2 steps forward, 3 steps back.

Posted , 8 users are following.

Hello all - I've followed loads of you with your progress, & whilst mine has been slower (Right TKR on 28th October) - I was slowly getting there. Last week at Physio,  I reached a 95 degree bend, could walk upstairs albeit clinging on the the LHS rail, cannot walk downstairs, started driving our automatic car 2 weeks ago (but I'm the first to admit my confidence is not back to the old me) - walk with a limp, but felt slowly & surely I was getting there. Over the weekend, we had our 4 & 6 year old Grandchildren to stay - I went up our 3 flights of stairs (slowly) at least a dozen times - actually showed them all the excercices as they too have followed this op. - nothing too much out of the ordinary, but yesterday was a painful day from hell. The knee feels as if it is in a brace - I can actually feel & hear a clicking noise now, which I hate, & my limp is more pronounced. What the heck happened? I had stopped all meds on the previous Friday, apart from bedtime ones, as I still find sleeping hard, but today have decided I must need them still, so have ordered a further prescription. I'm 14 weeks for goodness sake - a quarter of a precious year feeling dreadful - am I alone in going backwards?

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Posted

    No you are not alone there seems more who do well for the first couple of months then seem to go backwards, I am included, I can walk up stairs normal but very slowly and need to hold onto the rail, but coming down is dreadful as you bend your knee so much and have to thump down as I have not got the strength in the knee or confidence to do it as normal, I find that after a walk the knee swells up and this makes harder to bend, so all I can say is keep taking the painkillers regularly and hope like me one day everything will fall into place,spoke to one chap who had op 12months ago and he said the swelling was almost gone and he felt confident about his knee now so perhaps we are a bit inpatient, alli can say is do as much as you can, don't overdue it don't be afraid to say it's hurting and let nature take it course, having said that nature did not give me a click in my knee which I have now so fingers crossed to you all, cheers Graham
  • Posted

    I think the main thing is not to overdo it. On days when I've done more walkinig about than normal, my knees swell. If I am sitting doing nothing, I'm still inclined to put my feet up.  Have a rest for a couple of days and things should get better again.

    As for driving, the more you do, the more confident you will become again.

    Best wishes.

     

  • Posted

    Hi there, I fully agree with Graham's post. The more you feel able to do the more you seem to suffer afterwards. I know that getting to 15weeks you are disappointed to being be feeling so rough, but this is exactly the pattern of this op. I am 6months and my knee is still swollen ,stiff and painful. Hy hips and bottom back ache all the time making it difficult to get out of bed or stand from a sitting position. I'm afraid just when you think you you have turned that magic corner it comes back to bite you on the bum. Take care you need to rest now for a few days 
  • Posted

    Just part of the progress. At times our body and brains are not in harmony when it comes to "want to do" and "ability to do". At least you weren't afraid to give it a go. Just back off for a day or two till the body heals a bit then get back on with it but to lesser degree. Stairs are a lot more of a stress than most other parts of the rehab process because of how many parts of the body it takes to accomplish the task. Keep up the program just don't try to get there all at once
  • Posted

    Thank you for the replies. In my village are 2 text-book case TKR'ers! I feel such a fraud compared to them. One of them had knee number 2 done just 11 weeks after number 1, - I would be walking like the Tin Man if I had that done! I have always been a perfectionist in all I have done in life - being unable to get on top of this is like being last in a race. I am taking the advice given in your replies - sorted out a book & the feet will be on that stool in a few minutes with the log fire blazing!
    • Posted

      My consultant said the younger you are to have the op sometimes the slower recovery. Y
  • Posted

    We are all different. At 8 weeks I was great. No pain, up & downstairs. Then I was shunted from the back in the car and knocked back. Im now 14 weeks, just seen the consultant and dont need to see him for 2 years. The residual pain is going and stairs not too bad. 
  • Posted

    Hi Veronica i do feel for you. I'm the same. Last week at 12 weeks i walked around my local shops almost normally. No stick barely a limp. I felt good. At last i thought, progress. This week my knee is giving me hell. I can barely walk- it won't straighten and my muscles are very tight.

    I guess that's what we have to expect with this. I'm just annoyed that they don't warn us.

    Take care - we'll all get there eventually smile

  • Posted

    don't worry 

    this op is like a roller coaster ups and downs 

    I'm still limping at 21 weeks ..my knees don't match anymore I had knobbly knees before and now I have one nobly knee and one smooth one 

    my other knee is now playing up ...so if I have it done I will ask surgeon to give me a matching pair biggrin

    • Posted

      I feel better reading your post. I'm limping at 13wks and thought. I was behind! Still its not a race so i guess it doesn't matter.

      I'm a bit down as last week i was walking almost normally and thought i was over the worst. Now it's back to remind me!

      Oh well next week maybe I'll feel good again. smile

    • Posted

      I had a good few days ..and today was back to pain and limping 

      I'm fed up of this up and don 

      i thought being a positive person I would sail through this

      but I now realise nobody really sails through it just some  people heal quicker than others

      but we all get there in the end 

      Jean 

    • Posted

      We will indeed! I had an ultrasound yesterday as my GP thought i had a baker's cyst - it wasn't, but the operator said my stiffness and discomfort was caused by fluid. Not much there around the joint- but enough to cause problems. With that in mind i feel better knowing everything has actually healed and now i just need to get rid of the fluid caused by using the joint until it gets used to it. Lots of ice and laying with my foot up on the headboard i think. smile

  • Posted

    Hi Veronica, no you are not alone. There are good days and bad days. Like you my lovely grandchildren have shown great interest in my knee. my granddaughter (6) used to stand outside the shower in case I fell and also often does my exercises with me.  I am 20 weeks post op and had my grandchildren for a sleep over and like you  The next day my leg was swollen and I was quite worn out.  I think you don't realise how much moving around you do when the children are around.My GP said the swelling can last for up to a year, so once he told me that I  don't worry too much.  I really think the weather has an impact on the aches and pains as well. Roll on Spring 

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