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Knee straightening anyone?

Posted , 7 users are following.

peter73207
peter73207

hello everyone,

anyone else having difficulty straightening their Leg?

About 3 years ago, I had a knee scope done and afterwards could never straighten my leg better than 20 degrees. After my knee replacement 8 wks ago, it has definitely improved (physio says about 6 degrees now) but Getting the crazy thing to straighten all the way seems to be much harder than getting it to bend again.

OFG, if your reading this, I have been doing your suggestion. Lying on the bed stomach down with legs over the bed is a great exercise. Hardest part is getting up!

Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem and been able to straighten the leg again to 0 degrees? 

1 like, 37 replies

37 Replies

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  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo peter73207

    Posted

    Five weeks, and still not able to straighten the leg.  I was kidding myself by doing exercises on the bed . . they looked pretty straight . . but then I tried on a table, aand it was immediately clear how bent the operated leg really is!  Exercising, but it just doesn't seem to go down . . . think it's going to be a very long job!

     

    • peter73207
      peter73207 martinarvelo

      Posted

      So far I would definitely agree. My knee is bending again. I mean, its still hard work as well, but thats improving all the time. Straightening seems to be a bit different. Wonder if different muscles need to be targeted 
  • patsyrose
    patsyrose peter73207

    Posted

    Hi Peter.  I got to the point with my first TKR where I couldn't get my foot flat on the floor, so had a manipulation under general.  I am now at 21 weeks with my other knee and that seems to be heading the same way.

    Seeing my consultant at the beginning of March, so interested to see what he thinks.

    Patsy

    • peter73207
      peter73207 patsyrose

      Posted

      Were you able to straighten yout leg before your knee surgery? And did the manipulation help straighten your leg after the first TKR?

      peter 8 wks 4 days

  • MCanada
    MCanada peter73207

    Posted

    It takes a very long time! My first knee became straight at about 3 months and this one is still about 5 degrees at 14 weeks. My aqua physio includes walking in chest deep water on tip toes and then on heels with feet flexed. Then tiptoes toes pointed out and in; then on heels with toes in and out. Doing this forward and backward eventually also doing the grapevine (one foot crossing in front then one foot crossing in back - basketball and football drill) is also a good one. I also place a float under the ankle with the leg straight and my back to the wall in chest deep water and hold it for a few seconds, then press it down into the water while straight for slow reps increasing until I can do it 30 times. I intersperse this exercise with the float (noodle is what we call them in Canada) under the arch of the foot while I bend and straighten the leg and noodle under the ankle with bent leg behind your body and extending it to straight and bending it as far as it goes. Do not arch your back! I work up to 100 reps in sets of 10, then 20, then 30 as I improve. I learned these from a physiotherapist working at the knee and hip rehab pool in the hospital. They work! I went to 2 sessions and then took my new exercises to the pool and continued on my own. I do this 5 days a week at 8 am and find that my days are just getting better and better.
    • peter73207
      peter73207 MCanada

      Posted

      I just got your response at the same time I was sending you one. This one answers the question. Some of the exercises you mention I am also doing   During my pool physio but not to the extent you are. How do you get access to a pool every day? You must belong to a gym or YMCA maybe?
    • MCanada
      MCanada peter73207

      Posted

      I have a membership at the YWCA. It is the best 42 bucks I spend every month. I pay less than 2 dollars a visit. What can you do for 2 dollars other than have a Tim's?? Lol

      I have access to many pool and dry land classes every day and a gym as well. And today, after a long hiatus, my husband has started swimming again. Yay! I hope we get back into our routine again. He coaches me with the weights so I might even start lifting again now that my knees can handle more. We will see what a month in Mexico with access to a weight room, bicycles and an ocean to swim and snorkel in does for my final recovery and his reintroduction to fitness. I can't wait!

    • peter73207
      peter73207 MCanada

      Posted

      I used to belong to the YMCA but switched to another Gym because of the hours. The Gym I joined was 24/7 but had no pool. Right now I'm not at a Gym at all but need to search out another one. Will wait till Im back at work though (Mar 16).

       

    • peter73207
      peter73207

      Posted

      Happy Family Day! How you doing with those exercises Mary?

