11 weeks now....

Don't give up or get discouraged. It will come. Do you have access to a swimming pool to walk in? This helped me a lot with both of my knees. I had Both knees done within 6 weeks of each other. Hang in there. It will come.

Tammy!  Check with your doctor!  This doesn't sound right.  Bending was a big part of the focus of my first 3 weeks of in-home physical therapy.  At a month, I was able to freely toss and turn in bed at night (a good and bad thing, right?).  Before 3 weeks post-op, I was using a cane.  I'm just a month after surgery, and I'm told I'll only need the cane for another 2-3 weeks.  This is not due to a bending issue, but to help me walk without leaning from side to side.  Before you go too much longer, you need to get that bend back.  Concentrate on your leg slides and all exercises bending.  Try putting your foot on a step stool in front of a counter and lean, lean, lean.  Don't wait too long.  I've heard we have about 12 weeks to get full movement back.

Hi Tammy, I was just like you 12 mths ago!! Your right it can be a head job!! What changed things for me was my physio telling me that the new knee was far stronger than my old one ever was. I started to practice standing on it and lifting my other leg off the floor first for a few seconds and then building it up to a minute. Also walked up and down the swimming pool holding the side at first then built up to the middle. I now know I'm the bionic woman ha ha!! And that my knees are my strength,im 5 weeks post op with my second one now and doing far better as I've altered my thinking. This surgery is both physical and mental

Hi, I'm 12 weeks, and think you need to go back to your doctors. Did you get discharged? I know everyone is different but I haven't used a crutch since 2 weeks I think. I have a stick for long distances outside, but can go upstairs holding on with 1 hand and downstairs not holding at all. Something I haven't done for years. 

Others have said there is a time frame to get things going, and I think that's right.  Have you put your bad foot up on a stair and leaned into it?  Put a carrier bag on the floor and slide your foot back and forth. Pull your bad foot back under you when sat on dining chair by using your good foot. 

Look on you tube for other exercises, and try contacting your doctor for advice.  Good luck 

I am new to this group so bear with me.  Tammi I am thinking you had a knee replacement?  Not sure but looking at other posts, I am assuming.  I had 2 knee surgeries not replacement.  However, I do know 2 other people who had knee surgeries who were bending thier knees right after surgery.   For me, I was in a movement machine making my knee totally bend.  After I turned the machine back, my husband rigged up a type of homemade machine for me.   After PT, and a leg blood clot, I purchased a rowing machine and that saved my life -seriously.  I was so depressed after being so active and then down for so long..... I marked on the rower how much I could bend my knee when I started, then as the days went, my mark kept changing and changing until I could bend my knee totally.  I recommend continued use with the rower as it is non weight bearing and just a wonderful exercise for your quads- which totally deflate from knee surgery.  Hope this helps.

The 1st thing you learn with this surgery is PATIENCE. Everything else falls into place.......slowly. You speak of normal......normal is a phantom that slowly moves in and out of the shadows. I've been through 5 complete rehabs.....the difference between each is noticeable in every aspect.......bend, straight, nerve repairs, sciatica, strength. Too much of recovery is predicated on hearsay and unreasonable expectations.

Don't try to push the process. Overdoing excercise and activity thinking you are going to force the recovery is foolishness. The body will react with negativity. Slow down.....hydrate (several large of glasses of water throughout the day and especially 1st night). Do your excercises up to the level of pain but not into pain, rest, elevate. Take a nap when you are feeling worn out and ice several times a day. Recovery is a full time job. Don't try and work a heavy schedule of other activities into the rehab.

Taking care of yourself does not equate to weakness.......it magnifies your intelligence. People will give you all kinds of stories about how far behind everybody else they know that's gone through it...........those people are dreaming or drinking the cool aid of misinformation. You are you and no one else.........listen to your body.