Physio exercises

In a way you are in a no pain no gain situation. Probably one day missing physio would not do much harm but I would not make a habit of it.

Sarah

Hello

I am 4 months almost post tkr. I found it really hard in the beginning and my leg barely bent at all. However I did some exercises every day religiousy and it has paid off. On days when it just hurt too much to do a specific exercise, I focused on the others and gradually worked the exercise back into the regime. You will come across setbacks like that often so just work around it. I had rest days when I only did one set of exercises but I always tried to do something. Dont be afraid to ease back but be honest with yourself. Its so hard this op and you are very early days. Be kind to yourself too.

Every missed day will set you back two or three. You don't have to put yourself into abject misery and your are better off not pushing to that extent, but as my therapist has always told me, up to but not into pain. The body needs to keep moving and to be pushed. Take your pain meds an hour before you start with plenty of water, elevate and start icing as soon as you are done. Contrary to what you might think, the prosthesis isn't coming apart and you aren't tearing soft tissue. It is painful and will be for some time to come. I've gone through it several times and right now I'm sitting here without a prothesis in place due to staph infection. I'll be like this at least 6 more weeks having to keep the bad leg in an immobilizer while working on the good leg to give it enough strength to do the work of two. All the time I'm doing stuff that hurts a lot. When I get the new knee, I'll have to start over just like you are, stretching, pushing, pulling, swearing and occasionally in tears. There are many things you will encounter along the way that the Drs never told you about and therapists like to pretend aren't there. Stay with this forum. Lots of sage wisdom from those that have gone through about every thing from text book cases (of which there are few) to extreme hardships physically and mentally. Just keep working..... Each phase passes in its own time.

Go to the ouch and not the scream level of pain I wouldn't leave for a whole day do little and often. Make sure you ice afterward . Take painkillers about an hour before you exercise. Don't overdo it though. It's very very early days and there's no doubt it will hurt but it's hopefully temporary and the Physio is so important try and persevere it will get easier in the weeks to come but not if it stiffens up

Hello Roo - like you found that exercise pulling your leg towards you v painful! What I did find easier was sitting on a dining chair and just gently sliding my leg as far back under the chair as was reasonably comfortable and guess what! In time could move it back much further. It all comes in time, do a little, and as often as you can manage. You will definitely get there!