Knee Replacement Recovery Timeline After Surgery 

This great to hear, thank you for sharing! Hope you continue to feel good and able to do all that you want to.

Best wishes in your continued recovery and thanks for watching!

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❤t

No pain, no gain. Barbaric

Glad to hear you've had a lot of pain relief from the surgery! Thanks for watching and best wishes!

Thank you for watching and sharing... hope you continue to heal and feel better with less pain... immediately after surgery is the toughest and it slowly gets better over weeks / months. Best wishes!

It’s been a month. Just going off one pain killer. Still have t-3’s. Range is still 118 but good considering I was sick for 3 days I didn’t lose any range. Pain is still there tho. Just starting my cane but have walker for just in case a long walk. Really not in a hurry to have second knee done. Wow. Never expected this much pain. 🤷‍♀️💪🇨🇦🥲

@@KneeReplacementTherapists 9:43

9:57 10:02

Im also still having a lot of excruciating pain and aches. Im 5 weeks after surgery on one knee. Still having swelling and tightness and after bending it to 80-90 ‘ range the next day is seems to be at about 70’ again. Each time is a little more bend but it is painful during physical therapy.

Thank you for sharing your personal experience after surgery. Great to hear you are doing so well! Hope you continue to see positive outcomes as you continue your rehab and recovery after surgery!

You are welcome, glad you found the video helpful. Best wishes in your continued recovery!

It sounds like you are doing great! I hear this many times... people go into surgery with unrealistic expectations and are often frustrated or unsatisfied after surgery. Stick with it and I hope you continue to see improvements and recovery!

😮it has been 2 yrs since surgery. I have followed & did everything as advised. I still have pain & stiffness while lying in bed, esp at night till I get up early am. I’m stilll taking Tylenol 650 arthritis & CBD. My surgeon has no other advise. Any recommendations????

Thank you for sharing your personal experience and story! It sounds like you are progressing well through the rehab and recovery process. Staying on top of pain is really important and beneficial. Hope you continue to see improvements as you continue your recovery and PT.

I am now 10 weeks post op ! I have been walking around the house independently since 5 weeks but still use a cane outside as I am still having problems getting in and out of the car my knee is not flexible and I literally have to stand and exercise my knee to get it to bend enough to allow me to get into the car ! Im very disappointed when I read these comments as I seem way behind everyone ! I've done my exercises faithfully so I don't know why this is can yiu help me ! The same problem occurs from sitting to standing and vice versa ! What am I doing wrong ?

@@colleensmyth9551 The valet car parker at the hospital gave me great advice about getting in and out of the car. She said to lean my seat back before sitting down on the seat and then scoot my behind as far back up on the seat as I could. Then with the door wide open I didn't have to bend my knee as much as entering the car normally would require. As time we went on and I gained flexibility I stopped leaning the carseat back until one day I realized I was getting into the car normally. Don't beat yourself up either, everyone heals and gains their flexibility at different rates.

Glad it was helpful!

You're very welcome!

Glad it was helpful!

So happy to hear you are doing well! Thanks for sharing good tips and advice for other individuals going through the knee replacement process!

Hi. Did you have any trouble convincing your doctor to get the surgery ? I am bone on bone left knee for 7 years. I guess it’s really up to me to push to get it done .

@@stevenmorris2293 Not at all. I had my left knee done last Sept. I had been going to the same doctor for a few years because of the pain and everytime I went in to do a new set of xrays we could see how the cartilage was wearing away overtime because of osteoarthritis. I'm 54 which in the past many doctors would have balked at total knee replacement because 54 was considered too young for it as a person might have to go back in 7-10 years because of wear and tear.The technology has advanced so much that as long as you dont do anything crazy after about a year like skateboarding as an example you will be fine. I honestly dont even think about that knee anymore it feels normal. Tell your doctor that you cant take the pain anymore, cant sleep at night, and have trouble getting out of bed which I'm sure if your bone on bone you are having these symptoms. Depending on what type of career you have if you are working, tell him its affecting your job performance. If he still doesnt want to do it, keep trying other doctors. I'm sure will find one that understands. Btw, I'm getting my right knee done in June. You will feel so much better. Your confidence will come back as well when you wake up with no pain everyday. Once you have the surgery, that pain you've been experiencing will be gone. Literally the minute you wake up in recovery. You will have pain from the surgery, but honestly that isnt as bad as the bone on bone. Everybody is different, but I was up and walking with a walker outside on a sidewalk before I even got home from the hospital. You have to get up and walk. After the walker, I went to a cane. I was walking around Disneyland with a cane two weeks after surgery! I know I wrote a book, but I hope this helps.

Glad you are able to lift the leg and found a helpful video. This is common early on after surgery secondary to pain, swelling, and muscle weakness after surgery. Best wishes as you continue your rehab after surgery!

