4 weeks tkr post op tomorrow. I still can't seem to get my leg straight.

Hi Lynn, I am now 7 weeks in from RTKR and also had a new kneecap. I am still unable to straighten and am about 5 degrees away. I therefore cannot do a straight leg lift. My consultant at 6 weeks and my current physio do not seem that concerned about it. I go in with a bend of 90 and come out about 105.I personally am very disappointed by this. My range before was excellent and I was extremely fit and hardly suffered pain! However, no cartilage, arthritis, degenerating meniscus and a kneecap in the wrong place led me down this route. Ohh how I wish I hadn't! However, everyone keeps telling me it is not a race and I have now taken a mental and physical step back and am taking it day by day without pressure (or trying to!). If I do too much the knee gets very painful, swells and goes red hot. All the time I feel like I have a knee 5 times too big as the size and pressure are unbelievable. I also use a cryo pack regularly every day. I just wish I could have a crystal ball and see what I am like at the end of the year......if we did we would probably see the majority of us similar and happy with adequate ROM!

It is so early. People mean well but post op we are very vulnerable.Exhaustion, and the effects of the sedation, all affect your whole body. All of what you mention in your post giving more details is normal.

I am now 9 months post op, and I have my life back.

It takes time, for healing and rehabilitation. But it will be worth it, it's just not possible to see that right now.

It sounds like things were very bad for you before the op. You know, when we go I for this op, our lives are already very damaged by disability and pain, then we have the op with big expectations of things being better. Then they are worse! Much worse!

Even though our rational mind tells us instant improvement isn't possible, somehow we seem to latch onto it. It is like our longer term aim is something we expect straight afterwards. It's not reasonable.

But the big big difference is the problem has been addressed definitively. There is only one way to go now, and that is better. Things will get better, but your knee is needing time to heal and it will take time and you will need patience , and a lot of it.

Keep doing the exercises as best you can. In the early weeks our attempts can be discouraging but Keep at it!

Try not to worry about variation in range of motion, everyone is very different. Mine progressed a lot around ten to twelve weeks, but was around 90/95/100 for ages before that. My flexion was 110 before the knee replacement, so I was relieved simply to get to 110, which happened around seven weeks. At 14 weeks it was easily over 120, which I wasn't expecting or even aiming for to be honest. But swelling in the early weeks has a big impact on how much you can bend your knee.

It's very early. Are you seeing a physiotherapist weekly? Do you have a booklet of exercises to do? Are you in UK or somewhere else?

It really takes time. Everyone is different and I can remember my discouragement. I was ok in respect to straightness of leg but my quadriceps were very weak and I couldn't do the straight leg lift for ages. I needed to use support for a long time and felt rather "behind" in that way, however it is really important to listen to your body and appreciate we are all individuals and our bodies are very unique.

I used two supports for any walking over ten minutes even at 12 weeks!

I could only walk a tiny weeny bit in the house, literally a few minutes, with no stick or crutch at 8 weeks. I used one around the house for what seemed like ages. My physiotherapist urged me to stick with using support for as long as I felt I needed it, and I didn't see the point in causing myself needless pain. Instead I focused on improving range of motion and decreasing swelling more than dispensing with support.

It was hard to imagine ever being able to walk normally again. Well, actually, it was impossible!

But now I am whizzing about in a way I was not able to do for years.

Listen to your own body. Just stick with the exercises...little and often, to the pain, not through it, breath deeply and relax as much as possible. Relaxing is very important. Pain makes the body tense up. Fear is an enemy after TKR. So easy to get anxious. You have just had major surgery.

Be kind to yourself and expect others to help and support you as needed.

Thisn is a time of investment into you. Many of us are not good at receiving.

Tell your knee. It's doing well, all of the time. I am quite serious. It has its own healing agenda. Tell it you love it every day and that it is doing really well even if you feel things should be further along than they are. Nurture it, give it gentle massages, speak healing words to it. Decide to care for it with devotion and dedication. Positivity is essential.

Long post, but encouragement is important. This forum has many people who can share their perspectives with you of this rather life changing experience.

Everyone's experience is different and we cope with things in different ways. I found reading about others experience of TKR very helpful. I also found it helpful to jot down little steps of progress and improvement after the surgery, because it is so easy to not appreciate the improvements which are made. Keeping a journal is a good idea. You can the look back on the experience and the progress you make, and appreciate what a massive and hugh acheivement it is.

Hanging it there, it really does get better!

Dear Lynn,

Im nearly two years down the line and i have a permanent limp.

If I was you, I would keep a diary of everything, because you may need to seek litigation in the future. 

I'm in a terrible mess and wish I had never had it done.

mary

I think one of the problems is I have nobody really to help me. 

Prior to the op I had just lost a partner - I kept putting the op date off because my partner was terminally ill. Maybe that made my condition worse.

It’s very difficult to meet new friends when you don’t feel well and you can hardly walk.

However, this latest op has helped and I feel once the wound has healed and I have some physio then I might be able to get about more. I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery. X

Hi everyone. Last Thursday afternoon I did something I've never done before. I went to an Acupuncturist. Yep, the guy with the little needles. It's been almost four months since my total knee replacement and I'm still having quite a lot of pain. So my husband suggested trying this. I had to hold on to him as we walked in because my knee was hurting so much. When the Dr. came in to greet us, I told him my problem and he asked to touch my right ear. He squeezed it hard near the top of my ear and told me to walk around. I walked straight legged, no limp for the first time in almost a year!! Then he asked to see my hand and he squished the bottom knuckle of my pinkie on my left hand. I had to make him stop because it hurt so very much. Then he had me walk around again and the pain and weakness in my knee was gone. I couldn't believe out. I kept saying "wow" and "awesome" over and over again. I was amazed and so was hubby. All this took place in the waiting room. When we went back he stuck three needles in the same knuckle on my pinkie and two in the spot on my right ear. I walked around and even managed to squat down somewhat. As I was sitting on the bed listening to him, my knee started to throb painfully. He stuck another needle below my left knee and twisted it and the throbbing stopped in my right knee. He removed the needles and said I'll most likely need to come back two more times over the next two weeks. I know some of you are thinking "it's the power of

suggestion". Well let me tell you, I don't care what it is as long as the pain is gone and I can walk without a limp!

* My pain did return Thursday night and into Friday, as the Dr. said it might, (thus the need for two more visits).

** I was able to enjoy my weekend with little pain and still no limp and no cane! It was wonderful. Playing with the grandkids, getting in and out of my Ranger at a flea market , and helping hubby cook breakfast for everyone this morning. Then this afternoon my niece and I walked over a mile and half.

😁 I'd say that I've had a great weekend indeed.

😃 And yes my next two appointments are already scheduled.