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Just got back from physio and feel iv gone backwards!

Posted , 10 users are following.

debbie171066
debbie171066

Hi im 11 wks post tkr today and havent been for physio for 3 wks but have been today. Iv been walking unaided around the house for a while and often outside. I was going to ask for a stick for balance as i woddle a bit. But the physio said i shouldnt give up my crutch yet. He said im not walking with a flexible leg and am holding it stiff. I know i am! So i wil do more damage he even questioned wether i should be walking round house without it! I feel a bit upset as was hoping i was doing well. Got to take their advice!

I was hoping to go back to work in 2 wks which wil make it wk 13 but he said how long was i walking for and i said 20 mins so he said i wouldnt be ready to be on my feet for a shift! Im trying to build my walking up but he has got a point! Hopefully will only need another 2 wks and then phased return.

I wont be able to go back if i cant walk without crutch. Im at physio in 2 wks so will see how im doing then. I will persevere with walking and exercises and see how i go! This is so hard at 49 i want to be living! Sorry to moan but feeling frustrated and disappointed .com lol

3 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 debbie171066

    Posted

    There is a fine line for using additive devices as far as I'm concerned. 1st, the safety issue. Do you feel secure without it and if you dont, by all means use it. The 2nd thing is becoming dependent. If you are making sure you are moving slowly, taking your time with each step, using the heel, toe, bend on each step and slowly following through with each motion you will be making sure that you are becoming independent. You will make it. Just be sure and take your time
    • debbie171066
      debbie171066 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Thanks i know what you mean! When i walk with the crutch i do heal toe and bend and have the support to be able to concentrate how i walk without thinking about balance at the same time! I wil walk with the crutch for 2 wks until im back at physio thanks for your help!
  • lin73970
    lin73970 debbie171066

    Posted

    Hi Debbie,

    well exactly the same thing happened to me!

    i got so upset as I thought I was doing so well and I was told not to go around the house without a stick as I could do more damage!

    i did for a couple of days do as I was told but then got fed up so reverted to what I was doing before, walking without a stick but I must add in sensible amounts so I stopped before I became really tired.

    now I am walking better than ever so I don't think it did me much harm.

    i do understand why they say these things as not all people are sensible about the amount they walk etc and not everyone elevated and ices the knee either so continue in a sensible way and ice elk ate as you would anyway!

    XX

    • debbie171066
      debbie171066 lin73970

      Posted

      Thanks lin im not alone then! Lol

      I will walk round house unaided but he told me to build up distance i walk and how i walk outside is so much better with a crutch. I can think about my steps and bend my stiff leg! Will work hard!

  • lin73970
    lin73970 debbie171066

    Posted

    I forgot to add that Do physio with a special trainer( special because he is specialised in tkr recovery) I know I am extremely lucky to have him for an hour each time giving me special exercises to do, hard work but well worth it!
  • sueisobel
    sueisobel debbie171066

    Posted

    If you can walk round the house unaided, how far can you walk when outside?  Are you in pain, how weak is your leg, what do you do at work, does it entail sitting down.  You can buy walking sticks.  If you can find a craftsman, get them to make you a customised one, made to your specific height (they can make one that will take into consideration you may wear heels, so in flats, it may be a little high but...)

    rules can be broken ,but the most important thing to remember is you need muscles that can hold your weight, you can do those sort of exercises anywhere. You don't need sessions..  Work on your knee at home, you know what is needed.  Do you have a bicycle, low gears and a high saddle, a little hard to start off with, but once you can do a whole revolution a few times, your knee will be looser.  What about your local swimming pool.  Flexing and bending in water is so much easier. Go outside your safe zone and see how you get on.  Use your stairs as another weapon to strengthen those muscles, just remember to hold onto the sides.

    if you drive, is your car automatic, if not, don't drive for a while yet til your leg is stronger.

    11 weeks is a long time to be off work, unless there is something more going on than a bog standard knee replacement!!!