@denisecatlett7203- thank you, i have my TKR on Thursday. I will be trying this 🌟

You are very welcome. Thank you for watching and best wishes to you!

Thanks for watching! Rehab and recovery is hard work, but well worth it in the end!

Thank you for sharing your personal journey and accomplishments this far! It sounds like you are doing amazing! Best wishes with your continued recovery and your upcoming second surgery in February!

Glad to hear things are looking up and your overall progress is good. Best of luck in your continued recovery and thanks for watching and commenting!

My pleasure!

Very normal to still have pain and other symptoms. It can take up to 6 months or longer to feel fully recovered from surgery. Glad you are doing well and overall satisfied with your progress!

Sounds like overall you are doing well! Bilateral knee replacement recovery can take a long time and requires a lot of hard work. Thanks for watching and best wishes in your continued recovery!

You are very welcome!

This is a determination made by your surgeon and considering your personal medical history and comorbidities. Unfortunately, for some people it is not medically appropriate to utilize prescription opioids based on potential side effects and risk. Thank you for watching and best wishes to you with your continued recovery from surgery!

Sorry to hear about your continued pain. It sounds like you are working hard to stay health and strong! Just remember to also incorporate rest and recovery. It is possible to over do it sometimes. Hope you start to notice relief of your knee pain soon.

Thanks! Just need a little more exercise ! Walking shoes is the best thing heel to toes ! My knees itself don’t pain I balance well ! Can’t figure why my thighs hurt & below my knees only thing it’s probably my nerves taking awhile to heel

@@charleslawhon4047 nerve pain doesn't always repair my experience has left me with large numb area and after 2years 4 months can't believe it ever will now.unfortunately.hugh disappointment.

It sounds like everything you are experiencing is normal part of the process. 7 days is still very early after surgery, you will notice little improvements day by day.. it can take up to 6 months or more to feel completely recovered. Thanks for watching and best wishes to you!

I’m 66 and scheduled for surgery June 26th 2024 in WV. Can you tell me how you got to go to a rehab facility ? My doctor told me medicare will not cover it which I was really looking forward to because I’m alone and no help except maybe weekends occasionally, I won’t even be able to get to PT because with being on medication I won’t be able to drive my car. Any suggestions about getting rehab would help at this point, just don’t want to fail…😢

Glad you found the video helpful and best wishes in your further management of your knee pain and symptoms.

If you haven't had tkr yet I encourage you to follow through with it. The post surgery pain I had wasn't anywhere near the pain I had for the last three years. After the first two weeks it was very noticeable how much the post surgery pain was dissipating on a daily basis. Im now going into week six and my pain level is a 1. I only take Tylenol occasionally. The technology continues to get better with tkr.

I had to wait awhile to get the best robotic ortho surgeon, but is worth the wait. My husband sailed through his recovery. I’m 79 years old and put off surgery because I don’t handle long term pain well but I have reached the point when life is not worth living this way

Thank you for watching, some tenderness around the kneecap is a normal symptom to have as you recover. If your body was rejecting the implant you likely would have symptoms indicating such by now. However, some symptoms to be aware of are a fever, chills, extreme increase in pain, new feeling of unsteadiness or buckling of the knee, warmth or redness around the knee.

@@KneeReplacementTherapists thanks so much for the info

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Hi, yes you can swim. Some individuals find the certain kicks with swimming uncomfortable and will prefer to do the water aerobics, walking, etc... but you absolutely can swim and I know many folks who do.

Yes, this is definitely a lot to be doing within 4 weeks after surgery. Recovery can really take many months if not up to a year or more to fully recover. Best wishes to you as you continue your recovery!

Hi Steven, I honestly don't know too much about it besides what you can find through Zimmer Biomet's brochures and advertising material. I do know that individuals who receive knee replacements from this company are often very satisfied. They offer high level precision with size and fit so it is personalized to your specific anatomy.

@@KneeReplacementTherapists Thank you for the response. After I left my comment, I had my pre-op appointment, and I feel pretty good about the upcoming surgery and the titanium device.

I think there is a happy medium. If you have a medium amount of stiffness that alleviates with rest and some stretches it probably is okay to continue. If your pain or stiffness is more intense, stoping and resting may be more appropriate. This really takes some guess and check, you can tell how you feel the next day… if you feel ok then your probably not overdoing it, if you have increased soreness, then you may have overdone it the day before. Hope this helps!

Best wishes to you! Follow your surgeon and therapist instructions as this will greatly improve your chances for a successful outcome and reduce the risk for complications. The recovery and healing process takes time, but the majority of people who have surgery are happy they've had it in the long run.

Thank you for sharing... you're right knee replacement rehab can be hard and difficult a lot of the time and it is definitely a marathon and not a sprint but in the end most people end up with a good outcome and are glad they had the surgery done.

