There’s a part of knee replacement recovery that nobody really talks about enough — and it’s what I call the Groundhog Day Effect.
(Yes, like the old Bill Murray movie where he’s trapped in the same small town, waking up to the same song, eating at the same diner, stuck in the same loop over and over.)
(Yes, like the old Bill Murray movie where he’s trapped in the same small town, waking up to the same song, eating at the same diner, stuck in the same loop over and over.)
Here’s what it looks like in real life:
You go to physical therapy.
They add one new exercise to your routine — just one — and somehow, it’s the one that feels like it completely takes your knee out.
You go to physical therapy.
They add one new exercise to your routine — just one — and somehow, it’s the one that feels like it completely takes your knee out.
Let’s be real, sister—total knee replacement recovery is not just about physical healing. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, and if you’re anything like me (or 99% of our Titanium Group), you’ve probably felt all the feels in a single afternoon.
One minute you’re queen of the recliner, nailing your exercises and dreaming about hikes and heels… and the next? You’re crying over a sock that won’t go on right. Girl, SAME.
This isn’t just in your head. Between the pain, the swelling, the weird sleep schedule, and the sudden craving (or total disinterest) in food—it’s a lot. And don’t even get me started on well-meaning friends and family who ask, “Wait, you’re still in pain?” 😳
Knee replacement recovery isn’t just about physical healing (actually far from) — it’s also an intense mental and emotional journey. If you’ve ever felt frustrated during your recovery, you’re not alone. But what if I told you that frustration isn’t your enemy — it’s actually a sign that you’re learning?Dr. Becky Kennedy, a clinical psychologist, recently shared a powerful insight about resilience. She explained that the emotion most associated with the "learning space" — the gap between what we know and what we're figuring out — is frustration. And let’s be honest, few things throw you into the deep end of the learning space
If you’ve ha
d a knee replacement, you know the struggle is real when it comes to leg tightness. That stiff, cranky feeling? It’s not just in your head. I see so many people mention calf pain and IT band tightness after surgery, and let me tell you—I was right there with you.
d a knee replacement, you know the struggle is real when it comes to leg tightness. That stiff, cranky feeling? It’s not just in your head. I see so many people mention calf pain and IT band tightness after surgery, and let me tell you—I was right there with you.My secret weapon? A massage gun.
But before you start going to town on your leg like a jackhammer, let’s talk about how to use it the right way. Done correctly, it can be a game-changer for tight muscles. Done wrong?
But here’s what I realized: the more you prepare before surgery, the smoother that first week will be. I saw it firsthand when I had one knee replacement where I was winging it and another where I was much better prepared. (Spoiler alert: the prepared knee healed way better!)So, I’m sharing 15 questions you must ask yourself before you roll into the OR to ensure Week 1 goes as smoothly as possible
