Posted , 12 users are following.
I feel somewhat deflated after reading some of these posts. I am 4 wks
post TKR tomorrow and I still do not have that 90 degree bend that seems to be the holy grail. My knee is still swollen (not as much as before) but it is extremely painful even though I take regular pain killers. I am questioning whether I am making excuses and not pushing through the exercises as I should. All in all, pretty depressing.
0 likes, 16 replies
We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.
dawn30987 Roaring-girl
Posted
Hi. I can only tell you that I took my painkillers at first (2 oxy comets every 4 hours) and did my exercises and pushed through the pain. I cried a lot after the the leg bends i dreaded them, but I feared what would happen if I didn't push through worse. At this point you are in physio I assume. Speak to your trainer have them watch and tell them to be honest if you are baby-ing yourself or not. I had 98 degrees in one week but i cried everytime . I struggled at times thinking " oh my God what if this is as good as it gets? How will I ever work again ? " it gets better. It's a marathon recovery. MOST IMPORTANTLY consult the professionals
martinarvelo Roaring-girl
Posted
At four weeks I think I had about 70 . . maybe less. At six weeks, according to the specialist, 85. Lots of swelling like you, lots of pain . . and not prepared to suffer agony. . . but yes, perseverance every day. Leap ahead two years. . 134 bend, 0 extension, knee behaving very well, and only some numbness and tightness around the upper thigh, which I think is with me for the duration! But hey, I'm OK with that! No pain . . Depression is common, and it's easy to feel defeated, but the answer is steady exercise, not overdoing it, but not ignoring it. good luck!
Eizie Roaring-girl
Posted
Dear Roaring-girl, please remember everyone is different, everyone heals differently. At 4 weeks I was MAYBE 100 bend and only because of my PT girl. I'm not good at doing the bending exercises at home because, for me, it's brutal! I'm 6 weeks out now and I'm at 110 which I'm thrilled about but PT wants me at least 115. So, she'll get me there but I'm not looking forward to it!! I often cry when she does it. I'm just being honest. This is me,but I've read on this site that it comes easy to other people. Just goes to show EVERYONE I S DIFFERENT!!
Milla2017 Roaring-girl
Posted
The bend will come. It is actually more important to have 0 extension - straight leg than leaps and bounds of flexion. I had 90 at 5 weeks. Then I overdid it and dropped down to 84. 5 weeks later I am at 116. Physical therapy is painful. But please please don't fall into believing that you have to suffer so hard through pt. The whole super aggressive approach is BS. You are supposed to feel pain you can handle (if you are crying it is too much!).
I have already fired one therapist and I work with my therapist and I am very verbal about how much my leg can take. He had to admit to me that we are making more consistent progress with a milder approach. It is not productive to over work the leg. You get very inflamed and swollen which makes your next session less productive.
Speak up for yourself. And I promise you if continue with home exercises (it had to be hard but not unbearable) the flexion will come.
Duckfan Roaring-girl
Posted
Well as usual all I had to do was look at this site to find encouragement.I'm two week exactly from surgery. I woke up yesterday feeling pretty good. I've been doing painful heel slides a couple times a day. I went to pt excited to show her how far I've come. She put me through many bending exercises. I walked (limped) out the there and today my knee burns and the leg hurts.
I know what you mean. Am I doing enough or to much. Am I sitting to much or just enough. Should I be walking more or not. I just jot a text from a friend who is 6 weeks out. She wanted to know if I got rid of the cane yet. Talk about pressure😀😀
Hang in there. We're all in this together and somehow that makes it easier to bear.
Sute Roaring-girl
Posted
Hi, I am 6 weeks post TKR today: Please do not compare yourself to others everyone is different, I find that in the morning not long after getting up is best time to do exercises before my knee starts swelling with normal walking round house etc, at 3 weeks i was able to walk round the house without a crutch but if I need it, I use it. I know how depressing it can feel and you can't sleep properly which doesnt help. I am sure in 2/3 weeks time you will feel much better.
