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Pain after TKR 4 months post op

Posted , 11 users are following.

janice73464
janice73464

Hi TKRers I had my op at the beginning of July 2016 on my left knee and although I was shocked by the pain after the op, I dutifully did all my Physio even though I am not a great lover of exercise, being 60 and overweight and lazy but I was determined to get a good result. At the end of my 8 week sessions my Physiotherapist said I had great bend and extention and I was free from all sticks or crutches so the docter signed me off to go back to my part time job, this was the end of September. I felt so pleased with myself and everyone said how well I looked as I had managed to loose about a stone as well. But, since I have been back to work I have found that my recovery seems to have gone backwards. I only work 3 days in an office but it is a busy one where i am up and down all day seeing clients and going out on visits. My walking is fine and I have come to terms with all the clicking and popping that goes on in my knee. But any incline or walking up steps or getting up and down from sitting is still very painful and it gets worse by the end of the day. I am still on paracetamol 4 times a day. Can anyone give me any advice as to what I can do? Will strengthening the muscle in my thigh help? What about getting an exercise bike? Or am I just being a whimp and it's something that will improve over time? Any advice gratefully received 

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  • suki51
    suki51 janice73464

    Posted

    I'm so glad you posted this,

    my experience is so similar to yours! I m 65 had my op in May and also did exceptionally well at the beginning despite being averse to exercise generally lol I have restarted my stretches using the stairs to flex and that has helped...finding the time and space for an exercise bike is problematic as is the fact that my right knee needs replacement surgery.....so I will just persevere with all other exercises I guess. It does take for ever to recover from this op! But so worth it...good luck

    • janice73464
      janice73464 suki51

      Posted

      Hi Suki it's good to hear other people's experiences. I constantly feel guilty that i should be doing more exercise but I get so knackered from the pain by the end of the day, the thought of doing more and being in more pain puts me off. But i think an exercise bike might be the answer, I just hope it doesn't end up as a clothes hanger!! I have to have my other knee done as i have arthritis in both, my pre op for the other knee is on Tuesday so I need to get my 'good' knee stronger. Thank you for your encouragement

  • chrisjjp
    chrisjjp janice73464

    Posted

    Hi Janice

    You are no wimp. I had left TKR mid July and fully expected to be up and running and back at work within 2 months. I am 59. I saw the consultant today who reassures me that everyone is different, he did say my progress was slow but he is not worried! I am  worried of course as right now it feels like I will never be normal again. I can bend the left knee 95 degrees. Difficulty with walking far and struggling with walking downstairs, walking upstairs is not very graceful but I can manage it. It does help reading the comments on here as it is true everyone is different and you do feel you are not quite so alone.

    I go to the pool x3 week and do walking and bending in the water. Stairs and flexing every day. I have an exercise bike but at the moment I cannot get that left knee/leg to go all the way round. I shall keep trying and am sure at some point it will go. Am due back to work and partly dreading it as still get so tired but the other part of me thinks maybe getting back to a normal routine will help my recovery and improvement. Who knows, I guess I just have to try and see what happens. Don't give up thats the most important thing. We will get there in the end, have to believe that!

    • dave63380
      dave63380 chrisjjp

      Posted

      Hi Chris I had RTHR Mid July. Had both knees done about two years ago. Keep working on bending that knee, I know it's kinda painful but if you do it every day it will help. Don't feel like you should have stairs mastered by now, you're still fairly short time. More strength comes by 5-6 months if you continue to work at it. The exercise bike is a big help bending the knee, just take it slow, go "back and forth" if you can't get all the way around.

      It just takes time but you will see improvement if you stay with it. I was in PT for a year at least. Definitely worth it.

    • chrisjjp
      chrisjjp dave63380

      Posted

      Thanks Dave. Yes I will keep persevering its a long hard road. I hope you are doing ok following your RTHR. I hear hips are less painful than the knees. I hope thats true for you.

      Am doing the back and forth movements on the bike and dreaming of being able to cycle properly and do stairs!

      Good luck.

       

  • janice73464
    janice73464

    Posted

    Just wanted to add. I have now purchased a pedal exerciser as the thing that was putting me off getting an exercise bike was that I have never been on one that doesn't give me a sore bum! This is just the pedals so you can sit on a normal chair and pedal away, I can even doing it watching telly. I have also started back doing straight leg lifts and knee bends with weights on my ankles on both legs as I am hoping for my other TKR sometime in January , and just saying quietly the pain seems to be getting better. So I am not going to go mad at it, which is what I usually do just 10 mins 3 times a day easy does it. Thank you for all your replies 

    Jan x

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