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15 weeks from tkr

Posted , 12 users are following.

ronnie41565
ronnie41565

I am 15 weeks out from rtkr.

?I still have a problem with my bend, it's still about 120. Also can't stand for very long before knee tightens up.

?I have a problem with shopping, with walking and stopping every few feet and starting over again make me hurt and get stiff for rest of the day. Yet I can walk 1 1/2 miles every day with no problem. Just gets frustrating

?I know my muscles are still weak around the knee. Going down my steps I can only go down them 3 times before the little muscle at top of knee hurts and gets very tender. Otherwise I can do the stairs fine.

Just slacked off on some of my excesses except walking, stationary bike, heel raises and squats

I do stretch my knee back throughout the day

Anyone else having problems like mine? 

0 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • Snoozy69
    Snoozy69 ronnie41565

    Posted

    A 120 degree bend and you're not happy with that? I would love to have a bend like that. I'm 10 weeks and mine was measured yesterday at 85 degrees. I think your other problems are just muscle fatigue maybe continue with the exercises you've been slacking off with. Strengthening exercises may help x

  • Rcurry17
    Rcurry17 ronnie41565

    Posted

    It sounds like you are in good shape. I am 8 months post op and just started pt for the second time. I have a 118/2 ROM. Your leg will feel sore and tired for a long time. Muscles take a long time to regain strength but 120 is considered normal.
  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX ronnie41565

    Posted

    Still not at 4 months...the good news is that this is all normal...the gooder-er news is that you're past the worst of it and you will start to see a steady increase in your abilities.  At six months most of this will be gone...not all...just most.  The 120 bend is what the docs and PTs shoot for so you're OK there...it will get better over time.  I was -1 / +123 at 14 weeks...now I'm 0 / +133.  Just takes time and work...

    These are for strength and stairs...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/post-tkr-exercising-565527

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/mastering-post-tkr-stairs-552728

    It's all about rebuilding the dead quads, glutes and core.  Takes work and time.  The tight, "band-like" feeling can last 12-18 months.  Normal.  I'm almost 21 months and I still get a twinge here or there.  Still have nerve tingling when I kneel on it.  The old-timers say that will take a while longer...

    • ronnie41565
      ronnie41565 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thank you for the information. I will look at these links

      ​So along with everything else that band will stay with me for  months or longer. Guess I am little impatient

  • deb1205
    deb1205 ronnie41565

    Posted

    Hi am just coming up to 12 weeks, I have full bend and straightening of my leg. I saw a physio yesterday she told me to massage the area 3-4 times a day. She also said before you get out of bed or if you have been sitting a while do some exercises a massage your leg before getting up. Not to stand for long periods, it is the muscles, ligaments and soft tissue damage. I hope this helps.
    • ronnie41565
      ronnie41565 deb1205

      Posted

      I am jealous of your bend. I do massage my knee about 3 times a day. That is to break up scar tissue.

      Yea I do some exercises before I get up in mornings. I am so stiff then and loosen up during the day.

      Thank you for your reply

      Good luck in your recovery

  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 ronnie41565

    Posted

    Sounds to me like you are doing fine. Keep up the exercises. It's just a matter of time. Improvements continue for months. I am 9 months post op. All fine for me now. If you are worried, I would arrange to see a professional...I expect a physiotherapist could give you some timely advice.

  • robin15577
    robin15577 ronnie41565

    Posted

    We are about the same lol I am 123 but struggle to get measurement. I can walk and bike ok heel slides are now coming along much better finally as it has always been excruciating until recently. I am always stiff starting out but get better after a few of them. I am Trying to increase ROM so do them several times a day like 4-5 times doing 10 each time. Someone suggested that to me and I am grateful as it is making a difference. I had surgery Aug 17th and still in physical therapy lol . Slow healer 

    wishing you success in your recovery!

  • jean04276
    jean04276 ronnie41565

    Posted

    In between the zombie walks, the repetitive exercise and endless ice, at 10 weeks, my symptoms are more or less like yours.

    Without the advice and support from this forum l would still be trapped in the bend obsession. 

    I now accept my present 100 bend, the occasional free flow of tears and some of the restrictions you describe. 

    Talking here has given me the strength of acceptance, the patience  is coming too. Best wishes.

  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 ronnie41565

    Posted

    Remember the formula: for one year, the leg owns you, then if you're lucky you own it.

    Just keep working, stretching, moving, icing.

