1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Knee Problems

Returning to work after TKR driving a truck doing about 40 stops daily and about 20000 steps daily

Posted , 5 users are following.

joe90734
joe90734

Has anyone return to work doing this kind of job ? I’m very  concerned if and when I will be able to return or even do my job again . I have been at my job for 36 years and I’m only 57 . 

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX joe90734

    Posted

    I don't do that but this is my experience getting back to walking...

    Five weeks in, I did 8,200+ steps one day and had a "balloon knee" for two days.  Learned my lesson real fast.  Used a fit bit to track my steps from then on.  You cannot push the knee...it will bite you back.  This is some help on the walking again...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/walking-after-a-tkr-593409

    You literally have to learn to walk properly all over again.  Takes about a month of conscious heel-toe to kick in the muscle memory again...gotta be getting that ROM back at the same time.

    At 8 months I was doing 11,000+ steps a day (5 miles) with no problem at all.  Then I got spinal stenosis and surgery so that set me back.  Can still do 10,000 even now but have never tried 20,000+ even one day...every day?  Geez...

    In my opinion, the key for you will be to rebuild your quads, glutes and core as quickly as possible.  Here's the routine...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/post-tkr-exercising-565527

    ...and then be strong enough again to conquer stairs...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/mastering-post-tkr-stairs-552728

    Most people go back to light work in the 4-6 month range, depending on the job.  Being able to do 20,000+ steps a day, day after day, is a very tall order.  To give yourself any chance at success, you need...

    - A fully healed knee with no residual pain

    - Virtually full 0 / +120 POM

    - A fully rebuilt musculature

    - The ability to walk and climb stairs with no nightly after effects for multiple days

    You're asking for 10 miles a day, every day.  Lots of us who go back to work are nowhere near that level for 10-12 months...sometimes more.  You may be different...there have been a few people reporting that they healed very quickly.  Not likely but possible.  The problem is that you cannot push the knee to that kind of recovery.  It swells...then you can't work as the work will only make it worse.  Then you'll start limping to deflect the pain and throw out your hips and back only causing more pain.  Long-term pain meds are a very dangerous path.

    Not to be negative but to do what you want, you will have to be fully healed as well as very strong to do 10 miles every day.  Give yourself the time it takes to get into that kind of shape.  There's no magic bullet here.  It takes time and work.  Yes, it will all pay off eventually but no one can tell you when that will be.

    • joe90734
      joe90734 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thank you for taking your time out to make your comment ,I really do appreciate it very much . I’m just 8 weeks post and my doctor had told me I should be back to work in 4 months .i did explain to him my job but I don’t really think he knows the intensity of my job .i so up and down stairs also lifting at the same time , so I’m really concerned about me returning to the job I’ve done for 36 years 
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX joe90734

      Posted

      No, he doesn't.  If you're like the rest of us, four months will be the early end of returning to work, depending on your actual recovery state plus the difficulty of your job requiring walking, lifting and stairs.  In my opinion, it will be unlikely for you to do that type of work without repercussions unless you are totally well and strong again.  I could be wrong and you could be recovered at 4 months but you will not likely to be strong enough to endure 10 miles a day.  Again, it's all very individual.  Like I said before...you would need trying out 10 miles a day for multiple days to see if you can handle it before you return to work.  You may be able to do it...no idea if you can or not.  I've read thousands of stories from people on this Forum and I've never heard of someone trying this on a daily basis at four months.  I don't think it's very likely in that time frame....but then again, I could be wrong.

      To give it a shot, you probably need to do all those things I mentioned above.  Even talk to your PT to see if anyone has done what you propose...there may have been a few.  Stay in touch and let us know how you're doing.

  • kathryn96524
    kathryn96524 joe90734

    Posted

    Don't be in a hurry. It takes 1 year to heal! Do you want to mess up what the doctor repaired? Take 1 day at a time. You may have to consider another line of work. Be strong. Many people have things a lot worse than what we have on our plate.😀

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX kathryn96524

      Posted

      Correct...dont hurry.  Correct.  It takes a year.

      Hmmmm...another line of work.  Maybe The Universe is trying to send you a message.  I've had that happen to me only a few times in my life.  And you can only respond if you are listening and open to the possibilities.

      Wow...TKR metaphysics...  Think about where this can go...  Most excellent, Kathryn...

  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 joe90734

    Posted

    Based on my own experience at seven months of a good TKR experience with no significant problems it would be a challenge.

    Is it several days in a row you work and then a break?

    Can you reduce the physical demands on your job in any way? Have your roles schedule, reduce and adapted to meet your needs?

    If you are employed rather than self employed it might be worth to start thinking along the lines of having discussions with occupational health,

    You can do your best of course to ensure you are as able as possible, and Chico has given you lots of ideas.

    If you are able to not even try to return before six months I would put that forward as an idea to consider... you may be different, we all are, but based on my own experience six months was when I was really able to get on with life as per normal in terms of activity levels.

    You could log your experience, maybe doing similar amount of walking and activity at four months post op and see what it is like.

    As someone has said, maybe driving work which is not so demanding worth thinking on?

    Surely if you are employed they have legal requirement to adapt it for you if need be?

  • steve04604
    steve04604 joe90734

    Posted

    Hi Joe I am 56 and 7 months post op my job is also very physical and heavy I was doing great in my recovery till I went back to work after 14 weeks then it felt I was back to square one with pain I have now had to pack job in to try an get my knee back to normal going back to see my consultant next week to see what he says gutted

  • joe90734
    joe90734

    Posted

    I would like to thank everyone who has commented. It’s great hearing all concerns . Thank you so much 
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.