Question:
HAVE ANYONE HAD KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY AND FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO WALK AGAIN

I HAD MY A RIGHT KNEE TOTALLY REPLACED ON JULY 11TH 08 AND EVEN NOW AFTER ALL THESE MONTHS I'M WALKING ON A WALKER THE PAIN HAS IMPROVED GREATLY, THE STIFFNESS IS THERE BUT I'M ABLE TO GET UP AND DOWN. THE PROBLEM I'M FACING IS THAT MY OTHER KNEE (LEFT) ALSO NEEDS TO BE DONE. I FEEL THE REASON I'M HAVING SO MANY ISSUES IS BECAUSE MY OTHER KNEE IS ALSO SO BAD. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN RELATE TO MY CONDITION, OR OFFER ANY ADVICE. I THOUGHT I WOULD BE UP WALKING ON MY OWN BY NOW, BUT NOT SO. PLEASE HELP ME I FEEL LIKE I'M THE ONLY ONE THIS HAPPENING TO. — 2QT4U (posted on December 19, 2008)

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December 18, 2008
Hi, i just had total knee replacement done on my left knee on Nov. 20th. I still have alot of stiffness and swelling, but i am walking with a cane now. The dr said the stiffness and swelling can be there for 6 months or more. But the key to getting better is moving, no matter how much it hurts. I am still getting pt 3x a week at home, but was basically released on thursday. I see my surgeon on mon, and they will now send me to outpatient rehab. I am using a small floor peddle machine. Believe me it hurts, but i know i have to do it. I was told if you don't get it to bend in the first 3 weeks, you can have problems the rest of your life. The main thing is do alot of stretching of the calf and handstring muscles, and alot of marching in place, kick out to the sides, etc. You have to try to get through the stiffness. It's not easy, but you really have to work it. When you're done exercising, use ice for the swelling, then later on use heat and keep massaging the knee with your fingers. I hope this helps somewhat, and i hope you get better soon. If you need to get copies of the exercises i'm doing please message me and i'll send you a copy. Take care, and happy holidays.
— Darlene G.

December 18, 2008
Hi, Although I haven't had a total knee replacement I have had knee surgery and am looking at more surgery sometime this year. I have to say that physical therapy helped but water exercise was wonderful. Side stepping and walking with resistance sure went a long way in strengthening my muscles. Take care!
— mannecote

December 18, 2008
Hi, I had a total left knee replacement in August,06 and went to rehab for ten days after surgery. I had intense PT and during this time was encouraged to walk, stretch the muscles, knee bends, etc. During rehab my right knee totally gave out and I had total right knee replacement 8 weeks after left knee surgery. I went right back to intense PT at a rehab center and started outpatient PT as soon as I got home. It was very intense. My PT said it was crutial to get both knees bending asap. It has been 2 years now, although they get stiff in the cold, (I live in Buffalo N.Y.) it was the best thing I ever did. I was walking without a cane after six months, and use one in winter months for safety on ice.,etc. I still do home exercises and work out on machines as often as I can to keep mobility. You have to keep them moving to ensure mobility! It's hard but well worth the effort. Donna
— donna.williams

December 18, 2008
Bees Knees and Turtle Soup!! I did not have a total knee replacement, but exploratory surgery to figure out my it felt like I had broken glass under my knee cap - so painful. Prior to surgery my pain levels were (on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst pain ever) at a 15! My range of motion was minimal and strength in that area was a joke. So I went for exploratory surgery - couldn't live that way. Personally, I think my surgeon went in and scrambled eggs in my knee - because now (even 5 years later) I still have issues with my knee. Granted, losing 145lbs and being a lightweight size 4 now since WLS - it has helped, BUT I still do not have strength in my knee - it still gives out all of the time and the pain, although not a 15 anymore - it can still get to a 7 or 8 still if it's totally pissed off at me. I walked with crutches for 4 months after surgery (both then just one). I went from crutches to a cane - for another 5 months. I ditched the cane (finally) and was in extensive PT - I walk w/o any aid now, but for around a year after my surgery I needed something as I couldn't stand or walk for that matter w/o some sort of aid as I had NO strength in my knee after surgery. Knees are the worst thing to operate on - I would rather walk over broken glass with my tongue on fire than have knee surgery again. Truly. It was the WORST experience for me. You are not alone in your issues. I hope things get better for you. Good luck with the other knee.
— jammerz

December 19, 2008
I'm an RN on a post-op joint replacement unit and I'm curious as to what your orthopaedic surgeon has to say about your difficulty with mobility. Our patients are out of bed and walking the morning following surgery. While I know that it's very difficult, ambulation and range of motion (active and/or passive) is crucial during the first several weeks post-op to success. Please, talk to your surgeon to rule out any problems and possibly order physical therapy.
— lee_rn