@@KneeReplacementTherapists absolutely right….I really had a hard time w pain management…and being so helpless in the beginning…not driving, working…etc… I even became depressed…of course that didn’t last very long…but now I am almost 100%… thank you for your comment… I watched your videos before surgery and they were extremely helpful… grateful 🙏

I'm 8 weeks post op from a left TKR. It's not always hard for everyone. I had no pain and I would say I'm close to 100%. I had nothing to 'suck up'.

@@brswick40 so good to hear!! I'm in my early 50s and it's imminent, left tkr. I'm terrified of what I hear, a year of recovery is daunting. If I don't cycle for 4 days I'm out of my mind. Your comment gives me hope

Hello what was the hardest.part.Mines is my 100 degree flex.What was your flexibility at 7 months.Plz advice.

Thank you for sharing you personal experience. It sounds like you are doing very well, best wishes with your continued recovery following surgery.

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles after surgery. The best thing is to work with your healthcare providers... surgeon, phyiotherapy to determine the best management strategies for you.

Sorry to hear that unfortunate news, but glad they identified the problem and hopefully you will notice a big improvement with the revision surgery. Thank you for watching and commenting!

This is a lot to go through, but I do agree with your surgeons recommendations and plan. Hope your surgery goes well and provides a lot of relief and benefits once you are fully healed and recovered.

I believe they do have nerve stimulators that can be used for extremity pain (peripheral nerves) but I cannot speak to how they work or when they are appropriate for use.

After surgery the tendons and all the soft tissue around the knee is stretched out and taut. Because of this it sometimes takes less activity to aggravate them and leads to pain and soreness. Oftentimes, backing off of the activity and slowly and progressively working back up to the frequency, intensity, and duration you desire is the key.

@@KneeReplacementTherapists yes I tried progressing slowly and felt better at 2 years in than I do at 3, but it could just be my age

Although not impossible, going through 2 knee replacements that close together can take a toll on the body. This depends a lot on what you do for work and how labor intensive it is, how much you're up on your feet, walking, etc.

Thanks for your question... Your previous / current level of fitness and training will definitely help you get back to your previous functional and physical status faster than someone who is sedentary. However, it's still important to be patient and work back into any activity after surgery slowly and progressively. Hopefully, by next summer you will be in a good place to in the long ride you have scheduled. Best wishes!

Yes, an ice pack is a common method used for swelling and pain management. You can also elevate the leg while resting and perform ankle pumps throughout the day.

@@KneeReplacementTherapists Noted, and thank you

@@su7009 you're welcome!

Thank you for watching and sharing your personal experience with knee replacement therapy. Best wishes to you!

Your surgeon would not recommend surgery if they did not think you would be able to get some use and benefit physically and functionally from a new knee. Best wishes to you in your upcoming surgery and recovery after.

I personally think you are pushing it too hard.

Hi Cindy, here is a video I posted earlier in the week about scar tissue massage. Hope it helps, let me know if you have other questions: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UpUFGB4V_YE.html

The majority of people do have pain especially early on after surgery as you heal and recover. Also for most people the majority of pain and symptoms subside over a number of months or sometimes a little longer. There can still be some lingering symptoms such as pain and stiffness at times. The majority of people report feeling better and more mobile after surgery and would do it again if given the choice, but there is a percent of people (approx. 20%) who end up not satisfied after surgery and rehab because of pain, unmet expectations and other reasons. Stem cells have limited research to support them and aren't covered by insurance, but early research does offer some promise. However, because of the lack of research, stem cells are not considered standard practice for management of knee pain and arthritis.

This can be a common symptom after surgery. Usually as the swelling continues to decrease and as you continue to build range of motion and strength these symptoms start to diminish. Continue to be consistent with your therapy exercises and hopefully you'll continue to see decreased pain and stiffness over time.

That was very helpful! I had KTNR surgery on Feb 15/23. What I thought would take 6 weeks sounds more like 6 months . Was feeling depressed at what I thought was very slow progress but Your explanation has shown me to give it time . Thank you!

This will depend on the specifics of your situation and your surgeon will best be able to help answer that, sorry I can't be of more help.

All very normal experiences.. it all gets better little by little with time. best wishes with your continued recovery!

This is a little behind what I would use as a benchmark at 4 weeks, but well within normal progression. The important thing at this point is to remain consistent with your range of motion exercises, performing ideally a few times per day. You still have the potential to gain a good bit more of range of motion but now is the time to really work it consistently.

Sometimes folks do alright without PT after surgery but if you think you would benefit from therapy, I definitely recommend advocating for some...even just to educate on exercises and management strategies. Best of luck in your recovery after surgery!

Age can be a factor as in younger people are generally in better physical health and have better mobility, which can help for a more efficient recovery and return of mobility and function. Of course this is in general as people getting surgery will vary widely in health and physical status.

