had tkr 8 weeks now

Hi Vicky I am 6wks post op TKR. My advice is that if at all possible try n stick with physio as they are the professional. I find it v painful n after last weeks physio I have a huge bruise n lump on my thigh. However I am not disciplined enough to be so rough on myself. When I see my physio the air is blue but he def managed to get the bend. This week I feel I am on a plateau and a little sorry for myself and lacking motivation and if I didn't have a physio session planned for tomorrow i would b going backwards not forward. So reconsider physio n ask for a different physio that mayb more sympathetic to ur needs. Good luck and this forum is fab it's been a great source of info.

Hi Victoria I'm 7 weeks post TKR yesterday I'm still not good with the bend about 85 degrees now I'm not in pain rearly just feels like I've got plaster of Paris or a vice around my knee holding me back but if your still in pain you can't possibly do the exercises that's what my GP and consultant said so need to get better medication. I stopped using my crutch about the 4th week had only ever used 1. Are you in a lot of pain ?

Hi Victoria, it's vital that you do your physio. I know it's painful but make sure you dose up on your painkillers an hour before you do any exercises. You MUST go back to physio ... it will get better!

The first physio appointment I had I almost cried with the pain when my physio pushed my knee to what felt like a bursting point ( 103 ROM ) but I knew that I had to carry on doing my exercises at home and attend my next physio appointment ... No pain no gain really is the appropriate saying after TKR! Also doing your physio will actually help with your pain and stiffness in the long run.

At my 7 week consultants appointment I'd managed to get it to 115.  He was very happy with this and I was elated as I just couldn't have imagined this to be possible.

Try lying on the sofa watching tv, pull your knee up towards your chest until you feel a tightness not excruciating pain. I found that the weight of my foot helped me get my max ROM and I'm happy to say that at now 11 weeks post TKR I'm at 140 ROM. It's not been easy but nothing is with this barbaric invasive surgery but I always remeber my consultant saying to me that he would give me the best possible tools for a successful knee but then it was up to me to make sure I got the maximum out of it.

I've had my weeks of crying and wishing I'd never had it done but now everything seems to be getting better. My knee still swells and has heat but I can't turn the clock back so I'm trying to make the most of my bionic knee.

Healing vibes coming your way.

Hi Victoria

I am 10 wks post op. Speak with your Physio, ask them if there is an alternative to this exercise, I did and found one to suit me. Supported squatting, or sitting facing a wall with toes touching the wall pushing yourself with your hands into your knee? The last exercise I couldn't do and the squatting and bench sitting was my alternatives. Worth asking! Also breathing exercises greatly helped me whilst doing the bends, ask to be shown those too.

Good luck

Michelle

Vicky, were you given exercises to do at home, from the day of the operation?  Sliding your foot backwards and forwards, either on a chair or on the bed (if you're on a sheet or on carpet, a tray under your foot makes it slide easier).  That's the most important exercise.  I sit on the recliner pulling the leg up as tight as the knee will go just trying to get it as bent as possible, every evening, for a couple of hours, but you need to find what works for you.  Some of us have found that moist heat helps - when I was finding it difficult because of pinching/cramping feeling at the back of the knee I tried hot wet flannels, wrapped around the knee covered with a bath towel to keep the heat in, and refreshed the flannels with hot water a few times so they were on around 15 minutes and that relaxed the knee to help the bend.  I often use my hands to pull the thigh up more to get an extra stretch, or if you're sitting on a chair sliding your foot on the floor, you can use your other foot against the ankle to push it back a bit more.  You might find it useful to use Voltarol for a few days too, to take some of the inflammation away.  That might help.  As for the walking stick I was told by my hospital that I had to go back at 6 weeks and show i could walk without a limp unaided as in no sticks or anything, but we all heal at a different pace, so if you feel you really NEED the stick, then use it, or try indoors, for very short periods walking without the stick - I started by just leaving it off when I went in the bedroom and then gradually increased it until I realised I'd left it in another room and had to go and look for it, but still used it outside for a bit longer until I felt confident without it, but it depends on if it's a mental crutch or physical, if you know what I mean.  Also, massage the scar because if that's tight, it won't be helping you.  I use emu oil but others use bio oil or vitamin e or all sorts of things like that.  I hope this might be useful:-)))

Hi Victoria

Yes I'm afraid physiotherapy can be quite barbaric, let alone the surgery! It's a double whammy I'm sorry to say!