      As simple as they are, I believe they have been quite worthwile as balance has definitely improved.

      There's still a long road ahead but things are improving all the time.

      Am doing 20 min on the bike now at 60 to 65 rpms. Would like to get to 30 mins by end of week.

      Straightening the leg seems to be much harder and that probably due to the condition it was in

      Before the surgery. It was a scope that left me with the extension problem about 3 years ago.

      Long story.

      Have a great day with the family!

       

      Peter 9 weeks.  WOW… Where did the time go?

       

    • MCanada
      MCanada peter73207

      Posted

      Happy Family Day to all!

      Hi Peter,

      I was just musing that in the past few days I have begun to "just" use my knee without thinking about it at all. We had to shovel snow three times on Saturday due to the huge snowstorm and I didn't think about my knee once while I was shovelling. I just did it. Even when I slid a bit on my operated leg and landed on my rear, my first thought was "wow, I almost caught myself and stopped the fall", not "OMG that f'ing hurts my knee!" Lol

      I haven't been doing too many structured church pew sessions but whenever I stand I am trying to stand evenly on both legs (without locking my knees) and lean a bit. Then I put my weight mostly on the operated knee for a bit and then on the other one. And repeat it many times. It is getting easier and I have to focus less. I was at a stand up reception on Saturday and I did this for about 2 hours and then walked down 3 flights of stairs about 5 blocks to my car. I was tired and it was swollen, but I was not in pain. Yay! I am up to 35 minutes at 80-83 rpm on the bike and I could easily envision doing a kayak trip now (though the ice is probably 3 feet thick north of La Ronge where we go). That is my story today!

      Mary

      15 weeks in 2 days

    • peter73207
      peter73207 MCanada

      Posted

      Thats really great Mary, glad to hear you doing so well.

      Your knee must be bending pretty good to get in that kayak.

      I love my kayak but on 3 feet of ice! haha

      Before the surgery I used to belong to a gym that had unexpectedly closed. Long story short, they messaged me and said they are now under new ownership and will reopen tomorrow. Old members can return

      with no upfront fees, no commitment and 1 dollar /day.

      If the fine print agrees, I will belong to a gym again this week and see if can't this old tired frame back in shape for kayak season!

      Have a Great Day

       

    • MCanada
      MCanada peter73207

      Posted

      Get ye to thee gym, man! Ha ha. That is good news. Enjoy those extra endorphins!! And kayak season will be upon you about the right time. Yes the bend is pretty good. My physio will measure it on Wednesday and I will report. I expect she will sign off on my recovery and I will be off to the races -er.... Mexico! 9 more sleeps. Yay

    • MCanada
      MCanada peter73207

      Posted

      Btw Peter, you are so far ahead of my recovery at 9 weeks it is amazing! Keep up the awesome effort. You will be forgetting about your knee and just living your life in no time. Believe it!
    • peter73207
      peter73207 MCanada

      Posted

      Thank you Mary, you are too kind. I think they should have put a hole in my knee to give it a shot of wd40 every now and again. haha
    • peter73207
      peter73207 MCanada

      Posted

      Its official now. Just joined the Gym. YaaaaaaaaaaaH! Did I spell that right?

      think I might go over later this evening and see if I can walk on the treadmill a bit. Before the knee replacement I stayed away from treadmills because there was more stress on the knee and used mostly eliptical machines.

      think the treadmill should be ok now.

      Also lost some weight since the op. would be nice if some returned in the form of lean muscle. Ha!

    • MCanada
      MCanada peter73207

      Posted

      Ha! As often as they have been through my knee incisions, they could have put in a zipper or velcro 30 years ago!
    • peter73207
      peter73207 MCanada

      Posted

      Hey Mary! how's everything going? I figure maybe a plug in the knee as well so we could open it up and let out some steam now and again. haha

      Had first workout in the Gym today. took it easy on the treadmill then went to eliptical machine for 10 min and some upper body stuff. All light weights.

      A bit sore now but it did feel good to get out again.

      I'm going away this weekend for 3 days on a mens retreat with our church. It's out in the country and suppose to be very nice there from what I hear. I figure the fresh air will do me some good.

      Life is returning! slow but sure...

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