Knee & Hip Replacement Community

People heal at different rates. In general, it takes a year or more to heal from a TKR. That's what my doctor told me. So you can expect pain for many months. I'm a little over 5 months post-op and still had nagging pain until a few weeks ago. Now it's pretty much gone unless I'm very active during the day. It just takes time. It doesn't matter what other people went through. Your experience will be your own.

I am 11/2 year out from have a Partial Knee replacement with a Staph infection, and then having to let another Surgeon dig it out 6 mths later, and put in a Totaland that has been a one year last week. I have been in PT with the total 3 times now, I'm in there still ! My New Doctor, who is awsome, told me the normal time for healing in Patient is 8 months to a year, with Heat and Swelling . I have fallen on several times, thank goodness I would throw my body in any direction to not hit that bad Knee. My Range of motion like yours is very good. I find that the Knee cap popping is louder than the sounds I had before, I know the pressure you are talking about, I have ask him , my PT. and they say it is the Knee Replacement,Knee Cap and the tissue swelling. I have been reading past Post and have read some stories of People that are 2 Years out in more Pain now than ever. You are only 3 months out, you still have more time to heal, and are in a critical stage of watching how you twist and lift things, not to do anything to loosen it. I've been in PT with some People that are doing really good after 4 weeks, but I think as time goes on and we get back to a"Normal" life, something changes. I know the Doctors are awsome , but I don't know how they can tell you as an individual how long it wil take you to heal. Until they have one done to themselves, don't tell me I shouldn't have Pain and why is the Pain level so high ? I know I have gone through a little different situation than you, with the first partial with staph, which was not opened up and irrigated, and having to have it become grossly loose to where I couldn't walk, to a Total put in 6 mths later. I just pray I find a time I won't be in this Pain, and can get back to Walking my Dog, or going upstairs, getting my balance back. I don't know if you feel like you have a bulk inside there that is knocking you off balance or if is that just me? Give yourself sometime, read some old post, and I pray everything goes good for you . Not trying to get you down, just wan't to be honest. I will never do my Left Knee, and wish I hadn't done this one !

SalCS,
Every patient is indeed different. It sounds like you actually have achieved above average knee flexion and that is great. I tend to tell patients that it can take out to about a year to reach maximum benefit. It sometimes takes longer. I think it is always important to look back and ask if you are improving week to week. If you can say that you are then you are probably going to be just fine. It certainly seems that things like pain, stiffness, knee swelling, warmth about the knee and fatigue can continue to improve well past the third month in some patients. Keep working hard and make sure you share your concerns with your surgeon.