4 weeks post TKR
Posted , 10 users are following.
I am so glad to read many of the comments from others who have had TKR. I originally thought I could return to my job as an elementary school principal at 4 weeks. There is NO way I could go back yet. I have an appt. with my surgeon at 6 weeks. I'm playing it by ear until then. PT is going well, but I plan to kick it in gear on my stationary bike and treadmill. If I go back at 6 weeks I may transition with abbreviated hours. This is much more than I expected.
0 likes, 18 replies
cc91807 tammy11224
Posted
It is suggested minimum six weeks for a desk job although some heal differently I could not return in six weeks. I think the important factor is to make it your doctors decidiom when speaking with your boss
Something like I would love to return but my doctor is not releasing me yet and truly don't feel strong enough. I want to return 100 percent not too early and have to go out sick again. If you are in the USA bosses get stuck unable to cover the job and usually get pressure on them if you are full time you automatically have fmla 1w weeks best wishes and happy new year
Waffalobill tammy11224
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tammy11224 Waffalobill
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Thank you! It's so helpful hearing from others. I have been feeling surprised that I don't feel better at this point! I've also been coming to the realization, albeit slowly, that I just don't feel ready!
Oldfatguy1 tammy11224
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Just be careful and don't overdo it. There a number of us on the site that have multiple surgeries and will tell you that over exertion will create big problems and they are very difficult to overcome. I've had 11 surgeries which includes 5 complete rehabs on the same leg. Learn to listen to your body. Never allow yourself to experience real pain. Of course you will ache and hurt but serious pain is another story. The stationary bike is fine but start slowly and add. Continue to ice frequently. Scroll back till you find Chico Marx writings. The only thing worse than not doing exercises is overdoing them.
You are still in the infancy stages of rehab. Those kids will be grown and gone and you'll still be fighting the knee rehab if you get impatient and meds it up. The old "no pain-no gain" theory is a football coach me reality but doesn't work with the rehab
tammy11224 Oldfatguy1
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sarah87162 tammy11224
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Sorry if this sounds a long way away fo ryou at the moment but better to be honest.
Take care
Sarah.
tammy11224 sarah87162
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jeanette28393 tammy11224
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Don't over do it! My Physio therapist Made me go up and down a flight of stairs at 3 weeks and set me back didn't have a lot of swelling before that it sent me to the hospital at nite. . I'm 5 months TKR and still healing. It is a long process they don't tell you. Let your knee heal. It will let u know when u need to slow down. Good luck
tammy11224 jeanette28393
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cheryl90571 tammy11224
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Hi Tammy!
Your revised plan sounds good! I think I can safely say that NONE of us really had any idea of how extended our recovery would be!
I remember thinking, "I was cooking dinner for the whole family just five days after my first C-section. How much different could this TKR be?" Well, considering my whole leg felt disconnected from the rest of my body and it weighed 1000 pounds because it was a tree trunk filled with cement, my answer to my own question was...THIS IS REALLY, REALLY DIFFERENT!!!
I never expected I would need to learn how to walk again. I never thought I would need to "find" my quad muscle. I never realized that lifting my foot to go up a step required considerable MENTAL as well as PHYSICAL effort!
You will be glad that you revised your plan. Listen to your body. Be VERY kind and patient with yourself, and above all STAY POSITIVE!
It WILL all come together for you.
Remember that we heal when we are sleeping. Naps are you best friend!
Sending lots of prayers your way today!😊
(Retired first and second grade teacher and school Reading Specialist for many years who had first TKR last June and second TKR last October)
Best two decisions I've made having those surgeries!
tammy11224 cheryl90571
Posted
Oh Cheryl, thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. It really makes me feel better!!! And isn't it funny how we seem to compare things to childbirth? I too was up and moving like normal after my c-section after the birth of our twins. This is way harder! And thank you, thank you, thank you for the cement analogy!!!!
cheryl90571 tammy11224
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You are very welcome! 😊
Oooooooooo! You got TWO SWEET babies after YOUR C-section!👶👶That was a GREAT deal! When you consider the whole pregnancy, and for YOU growing not just one but TWO new human beings, THEN all that goes with a C-section, you would THINK a TKR wouldn't be anything near all that. Well, I guess we BOTH got fooled on that one!
I WILL tell you that things DO seem to get easier at around six weeks. At nine weeks I finally figured out how to swing my leg over to sleep (I use that term loosely) on my side. Around 12 weeks I FINALLY could sleep on my stomach (Ahhhhhhh!😁😊🙌😊
Of course there were many one step ahead, two steps back days, but things just were getting less challenging and more do-able.
I'm a year and a half post surgery from #1 TKR and about 15 months post-surgery from #2 TKR. I am able to shop and stand for hours, enjoy my gardening and can keep up with our little granddaughter. Without my surgeries I probably would be in a wheelchair. My x-rays confirmed that surgery was my only option IF I wanted a chance at a normal life. I'm glad I took the chance...TWICE!😊
Be patient! You will get there!
In the meantime, focus on healing, resting when you can, and STAYING POSITIVE.
Sending prayers of patience and strength tonight!💗
YorkshireNettie tammy11224
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Hey Tammy ... I'm 9 weeks post TKR and like you there's no way I could go back to work yet. My boss has been hassling me to give her a date when I'll go back but at this stage I can't do that. You sound very organised with your rehab which is amazing ... I'm doing my physio exercises and walking and climbing the stairs but I find that I need to nap in the afternoon and maybe again in the evening, at 4 weeks I was napping in the morning too!! Keep up the good work my dear
tammy11224 YorkshireNettie
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Nettie, thank you so much for your reply!!! Hearing that others are taking naps makes me feel so much better!!! I'm really not that organized with my PT-just trying to do whatever it takes! After reading the many wonderful posts I have come to realize that it is possible to over do! I hope things get better for you soon. I'm fortunate that my boss understands. I will likely work partial days when I return and like you I'm just not sure when that will be.
CHICO_MARX tammy11224
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Back to work in four week? Really? Think you need to reset your expectations...in fact, get rid of all your expectations and be Zen: "I'll be better when I'm better." There is really no way to predict when any one person will be ready to go back to work. Depends a lot on: extensiveness of the surgery, age, physical conditioning, PT ROM progression, willingness to do the execises, NOT pushing the knee too far too fast, and more. On to of that, you have to hit the gym to rebuild the strength in your quads, glutes and core. This is NOT a short recovery. Depending on the above factors PLUS your occupation, 3-6 months is the general time frame...some take longer than that. Some people try to push their return and end up writhing in pain for 8 hours a day...and you CANNOT be on the opioids and drive to work!!!
Your actual "work" right now is to get your ROM to 0 / +120, get off the heavy-duty painkillers, strengthen your legs and walk without an aid. That all takes time and a lot of effort...and we're all going through it with you. At 10 months, I'm still not done as my strength and balance are still not back to normal.
Stay strong, eat healthy, lose weight, ice, elevate, hydrate, do your PT and exercises, hit the gym after done with PT, sleep A LOT, take your meds, increase activity gradually, expect advances, setbacks and plateaus.
Some of this may help...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
tammy11224 CHICO_MARX
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