Please or to access all these features

Elderly parents

Post op, knee replacement recovery.

32 replies

Barney16 · 18/11/2025 18:41

Just looking for some advice about my elderly mum. About three weeks ago she had a full knee replacement, operation went well but I'm not sure whether the recovery is really going well. There's nothing medically wrong with the knee replacement but she is really immobile, other than walking to the toilet, which she does with a walking frame she isn't doing anything else. She will move from the sofa to the bed, bed brought downstairs but that's it. She isn't getting dressed either, just wearing a random collection of pjs, no physio as of yet. I'm at a loss really. I don't know whether it's usual or if something else is going on. Perhaps confidence? She is late eighties and perfectly rational, obviously in a lot of pain, maybe I'm just being unrealistic, so wondered if anyone had any experience to share.

OP posts:
Barney16 · 18/11/2025 19:27

Thank you for your replies. She was given an exercise sheet when she left hospital but hasn't done any of them. I have offered to get a private physio, she's thinking about it. It's very very odd. When I see her walk to the toilet I think she's moving fine. But she doesn't seem to think so. Very limited range of things she's doing for herself too, she does say her knee feels very odd. I'm really bemused by what's happening, before the op her mobility was awful but she was very active. She is now just sitting still.

OP posts:
Clemdfandango · 18/11/2025 18:58

I had a total knee replacement just over 3 years ago and I was told by my surgeon that if I didn't exercise every day, it would have been a waste of money (I went private). I got myself a physio through my medical insurance and did the exercises religiously. It took me a year to fully recover, which I expected, but it was definitely worth it as I am now pain-free.

Exercise is an absolute must - I cannot emphasise that enough.

Clemdfandango · 18/11/2025 18:58

I had a total knee replacement just over 3 years ago and I was told by my surgeon that if I didn't exercise every day, it would have been a waste of money (I went private). I got myself a physio through my medical insurance and did the exercises religiously. It took me a year to fully recover, which I expected, but it was definitely worth it as I am now pain-free.

Exercise is an absolute must - I cannot emphasise that enough.

JinglingtoChristmas · 18/11/2025 18:53

Was she not given exercises to do before leaving the hospital? My Dad was given a set of exercises to do several times a day and a decade later he still has to do them daily.

Mumof1andacat · 18/11/2025 18:50

My mum was given exercises to complete everyday for weeks and was encouraged to get moving including doing the stairs and continue getting on with normal life as recovery allows. It wasn't easy getting use to it. New knee did feel different. I want to say mum saw a physio around 6 weeks post op at her consultant check up and then started attending group physio from there. My mum was younger at 67 though.

searchforthesun · 18/11/2025 18:50

my dad had a knee replacement and was doing daily exercises and increased walking every day. They advise you to keep mobile. He went from 2 crutches to one within a week and then no crutches from three weeks.
he is late 70’s but I don’t have anyone else to compare him to.

Radiatorvalves · 18/11/2025 18:45

With elderly MIL we got a physio to come and do exercises with her. She was resistant! Unless she does the exercises religiously she won’t get an improvement in mobility even if pain has gone (once post op pain goes). Frankly MIL never managed to walk without a zimmer and not at all far. I’ve got other elderly rellies who were similar. I’ve also got a cousin in her 60s with 2 new knees who has just cycled across Italy! Keep encouraging the exercise!