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Life after knee replacement

Posted , 7 users are following.

JunieR
JunieR

Hi everyone, it's me again ! Now 4 1/2 weeks post op. Glad to report that I'm feeling a lot better now, less exhausted & the dizziness & nausea seems to have left me which was my concern the last time I posted. I now have a new concern 😄which I'm hoping you might be able to help me with. I can't straighten my leg ! Maybe I'm being a bit premature in my expectations, but just wondered if that is normal. I have not see any professional since my op so I haven't had any measurements taken, but I can bend my knee back better than before the op, I'm guessing about 112 ish. It's the straightness that's bothering me now. My knee is still swollen.... when does that return to normal ? Is this the reason it won't straighten ? Any help &/or advise welcome.  

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 JunieR

    Posted

    Have you got an exercise booklet.? The one where you press the back of your thigh into the bed is good, cannot remember what it is called. There will be some exercises for straightening and stretching...Keep them up.

  • bobbymac57
    bobbymac57 JunieR

    Posted

    It's important to straighten your leg as this will cause you to limp if you cant. One of the best exercises to do is lay face down across your bed and let your leg hang off from the knee down. Let gravity do its thing. Let hang for 2 minutes each time and repeat for 5 times. Do this 2 or 3 times a day. This exercise is pretty hard to do but it will help to straighten your leg. Good luck.

  • dawn220
    dawn220 JunieR

    Posted

    Hello JuneR.. Had my tkr on left in Nov 2017. It took me about 2 months to straighten my leg(and help of Physical therapists). I m working on bend now...seems stuck at 90.

    Have you tried massage the scar area with VitE or Alogen to loosen it up? ?

    Did you have PT at home? Light walking in your home will help loosen.

    Adapt...Improvise...Overcome...

    Patience is key to this recovery.

    Chico Marx has many Great Points to help in this road to better health.

  • amy1447
    amy1447 JunieR

    Posted

    Very important to be able to straighten as soon as you can to avoid walking with a limp. The exercise that worked best for me was sitting on the couch with just my heel on the edge of the coffee table. It hurts but it works. Gravity will start straightening your leg.....and when that stops working you can put a weight on top of your knee to encourage more straightening. At physio they put a 6-10 pound weight on us. 

    The nice thing is that this is an exercise you can do for five minutes here and there as you’re watching tv etc. I was told do often for short stints of 5 to 10 minutes. Once or twice a day doesn’t cut it. 

    Good luck - great to hear you are bending so well 😀

  • cynthia89958
    cynthia89958 JunieR

    Posted

    One I was given but did not really need as it was the bend I struggled with, not the straight - when lying down, legs out, bend your toes back towards your knees and at the same time, push your heels down away from you. Hold for a short while and repeat several times. You can help the move by pressing your knee down gently with your hands at the same time.
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