Posted , 66 users are following.
The physios tell me this is normal but the exercises don't seem to make any difference. Does using an exercise bike help or are there any other suggestions? Saw the consultant yesterday for a follow-up appointment and he seemed to think that I should be completely pain free by now. Should I be? My reaction was that he can't possibly have much post op experience.
3 likes, 128 replies
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lisa11951 green1
Posted
Pain free after 5 weeks, your Consultant has no idea what it feels like and should not be saying that to you. Everyone recovers at their own pace, yes some people are pain free after 5 weeks but thats rare. I'm 7 weeks post-op and still on pain meds although it is easier now. I use a stationery bike but i thinks its helped my bend more than my straight leg. At my first physio appt at 4 weeks i was (-15) and 2 weeks later i was (-5). I just use the towel under the ankle method and press down and found that has really helped. Even though im not fully straight yet its early days and i will get there in the end and so will you, just keep doing the exercises, ice and elevate and you will be fine.
Take care
laurel65763 lisa11951
Posted
sophiatheessene green1
Posted
Postop 6 weeks (the first 4 weeks were HORRIBLE!) and knee won't straighten. between 1 physio appt and the next it's worse, and physio says they may have to do a surgical 'manipulation'!! Can anyone tell me exactly which muscle is tight and preventing straightening? Why can't I massage that muscle and get it to relax?
laurel65763 sophiatheessene
Posted
TKR May 2, 2017 today I am unable to extend my leg, knee is bent about 25 degrees due to post op complications. My hamstring muscle and inner calf muscle prevent straightening.
I had gotten to the point of lifting leg about 14" to get into car and about 40% weight bearing when the physical therapist pushed down on my knee for 15 torturous seconds. I lost 4-6 weeks progress an couldn't lift my leg more than 2" or bear any weight on it. It's been over two weeks now and I am slowly regaining progress on my own. I a man not going back to physical therapy, instead doing the exercises at home. I am using a JAS brace prescribed by the surgeon which will very slowly extend the leg over 3-9 months without the trauma of manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) I am also doing the exercises others have written about. We are all different and healing at different rates.
GinaNY green1
Posted
I'm at three weeks (23 days to be exact) and just found your post as I was searching to see if anyone ends was having this problem! I feel as if I've gone backwards in my extension and was wondering why - my theory is as I'm experiencing less pain now I'm sleeping more normally - that is on my side with my knees slightly bent rather than on my back with my legs straight out - and if that position has actually set me in reverse?
Kydr GinaNY
Posted
I can't remember. I am a side sleeper too. Was afraid when I'd wake up to find my knee was bent that it would hinder my progress. I think if you continue with therapy and do workout on your own you will be fine. It took me almost 3 months to get mine straight. But I didn't give up cause i didn't want to walk with a limp. And I don't. Don't give up. Just work through it.
Tradesman green1
Posted
Just had my right TKR
11 days out post op
My physical therapist -8 degrees
He very concern of my lack of progress on that measurement
This encouraged me to push harder.
As you all know the pain is already present. As you know applying myself to be more aggressive on work outs = more pain. But all of you sharing your experiences with TKR. This is uplifting and helps keeps focus on my goal.
And not so much on what I'm not doing correctly or not achieving a specific digit when it comes to my knee straightening.
I will not give up, say oh well. I'm not made that way.
35 year in as Heavy equipment mechanic. Have a few years left as diesel tech. Done guite a few overhauls and or rebuilds. Now it's my turn.
My leg will straighten out.
Oldfatguy1 Tradesman
Posted
At 11 days and stitches/staples still in I'm not sure what the PT is wanting. C o continue to work but don't lput yourself in agony. You're going to hurt but severe pain is beyond hurting. Take your pain meds on schedule and an hour or so before starting therapy sessions. Do the basic leg lifts lying on your back, head elevated till comfortable and then slowly tightening all the muscle in the leg, lifting the leg at the same time. Hold to count of 5 and repeat. Start doing 5 at a time, a couple times a day. Then increase numbers of lifts slowly till you achie 15 lifts and can repeat 3 times. Be sure and ice after excercising and any time you want throughout the day. Therapists can bullies and push the hell out of you even though they have me we been through it themselves. Look up remarks by chico marx. He gives a great lesson in rehabbing and life. Everyone is as different in the way they heal as they are in fingerprint patterns. None of us go through this exactly the same way. I've had 11 surgeries on my left leg/hip and 5 complete rehab (3 different prosthesis). Even with that, none have been identical. Not sure if the PT told you why the straight is more important than the bend. No getting it straight will increase your chances of limping. Hang in there. 6 weeks should really be the 1st benchmark as far as where you stand.
