Posted , 10 users are following.
I am thee months p/o from having tkr surgery. When I walk I have the feeling of a tight band around my knee. My knee is very stiff. I do physical therapy 3 x a week. I walk a mile, drive, etc. my rom is only 107 and that is with force and pain. I am feeling very depressed and discouraged. Has anyone else dealt with this feeling?
0 likes, 16 replies
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Guest Sister2491
Posted
Hi, I'm at about same timing as you, I have a tight band at the back of knee. I took the advice from here to prop on a stool at night so the knee could drop, very painful at first so took it slowly slowly building from a minute and increasing by a minute, up to 7 now, force of gravity is what my Consultant says. I think what ever we do, to do with patience and gather memento slowly. I've had a good bend so it's hard to advise and I'm a novice at this, but I am of the train of thought to take at your pace ( I don't go with the brutal regime ) but to push yourself every now and again, improvement will come. This site is brilliant so supportive but everybody is different and deals with things physically and importantly mentally in their own way and what they cope with, we are all individuals!! Keep trying, exercising, icing, sleeping it will come d
Sister2491 Guest
Posted
ali95530 Sister2491
Posted
Hi, I did yes but after pushing for improved ROM it's now feeling a lot better. Still got the swellimg and heat though almost 12 weeks post TKR
june68495 Sister2491
Posted
Happy Sunday!
I had the tight band feeling at 3 months too!!
I'm 4 plus months and that feeling has gone away!
Everyday is a surprise😊
Sounds like you are doing very well!!
I also had bouts of depression, just keep pushing !!
You will get there, this forum has been a blessing to me because you hear from real people.
Everyone heals at their own pace!
Good thoughts to you!!
chris00938 Sister2491
Posted
I think the band is swelling and that's normal. Are you not doing daily exercises? I would suggest working on the bend daily - several times a day because I think the bend is more important than building up strength in the earlier days. Don't be depressed and discouraged though. This attitude that there is a small window to achieve the bend is a myth - you still have time to do it but do work on it at home if you aren't. I don't think three times a week is enough, personally.
ali95530 chris00938
Posted
I think exercises should be whenever you're sitting on lying down without anything else to do but not until you feel excruciating pain just the pull.
And yes Chris I agree totally, ROM is the all important factor so my consultant told me. In fact he said he wasn't interested in anything, scar pain etc, just ROM. He said there was a three month window to get max ROM but when I told my physio he said that was rubbish as ROM continues to improve for months after that.
chris00938 ali95530
Posted
I'm a bit lazy Ali. I only do mine in the evenings:-))) Partly because my jeans are thick during the day and the crease at the back stops the bend slightly (and stop laughing - that's my excuse LOL!) But it works for me. If it didn't then I'd do it more! Yes, I reckon that as swelling goes down then more bend will be easier:-))))
ali95530 chris00938
Posted
Lol I do most of mine in the evening too lazing watching tv eating cake or chocolate 😂
chris00938 ali95530
Posted
Now I envy you. Cake and chocolate are out here - getting ready for the pre-op for the next knee where they weigh you LOL! Got visions of a nurse screaming at me if I've gained much weight since the last pre-op LOL!
jan01779 Sister2491
Posted
The tight band is normal even at 3 months and I've been told it can last 6 months plus as it heals. Swelling will make this feeling worse.
I'm not sure if you are doing sets of ROM exercises throughout the day at home but that's important. Did your physio instruct you? It's key unless you've been told otherwise??? What has your Consultant told you? What were you like pre op? We are all different. but you need to discuss with your surgeon.
Walking is good but will not improve the bend on its own. 3 months is not too late to work on ROM. Before this forum I really thought there was a window of opportunity where ROM is concerned. Not so I'm nearly 19 weeks and still battling on my extension.
It's normal we all get discouraged at times but you will get there . Read Oldfatguy and Chicos threads excellent tips and they will make you laugh🤡
All the best let us know how you go Jan x
dolores84206 Sister2491
Posted
Sister2491 dolores84206
Posted
CHICO_MARX Sister2491
Posted
Tight band, stiffness, clicking, clunking, popping...all normal...all can last 12-18 months post-op.
Post-Operative Depression is a known condition for people who have lost part of their original anatomy. Knee and hip replacements are the most common but the docs never talk about it. Read the section in this link...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
Took me 10 weeks of PT @ 2x/wk to go from -14 / +84 to a pretty good -1 / +123. A year later, I'm 0 / +133. This takes a lot of time...expect a year...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-recovery-bell-curve--563756
Maybe it will go faster for you...maybe not. You won't know where you fell in the bell curve until you're done. Finally, discouragement IS NOT AN OPTION!!!
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-ptsd-569521
We've all done this or are in the middle of it. Welcome to the club, "Kneebie"...
Sister2491 CHICO_MARX
Posted
Your post is great. Sure explains what's going on in terms that I can truly understand. I am going to follow your advise.👍
CHICO_MARX Sister2491
Posted
I got the depression when I had my hip replaced. Hospital, rehab joint, then home. Cried like a baby for three days before calling my doctor cousin. "Oh, they didn't tell you about post-op depression?" NO, THEY DIDN'T!!!! Once I knew the cause, I was fine in a day...kicked its butt out the window. A negative thought creeps in? Oh, post-op depression...bye!!! This is one thing absolutely under your control...and you don't need anti-depressants. Very temporary, very manageable.
I have 18 posts out there...hope some help...