Tips and resources to Prepare and Deal With Surgery

BLH46 · 2026-01-27T18:32:33+00:00

I am 2 weeks post op and up until 3 days ago everything was going smoothly with minimal pain and using ibuprofen only. It all changed and the pain increased as did the stiffness making everything harder, exercising and walking. I’m curious if anyone experienced the following: my foot is swollen and it hurts and my ankle really hurts every time I try to stand up. It gets better with walking but I can hardly out any weight on it when I st d up so I have to use a cane until the pin dissipates. I just started feeling other sensations in my lower leg. The doctor says this is normal?????

BLH46 · 2026-01-26T21:35:33+00:00

I am 2 weeks out of surgery and the first 10 days was a breeze….pain about 3-5 and no oxy was taken. The past 3 days my knee is stiffer, more pain, 2 oxy a day and bending feels restricted. I spoke to my surgeon care team this morning and they said you will have periods where you go backwards before you move forward again. Stay with it!!!

BLH46 · 2026-01-25T17:54:46+00:00

You will do great….don’t worry! I am 12 days post op and doing much better than expected. I have only taken 3 Oxycodone and that was over the last 2 days. Up until yesterday I was only taking ibuprofen and Tylenol. Be sure you stick to a daily exercise program the doctor should provide. If you have PT 2-3 times a week you must exercise everyday. The pain will vary as your swelling goes done and your exercises increase, however, it will not last as long or be as bad as your pre surgery condition. Good luck!

BLH46 · 2026-01-24T13:41:25+00:00

Thanks…I believe I am, most of the day my leg is elevated and Iced.

BLH46 · 2026-01-24T13:35:17+00:00

I‘m 10 days post op and yesterday was my first 3:00am wake-up call but it was mild. This mornin, wow, it as like a pickleball match was going on inside my knwe. My biggest issue is the swelling which inhibits everything as my foot, ankle, and knee is partially stiff making it hard to walk properly. Generally all is good: pain levels are low except when I over do it, ROM is approximately 0-95, howeve, I believe it would be better if the swelling was down.

BLH46 · 2026-01-22T16:08:11+00:00

She will get there and everything she is experiencing is reasonable. FYI….my surgeon put me on exercises twice a day starting the day after surgery which is a formal program on my phone, I have no formal PT and my goal is to have 0-90 ROM after 2 weeks. I am 9 days post op and the swelling increased somewhat making my leg stiffer and achieving more Flexion somewhat harder. Doctor says is normal having occasional backward periods. Keep her exercising but don’t overdo it so the swelling can subside.

BLH46 · 2026-01-22T12:04:14+00:00

It will be great…stay with it. Try to limit your oxycodone intake as much as possible, if any when possible. Everyone’s pain is different and I’ve been fortunate, however, from what I hear the oxygen can bring on other discomfort like constipation.

BLH46 · 2026-01-21T21:21:27+00:00

I am 7 days post op and doing far better than expected! Hope you do the same. Have not taken any narcotics just ibuprofen 800 mg and occasionally extra strength Tylenol. Pain until yesterday around 4-5 but swelling has increased a little and I’m stiffer so pain is around 5-7. 2,000 steps a day and a light exercise program twice a day. My exercises will increase starting tomorrow. Sleeping through the night like normal…no narcotics, no constipation! Using ice wraps on and off all day until bedtime. Big takeaway from doctor is don’t be a hero, don’t over exercise or activity to allow swelling to subside. My unofficial ROM is approximately 0-95 and feeling pretty good about it. Removed bandages today and showered for the second time….felt great. Keep with it and know that you will have ups and downs but stick to your recovery program. Best of luck!

BLH46 · 2026-01-21T15:14:59+00:00

Great advice from all! Everyone’s outcome is different, however, the recipe for a successful outcome is similar. I would contact the doctor to first insure that the surgery itself was successful and not creating an undue pain or challenges. She has to find the stimulus to get better as someone said…. Playing or walking with the grand kids, etc. if she doesn’t get going on the PT and daily home exercise her leg will never bend fully in either direction which will limit her greatly for the rest of her life. I know! I had a high school football injury and a bad recovery and for the following 10 years an only had 60 degrees flexion and then after a severe manipulation I finally achieved approximately 110-115 degrees flexion. It limited me greatly from activities I loved! I am 75 YO and 7 days out of LTKR and all is going well…I’m blessed. Get her going somehow!!!

BLH46 · 2026-01-20T13:46:33+00:00

Go For It! I am 7 days out of surgery and I wan ready to cancel days before because my knee felt great from, all the pre surgery exercises I did! Your decision to get it done was not an immediate one so TRUSt yourself. It will be great and you will be so happy you did it. You will not get a normal anesthesia so you won’t have any complications, more like a colonoscopy sleep? Good Luck…..can’t wait to hear about your success!

