post TKR check up
Posted , 10 users are following.
well tomorrow I see my consultant 7 weeks post TKR to say I'm nervous is an understatement. I know you lot have drilled it into my head that we all progress at different rates but I don't seem to have progressed for the past few weeks. If the consultant turns round and says I haven't been doing my exercises I will be really upset because I have been very dedicated. Ive been really low in mood today I think it's starting to mess with my mental state. Anyway I just wanted to get it off my chest before I go to sleep and I know there is someone out there listening because you are a helpful supportive bunch X
0 likes, 20 replies
louise_48509 Snoozy69
Posted
I'm 7 too and feel exactly the same. My surgeon has annual leave so I'm not seeing him until 11 weeks. I know I'm getting better because I can sleep on my leg now face down but other things are on pause.
denisek64 louise_48509
Posted
I went to see my consultant a couple of weeks ago just looked at the scar and asked me a few questions said see you in 6 months to discuss other knee so don't worry just keep up with the physio
CHICO_MARX Snoozy69
Posted
This should be your "alignment x-ray"...docs draw a straight line from hip to ankle...should go through the center of your knee.
NO STRESS!!!!! Stress and doubt just screw your head up. "Don't do dat." - Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Do the work, give it time. It will all work out...promise.
cheryl90571 Snoozy69
Posted
IF your consultant tries to shame you by saying you are NOT working hard, ask him/ her how he/she would feel if someone called THEM a liar.
(Have taught first and second graders for MANY years. I saw many children working VERY hard but needing extra TIME to succeed. The hard workers often ended up the best readers because they had LEARNED how to work hard.)
Do not let ANYONE make you feel bad about your efforts!
Sending lots of strength to you tonight from all the hard workers who took a bit longer to get there! ( I was one of them with my first TKR!)♥️
SharonBeth1975 Snoozy69
Posted
Good morning snoozy first of all you know your body and you obviously know that you have done your exercises so don't beat yourself up over it second of all try not to think about the what ifs before you even go to see your consultant it's going to eat you up before you get there and yes I have heard it plenty of times myself how we all progress at our own rate and yes we are different but just think of the bigger picture and how far you have already come good luck and safe travels to the consultant today
clive45466 Snoozy69
Posted
Be nice to yourself as it’s your progress no one else’s. I had a right knee TKR in July of 2016. Was in so much pain I did no exercises just straightening and trying to bend in a hot bath.
At 6 weeks I started to use a bike with the saddle high and to start with a strange action to be able to turn the peddles.
I also was up and around on my feet most of the day from 6 weeks, used my time off work to renew the garden fences.
My nights were awful until after 12 weeks. I can now fully straighten my leg with a bend of around 120. The latter could be better, but except for using a bike I still are not excercising. However am on my feet for work 8 to 16 hours a day.
As I started there is no pressure on you to recover fast , it is what it is.
Good healing
jenny80029 Snoozy69
Posted
You might possibly be overdoing the exercises a bit. ?
Give yourself a day off every now and again.
auntiebeanie Snoozy69
Posted
deb1205 Snoozy69
Posted
Relax, you have done what was asked of you .
No good saying everyone is different you know that. Go in with confidence. Please let me know how it goes x
Sue360 Snoozy69
Posted
Don't worry about your consultation. They are only interested in the work they have done, the hard work post op is our job and with help from physios. At 6/7 weeks I was at an all time low, seems pretty common reading on here. I am now 13 weeks and it has been a hard slog. You will be doing fine, do not be pressured by others who have not had this personal experience. Keep in here, it keeps us all sane !!
jenny80029 Sue360
Posted
louise_48509 Snoozy69
Posted
Snoozy69
Posted
Ok so Ive seen he consultant this afternoon. There were two people seen before me and I have to say I definitely walk better than both of them. The surgeon bundled me into an office so. Could look at the X-ray they took the day I was discharged from hospital. No alignment X-ray taken as suggested by somebody. It looks good nice and straight now now all deformed like it was before. I've kept my own knee cap. I told him my main concern was the range of movement, I was lucky if it reached 90 degrees today I have informed him that I've had it better than that in my recovery and that seems to be my problem. He says I'm unfortunate!! then was showing me exercises to try which I have already tried "sigh". Well he wants to see me in 6 weeks time and if the movement hasn't improved he will manipulate it. He says sometimes the movement just starts to improve even if I have had trouble so far. He says the guy that was seen before me just bent his knee up no problem......it makes me feel sick 😂 Anyway let's hope things improve X
jenny80029 Snoozy69
Posted
Most of my improvements came around ten weeks post op.
Take a deep breath.
Did he measure your bend or just look by eye?
Keep on going, if you can access a swimming pool to exercise in..I just used local one and threw out my mind any self consciousness!
It is very good exercising in pool!
Have you still got swelling?
Are you resting it enough and elevating also?
The swelling stops the bend big time,
Think of a garden hose with lots of water in it...it is hard to bend.
It's great your walking is good, also consider a lot of rest is good.
I found that though I could not lift my leg for ages, when I could, and it was a bit stronger, elevating it almost vertically against the wall for short periods of time, i.e. 20 mins, helped immensely. might be worth a try.
You are doing great! It was not wise of the surgeon to mention someone else to you, however it is hard for them to understabd quite how fragile we might feel at this point!
Snoozy69 jenny80029
Posted
Jenny I persevered and read most of your blog interesting that the end was at the beginning lol I see you used the pool a lot I've a two week pass at a local health club which has a pool so I might take advantage of it. I had to google the church pew exercise wow what a simple exercise I hope it strengthens the relevant muscles. Well I don't think strength is my problem it's the bending so I'm going to try the pool, I think they have a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi at this health club so I shall take full advantage of it 😋
jenny80029 Snoozy69
Posted
But health club sounds great. I take it your incision is thoroughly sealed up?
Snoozy69 jenny80029
Posted
Well he suggested warm water so I thought sauna would warm it up then get in the jacuzzi and do some bending in there. Yes the incision is well and truly healed looks like a worm at the upper aspect of the wound 😂 There is some swelling to the right side of my joint and this is where most of my pain is. When I'm sat it's elevated and I have gel packs which I put in the freezer so there's always one on my knee when I'm sat down. I just hope it decides to start bending 🙏
jenny80029 Snoozy69
Posted
I am so proud of my scar and this TKR ordeal I have battled my way through,
Bending and stretching in the sauna is brilliant too!
Congratulations on making your way through my writing!
Now you have got through that reading I should think everything else will be a breeze! 😁😁😄😅
CHICO_MARX jenny80029
Posted
Note on "bend measurement". There really is no such OBJECTIVE thing. Docs and PTs use a protractor-like guide to "eyeball" what they "think" is your bend. My PT guy told me that if you were "measured" by ten therapists, you'd get 10 different numbers. So, in reality, there is no ACTUAL, objective number. So stop focusing on numbers and just do the work. You will know when your knee is OK...the number is just a guideline, not an absolute...
jenny80029 CHICO_MARX
Posted
😁😃 mine didnt even bother with the goniometer!
Apart from the one time in hospital, they have just looked, squinted a bit, and said "that must be around..." which suited me just fine!