December 19, 2008
Hi I want you to know that your situation sounds a lot like mine. I had my first knee done on March 31 2008. I never had a clue how hard the recovery would be. After 8 weeks of therapy I was able to walk without any assistance (walker or cane). But the knee still was very painful, especially at night after I had worked all day. The reason being by other knee needed to be replaced. i had my second knee done September 25, 2008. I am just finishing by last therapy treatment next week. i will have to say this recovery time is much better and it does not keep me up at night. The real key to all of this is you have to continue to exercise those new knees for the rest of our lives. I hope they have given you exercises to do at home, walking, steps, leg lifts, and many others; they all help. I hope that you can get your second knee done, if so you will be able to see a big improvement with the first one. Hang in there, look have far you come already. Our weight took a toll on those knees, but it will get better.
— LaDonna_M

December 20, 2008
I had knee replacement with a rotating plateform knee on the left. I was out of bed on a walker same day, walking 25 feet the next day, 40 feet and so on. Home on the 4th and switched to crutches, and walking half the block by the end of week one on a cane. I was back to work at 3 months and completely off the cane at the end of month one. I used the CPM faithfully for two reasons: to increase the range of motion and for pain relief (if feels good to simply range the joint with the mid range of 30 ext to 80 flex for twenty minutes at a time!) I was exercising the knee 6 to 8 hours a day, and at 8 months post am still flexing the knee thru the full range of motion 3 times a day (0 to 125) and understand that any range over 120 to 125 degrees is just the joint gliding. I was in terrific pain, oh my goodness! You can't believe the pain and the tears, got addicted to vicodan. But, I got thru it. I toughed it out! When I walk, nobody, but nobody can tell that I had the joint replaced. I hustle up the stairs like I've never done before! The only way a person can now tell that I've had the joint replaced is when I am in shorts. Honestly, if you want to have the results that I got, you gotta WORK at it from the beginning and don't stop. Most people who get to 90 degrees flexion will stop right there and never try to get more. This is doing yourself a disservice, you gotta keep going till you get the full range. If you don't get the range that you need, talk to your doctor to see if a manipulation is needed to force the range under anesthesia. It will hurt like the dickens for a couple of days, but the results are well worth it. And by the way, I'm a PT.
— Jancy

December 20, 2008
I would definitely say that physical therapy is the best way to go. As one person said, water therapy is wonderful for relieving the stress of activity on the joint. I had knee surgery in January of '06, almost three years later, the pain in that knee is still much worse than it was prior to the surgery. I was supposed to get the left knee done too, but have told my gp that I would NOT allow that surgeon to touch my other knee due to the pain that I have now in the right one! I can not even put ANY weight on that knee if I try to kneel, there is no way it is happening! I am in constant pain and take percocet every day. So I do empathize with you. I hope that you can talk to your surgeon and discuss this with them. That would be the main thing. Next, keep trying your best to exercise the knee as well as you can. Good luck to you!
— anitak

December 20, 2008
First of all, relax. You are not alone. And yes, I have had one knee replaced. All this takes time. Are you going to rehab and are you doing any exercise? Even if it is only minimal it is better than doing nothing. Consider the possiblity of yoga for stretching and flexibility to lessen your stiffness. If any of this feels like pain that is intolerable see your doctor ASAP. If you would like to talk more, [email protected]. You are in my prayers. Good Luck and God Bless, vinnigirl
— vinnigirl

December 23, 2008
Your situation sounds a lot like what I went through. February 6,2007 I had a total right knee replacement. I have Rheumatoid arthritis and the pain is horrible at times greater than a 10 on scale. After a 4 day stay in hospital and second day the PT had me up and trying to put pressure on my knee as well as using a machine to stretch and rotate my knee. I still have the soreness and swelling as before surgery, but not the cringing crunching tearing sounds as before when I walked. My left knee needs the same surgery and but I am waiting until I can't stand it anymore and it is due to the difficulty I had with mobility after surgery with the right one. The PT was very painful but worth it. I walk ok but with a cane most times for steadiness. I am 48 yrs old and glad that I had this surgery, but wanted the swelling stiffness and pain completely gone. Not...but with RA I understand better than those who just have simple arthritis. You place so much pressure on the other knee and sooner than later you will have to have it replaced. I do this and at night I have to pain med up to sleep or get comfortable when sitting down. Use a lift chair to get you up or use your arms more to stand or get up. It has been almost 2 yrs since my knee replacement and as I was told it takes a long while to ever get over the pain stiffness and if you had any nerve damage. I have no feeling from about 4 to 5 inches down my thigh and right under my knee about 2 inches. After losing so much weight after wls I have all the sagging skin that drapes around the scar and wearing skirts or stretch pants with my jogging fits look awful. I wear a long shirt to cover some of it and I know others notice. But the upside is I can be more mobile than I was before. I over do walking or exercise and it still swells and but I ice it and or warm it and pain meds are a life saver late evenings. Hope things get better for you...but I understand what you say all too well and some. Irish
— mspisces

January 2, 2009
my mom had her right knee replaced for the first time 5yrs ago. since then she has had to have the knee replaced 2 more times. she has also had to have her left knee replaced. right now she is needing to have the right one replaced again. each time her knees are operated on, it takes her longer to recover. she has pain alot in both knees. right now she is getting shots in her spine to help ease the pain. we hope the shots help her so that she does not have to have surgery for a little while longer. hopes this helps you to not feel so alone.
— kankan

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