4 weeks into knee replacement
Posted , 4 users are following.
**hello ,ive had a knee replacement 4 weeks ago.can bend leg 105 degrees and 15 degrees off straightning ,ive never being able to straighten it ,still in pain say 7 or 8 depending on exercise ,leg seems stiff and straightning it is hard ,when will the pain go away ,im a joiner and im only 50 and self employed so it is key for me to return to work ,no flooring and no ladder work ,also i ride a bike which i would like to get back on ,physio said i need 120 bend to ride , also when can i drive ,its gettig me dowm sat around all day ,any suggestions will be good ,is swimming ok cheers john
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0 likes, 6 replies
jenny25655 john50984
Posted
Hi John,
Sounds like you are doing well. You have to remember that you have had a major operation . My surgeon signed me off for driving at 5 weeks. Pain is normal, keep doing your Physio and focus on straightening exercises, they are tough but necessary. I regretted having my TKR for months but now it is best thing i have done. It has been a year now and it has changed my life for the better.
Good luck with your recovery.
Jenny.
john50984 jenny25655
Posted
thanks when can you cycle my physio said 115 bend needed , surely this is one of the best forms of exercise
CHICO_MARX john50984
Posted
See my response below...
And hang in there!!! This is a long recovery...usually takes a full year. Be good to yourself...no expectations or timetables. Listen to the knee. Do too much and it will swell...guaranteed. Time work and patience are your tools. The work really pays off...
CHICO_MARX john50984
Posted
Four weeks into a typical 52-week recovery. Very few people avoid that fate. Been on here 4 years and I can count the "lucky ones" on less than one hand. Give up all your expectations and timetables...they only screw with your head. Time, work and patience are your tools.
TKR Work at Home
#3 in the link will get your leg straight. Not easy...get everyone else out of the house first and scream into a pillow...but it works. Gotta have "stones" to do it with the leg weights...
You will have to find creative ways to do your work. Even people who try it at 3 months report lots of pain and swelling day after day. Typical returns are after the knee has significantly healed...4-6 months depending on healing, age, type of work and much more. Even people just sitting at a desk have problems...it's not easy. Very individual.
Need to finish the ROM work and then do the mandatory muscle rebuild. Click my name, Discussions and then See All. About 30 out there on all sorts of topics (including the rebuild) that should help.
john50984 CHICO_MARX
Posted
isnt cycling one of the best forms of exercise to build up muscle , i cycled before surgery and it was easier than walking , i might try at 6 weeks , still cant walk without crutches , try one round house , , straightning it is the hard one , never could 15degrees off but keep trying , to force it but it hurts alot , will using ice more help . i havnt used it for weeks now
CHICO_MARX john50984
Posted
Do #3 in the link above...GREAT for getting to zero degrees straight.
Cycling is good for flexion and a warmup...if you do it right. To help get your leg to zero degrees, raise the seat and make sure your leg is fully extended when it is going down. We always cheat by using our toes to get there. Avoid that. Push down with your heel to get zero degrees. Do as best you can. Note the seat position and change it every week as you get better at it.
To work your flexion to and past +120, set the seat lower. Now when you leg comes up, it will have to bend further to complete the rotation. Yeah, this is more work than just sitting mindlessly on the bike but the point is to get the leg to at least 0 / +120. It absolutely pays off. Again, note your seat position and change it to get better flexion.
No, just biking does not strengthen all the leg musculature (quads, glutes, core, hip flexors, abductors and adductors). This takes strength training...
Muscle Rebuild
The work rebuilds the muscles so you can walk correctly, get your balance back, get the strain off the knee and back on the muscles, and finally get you to do stairs alternately again without holding a rail like you used to. Biking alone, even with added walking, does not do the whole job. The work can be done in a gym or at home with $25 resistance bands. A FULL recovery mandates the muscle rebuild. At 14 months, I was climbing stairs alternately two at a time without holding onto anything. Want that result? Gotta do the strength training. I'm almost 4 years post-op and it REALLY paid off.