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Lifting leg after TKR

Posted , 61 users are following.

susiemah
susiemah

Dear All my first time on here and I need your suggestions please. I am 15 days post TKR ( left). I had bad reaction to general and morphine and spent the first three days being sick. Eventually stopped and was let home despite only 75% bend and not being able to lift leg. I have been really really anxious since coming home and when I attended my first formal physio session I only had a 65% bend and still can't lift my leg. I am doing my physio three times a day and using ice etc. Besides myself with anxiety and crying all the time. Any suggestions to improve my spirits, raise my leg and increase bend please? Thanks Susanne

1 like, 111 replies

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  • susiemah
    susiemah

    Posted

    Hi folks this was my post 10 months ago and I have just had my other knee replaced. Please believe me that you will lift your leg, mine didn’t lift for 6 weeks then lifted like it always had. It took a lot of work to get my quads stronger but a brilliant PT taught me how to engage my quad and so use it to lift my leg. 

    This is time out I lifted my leg straight away and it was the same surgeon etc. Bizarre how it works. 

    Slow and steady and lots of elevation is important. You will not get your bend otherwise. Keep going and remember to have things to look forward to and aim for. 

     

    • laverne48429
      laverne48429 susiemah

      Posted

      THANKS for the update. I'm at 4 weeks and can't lift my foot while sitting. Im getting frustrated and my surgeon p****d me off saying its awful I can't. I walk pretty good. still hurts like heck sometimes. He said to use heat not ice. now the swelling not going down. So im going back to ice. Keep us posted i need all the encouragement I can get.

  • kelly24087
    kelly24087 susiemah

    Posted

    Hi. First time here as well. Just had TKR on left leg. I am 20 days out since surgery.  I cry all the time asking myself why did I have this done. I cannot leg lift at all. I’m in my knee bender the hospital left me take home at 83°. I ice, walk and do all my at home exercises, except I cannot lift my leg at all while laying on my back. If I had a towel I would certainly throw it in. Just got my staples out 3 days ago and I know my leg will swell for a while but I’m just about ready to completely give up not being able to lift my leg. I’m 54 but I sure can cry like a little baby. 

    • roger71556
      roger71556 kelly24087

      Posted

      Hi Kelly.

      I had the same problem. I couldn't lift my leg for 2 weeks after surgery. I started using a belt to help me lift my leg. After a week, I was finally able to lift it. I was so happy. Your muscles are weak, right now. Try this and see what happens. Good luck.

    • john45327
      john45327 kelly24087

      Posted

      Hi Kelly,

      It gets better. I was in the same position. I'm 5 months out now. The only thing that really bothers me is going up and down stairs. It's tolerable but hurts some. It takes time. I felt the same as you. It gets better.

    • Cjonorcas
      Cjonorcas kelly24087

      Posted

      Hey, ai am almost 8 weeks out from TKR on my right knee.  I could not lift my leg at all until about two weeks ago.  I still cannot fully lift it and when it is bent, even harder, but it does get better.  I cried a lot in the beginning.  HWe is is a hard surgery... I have had many but this is by far the worst.  I am starting to be glad I did it but felt the same way for quite a while.  Keep at the PT and do your exercises.  I only got to 90 degree bend at five weeks so do not despair.
    • denise97399
      denise97399 kelly24087

      Posted

      Hi Kelly! I cried everyday and questioned myself for having the surgery also. It does get better I promise you. I came to this page and so glad I did. Hearing that other people were feeling the same way and having similar problems made it better. No one at home understood. I never thought I would lift my leg again. The first thing the therapist taught me to getting my strength back was tightening the muscle that is used to lift the leg 10 times maybe twice a day. Eventually before I knew it I was able to lift my leg again. Basically it’s getting that muscle fired up and working again. Best of luck to you and hang in there! 
  • Grammy4117
    Grammy4117 susiemah

    Posted

    I am so happy i found this site! I am 2 1/2 weeks post op L total knee. Have had the crying blues, regrets, and fears. Ice is my new best friend. I just got to 90 degrees, but I cannot do a straight leg raise to save me! all of the suggestions and comments here are very helpful!

    • john45327
      john45327 Grammy4117

      Posted

      Hello,

      I am just over 1 year out from TKR. I have to say I had my doubts. It is a long recovery process. Take it slow and keep icing. I was still concerned with my knee after 6 months but I have to say everything worked out great. I still have issues with stairs and uneven ground. I still get pain from time to time but it is 90% better than what is was before surgery. I can't play basketball or ski but I guess I can adjust. Hope this helps.

      Thanks,

    • Grammy4117
      Grammy4117 john45327

      Posted

      Thanks, I just got to 95 degrees bend today. IT is hard. I wake up in pain and need to ice. Trying to take strong pain med just before PT otherwise just tylenol. ICE is my new best friend. I have been trying to adapt exercises to match what therapist does. I CAN LIFT BETTER, YAY!

  • jamesAB
    jamesAB susiemah

    Posted

    15 days is no time at all. Take it as easy as you can and do what exercises you can without overdoing it. All will be well in time.

    Kindest Regards,

    Jim

  • jamesAB
    jamesAB susiemah

    Posted

    Worry not, 15 days is no time at all. Be patient and do what exercises you can, when you can. Don't overdo it. All will come right.

    Kindest regards,

    Jim

  • laverne48429
    laverne48429 susiemah

    Posted

    Hey. I just joined. But I'm having the same issues. I can't lift my foot while sitting! I had my surgery May 8 2019. My doctor on my 2 week of surgery felt I wasn't doing enough. He and I had some serious issues. I have had several crying days that my husband had to calm me down. My doctor said I should stop using ice!!! but use HEAT...now my knee is still swollen. I do know he will never cut on me AGAIN.. I have that shocking and sticking pin feeling that comes whenever... soooo you are not alone. I'm still trying to lift my foot sitting. Hang in there. I'm with you.

  • Laura3333
    Laura3333 susiemah

    Posted

    Takes about a year to get all the bend back, mine still gets stiff if I'm not mobile for long, but then wears off, once I walk. I just kept exercising , everyone is different, swing the leg back and forth, its easier to do than trying to force a bend. When I went back for my check up, I still hadn't got the ninety degree bend and told the consultant, it bent enough for what I needed to do, and eventually my bend got easier on its own. Its great now, in both knees. You'll get there in the end, don't beat yourself up about it.

  • sue58335
    sue58335 susiemah

    Posted

    awwwww thank you so much. i am normal afterall 🤣

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