    There are those that would kill for 120 in 4 months. Just make sure you a at 0 do f2f straight. Straight is more important than bend anyway. The 0 is what keeps you from limping.

    You're doing great but you still don't own The leg yet and that doesn't make you a failure.

    • ronnie41565
      ronnie41565 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Your right my knee tells me what, how much I can do. I keep reminding myself that it takes a year or more to heal.
  • Wicca1971
    Wicca1971 ronnie41565

    Posted

    I'm about 12 weeks post op and still can't do stairs. My knee is so weak and gives out on me every once in a while which is scary. My doctor says not to worry but I can't help it. Everyone else seems to be recovering so much quicker. I did have to get a manipulation 8 weeks after the TKR which put me back a few weeks but I still think I should be further along. I hope you start feeling better soon.

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX Wicca1971

      Posted

      Read my response to Ronnie, above.  Click and read both links.  It takes a lot of work to rebuild the dead muscles that allow you to do stairs normally again.  Stairs are usually the last obstacle to overcome in a TKR...takes time, WORK and patience...
    • Wicca1971
      Wicca1971 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thank you Chico Marx. I read the two links and will start on those stair exercises asap. I guess its more fear then anything else keeping me from doing the stairs because I know how weak my leg is and I'm afraid of falling. The buckling of the knee recently has put me on edge and the bizarre swelling at the bottom of my quad muscle that sticks out like a sore thumb freaks me out. I can start seeing my actual knee again but this lump right above it (where quad muscle meets knee) is stressing me out a bit.

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX Wicca1971

      Posted

      The stress is all in your head...dump it out the window.  There is no stress...just gradual healing.  You're expecting too much too soon.  This takes a year or more.  Accept it.  Stick to the program and get rid of all the crap in your head...not worth it.

      When I would sit on the edge of my bed, I'd see the TKR knee as bigger than the other one...no real swelling but just "different".  Oh, wait...there's a giant mechanical device implanted in there!!! I'm almost 21 months post-op and it still looks a tad different but all that original, residual swelling is now gone.  Small price to pay to walk without pain again.

      You need to get to the point where you have some strength back (that takes work) so you have more confidence in the new knee.  This comes in time...you just have to put in the effort.  All those dead muscles have to be rebuilt to take the pressure off the joint itself.  This isn't rocket science.  Just takes determination and time.  At my point, I still have some nerve tingling when I kneel on it but I can climb two steps at a time without holding onto anything.  Ya just gotta want it...bad...

      "Never give up.  Never surrender." - Tim Allen, Galaxy Quest 

    • ronnie41565
      ronnie41565 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Hello Chico

      I have read through the 2 links and have a question about some of the exercises.

      You mentioned about getting on the floor and using a mat? My question is how am I suppose to get on the floor without being able to kneel or get up off the floor?

      I do most of those exercises on the bed.

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 ronnie41565

      Posted

      T his is where cmmon sense has to be your guide. I've been at it much longer and several more times than chico and I would find getting on the floor scary as Hell. The pain of kneeling just isn't worth a y benefit that I might get out of trying. If you can do it, great, just don't put yourself in pain trying..

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX ronnie41565

      Posted

      OFG1 is absolutely right about the floor but that is the place to do your heel slides.  Anything else, like kneeling, is better left for when you are a lot more healed.  Even now, at 21 months, I use a 4" foam pad indoors and padded tactical knee pads outside.  You'll want to avoid kneeling on it for a long time.

      The "getting up off the floor" part takes muscle strength in quads, glutes and core that you have to build back up over many months of exercise.  In the early days of recovery, all of us had to get off the floor after heel slides.  The best method is "any way you can"!!!  I would do my slides next to a bench so I could use it to haul myself up and then grab my walker or cane.  Later on, you can kneel on your good knee, press on the opposite quad and rise up.  Tough at first but gets easier as you build strength.

      This doesn't happen overnight.  Takes time, effort and patience.  Months from now, you'll be zipping up and down without a thought...and then remember how tough it used to be.  All typical of the recovery.

    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 ronnie41565

      Posted

      If you are able, downward facing dog...the yoga position, ...on all fours on floor, with minimal pressure on knee, tuck toes in the bum up and kind of walk feet towards hands... or use something nearby as Chico mentions.

    • jenny80029
      jenny80029

      Posted

      Tuck toes in, then bum in the air! Not toes in the bum! 😊😀😃😄

    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 Wicca1971

      Posted

      That's normal...don't worry! It's great you are starting to see your knee!

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