Posted , 7 users are following.
Hello-I had a tkr 3 weeks ago and after a week and a half was able to walk unassisted with no pain whatsoever! Then I went to my first outpatient pt session and I can barely move and now it's almost a week-seems like I am backsliding now. My right hip and lower back hurts and my knee feels like it's ready to give out. Is this normal or should I quit the pt and do it on my own? Extremely disappointed in pt .
1 like, 16 replies
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arizonaone christine_86732
Posted
Hi Christine.
PT definitely aggravates the knee and what you are going through is the norm for a lot of us. Especially the feeling that you are going backwards.
Whatever you do don't quit PT!! It will help you to get your mobility back. It is a long road to recovery as as you will see by reading everyone's posts here.
Stay with it. Post as much as you need to There is always good advice from others.
christine_86732 arizonaone
Posted
Thank you arizonaone! I feel better knowing that what I 'm feeling is normal at this stage of PT. Nothing was ever explained and when I go tomorrow you can be sure I will have many questions! I just thought that what I was feeling at week 2 would just continue and get better! I did use a cold pack last night then followed with a heating pad and that made a difference! I will keep you posted on tomorrow evening 's PT appt.!
arizonaone christine_86732
Posted
Nothing is ever explained because it seems the doctors don't explain the downsides very well. I thought it was going to be easy- have the surgery, recovery relatively quickly and then I would be on with my life.
Before my tkr the PA at my pain management facility told me it was not going to be a "walk in the park". How right he was.
The hospital where I was operated on had a class that patients attend prior to the tkr. I was never notified about when it was. Probably because my doctor knew I lived 3 hours away and that it would be difficult for me to attend. I wish I had gone.
This site has given me more information than my doctor or physical therapist ever could.
christine_86732 arizonaone
Posted
Hi arizonaone,
It's amazing what you learn after having surgery! I still can't believe all the appts I had at the hospital and dr's offices BEFORE the surgery! Basically everything was done before I was even admitted! I have to say the classes they offered while in the hospital helped tremendously. But I think the best treatment I had was using the CPM machine for 3 weeks and the home PT therapist I had for 2 weeks. He showed me exercises that actually made me feel great and looked forward to doing. Now I go but my heart is not in it!
cynthia89958 christine_86732
Posted
Could you have been painfree at first due to meds or anaesthetic/ nerve block remaining in your system etc?
?Sometimes when all that wears off the discomfort and pain can kick in and then physiotherapy can make it sore in the early days. Are you still taking pain meds? If not, maybe start again to allow for exercising.
?Unfortunately, ups and downs are part of the TKR experience for most of us and it is a long recovery lasting weeks, months, or even a year - some people recover faster than others, a few have setbacks - I have had a few issues. Very early days for you. Maybe go back to your PT and mention the issue and they might adjust the exercises or have some advice? The only other thing is to apply ice packs and elevate legs after exercise as that can help, but I'm sure you know and do this. Good luck with your recovery!
christine_86732 cynthia89958
Posted
Dear Cynthia,
Thank you so much for the insight! Nothing like this has ever been mentioned to me! I do have pain meds left from the surgery but the only ones I'm currently taking are steroids which were prescribed this week and will end tomorrow. Actually the Norco never helped anyway. I am going to pt tomorrow evening and my usual therapist will not be there. Maybe the new therapist will have some new exercises for me to try. I will keep a positive attitude and let you know how it goes tomorrow!
CHICO_MARX christine_86732
Posted
PT is breaking down the scar tissue as it's forming in your knee. This MUST be done for your long-term recovery. Overcoming a TKR is NOT a linear path. There are advances, setbacks and plateaus...the worst. I got stuck a -4 for weeks...frustrating but you have to focus. PT plus the home exercises. Almost all of us get past the worst of this in 3 months...feel way better at six and start feeling normal again in the 9-12 month range...although some effects may last 18 months or longer. This is a marathon...settle in for a very challenging time...mentally, physically and spiritually. Stay strong...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-recovery-bell-curve--563756
christine_86732 CHICO_MARX
Posted
Hello Chico Marx,
Thank you for the information relating to the tkr. I had no idea that it was going to take almost a year to get back to normal! I assumed all my pain was behind me after using the CPM machine at home for 3 weeks. I have to admit that machine made my knee feel wonderful but we're talking 6 hours of stretching per day! I thought there was something wrong with me or the way I was doing the outpatient PT the way I seemed to be backsliding. Thank you for your insight into this and will keep everyone posted as to my PT appt tomorrow evening. Until then I will continue my exercises at home and the ice and heating packs that help my knee to feel better.
CHICO_MARX christine_86732
Posted
We all hope that people are the lucky ones who are minus three standard deviations from the mean of the curve and are done in a month. Unfortunately, they are few and far between and must possess a DNA strand that doesn't allow for the creation of scar tissue in the knee. The rest of us go through TKR-Hell. It's painful; it's long. This may help...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-ptsd-569521
Just know that we've all been through this. Very few escape. Then there's the hubris factor. We had one guy on here a year ago who announced that he was resuming mountain climbing at 13 weeks post-op. No exercise program; no rebuilding his leg strength. Never heard from him again. Wonder if anyone found the body? Maybe they should have used a metal detector to locate the knee...
j21370 christine_86732
Posted
christine_86732 j21370
Posted
Thank you for the information. I'm just disappointed that none of this was explained to me before the surgery was done. Now I have an idea what to expect and I'm hoping tomorrow's PT appt. goes much better!
CHICO_MARX christine_86732
Posted
You will find a mere handful of people who were told ANYTHING before the surgery, myself included. We all found out about all of this AFTERWARD!!! It's no surprise. You get the feeling that if all of it was explained beforehand, no one in their right mind would do it!!!
christine_86732 CHICO_MARX
Posted
You are so right! I'm putting a positive spin on this because even though I was in pain several years before the surgery I know I can handle this! It's a different kind of pain now-more like a muscle pain and I now realize that with work and patience it will go away!
jenny80029 CHICO_MARX
Posted
😀😁😃😄
CHICO_MARX christine_86732
Posted
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-ptsd-569521
Stay strong...kick a$$...