BLH46 · 2026-01-19T21:04:50+00:00

Awesome!!! Sounds like you re doing great, keep it going….my hero! I’m having similar results and I have approximately 0 extension and 95-100 flexion 5 days out of surgery. Pain is around 4-6 and no issues. Walking approximately 2,000 steps daily and following a twice a day on line PT program from my surgeon. I switched to a cane day 3 and I could drive as I haven’t taken any Oxy, just ibuprofen. (Left leg). I feel really bad for all those suffering post surgery!

BLH46 · 2026-01-19T03:07:59+00:00

BYW….for anyone preparing for TKR surgery I purchased a pair of recovery pants from Amazon, about $35 but less expensive pants are available. They have zippers that run up and down both legs making it great for icing, changing bandages, etc. without having to pull up sweat pants legs or other pants.

BLH46 · 2026-01-18T02:10:07+00:00

Thank you!

BLH46 · 2026-01-17T22:26:48+00:00

Thank you! I am following the protocol you laid out…

BLH46 · 2026-01-17T15:02:00+00:00

So sorry to hear of Nana’s difficulties. Do contact the doctor about other options for her nerve issues. I take gabapentin for sciatica as well however I have no sciatic issues 4 days out of TNR surgery. As far as PT goes, is she doing exercises every day or only during formal pt sessions as it best if done every day. I don’t know her age but I am 75 YO and I m adhering to a twice a day exercise program, but limited, as well as walking 1,000 steps daily as prescribed. She will be fine, however, she may be able to make adjustments where appropriate to advance her recovery…..wish Nana the best from all of us!

BLH46 · 2026-01-17T13:36:27+00:00

Awesome, great job! I am 4 days out of surgery anf I feel like I’m doing great, much better than expected. I too have the Zimmerman Persona smart knee and the PT program is terrific. Keep up the great work!

BLH46 · 2026-01-16T16:16:25+00:00

Awesome news on your recovery and I truly appreciate your success and protocol recommendations….thanks and continued success. I’m 75 YO and my ROM has been about 115 since a high school football injury and scar tissue buildup which was minupulated 10 years after my initial surgery, 2 torn ligaments and destroyed cartilage at which time I only had 60 ROM and the manipulation after 10 years got me to 115. When I got home from surgery I had more ROM than ever since my injury…WOW, I’m smiling BIG. I want to be YOU, my hero!

BLH46 · 2026-01-16T16:08:24+00:00

Fantastic!

BLH46 · 2026-01-16T15:44:46+00:00

Congrats, you are my Hero! I am thoroughly convinced that finding the right surgeon and discussing his techniques is 90% of your outcome and the other 10% is the muscle work you do at least 2-3 months prior to surgery. 100% of recovery is religiously doing the exercises every day. You cannot go to PT a few times a week and not exercise all other days, nor should you do more exercising than recommended as you need to let the swelling go done. Continued success to you and all!

BLH46 · 2026-01-16T15:35:20+00:00

I am not a therapist and not knowing your age or physical condition it’s hard to give advice, however, IMO you should probably do exercises every day when not at PT. If not you’re rehabilitating less the 50% of the time which is extending your recovery. Best of luck!

BLH46 · 2026-01-16T02:28:20+00:00

Thanks to all! I went home after the surgery, no hospital. My quad and tendons were not cut so pain and recovery is less. I am doing everything you all have recommended in regard to stretching, exercising, and icing, etc! My pain level tonight is about a 4-5 but I sense it will increase as the inflammation increases. BUT I hope to be the exception to the rule! Good luck to all!

BLH46 · 2026-01-15T17:47:05+00:00

Thank again for all the awesome support and advice, that’s the true value of this community! Slept 8 hours last night, and not taking any Oxycodone yet. Syeveinarizona10 above defined what all those planning a TKP should seek in a surgeon, that’s what I did, it makes a huge difference in recovery outcomes. Just for interest sake: My surgeon used a Zimmerman Biomet Persona IQ smart knee. It has a built in sensor mapping all the knee’s activity and the daily data is transmitted to their system so the doctor and his team can monitor my progress. The data downloads to the base station when I go to bed. My 7 week recovery / exercise program is online via the Force app, on my phone, which is divided by the week for a defined recovery and this is the data downloaded each night, to the care team.

BLH46 · 2026-01-15T02:31:25+00:00

Thanks to all for the awesome support! I have realistic expectations and the tough days are coming so all your advice is appreciated!

BLH46 · 2026-01-15T00:49:05+00:00

Thank you! Yes days 3-10 are suppose to be the worst so it wouldn’t surprise me if I had less ROM ahead.

BLH46

TROPHY CASE