Good Luck & Best Wishes
Oldfatguy1 Roaring-girl
Posted
Keep in mind the posts on here, generally apeaking, are from the 10% that have issues.....the other 90% go merrily on their way, healing and carrying on with life. There are some that have early concerns, then suddenly find their path is normal and they too head off to the next level of life. New advances and treatments are always out there giving people hope and encouragement. I was at my surgeons this morning getting an injection in my good knee. He was telling me about the new surgical procedure called "navigational". It still requires the incision but does a lot less internal structural damage and cuts healing by about half providing there are noncomplication. He believes its far better than robotics as it does less damage to the knee structure.
Duckfan Oldfatguy1
Posted
I went to a sports medicine clinic that works on the University of Oregons athletes. I figured it was worth the three hour drive to get the most innovative. My doctor doesn't use a tourniquet, no staples and the operation is less than a hour. It was a piece of cake. The rehab is harder but I have faith that I will be fine. This site helps to make you feel normal. I think all of us worry that we'll fall behind the norm.
martinarvelo Duckfan
Posted
Oldfatguy1 Duckfan
Posted
I too go to a university medical center. My Dr evaluates all the new and tries to stay ahead of the curve on technology without falling in the gee whiz wow trap. I have a rare tumor, pvns, and it took my knee 14 years ago as I was going to a great ortho group.but no one had ever seen or treated it. They ha e me 30 rounds of reduced radiation which now has been criticized as the proper protocol. Burned the tissue and didn't kill all the tumor. I saw my Dr this morning and he told me the irony of having me in today when he is going to have to do a tkr on a 36 year old with PVNS tomorrow. The teaching hospitals have ortho oncologists on staff to look at stuff like mine. The ortho oncologist did a synovectomy on my knee 10 years ago and told me then they couldn't get it all. Bad news but good to get the word from a specialist that sees and knows tumors of all sorts. It does get better...6 months ago, well over a year after my last staph infection, I couldn't climb stairs properly. Within the last month I am now going up correctly but down is still a little worrisome. So there can be long term healing if you keep working
ali95530 Roaring-girl
Posted
Hi I am 5 weeks today and to be honest in the last week things have improved.
Obviousky some days aren't good but I'm feeling a bit more positive than this time last week. This site has made me realise that all that I've been through and am going through is perfectly normal which makes me feel better in myself.
keep exercising, it does get easier but so lots have said on here, it's long haul.
sleeping seems to be better too, and next week I'm hoping it'll get even better as my irritating compression tights can come off at last !!
im in the uk so luckily it's cold and I'm so pleased I didn't have my TKR in the summer.
chin up but post on here any time you want to talk ... I've found it a godsend as unless you've been through this you don't understand how depressing it is xx
robin66848 Roaring-girl
Posted
hang in there
Sute robin66848
Posted
I too use coconut oil to massage right around my knee - the physio told me when the knee is swelled, the back of the knee is where is drains better so I dont miss that out, and to get it up higher than your heart if you resting it, as it will really help. (You'll try anything within reason
marilyn10235 Roaring-girl
Posted
Hey! Don't beat yourself up! We are all different. You cannot match yourself against anyone else or even against an ideal of where you should be in your recovery. This is a long road we travel. Some reach their destination quicker than others.
Do your exercises, but don't overdo them. Push on through discomfort, but if you're getting bad pain, you are doing too much. Which incidentally are s as bad as not doing enough. Yep I know it's a fine line we all tread. You just gotta work it out yourself somewhat. Are you still at physiotherapy? Your Physio should be giving you help(but not torture).
You are still very early in your recovery. This is not a race, you will get there in your own time!
Remember be more tortoise less hare!
Good luck with your recovery Roaring-girl.
Marilyn
XX
CHICO_MARX Roaring-girl
Posted
These will help, especially the Post-Op Depression section of the first one...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-recovery-bell-curve--563756
Deflation...depression. Tomato...tomahto. Whatever you call it, this is very common post-op. Once you know what it is, kick it to the curb.
Also...NEVER compare your recovery to that of anyone else!!! We all heal differently and most of us fall within that 95% of the bell curve. Remember that those who are back to "normal" in a month or two are the extreme exceptions. This recovery takes a year...get used to it. And get rid of all your expectations, timelines, "should be's" and everything else. You take this one step and one day at a time. Eventually, you look back and see how far you've come and are thankful that you can walk without pain.
Yeah...it's a lot to get past and the first 30-60 days are horrible. But it does get better. Just do the work and stay focused.