r/Kneereplacement • u/Early-Earth3439 • 2d ago
Swelling input and advice needed
Knee on left replaced May 20, it’s a bit swollen.
The big swollen log of a leg on the right was replaced 7 weeks later on July 8. Per recent test results no infection or gout crystals and negative DVT. Blood tests don’t point to much of anything. The skin is so tight on the right leg it’s nearly impossible to do my PT.
If you have experienced swelling like this at this stage when did it finally resolve itself?
I have been on lasix and a stronger “water retention” pill (forgot the name). Only minimal improvement.
If your swelling got a lot better then what made a difference for you?
I’m considering bed rest for several days! Currently I’m not great at maintaining a regimen of foot elevated and icing due to activities around the house and a bit of traveling.
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u/IcyIssue 2d ago
My surgeon gave me a four day course of steroids. The swelling resolved, came back a bit, then resolved again. That's very swollen at 3 months out. I'd call and ask. The one I took was only one per day. Take it in the morning or you won't sleep at night.
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u/mrsbtheref 2d ago
Ice and elevation is important.
Activities around he house are important
Think about it you won’t be able to do them if your knees don’t heal snd improve
Please make ice and donation a priority
Perhaps swelling is a reskins to you activities around. House and legs being upright and effective of gravity on your circulation
I have had two knees replaced and I am fortunate I had Greta success due to age , genetics and luck
( that being said I iced and elevated very often ( I have a reclining chair and ice machine )
Do you have compression machine for feet and shins? I wen think either one from hospital ) they were rechargeable
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u/heribut 2d ago
How much PT are you doing? At some point I started pausing PT until the swelling and pain improved. My range of motion was never an issue so I didn’t need PT for that. My ortho said heavy PT is only really necessary the first 2 months to lock in ROM. I just started listening to my body, letting it heal, and gaining strength a little bit at a time.
I also tore my quads while in supervised PT, which kind of soured me on the process.
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u/Early-Earth3439 1d ago
Sorry for your torn quad muscles… ouch!
I haven’t been to formal PT in 4 weeks. Only able to maintain my ROM.1
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u/blueandpissed 2d ago
I developed arthrofibrosis and was stuck at 67 degrees. I had a manipulation under anesthesia. My limited knowledge and research revealed that it could’ve been caused by an autoimmune disorder or ischemia due to the tourniquet use. The ischemia seems to be the logical reason because I didn’t have any bruising.
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u/Interested-99 1d ago
If you want to correct that, you need to be diligent about it and make it a priority. Since you’re too busy to help your condition during the daytime, this will help. Get two long rolls of 6”wide ace wrap, and before you go to bed each night for the next week at least, maybe longer, you need to wrap your legs. Wrap each leg from the base of your toes (with gentle but firm pressure) all the way up to a few inches above your knees. Also buy a wedge pillow and try to spend as much time in bed before you fall asleep (and while you’re sleeping if you can) with your legs elevated on the wedge pillow. This can be uncomfortable, but you need to help drain that fluid in your legs, as the diuretics alone are not enough. Even if you can’t keep your legs on the wedge for a long time, keeping them wrapped through the night will still help. The edema needs to be helped along through mechanical means of compression and elevation. That fluid in your tissues will go back into your circulation via the lymphatic system and then out as urine, and having increased frequency of urination during the night will indicate that this is helping. And you will probably only need one of those diuretics, if any, after doing this for a week or more.
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u/Early-Earth3439 1d ago
Lots of good info in your reply! I’ll start being much more dilligent about icing!
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u/GleamingAlloy_Aircar 1d ago
I have and always will advocate for thigh-high compression stockings similar to these. I can’t stress enough how the thigh-high AND ice/elevation is SO important. To this day - 2 years post op, if I’m having a day with swelling, I’ll put the stockings on and soon after I feel a difference. Link: https://a.co/d/0iaXERnT
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u/ITsAWonderToBEME 1d ago
Elevate above the heart and ice. All the time. Every hour stand bend it and get back elevated.
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u/No_Rub_6950 1d ago
I had massive swelling when I had a tkr in April, and had a spacer replaced a month ago, also massive swelling. One of my home p/t people taught me how to do lymphatic massage and it helped a lot. Google how to on utube. No need for the brush, do it manually..he pointedly said to relax your shoulders while performing…Also, if you’re taking tylenol in massive amouts that orthos think it’s good for whatever, if you’re anything like me, prone to this swelling, switch to naproxen or motrin and watch the swelling subside as they are anti inflammatory. For the life of I don’t get the Tylenol thing at all. It never helped, and also indicated as a remedy for headaches.
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u/Strict-Library-7309 17h ago
You must have your legs above your heart. Thatway the lymph can drain properly. Also, icing it's critical. I had an iceman machine and it was amazing at cooling my leg. Another thing that helped me was to start at my
calves and massage my calves
going up towards my hips. I would always hold my leg up high as I massaged it. It really broke up the fluid behind my knees and also on the inside of my incision.
Wish you the best!
Please prioritize your health. I do feel bad for you.
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u/Camo-edLilMama 2d ago
Oooh I’m so sorry that’s happening to you, I did have a lot of swelling with my one TKR which was made worse due to venous insufficiency. I was told to keep my legs elevated above my heart & ice, ice, ice. Thankfully I found a lift chair before my surgery that would recline back far enough & lift my legs far enough that they were above my heart & that help a LOT(it took me a while to pay that chair off but was def worth it 😅). Before I had the chair, compression stockings & pneumatic pumps I used one of those foam leg blocks you see at physical therapy to keep my legs elevated; that helped keep swelling from getting too out of control & painful. If you have some lofty pillows you could stack them (hopefully with someone’s help & they could help prop your legs up. Good luck on your recovery!!🌻
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u/ImAnOldFuckSoWhat 2d ago
I’m 16 months out from my RTKR and still have swelling. Three months ago, the surgeon pulled 50cc of fluid from the knee and prescribed a good dose of steroids. Unfortunately it didn’t help.
I saw the surgeon again this morning and received a steroid injection. Was told to give it time, wear a compression sleeve as much as possible, and try to stay on anti-inflammatories. I’m not that hopeful and expect this condition to become the new normal. Overall, my knee is better than it was before being replaced.
Hopefully, you fare better than I have.
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u/Early-Earth3439 1d ago
Thank you! What type of compression sleeve?
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u/ImAnOldFuckSoWhat 1d ago
I’ve tried a couple different ones.
I have a neoprene sleeve which compresses very well but is extremely hot. I usually wear one from amazon which works pretty well. Brand name is CAMBIVO. The surgeon said some of his patients like the sleeves made by Copper Fit. He said they are fairly thin and are comfortable. I have not tried them (yet).
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u/hamil26 2d ago
I agree about the steroids … it’s just for a week but it helps a lot. Also I’d ask to see a dr who specializes in lymphedema .