Posted , 12 users are following.
Hello everyone, forgive me if this is a silly question but I'm really curious about the exercises and I thought it might be interesting to hear how diff people approach them.
How many times per day do you do them? and to what sort of intensity do most of you practice them? Do you take the gentle or firm sort of stretch approach or do you do them aggressively, in other words press as hard as you can and then a bit more? Can it be counter productive to do them to hard? And Do you feel there is benefit in taking a rest day throughout the week?In your experience, Do you find that as your Range Of Motion increases, do the exercises get easier or do we have to work hard for every degree of flexion?
2 likes, 66 replies
Jlndidit peter73207
Posted
Keep in mind that we all have different degrees of damage to our knee, so everyone is starting from a different place on physical conditioning. I had been bone-to-bone for 10 years, but doctors told me I needed to wait until I was older. Therefore, I had learned to 'baby' my knee so that I could deal with the pain. Consequently, I am sure my muscles were not as fit as someone that did not wait as long for replacement. Keep this in mind as you rehabilitate and follow your physical therapists/doctors recommendations.
Also, I had other family members who had TKR and we were all in different levels of fitness. Though we progressed at different rates, we all ended up in the same place - 125 degrees and able to flatten knee to table. None of us were super aggressive. But, we all had physical therapy 3x/week for 6 weeks. Afterwards, we did floor exercises and occasional bike rides. But as another person said, daily life provided further exercise... cleaning, shopping, walking, chasing after grandchildren, etc. Good luck!
Butthillrob peter73207
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Robert
peter73207 Butthillrob
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Sounds like your making some great progress. Bravo!
I have physio tomorrow and will find out what the bend is then. Actually I feel
pretty good and pretty sure bend has improved. Today is 6 weeks post op.
I can walk without a cane but still have a bit of a limp so use it when walking longer distances. Main thing now is to keep up the exercises to work on ROM and continue to build strength.
I have a no frills exercise bike and am using it twice per day for 5 min each time.
You need 110 bend to get a full revolution on it so not quite there yet.
Still have some pains and numbness here and there but all manageable now.
Biggest issue is still sleep. Think theres a psychological element going on here as well in that I have conditioned myself to get up ever 90 min or so now. Hopefully it too will improve shortly.
Another 6 weeks max and I will need to get back to work. Thats all my insurance will cover. I drive a bus 10 hrs per day with no breaks. Couldn't do that right now but am confident to be there on time.
Have a great day Robert and will let you what physio says tomorrow
Oldfatguy1 peter73207
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peter73207 Oldfatguy1
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Sleep sure is a tough one. Guess this op hits you on so many diff levels theres just lots of barriers to work through. I'm sure All the meds have a huge impact on your system as well.
How are you doing with your recovery?
Oldfatguy1 peter73207
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Butthillrob peter73207
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peter73207 Oldfatguy1
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Oldfatguy1 peter73207
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jennifer86104 Oldfatguy1
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peter73207 Oldfatguy1
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Oldfatguy1 peter73207
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peter73207 Oldfatguy1
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It's also sounds as if your getting some other issues narrowed down which I think is a good thing. The more accurately you can identify the problem the quicker it gets treated relief is right on the horizon.
Hope the discussion with the ortho brings some postitive results and I'll keep you on prayer list for sure! have a great night!
Butthillrob
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jean95756 Butthillrob
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really cold and too icy to go for a walk
so indoor exercises today ...longer on the pedal machine and up and downstairs for exercise
sigh....... And that's my life in a nutshell
peter73207 Butthillrob
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Very stiff this morning so right after breakfast I will do the exercises to loosen up as well.
Any idea how long this stiffness will be with us?
Butthillrob peter73207
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peter73207 Butthillrob
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Butthillrob peter73207
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robert
peter73207 Butthillrob
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my ankles aren't swollen but they are still sore from time to time. Also There has been a few different pains come up recently.
all in all though, things are going well. Had a great day at physio. The bend went from 91 last week to 98 this week and she put me on a regular bike now doing full forward rotations. I was sore when I finished today. Got home and doubled up on the pain meds. Haha
There sure are lots of ups and downs with this recovery and things change suddenly. My physio pointed out today that full recovery could take up to a year so take it easy my friend. I have a terrible habit of trying to rush and definitely someting I have to work on.
Butthillrob peter73207
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Regards
Robert
suzidownunder Butthillrob
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I'm 13 weeks - 3 months TKR.
