Exercise/Advice to get full straightening of knee - 5 weeks post TNR
Posted , 5 users are following.
Greetings fellow knee warriors.
I had a TKR 5 weeks ago. I had my first on my other knee 2 years ago, and as I have a memory like a sieve, I cannot remember the timing of things in my recovery.
I am making progress - no crutches or walking sticks - can go up stairs now one foot at a time rather than two feet per step, and can bend knee pretty much all the way up now.
What I cannot do, is straighten my leg fully, naturally.I can, if I concentrate and push through my quads and make it straight, but when I go to stand or walk, the leg is not straight and I have a little limp. And when I lay down and relax the leg, so that it lies straight without any pillow under it, it gets very uncomfortable after a few moments.
Is it still early for this?
Can anyone recommend what exercises they are using for this aspect please?
I am very concerned that I did not make a strong enough effort immediately following the op. This time, the pain bomb/nerve block they leave in did not work, and the pain management at the hospital was not very attentive or concerned. So I was in a great deal of pain in hospital and was not able to do the exercises with as much determination as I was able to two years ago.
Would welcome any thoughts or ideas please.
Thank you all.
Jan
0 likes, 4 replies
CHICO_MARX PenceJan
Posted
#3 is guaranteed to straighten your knee...if you can handle gravity...
ROM at Home
Send everyone away, close the windows, turn up the music and scream into a pillow. Gravity is a harsh taskmaster. Then try it with ankle weights...if you dare!!! Remember...you cannot use your muscles...you just have to let the leg hang in the air...not easy at the beginning but "hang in there".
gillian65440 PenceJan
Posted
I think the heel prop might help. You rest your heel on a rolled up towel for no more than 20 minutes. This enables the knee to stretch.
Bermondsey PenceJan
Posted
I had problems getting a decent knee bend (flexion) and straightness {extension). I had a few more physio appointments than most do on the NHS because of this. One exercise recommended by the physiotherapist for extension was the same as Gillian suggests with the towel but to get someone (my wife in my case) to press down on my knee for 10/15 seconds. Repeat several times. Pressure should be quite hard but not putting their whole weight on. I also did the the leg hanging off a bed that Chico recommends. I've stopped seeing the physio now so can't get my angles professionally measured but as far as I can tell my leg is now straight whereas my flexion stuck at around 100 degrees a couple of months ago.
The therapist did say that while my lack of flexion was down to scar tissue they thought the extension was tight ham string muscles. That could be why one angle continued to improve but the other didn't..
jenny61596 PenceJan
Posted
still early days , just keep pushing it flat in bed , it will happen , some days I could others not so good, all suddenly improved at about 8 weeks . I really didnt do much in way of exercise first few weeks , just bending and straightening , and in pool but now have full movement , but I never used those cycle things , or went to physio , just did it slowly in my own time and how I felt