Knee Replacement Surgery

Pain: 1/10
Swelling: 5/10
Bruising: 1/10
Movement: 6/10

For the first time since the operation I feel ready to do something today and so I cleaned the oven in the kitchen. I just propped up my crutches and then sprayed and wiped the hob, doors etc. Probably took 10 minutes in all but it felt good to have contributed something to the cleanliness of the house at last!

I have tried not to sit still for too long and keep getting up to fetch things and also to go upstairs every hour or so. I’m sure this will help the recovery.

I’m also making sure I put plenty of cream on the scar a few times a day to try and get it to heal as unobtrusively as possible.

Pain: 2/10
Swelling: 6/10
Bruising: 6/10
Movement: 5/10

Visited the physiotherapist today, and looking at my notes she tells me that apparently I have had a lateral release of the kneecap as well, which probably explains the pain I’ve been getting from it.

She told me that my knee looked as it should for 11 days post surgery and that she was pleased with my progress. Apparently other people are often ‘precious’ with their knees and try and protect them too much, but I’m being good and working mine. Yay me!

I can do a straight leg lift and can contract my muscles to pull my knee down towards the bed to straighten it, but I am completely unable to lift my foot off the bed once a small rolled towel has been put under my knee. It’s as if my knee has stopped talking to my brain – I’m willing it on but there’s not even a flicker. The physio suggested that to rewire the signals, I should contract my muscles as if I was about to do a straight leg lift, but then imagine I was going to lift it over my right shoulder. That would send the message to the right place.

As the staples are still in she wants to see me again on Friday when they’ve been removed.