Yes, ask for other exercises you can do.

yes pain meds 1 hour before Physio, also take them regularly at home be proactive & keep on top of the pain, don't wait until it's there! Make sure the meds work for you, not everyone reacts the same to them. If you need a different medication see your GP & ask for something that works for you??!

Massage helps no end, give the knee a really good deep massage, it will hurt at 1st but persevere it really pays off & heat the joint before you work it.

Perhaps when you go to Physio, rub & warm your knee ready for the work. After all those of us who regularly attended aerobics & gym classes were told to ALWAYS warm the muscles & joints up BEFORE commencing the hard work & this IS hard work.

The aim of the game is to bend your knee not rupture yourself!!

Good luck with it all

Marilyn

XX

Hi don't be too hard on yourself . Pain is subjective . Have you taken your meds before you visit your physio that might help. Also it might be worth going back to see your Dr as they could look at doing MUA to break up any scars formation. My physio suggested swimming / walking in water to make it easier some pools have hoists to help you in the pool if a little frightened . So in a nut shell find out if structure is ok . Look at pain meds . And don't give up . Good luck .

35 at eight weeks is really reason for worry.  It seems that you have only just started physiotherapy, and that seems very strange to me.  they started on me on day two with a machine which bent the knee just a little bit more each time. have to say it was very painful . . Regarding can you get the 90 bend by yourself, yes, of course. . . but only if you push yourself.  without a degree of pain, you will not achieve 90, which really is a minimum acceptable outcome.I gave up with the physiotherapist because  I couldn't stand her hurting me that much . .and found I was able to hurt myself much more easily,.  during the day, though, I was pushing the knee pretty well all the time. . first sitting with it bent to the point of pain, but not agony, exercises for an hour lying down at least three times a day (heel slides, leg lifts, leg side to side.  sitting on bed and seeing how far back I could get the foot was good practice too.  Don't listen to people who say "Don't worry, it will come".  It will NOT come unless you really try to get there.  Someone else mentioned pain control, and it's essential . .i had tramadol, and it helped me a lot.  Yes, there is still pain, but it made it possible instead of feeling like wobbly blancmage.  good luck . . it's worth it in the end, honestly.  At two weeks the surgeon said I was heading to manipulation under anaesthetic, and six weeks I had achieved about 85, and now I'm at 135, and not bothering to try for any more. 

I'm 4.5 weeks out of surgery and have had a difficult recovery. My knee is super tight and swollen and bending has been painful to the point my BP drops low and I would pass out. I am no wimp, borne my children without help and had other ops and conditions with rarely ever a pain med. But the pain has been intense neuropathic pain from this and I have not felt well on the meds, though they do not remove all pain. I have had my knee checked and deemed OK.

?Before surgery I could not straighten or lift  my leg, now it is straight and I can lift and the bend is the problem instead.I was told that the worse your leg is before will take longer to achieve results after. I regret having this done at present although before was bad, I could live a life  with it. Maybe this will change with time, presently one step fwd and 2 back.

?The last few years have been tough and this I think was too much on top of other illness, a head injury and stressful events.

?From my research, there are different schools of thought re knee recovery - the aggressive approach and the more gentle and there seems to be pros and cons. Too aggressive an approach where you have extreme pain can hold back healing or cause further injury, even manipulation under anaesthesia has to be done with skill or damage to bones can result. You need to trust the person doing your physio and perhaps find another if it does not work out.

?We are all different and having worked in health most of my life, I know that professionals also have different levels of skills and abilities too.

?Good luck and I hope you manage to get the right support to move forward with your healing (myself too) and on the plus side, many ppl have found they continue to improve over months after surgery - it is not all linear with healing. Some knee patients can go line dancing in mere weeks, but mostly it is a slow journey.