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Setbacks at 5 weeks tkr

Posted , 13 users are following.

Mike_Knobbly56
Mike_Knobbly56

After  feeling really positive and getting 2 good nights sleep on the run with leg feeling lighter and less pain I feel I have gone back 3 steps in the last 3 days.

Knee is throbbing at night with more intense hamstring and muscle pain. Sleep is down to a couple of fitful hours again.

Leg feels stiffer again and pt exercises harder to do.

Had planned to return to work next week but although in a sedentary job this regression is making me feel anxious.

I thought I had hit the' 6 week break pain 'through ' early but now feel I have stalled and even gone backwards.

Any advice ?

I had eased off my meds but thinking of going to see GP to request some strong pain killers and sleeping tablets again.

0 likes, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 Mike_Knobbly56

    Posted

    How upsetting, however it is an unpredictable matter. Have you been pushing your knee a bit too hard may be? How much are you walking on it each day and how much exercising are you doing? It might be possible your knee wants a bit more rest. The rest is as important as the exercise. Are you in UK?

    Even with a sedentary job, if you have the option I would wait til three months if possible to go back. Its the whole body, not just the knee.

  • Mike_Knobbly56
    Mike_Knobbly56

    Posted

    Thanks Jenny.

    Yes Uk based but self employed so have to get back to work.

    I think the pressure of needing to recover quicker because of financial commitments doesn't help. It is making me more impatient in a healing process which has a mind of its own!

    I have an automatic car and knee op was  left leg so comfortable driving short distances.

    I am still on crutches  and not fully confident of load bearing  through the knee yet .

    Although I  have pretty good extension and rom, I don't think I overdo the exercises  but maybe being only 56 my body seems to be more responsive to any activity and the knee is still very swollen and very stiff even after a light session.

    The hamstrings are very tight after years of limping so I am thinking a lot of the pain might be about readjustment and alignment but the stretching is not relieving this at the moment.

    Exercise  of lieing  flat on tummy with legs from knee hanging over the bed is a killer!

    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 Mike_Knobbly56

      Posted

      I never did that one !

      When sitting to work keep your leg elevated If not already doing so.

      Yes, the limping pre op does mean adjustments. I was limping too. Great not to now.

      How long are your exercise session? May be restrict to just ten minutes at a time for a bit. Then ice, elevate. Little but often may be best at the moment.

      You may like to go to my profile by clicking on the image next to my name. I kept a journal of my own knee replacement journey, and I have been told by several people they found it helpful to read, or skim through. It was written to convey the need for patience, something our culture in the western world is not really geared up to! It has a lot of useful suggestions and information. I get what you say about work, but maybe incorporate what you need to do in slowly and carefully. Look on this time as an investment for the future, because how things go now will make big difference on your life in six months time . Best wishes!

  • Sue360
    Sue360 Mike_Knobbly56

    Posted

    Morning Mike, sorry you have had a set back, perhaps as Jenny says, you may have been over doing it. I have found if I walk too much, walking is the ultimate goal for me having a springer spaniel, my knee swells which then prevents the bending/stretching excersises. Other people on here advise not to concentrate on walking but to get the other things right first which is the advice I am following. Good luck. Sue
  • ren05520
    ren05520 Mike_Knobbly56

    Posted

    Hi Mike are you having lots of magnesium in your diet and greens? Have you tried the tens machine? 
  • Mike_Knobbly56
    Mike_Knobbly56

    Posted

    Ronnae

    Think I am eating healthily and have actually lost around 15 pounds since op but no to magnesium and tens machine.

    Will investigate further

    Thx

    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 Mike_Knobbly56

      Posted

      TENS was good for me. Only costs 20 pounds ish. Get a dual current one with 4 pads. Not allowed to state brands here but no need for more expensive model.
    • lighterson
      lighterson jenny80029

      Posted

      How do you use Tens machine, is it effective, when did you start using one, where do you put the pads, can you tell me more? 
    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 lighterson

      Posted

      Hi! I have tried to work out how to post an image here but cannot.

      I used one before and after surgery. Post op from five days on. To see image of placement go to my blog and look at day five or six ad the image is there.

      It was good for between pain killers.

      Was effective for me, not all find it so, but at twenty pounds worth trying.

      They normally come with extensive instructions. How you position the pads depends on what you are wanting to do. In the image I put in my blog I am using for pain relief, but I also used on a different setting to help liven up my quadriceps, so had them positioned differently then. They are simple to use but you could ask a physiotherapist for guidance I guess.

      go to my profile by clicking on the image next to my name. I kept a journal of my own knee replacement journey, (it is one page of my normal blog) . As said, around day six, you can locate image.

      Hope this helps!

    • jenny80029
      jenny80029

      Posted

      <img src="content://com.samsung.android.memo/file/2259944a-f464-e407-0000-015eba5e2002" orientation="0" altText="null" width="498" />

    • jenny80029
      jenny80029

      Posted

      Mm, yes, could not post image!
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX jenny80029

      Posted

      Click on the "mountain/sun" icon in the upper right corner of the new post.  It will open the file manager on your local drive(s).  Find the image you want...click on it...and then "open" in the lower right corner.

    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      I don't have that icon showing...using Samsung Android tablet, Maybe not possible?

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX jenny80029

      Posted

      Use the Contact link at the bottom of the page to send a note to Tech Support.  Remember that the apps we use in Windows or on a Mac are completely different than the apps written for IOS and Android.  All are different animals.  Ask a site techie...
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