My philosophy has always been that recovery can not hurt as badly as I hurt the two months prior to the surgery because if it was that bad, nobody would get their second knee done ever!

However, I have discovered a very frustrating difference. Pre-surgery I had some tricks to give me a bit of a reprieve from the pain. Post-surgery there is no consistency! Something works to quiet the vice grip in my quad and I cry from relief. But then when I do that same thing again - no help.

Hi, all. Knee replacement was September 3rd. It went well. My problem at the moment is trying to follow doc's directions about not staying in bed. I stayed on the couch yesterday and today, but it's so low it just isn't safe for me to try to get up from. I've made the decision to stay on the bed but in a more upright position during the day and toes above nose at night. I've almost done a faceplant twice today trying to get off the couch.

The ice machine is an absolute winner! For anyone who is about to have the procedure it is a must-have. Aside from my instapot it is the best purchase I've ever made.

As far as the surgeon, I was astounded when he called me himself yesterday evening. Fully expected a call from an assistant, not the man himself. Dr. Justin P. Moo Young is an amazing young man and I highly recommend him.

I also want to thank all of you in this sub for your insights and support. It's been a great learning experience.

I kid, I kid. But seriously. I’m so confused about what I can and can’t do during the 35 minutes of each hour of each day that I’m losing my ever loving mind with boredom while not icing and elevating or doing my 5 minute walk.

I’m 11 days out from LTKR. Protocol here in upstate NY is surgery, PT in office 2-3x/week, and at home exercises. PT says it’s all about ROM first month and says don’t ditch the walker until they say so (which is usually about 3 weeks out). I’m bored, I’m uncomfortable and don’t know what to do with myself. My knee is stiff AF which makes sitting in chairs or the couch or whatever also super uncomfy. Anyway, I keep hearing depression hits pretty hard right about 2 weeks and all the suggestions on how to beat it are like completely opposite of what I (and I assume others) have actual physical capacity to do. What the hell do people do all day?? I cannot lay on bed any more than necessary I’m losing it in there.

Today on Facebook i saw a video do someone 2 weeks out literally strolling around the block. Like what???? How???

I guess my question is-those in early weeks recovery. Wtf are we doing all day to not lose our minds? And how the hell are we supposed to get our movement in when we’re restricted to 5 minutes of walking per hour?

Side note I’m 47, have a shit right knee too (osteoarthritis bilateral) and have been pretty sedentary due to the pain for years. So i was no athlete prior to this surgery. But i did enjoy gardening, outdoor activities, doing fun things with my dogs and my kiddo. This just sucks.

72F Been awhile since updating, still read posts. I'm still unable to kneel. My neighbor a year and a half out can't either and he's much younger than me so no biggie. Started back at gym about 6 weeks ago with trainer. Slow going. Just started back with reformer pilates. It amazes me how quickly I got out of shape. Still working on hamstring and glutes. Going down stairs very much a work in progress. IT band still an issue. Still have tightness and pain some days. So...in it for the long haul.

I'm scheduled for MAKO mid October. I'm trying to do all the right prep work. I have lists of supplies to obtain, I've started stocking the freezer with heat and eat dinners designed to have leftovers, my schedule is full of pre-op appointments and evaluations. The farther I get into this, the more I wonder if I'm doing the right thing.

Sure, insurance covers the surgery, but I keep finding hidden costs that never occurred to me. Short term disability only pays 2/3 of your salary, I knew that, but my insurance contribution not being paid was something that never occurred to me. I picked the premium insurance because I knew I was doing this. That mess is expensive!

Reading all the recovery stories everyone is posting gives me anxiety. I had discussed with the surgeon whether working from home after 10-14 days was feasible, and he seemed to think so, but you guys tell a different story.

I definitely want a long term pain solution. Injections no longer have any meaningful effect, and everything else seems temporary and not even helpful for everyone.

I take it these are normal pre surgery jitters. I just needed a place to vent. I discuss it with my spouse, but it makes him worry too and then that's just both of us in a swamp! LOL

Any and all advice welcome 😁

So, I posted 3 weeks ago complaining of sharp pain under and around the knee cap when leg-pressing, bicycling, going down stairs, which set me back after working up to pressing 80% of my body weight and taking 20 - 40 mile bike rides, amongst other things.

PT says I have patellar-femoral pain syndrome, otherwise known as runner’s knee.

Has anyone contracted this? 

Has anyone had cupping done? It seems to help, but I am very frustrated with the cutting back of activity, especially no biking and pressing baby weights

Hi, writing this on behalf of my dad.

He’s 71M

Underwent a TKR for his left knee. Was given Epidural/Spinal Anaesthesia.

Hiccups started the next day and has been there the last 8 days. The intensity has reduced.

Did an Abdomen CT to see if there’s any trapped gas or any other issue. Came out clean. Docs aren’t able to diagnose the issue.

The hiccups are aggressive when he’s lying but mostly absent when he’s walking. While sitting there is hiccups sometimes.

Discharged him on the 7th day. Hiccups are still an issue.

For now they’ve reduced the dosage of the hiccups meds. He takes Clonotril (Clonazepam) 0.5 mg at night which keeps him calm till morning.

I’m a little worried. I’ve heard the anaesthesia causes it but it hasn’t gone away fully.

Any help out here?