    • debbie171066
      debbie171066 sueisobel

      Posted

      The physio told me a lot of people have a lot longer than 11 wks off work, he told me i wont be ready in 2 wks which wil be 13!!! I am going to see how i am its not that i dont want to go back i bloomin do! Im desperate to get back but dont want to do damage! I do a whole routine of exercises twice a day with extra bending ones inbetween. I have an exercise peddler a mobility aid! And i ice and elavate! Im doing all i can my muscles etc are obv slow at healing! Im being so hard on myself and am doing all i can to walk
    • sueisobel
      sueisobel debbie171066

      Posted

      Wow!! Should imagine you are ready to climb the walls by now. Would you be able to sit if you went back to work? People do heal at different times, some longer, some sooner.  Have you thought about going back to basics, like Deborah 90838 suggests, try the wobble board, they are really cheap these days, will take a while to get used to, but..... Then you have the stairs, go up slow and deliberate,come down slow, sometimes come down backwards, it is easier, but you are still working muscles, when you sit on a chair use your good leg to push your weak leg back and hold it until you are comfortable, then push a bit more.  The secret to most of the exercises you do is to relax.  Try going to your local pool. In the mid section where it's the water is say up to your chest, try floating on your back and gently kick your legs, or stand up and gently bounce up and down, pushing off with your feet. There is no impact plus you are using the waters resistance to make you work harder, without really thinking about it. You will be surprised what you can do without pain, especially when it comes to stretching and bending. Whilst the physios know there business, they have to realise you have a life to lead, if you can sit at work, then you should not have a problem. But if you are standing a lot, then yes, you do need those muscles in good working order.  If your are desperate you could wear a brace, but you would still have to take it off and exercise.

      Don't  be hard on yourself, praise yourself often, give yourself little treats as rewards. Don't do sessions of physio, incorporate them into your daily life.

      Hope you get to go to work soon :-)

  • deborah90838
    deborah90838 debbie171066

    Posted

    Hi Debbie. I understand about the straight leg walking. I needed a cane until I was able to get a slight bend in my knee which is the normal way to walk. It's much harder and takes more control to do a slight bend than it does to do a deeper squat. My PT had me doing lots of balance work, all with a slightly bent knee. Exhausting but effective.

    At 16 weeks I'm walking normally with no cane. At 13 weeks I wasn't. Keep up the excercises and practice standing on that bent leg while holding onto something. It will get there just not sure if it will with your work schedule. Good luck.

    • debbie171066
      debbie171066 deborah90838

      Posted

      Thanks a lot i will try balancing they never suggested that good idea! I think because iv walked badly without crutch iv delayed it! Thanks
  • irish_linda
    irish_linda debbie171066

    Posted

    debbie could you get some private physio in the meantime ,i know it costs but you need to give this all you can ,i dont think its about how far you walk its how you walk i would consentrate on quality rather than quantity .go back to slow walking in your garden or home and consentrate on the way you put your foot to the floor .if you keep this leg straight then i presume your bend is not as it should be so realy need to work it .ive been there its hard work
    • debbie171066
      debbie171066 irish_linda

      Posted

      Thanks linda i thought about private physio but have been given so many exercises from physio im goin to persevere for next 2 wks esp concentrate on each and every step! Using my crutch! I walk so much better with crutch bending leg as i walk! I think i gave it up to early! So back to basics! Feel better today! Walked round a garden centre slowly but propally. Fingers crossed! Thanks
    • sueisobel
      sueisobel debbie171066

      Posted

      A lot of the exercises you can do by yourself . Deborah 90838 mentions balancing; you can buy a wobble board, takes a few times to get going but, it is good for you.  Hold onto something to start of with (not your crutch). Just do it for 5-10 mins at a time. It does more than just your thighs and sense of balance.  Have fun x
    • irish_linda
      irish_linda debbie171066

      Posted

      gettting back to basics is the way forward for you ,and great that yourslow walk is working ,little but often works best .sometimes we are in a hurry to recover ,just because joe bloggs is back doing sport/work/or whatever at your stage does not mean you should be .its not the lenght of the journey but the end result !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      i wouldnt be using a balancing board just yet as sueisobel suggested !! take it slow and yes use your crutch while outdoors for awhile till you feel more able why not .... wishing you the best x

    • debbie171066
      debbie171066 irish_linda

      Posted

      Thank you such wise words!

      I wont be using a balance board i have a friend who had mild arthyritas in her knee and using one meant it got so much worse she had to have a new knee! Its not worth the risk! Im doing lots of exercises and listening to physio! Thats what i know iv got to do!

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