Lost ROM after therapy session from TKR in 1 day

Hi,
I am sory to hear that there has been both pain and ROM loss. I am now 6 weeks out. I have been doing home PT and have started out-patient PT last week. Earlier, I posted about pain management after TKR. After visits with the OS, I was told that I had a complex surgery because of my previous surgeries, especially the first one 22 years ago. The previous surgeon cut diagonal across the knee which has made everything slower and more painful then I orginally thought. The tissue was being pulled apart because of the more horizontal cut. I digress.

At home, I was slowly doing PT and got to around 115 and 7. The outpatient PT was pleased. But after the appointment. I started having an increase in the level of pain. Patly, I attribute this to having my knee "down" more without icing it. I was icing upto 6 - 8 hours. Now, I am back to icing as much as possible. The next PT appointment, I had a tough time geting one revolution on the bike.

As I am a recovering alcoholic, I can honestly say that the TKR must be accepted one day at a time. That is the only thing I can do. No matter how I thought this would go, the TKR recovery is on it's own time. The pain managment has been accepting that this is painful and requires ice, elevation, pain meds, and anti-inflammatories. Even with that, I still have spikes in level and lately painful spasms. But, It really comes down to accepting what is.

I now realize that somedays will be better than others. I do recommend that if there is a great change in pain levels or swelling, or chills / fever, that you make an appointment right away. Acceptance of your situation doesn't mean you should not take care of yourself. So, goodluck. You are not alone. Well, I better pull the ice off because I am frozen.

Tim

Hi Ruby:

Make sure if you are having chills you do not have a fever. Call your OS if you do. The info the others have given to you is right on! Meds before PT and ice after. Sudden inflammation could be from overwork. You will find a balance. You also have a home program to follow I'm sure. PT just continues OS' orders.

Take your time. It will work. Best regards.

Ruby,

One thing I forgot to mention was to be sure to ice your knees when they get to feeling like this. Ice is your friend. I still ice mine when I have too. You will find your knee feeling warm to the touch, this is a sign they are swollen. Ice will relieve a lot of the swelling and soreness.

Nick

Hi I am 39 yrs old and had my first TKR on my left knee this Nov. 2008. I have had nothing but trouble and alot of pain after this surgery, after surgery my knee froze up and I had to have a manipulation under anesthesia done just a month after the surgery.
I thought finally was getting some progress was starting to finally have good ROM was up to 118 then on Dec 30, Tues I went to therapy which my normal therapist was on vacation so had another therapist work on me of course i went through the torture walked out in tears, that night I felt something was wrong with my knee I felt tightness and swelling and my knee was not bending as far as it was used too, plus I started having sharp pains in a location I never had before and I started getting the chills.
The next day I had another session scheduled which i did attend I mentioned my concerns and of course my ROM dropped from 118 to 100 in one day, and all she kept telling me was that she didn't think it was from the session just that my knee was reacting to being overworked. She did take it easy on me that day cause again I was having chills and in a lot of pain.
I was scheduled for therapy again today but canceled,because I am concerned i am still getting chills my knee is stiff swollen and hardly bending at all, feels like it is freezing up again, please some advice would be helpful?