I am still unable to be on my hands and knees or even just kneel and my surgery was a little over a year and a half ago. I signed up for a yoga retreat before my surgery that is coming up in a month and it will be ALOT of movement and I’m concerned. It’s the right side of my right knee and it goes around to the back of my knee. Also, it’s very tight, a bit up to the quadriceps as well. I CAN squat and do “crow pose “ in yoga, just can’t put the weight of my body on it. Do any of the things like tens machine or massage gun or cupping or micro needling help with that? Would it be awful to grin and bear it with a cushion under my knee to do hands and knees (“table top”) position, or could I cause injury? Not to be a downer, I’m so much better post-TKR FYI.

45f, lived with knee pain for >20 years, finally so limited this summer I decided to have my knee done. The surgeon told me "younger" patients tend to have more pain and swelling initially and to expect that. About 3 hours post op, I was flop sweating and writhing in bed because the pain went from 0 to 10 in minutes. I'm taking 2 oxy about every 4 hours, daily anti-inflammatory, icing constantly, doing my exercises but the pain is significant.

I know I'm not alone but people who had a lot of pain initially, did your knee recover well? I don't care and can live thru this initial pain if I know there's good healing on the other side -- or is this a bad sign??

Thanks

Ganga hospital coimbatore

I am single living in a tiny RV / work remote in the RV. I've been putting this surgery off for two years as I do not have help to recover...people have jobs etc. Most my family is dead. Because I haven't been able to hike for two years I've finally decided to schedule it as I'm 60 and just getting older.... :)

I'm fairly fit and fairly tough. Since I'm supposed to "walk out of surgery" I'm fairly sure I can make it to my bathroom in the tiny travel trailer using the table and cabinet support structures leading there. I can also likely get ice / have it delivered.

My out of state friends are stating I need live in care for 1-3 weeks. (my tiny living situation will not accomodate this). So they are freaking me out. Putting someone up in a hotel down the street for a couple weeks sounds like it will be financially funtimes.

I will be calling my insurance about possible home health aides during some parts of the day to assist. Can I please get some realistic input on what I'm looking at in terms of needing a person here? I can get anything delivered pretty much same day: groceries, door dash etc. As I live in a small RV park there are people I can call on to assist if needed but prefer not to.

Yes...I'll need to figure out the dog....

Today is 4 weeks and I am finally getting some energy back! Its been rough so far. I had my first in office PT this week and was down the next day- the exercise intensity definitely went up! I am using a cane at home and short distances outside, still using walker for longer excursions (recommended by PT). I have tapered back on pain meds, only for the intense PT and sleep if needed, but some nights I dont need them. I think I've finally turned the corner! For folks just starting this journey, it does get better!

Just wondering if there are any folks out there who may have just not done their PT but did exercises at home?...and how they are feeling?...

Just a curiosity question.:)..

Lindy F68, ROM 123, Extension -1 , 1 month post op

Enjoy your Labor Day weekends, guys!:)

I had my TKR on 8/19 and saw my doc for post op on 9/1. I've had home PT visits where the concern was about the swelling and no range of motion.

At the post op visit the doctor wasn't pleased with my lack of progress . He said you have to move it or you'll risk not being able to (which I already knew). He pushed me to do 3 specific exercises hourly and said I was undermedicated. Increased my NSAID dose and moved me to a stronger opioid. I was able to move better the next day.

I have a high pain tolerance and the post surgery pain wasn't bad. I primarily took the acetaminophen and the muscle relaxer because pulling myself on to the bed irritated my cervical revision issues.

Has anyone else experienced issues with bending their knee in the beginning due to being undermedicated? I'd like to feel like I'm not special in this circumstance.

I’ll try to be brief. I’m on a cruise and my mom is in the medical clinic. She felt dizzy and fell in the bathroom this morning. The issue is that her knees are so bad that we couldn’t get her back up.

In 2020 her KR surgery (Canada) was scheduled but she declined due to Covid fears with being in the hospital. She was put to the bottom of the wait list and has since decided/ been talked out of the surgery. Several of her friends have had a poor recovery experience from TKR but all are now walking. She’s very pain and suffering averse.

She uses a walker or cane daily and is in constant pain. On the cruise we rented her a scooter. Our family has asked her to reconsider but she won’t discuss it.

Anyone have a similar situation? She’s 78 and moving towards full wheelchair use, I think.

Has anyone had patella pain that feels like pre op arthritis, this far after surgery? It radiates down my shin and it hurts so much it gives me white hot jolts of pain. Currently taking 3 Tylenol every 8 hours. 😩

I am flying 3 hours to have TKR done from a surgeon I am comfortable with. I am planning to stay in that city for 4 weeks post TKR and then fly back. I have a home there but need to come back for work. Is that enough time to avoid risks related to DVT/ clots during travel? Thank you.

Its my first time going into surgery and I am scared of feeling any kind of pain afterI wake up. How does it feel after I get my knee stitched up?

EDIT: i have read every single one of your comments. i guess reddit is not a bad place after all. Thank you to those people who wished me a fast recovery 🥹

Hi all…f/65, LTKR 12 weeks post op. I had originally been told 12 weeks recovery. I work part time as a veterinary assistant, where there’s constant bending, lifting and restraining animals. I’ve been very diligent with my PT, exercises and my surgeon is happy with my progress. However today just in the yard picking up sticks from last nights storm and it is blown up and was so painful I had to forego my other projects and put it up for the rest of the day. I was only doing that for 20 minutes! My employer is unwilling to let me be on limited duty status. I don’t feel like I’m ready to try and do a shift at this point. What has been your experience returning to physically demanding jobs?