Knee Replacement Recovery.

[mollymalloy]

Had a knee replacement 6 1/2 weeks ago. Why am I still in such pain? can't sleep at night, knee still stiff despite doing exercises. Using one stick now when outside walking. Haven't driven yet. Worrying that i can't bend the knee far. Can someone reassure me please? Going in hydrotherapy pool this week. m very fed up with it especially when other people say they sailed through it without a hitch. Thanks in advance.

[Sqad]

In my opinion, knee replacements are more painful post-operatively than hip replacements.
Providing that there is no sign of infection...redness, then i would have thought that pain 6.5 weeks after knee replacement was no big deal and should improve.
Be patient....time will tell. ...about 80% are pain free after 2months, 10-15% will still have pain.
Have faith that you will be in that 80%.

[vulcan42]

A couple of friends both had knee surgery and had pain afterwards which gradually receded and were pain free after about six months, it just takes time unfortunately.

[mollymalloy]

Thankyou sqab. Will just have to be patient. I do have redness all over the knee, I take Warfarin and that may have been the excessive bleeding during the op. I had to have the dressing changed a few times once home because of the seeping from the wound. Another answerbanker says that the pain is the muscles etc healing. You have all been a great help to me. I am an impatient patient! Wanting to run before I can walk. The worst pain is around the knee cap.

[murraymints]

took dad about 6 months to feel any more comfortable..it is so important to do the exercises..pool a great idea..I also got dad one of those wee sit in your chair and cycle things..helped too..hope you feel the benefits soon !

[Carakeel]

Hi molly. Sorry you are having a bad time of it. I have had three knee rep-lacements. Well, one was a revision. My first two were about 9 years ago, three months apart. To be honest, my left knee was as good as it could get after about a year (not quite pain free, but much better than before), while my right one remained very painful for the best part of 8 years, due to an undiagnosed infection in the bone. However, my problems were due to having made to wait for 17 years for these new knees! The problematic right knee was given a revision, so a totally new and much more advanced knee about 1 1/2 years ago. Within one day I was walking the corridors with a big smile on my face! I worked very hard on physiotherapy and was driving after only two weeks. The only pain I have now is if I put weight on it when bent going down the stairs. Everyone is different, has a different medical history. So, some people are out of the worst pain within a few months, but others can take up to 18 months to feel right. Patience, caution, plenty of physio and determination,following your exercises, then more patience are what eventually get you into a far less painful or even pain free zone. But it is perfectly normal for someone who has had their first knee replacement to take a year to recover. So please, don't be upset or impatient. What you are going through is pretty normal. Things will improve, for sure! Best wishes and a hug.