Wake 3 times every night to change position but sleep well. Knee is pretty much normal. Not a lot of swelling but still some stiffness and tightness of the muscles. Bend about 130.and pretty much straight now.
Down stairs a bit jerky. Upstairs ok. Walking without aid but feels like I'm wearing a caliper, the stiffness i guess.
I drive today for the first time. No problem. Felt fine.
Back to work at a desk on 16th. Worried about the journey etc but need to get back.
Hope everyone is doing ok
peter73207 Butthillrob
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Sounds like you and I are coming along almost exactly the same. I'm also doing stairs up no problem, down with care. Your pain is on outside and mine on the inside.
Have also noticed that the leg looks better than when lying flat rather than standing and yes it is odd. Before my surgery, I couldn't straighten my leg. Best I could do was 20 degrees. The last time at physio it was measured at 6 which is Better but Im wondering if that will ever go to 0 again. Think the sleeping pattern is beginning to change for the better. Actually had 2 nights where I slept for 6 hrs without waking. Last night was a long night again though with the leg feeling a bit stiffer for some reason. Theres a storm coming our way and temps have dropped so maybe thats the reason. I got myself a new bike and am finding it helps a lot. Do you have one yourself or using one only at physio?
I'm also driving ok as far as routine driving goes, but don't think I could handle 10 hrs straight on a bus right now.
You are absolutely right, this is a work in progress for sure. It feels like the worst part is over but I know theres some good bumps ahead. It's still hard work to get that full ROM back. Keep up the good work Robert. Stay positive and keep moving forward.
Have yourself a great weekend!
Oldfatguy1 peter73207
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peter73207 Oldfatguy1
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I am doing the first exercise you mention but have never done the 2nd. I will begin today and let you know how the progress goes.
thank you!
Oldfatguy1 peter73207
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suzidownunder peter73207
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13 wks
jean95756 Oldfatguy1
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thanks O,F.G
Jean
Oldfatguy1 jean95756
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Butthillrob peter73207
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ROBERT
peter73207 Butthillrob
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Know what you mean with the exercises. I decided to take Sundays off with the exercises, mostly anyway. Will go on the bike today and stretch to work on the stiffness but trying to go easy overall for 1 day per week. It does get annoying doing them but I figure its pretty important to keep them up.
it's funny you mention that toe thing. I also have some arthritis in that area that has been acting up again as well now. Maybe the pain meds kept it hidden for a while and now that I have cut way back on using them, that area is more noticeable now. The stiffness is still keeping from getting a full nights sleep. Had a couple ok nights this week but a few lousy ones as well so its hit and miss in that area. Guess we just have to endure and motor forward. Keep up the momentum. Upward and onward!
peter73207 Butthillrob
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Peter 8 weeks today
Butthillrob peter73207
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Robert
Butthillrob
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RObert
Butthillrob
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robert
peter73207 Butthillrob
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Sounds like your progressing well. My land physio has been on holiday this week so not sure what the bend is.
Had pool physio today and it went well but they don’t do any measuring. If I measure myself I get somewhere around 105 but will find out next Tues for sure when she returns.
Glad to hear you getting some sleep. Think that will make a huge positive difference in time. I actually slept well last night too. Had a hot bath, took a sleeping pill and read for 1/2 hr. only up once during night for bathroom and sound asleep again till 7:30 am. Sure hope that’s not an isolated incident. Don’t have access to a steam room or sauna but sure wish I did. Doing 20 min now on the bike at about 50-60 rpm
Sure does sound like we are recovering very closely and your so right, it can change either way very quickly.
Peter 8Wks 3 days
peter73207 Butthillrob
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Butthillrob peter73207
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regards
robert
peter73207 Butthillrob
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Good to hear you sleeping better. I'm also improving in that area. Actually slept the past 3 nights. Even when I did wake up, it was only for a min and then back to sleep, so much better.
My ankles aren't swollen but they still get sore. My knee is bending a bit better but still stiff and I need to exercise to loosen it up. Coping is actually a good word. Changes come quickly and have to keep moving forward the best we can. My wife is more into waking me up with the light from the Ipad in the middle of the night. Haha
She is actually been very supportive and patient. Sure she will be glad to get rid of me when Im back to work though.
Have a great day Robert.
Peter 8weeks 5 days.
I don’t believe how fast the time has gone by
Butthillrob peter73207
Posted
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