Again, look up Chico's remarks. He couples honest, straight out observations with some humor. Once you get by the fact he's a new York born Sicilian that talks with a Texas drawl and plays bass in a blues group, he's pretty believable.
Keep working slowly and steadily. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Its a process we all go through but not in the same way nor same time frame. Don't think that abusing yourself with overworking will get you to the finish line 1st. The body has its own way of letting you know who's in charge. Stay with this forum. Great people who have fought the good fight.
Oldfatguy1 green1
Posted
One additional note: this is a world wide group. Someone is on here round the clock if you need advice or just want to rant about the knee. As for me, I'm in the middle of the US, in the Kansas City metro
MNLynne green1
Posted
I think you need a more qualified consultant with TKR. Clearly he is uneducated in this area. I had my TKR on June 13. I did really well and even then I could not do a full revolution on the bike until week 7......and it was still quite stiff. As for pain, I am motoring very well but will still get shooting pain and burning at various times. The knee replacement itself is metal but the nerves and surrounding tissues have all been traumatized through the manipulation involved inserting the new "knee". So there's a lot of healing to be done. I've been told by the majority that it takes a full year to completely feel healed. I find I need to walk, ride bike, or something similar every day possible and eventually the intermittent pain will subside. But it takes a LOT of patience and due diligence. Just keep at it. Stay active. And find a new consultant. Good luck.
laura1304 green1
Posted
Thank you Kydr. I am 51 and 5 weeks post op (8/3/17). I am also extremely worried about my knee straightening. (I am going to try the knee hanging off the bed suggestion. Sounds easier than pushing down on it, but if that doesn't work, I will push down.) My therapist is not concerned yet that it is not straight, but he said if it continues we will have to get more aggressive or my doctor will have to do something. Not really sure what the doctor would have to do. I also can't sleep on my back. I am usually a stomach sleeper but at this time I can't sleep that way unless I bend my knee - but this position is also extremely uncomfortable. I was worried about sleeping with a bent knee. Happy to hear that might not be an issue. My neighbor had the same surgery in April and had no pain whatsoever after it. Meanwhile once I left rehab I was in debilitating pain for about 2 weeks - I thought something was wrong with me. The pain has subsided somewhat but I am still taking pain pills. Does anybody else have trouble sleeping at night. Since I can't get comfortable, I average about 3.5 hours of sleep a night. I also don't know what the negative numbers refer to (i.e. -2). The last reading my therapist took - which was about 2 weeks ago - my flexion was 95%. I've been able to navigate the stairs at 3 weeks going up, but still have trouble going down. My knee doesn't want to bend to go down the stairs "normally" - very painful. I can do the outside steps slowly because they aren't as deep as the internal steps.
laurel65763 laura1304
Posted
My new physical therapist recommends that if you push down on your knee, place your hands above and below the knee, not on top of the knee itself as that can cause damage. My surgeon said that MUA is only for flexion problems but surgery is required for problems straightening the leg. If I'm laying on my stomach for a few hours, I put a small pillow under my ankle then do stretches in between. Gua Sha tools will help smooth out fascia and break down scar tissue. Good luck!
Kydr laurel65763
Posted
You still have time. Keep working on it everyday. Mine didn't get totally straight for almost 3 months. I was always 1 - 3 degrees from totally straight. But we did get aggressive in therapy during that second month. We had straight rod that was placed under my knee. Then a plastic inflatable strap was placed underneath the rod and over my knee. Then you pump up the inflatable strap which pushes your knee down toward the rod. We did that every session for about 10-15 minutes. It was like torture. Then at home I rolled a towel placed it under my ankle. And placed an ankle weight on my knee and sat like that until I couldn't tolerate it. And let legs hang off the bed. Just don't give up. As far as sleep my surgeon gave me sleeping pills that I only took when I absolutely felt the need. But I did sleep on my back as much as possible. It's a process. You seem like you are working hard. Just continue to do so. You will be fine.
teresa42076 laura1304
Posted
Midge65 green1
Posted
I am 17 weeks post op and still can't straighten the knee. My PT says it will come eventually but at present I still have a lot of swelling and the feeling of a tight band around the knee. I go to the pool 3/5 times a week which I find great and do a lot of exercises in the water - this is good for the knee and the soul!! Five weeks is definitely too early to start worrying just keep icing and doing your exercises. Good Luck!!