and in a few days time, they will be finished and you will be at the next stage of recovery!

[Spurslad in reply to cyberbarn]

Hey cyber, thanks for the message mate much appreciated. And know this is part and parcel of post op, just didn’t realise or appreciate how hard it was gonna hit me! Seems like I have one good day and then two bad, which is frustrating but just gotta take a breath and understand that this is the process! Swelling is def going down but bruising is coming out lovely! Never knew bruising could be so many different colours lol

Had some amazing advice from you guys, meds, rest, ice, exercises and repeat! Just need to stay focused and with help and support from people like you then I can/will!

Thanks again mate and hope you have a great day!!

[TheBoys in reply to Spurslad]

hi Spurslad

I found your posts and wanted to ask how you were coping now since your knee op.

I saw a friend in the pub the other day and he wasn’t as well as I thought he’d be following his procedure in N London a few weeks back.

Cheers

[Spurslad in reply to TheBoys]

Hey Boys,

Hope your good mate! Tbh first week was hell and I do mean awful!! Need to make sure your on top of the pain, take any medication they will give you, which allows you to start rehab straight away, that was my mistake, not enough meds!

I’m 9 weeks post op, back in the gym and started driving! Still have quite abit of swelling/fluid around knee, which makes my knee cap click at points but not all the time, but this will go once the swelling/fluid reduces further.

Have to say best thing I’ve done and left knee is due early 2024, and have no hesitation to get it done! Word of advice, do as much work on your leg muscles before an op as this will help in recovery, again I didn’t but definitely doing it now!!

Happy to answer anything else but hope I’ve covered most lol

[TheBoys in reply to Spurslad]

That’s great news - it’s good to see how people are getting on.

I reckon I ll end up going down the private route as have bad pain for 5?years now and can’t handle it getting worse.

Cheers

Paul

[Spurslad in reply to TheBoys]

best thing I’ve done mate! Could barely walk and now no pain, no giving way and no grinding! Private is def good! Was treated like a king lol

Key thing is the rehab, as painful and as much as you might not want to do it, DO IT! Cannot stress it enough!

Do the rehab, don’t put too much pressure on yourself and take the meds lol

[TheBoys in reply to Spurslad]

ta

I felt the NHS guy was palming me off a bit - heaven knows if left to him I’d be crippled. So fingers crossed I ll get somewhere from next week and be able to organise something after get re married.

[Spurslad in reply to TheBoys]

Firstly good luck with the marriage mate!!

And I was lucky was nhs but due to waiting so long referred private, and now other knee will also be done private, so ask for that referral if possible!

Hospital near me is using a robot for the op takes away the risk of a crap surgeon lol

[TheBoys in reply to Spurslad]

hope all goes well with the other one and tnx for the advice as well ! Cheers .

[Spurslad in reply to TheBoys]

welcome mate give me a shout anytime will be happy to update you! 👍🏻

[TheBoys]

cheers thanks for that mate - COYS btw!