Hi how did your TKR go? You are so young for such a major surgery. I pray you are at full recovery. 🙏

Here is a video I made a few years ago that fully answers this question: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HUqnbwdn7A4.html

It is possible, typically 4-6 weeks is the timeline for return to driving. I recommend consulting with your personal PT who can assess how you are progressing and if you’d be safe to return to driving. I’d also be sure to get clearance from your surgeon

@@KneeReplacementTherapists Thank you so much. I will do so. 🙏💖

@@KneeReplacementTherapists xxy

When I asked about this timeline the nurse told me vehicle insurance may not be covered if you go before recommended frame - in regards to an accident- or health failure while driving ( pass out; blood clot; etc). So I would keep that in mind before you go out driving.

@@lynnpaxton9520 I agree. Thank you. Didn't think about that. 👍💖

It is not uncommon to still have a lot of pain at this point after surgery, every person will be different in terms of their pain and symptoms. Continue to focus on your therapy exercises and instructions and hopefully with time your symptoms will slowly improve. Best wishes!

The first 6 weeks were horrendous. Keep doing the bending exercises even it’s painful. I got o a recumbent bike.set to highest level. Set for 30mins. Then every 2 mins lower it one click and then end up with knee really bent but warmed up. Worked wonders for me. Good luck

Thank you for watching!

Sorry to hear about your prolonged recovery and continued struggles after surgery.

Scar tissue starts to form within the first few days after surgery. This essentially just means the new and healing tissue of your knee joint. Scar tissue formation and remodeling continues for many months, up to 2 years. Typically when considering knee range of motion and mobility, I like to tell people the first 6-12 weeks are the most important because after this time the new tissue has formed enough that it will take greater and greater effort and time to see changes in your knee mobility. However, this is a broad generalization and this varies considerably. The main thing to understand is the further out you get from surgery, the more difficult it becomes to make big increases in knee range of motion.

Thanks for watching, best wishes as you prepare for surgery!

Thank you for your feedback and thank you for watching! I'll try to incorporate some more visual aids in future videos!

You might want to partner up with "useful charts" as It would be definitely valuable an interest by patients. Probably a marketable chart, too.

This is unfortunately very common! It gets better slowly with time. Some things to try include using pillows to prop your leg or put between your knees, timing pain medicine or use of heat/ ice prior to going to bed, som gentle soft tissue massage before going to bed. Hope this helps.

I don't know a specific percentage, but it is a very small percent... but as there is an increase proportion of younger people having surgery and also partial replacements and "minimally invasive" options are more prevalent, there are some cases where the person is probably discharged with an assistive device still, but won't use it all once home.

As I understand, the Jiffy Knee is a specific technique only used by a couple surgeons. I don't know of any research comparing outcomes with the Jiffy Knee technique compared to traditional surgical techniques.

@@KneeReplacementTherapists if patient testimonies are to be believed then THIS needs to be very heavily looked into... my surgery is this friday but if I lived in Virginia I'd be contacting this fella!!!

Sorry to hear about your continued struggles after surgery. Hopefully with time you will start to recover and feel relief from your pain and symptoms.

Double knee replacement is typically a very similar timeline for healing and symptom relief… the most common delay is in over mobility, walking and stairs for example. This is because obviously you are dealing with pain and symptoms in both legs so building up your activity tolerance may take a little longer. Everyone is different but a rough estimate is that overall feeling recovered may take on average a few more weeks to an extra month or two

🙏🙏🙏🙏

Unfortunately true not everyone has a successful outcome from surgery or it takes a longer time to fully recover.

2 years 4 months after tks and still limping.cant come down stairs yet with one leg over the other. Limited walking distance.cant stay out for more than 1 hour.hugh disappointed and has spoiled my life.

It can definitely be scary and nerve-racking, but going into the process with a positive mindset and being well informed will help you get through the surgery and rehab process successfully. Best wishes to you!

Yes, the bruising can hurt a lot. Usually these clear up within the first few weeks after surgery. Best wishes with your rehab and recovery.

I'm sorry to here that, hopefully you have resources setup to safely attend an outpatient therapy clinic to continue your post-surgery therapy, and resources to be safe and independent in your home. Best wishes with your continued recovery after surgery.

🙂

Sorry to hear about your bad experience after knee replacement surgery.

Sorry to hear that. Would you please tell us your age?

@@KneeReplacementTherapists

Sorry to hear that

Thank you, for simplifying the process, great to know what to expect for the long haul.❤

Thank you for your feedback. It would be impossible for me to provide a highly specific timeline when recovery from knee replacement surgery includes many factors and every individual is different health-wise, physically, functionally, and more. Your specific timeline of recovery will fluctuate from every other person who undergoes knee replacement, this is to be expected.