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11 weeks and still can’t lift leg off bed

Posted , 9 users are following.

jean02698
jean02698

I am exercising and going to the gym. I still cant lift my leg off the bed unless i use a belt to lift it up. When I do lift the leg I get pains like shin splints. I am doing exercises for my quads. I made a mistake of not focusing on my quads initially. These shin splints wake me at night. The surgeon had problems with my knee cap as it floated off to the side. Today at the gym an acquaintance who hadn't seen me in a couple of weeks commented that I wasn't improving since she last saw me.

Anyone else experiencing similar problems? I find it very depressing.

0 likes, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • shirley67411
    shirley67411 jean02698

    Posted

    Be patient... the knee is painful surgery I had my.hip done and it was great but my.knee was horrendous. Please don't be disheartened with what im going to say but ... I would say to fully recover can take up to 2 years. I had mine 3 years ago and I thought I would never be rid of pain but now I don't even know I've had it done.

    Something the specialist told me was to accept your knew knee and stop mentally trying to reject it. once you can accept the scar and the fact its not your own knee but a new one then you can begin to heal 🙂🙂🙂

  • susane91705
    susane91705 jean02698

    Posted

    I agree with Shirley I am 11 weeks I can lift my leg of the bed and walking is fine with no pain. I do have pain at night. If you are going to the gym you may be doing too much. Let you leg rest and play and it does take time. I think that just getting around generally each day and a short walk out is all you knee needs. I personally would not go to the gym. Good wishes.

    • kathleen25427
      kathleen25427 susane91705

      Posted

      Hi everyone Ihad a good day at physio The key for me is water therapy as the knee is not strong Iam walking fine and mainly have pain at night that wakes me up Uable to do the leg lift but my quads are getting stronger Also i am on the bike for 15 minutes THAT FEELS SO GOOD My goal is to be back biking as thats what my husband and i love doing

    • jean02698
      jean02698 kathleen25427

      Posted

      I had a good day at the gym. i pushed myself and am feeling it now. I am icing right now. I am at 12 weeks. I'm still having problems with knee extensions....can hardly lift up. i had a bad night sleep last night because of leg pain but I'll nap this afternoon and take it easy. My knee is still very swollen.

      i had my first knee done 11 years ago and at 12 weeks I felt normal.

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX jean02698

    Posted

    The first 12 weeks are usually the worst while you concentrate on your ROM. After that, the muscle rebuild for quads, glutes and core takes a while (months and months). This does NOT get better rapidly. Slow and steady improvements. You're depressed because of your expectations. Silly wabbit. There are no expectations in TKRVille. It's very Zen: "I'll be better when I'm better." Usually takes a full year. Accept it. Let go of what your mind tells you...the knee controls everything. Before you know it, you'll be dancing at your one year anniversary party...

    • kathleen25427
      kathleen25427 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      You are right actually i fractured my patella dec8 coming along ok Physio and water and now feeling more confident still aches at night ON THE BIKE NOW FOR SHORT PERIODS HAPPY

  • jenny61596
    jenny61596 jean02698

    Posted

    I would go back to doctor you should be able to lift your leg well before11 weeks. By then I was really quite good regarding movement and pain levels low. Good luck

    • jean02698
      jean02698 jenny61596

      Posted

      Jenny...im going to go back to the surgeon. i had my first knee done 11 years ago and never experienced this problem. Even my GP said i expected too much but i truly feel something is wrong.

    • jenny61596
      jenny61596 jean02698

      Posted

      I agree with you , by 11 weeks i was walking etc fine , off pain killers except maybe panadol, I had first knee done 7 years ago , and this one just over a year. I think this recent one better than old one, no staples and more precise method , techniques improve all the time . Hope you get it sorted, are you in uk? I'm in australia ,

    • jean02698
      jean02698 jenny61596

      Posted

      Jenny....I am in Canada. Its 2 AM and i cant sleep because my leg is aching. Dozed off but pain wakes me up. i just cant get comfortable.

    • susane91705
      susane91705 jean02698

      Posted

      I do feel for you, I have been in the same position as you, it will be six weeks before you can get a better sleep. Can you take another pain medication, make a cup of hot chocolate, get an audio book, it all helps, keep in touch, I am 11weeks now and life is so much better and a new knee, which is doing very well. Best wishes Suzanne

    • jenny61596
      jenny61596 jean02698

      Posted

      Hope you get some answers , I'm sure plenty of people were still very sore at 11 weeks, I wasnt , my pain levels were very high but suddenly improved at about8 weeks . I found water aerobics was good , and just walking, I would use a stuck if walking dog , not if alone . I didnt do much phsio to start with because of pain levels and I found if I did I would suffer so I was very careful to the extent I was told I was not doing enough, but I was and my movement is as goid as it gets , also I had little swelling because I didnt overdo it . If I couldnt sleep I would just watch netflix abd sleep in day . Good luck and let me know how you go

    • jean02698
      jean02698 jenny61596

      Posted

      thanks Jenny.I have to get up in the morning as i drive my grandson to school. My husband cant drive for medical reasons and this morning i had to drive him to his specialist appointment. My life is very busy. As soon as the weather warms up I am going to try water aerobics. Its just so cold here right now. I use my cane when I'm walking outside for balance as its so icy here and lots of snow.

      Netflix has been my savior. l have my ipad beside my bed and listen to it. I used it so much I went to unlimited internet. I work out 3 times a week. I dont have much pain except for the knee cap in the days. its night time when i wake up and my leg look like a chicken wing and i have to push it straight and massage the muscles. Trying to get comfortable to go to sleep is another problem.

      thanks for the support

  • kathleen25427
    kathleen25427 jean02698

    Posted

    OK my story .fractured patella dec 8 No surgery even though displaced I waited too long I injured it in mexico soo now doing ok Iwas back at toga and tripped so now a bruiseTypical for me Key is to not fall My physio says i am ok after the fall but feel i am now in rest mode and the hot pool this week

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