Help!
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hey! So today I had my clips and splint removed 12 days after complex knee surgery. I'm now panicking cuz I can't bend my knee or raise it. In fact my knee feels quite alien and so stiff. I do start physio on 17th October but I just feel I'm not every going to be right again! Has anybody got any ideas or info they could share with me please. Been told if I don't find the confidence to get my knee moving then I'll have to go back into the theatre to have it manipulated! Really want to avoid this!!! 😨
0 likes, 40 replies
Angie65 julieuk44
Posted
So my question is are you telling me after the surgery your feet won't touch the floor? Also how soon does or
Pt start?
CHICO_MARX Angie65
Posted
See my link, second from the top. PT usually starts after your stitches/clips come out...maybe 10 days to 2 weeks. You could be eligible for in-home therapy before that...just some basic skills training. You should be walking with an aid (walker, crutches, cane, etc.) every day, multiple times a day. You can start your exercises at home...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-heel-slide-exercises-526213
Yes...your feet touch the floor but the TKR side will have difficulty straightening out (to zero degrees) so it will be bent initially. Soon, you will learn to "kick your leg out" in front of you to get the proper walking motion back in place. This all takes a while. I did PT for 10 weeks, 2x/week. Went from -14 / +84 to -1 / +128 in that time. Lots of work, lots of pain. Be prepared for it. Take your meds...you'll get through it. And it's soooooo worth it!!!
julieuk44 Angie65
Posted
My feet do touch the floor, I'm at about 40 degrees. Pt started Monday
julieuk44 CHICO_MARX
Posted
Hi Chico, Things are a little different here in England. We do not get in home therapy, unless we are elderly or vulnerable. I didn't have a TKR I had an arthroscopy along with extensor realignment, facetectomy and medial plication. I am struggling when walking as I feel my leg will buckle (confidence) just feels horrible! I am progressing but veeeery slowly!
CHICO_MARX julieuk44
Posted
Well, at least you don't have 2 pounds of cobalt-chromium in your knee!!! This is the worst joint to get surgery on since it's so weight bearing. Takes time...
julieuk44 CHICO_MARX
Posted