Two weeks out from my second knee replacement and it feels harder than the first one did. Is that normal?

As promised, the second knee versus first report, although it's more of a question than a report right now.

Left knee done October 14th, same surgeon, same hospital, cemented like the right. Went home day two. Everything is "on track" according to the PT who comes to the house. Bend was 88 yesterday, she seemed happy. But I feel worse than I remember feeling at two weeks with the right one. More swollen, more tired, sleeping worse, and honestly more weepy, which is not like me. I keep thinking I knew what I was doing this time, so why does it feel harder?

Is this a thing? Or is my memory of the first one just kinder than it was? Two and a half years is a long time to remember a pain level.

Carol, I said it in Ginny's thread and I'll say it to you: my second was harder. Stiffer, slower, I cried in the parking lot after PT more than once. It came good in the end. My second knee is now the one I forget about.

Also, 88 at two weeks is a GOOD number. Mine was in the 70s.

I only have the one, but I'll offer the thing my daughter (pre-op clinic, she's heard it all) says about second knees: the first time you're terrified, so you rest. The second time you're confident, so you do too much. Every repeat patient she sees does three times the laundry the second time around.

Bookmarking for my own right knee someday. Carol, you talked me down over swelling and sleep when I was where you are. Feet up after supper, ice at lights out. Your own advice, returned with love.

Carol in Rockford said:

Or is my memory of the first one just kinder than it was?

Probably a bit of both, and you're far from the only one. A second knee feeling harder is something I hear about a lot. Some of it is memory: we remember the six month result much better than the two week misery. Some of it is age, you're two and a half years older than last time. And some of it is what Joan's daughter describes, plus the fact that you're recovering with a right knee that's now doing the leaning, and a left one that spent years compensating and went into surgery with tighter tissues.

The weepy part deserves a mention because nobody warns you. Low mood in the first few weeks after a joint replacement is common, it tends to come with bad sleep and pain, and it usually lifts as both improve. If it hangs on or gets heavier rather than lighter, tell your doctor rather than pushing through.

Your numbers sound like a knee doing what it should. The things I'd ring the surgeon's office about are the same as the first time: heat and redness that's getting worse, a fever, a wound that's weeping, calf pain or swelling, or feeling short of breath. Otherwise, the week by week recovery guide has the ordinary shape of weeks two to six, and on the bend, the stiffness guide explains why 88 at two weeks is a good place to be. Feet up, and maybe less laundry.

Point taken on the laundry. Busted. I had changed the beds, all of them, on day nine.

Feeling more like myself the last two days. Slept five hours straight last night, which is a record, and the PT measured 94 this morning. Still more swollen than the right ever was at this stage, but I'm choosing to believe Diane and Patty. Ginny, full report at six weeks, I promise.