Seven weeks since TKR and. still not walking.
Posted , 7 users are following.
I had a TKR on 21st November last. In addition, in order to partially correct a walking disability, the lower leg was rotated by a few degrees relative to the upper leg. Due to the disability the leg has never been able to completely lay "flat" but since the TKR this situation has worsened and I can neither straighten the leg to the extent that I could prior to the operation, nor can I support my weight on the leg and walk. I feel a lot of the problem is that I have lost a great deal of muscle strength in the leg and in an attempt to rectify this I now use a mini, pedal type, exerciser. Occasionally the knee hurts quite a bit using this, so its use is a little intermittent. The knee is not too painful most of the time, only the lower leg and foot are a bit swollen and this is lessening.
Obviously my worry is will I ever walk again and I would appreciate hearing if anyone has had a similar experience to me and what the outcome is likely to be.
Thanks and Regards,
Jim
1 like, 26 replies
jamesAB
Posted
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jamesAB
Posted
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Guest jamesAB
Posted
hi
mine was 20th oct and 8 am only just walking short distances and with one crutch so early days yet
jenny80029 jamesAB
Posted
I am now almost two years post op. It took some time for me to get walking... I was using crutches then stick for support for a long time. Try not to worry. Are you able to walk around with support and do you have physiotherapy/input from a physiotherapist?
ann18637 jamesAB
Posted
Hi Jim don't worry early days. I was walking without aids by week 6 but had a slight limp. Now 9 months past tkr walk no bother at all. Spent a week in Cyprus walking swimming and absolutely fine. Only problem I had was foot swelling with heat and flight pressure but within couple of days rest was fine. Patience I'm due to get other knee done but this time am prepared. Ice packs ready voltarol ready weights for excercise ready. You'll get there But please listen to your knee everyone's recovery time is different I'm 71 very mobile but also have a very determined character and will not give in. So keep up the rest ice meds and you'll get there. No arthritic pain now oh bliss x
jamesAB
Posted
One bit of good news: At physiotherapy I managed to walk up and down the parallel bars several times with my "bad" foot mostly flat on the floor. This is a first for me and I'm chuffed! Tried Zimmer this morning but knee became quite painful as I put weight on it, so I'll try again later.
jamesAB
Posted
Good morning everyone. Two months after a total knee replacement, the swelling in the leg is much reduced, most of the time I can move it fairly freely and it is slowly straightening out. I can now take a few steps with a Zimmer but I cannot put too much weight on the knee without it beginning to hurt. Forgetting about my particular time scale, is it normal for the knee to hurt like this. Is the pain likely to end in due course or could I need further surgery.
Thanks, Jim
jamesAB
Posted
Well, as of today, 10 weeks after my TKR, my leg seems to have straightened a bit (but my wife disentangle think it has), the swelling is minimal and the leg feels more like a leg than a lump of lead.
Numbness around the knee is now limited to just half of one side. The pain I feel when I attempt to stand is lessening, but I still cannot take my weight on the leg even using a Zimmer. I am hoping my situation improves soon!
jamesAB
Posted
At physiotherapy today I was able to walk significantly better at the parallel bars. Knee pain seems to lessen if I flex knee several times. Physiotherapist says I'm improving. Don't think I want any other procedures until I feel fully healed and I can see result.
TitaniumKnee jamesAB
Posted
TKR recovery is painfully (pun intended) slow! Have you tried a stationary bike or a rehab peddler? It's a cheap and cheerful mini bike! I used it simply for the motion to also help with knee pain. My flexion was awful post- TKR (stuck at 55 degrees) and had a MUA Jan 16, which has been very successful. I am now off my mini bike and on a big bike. Also, electroacupuncture offered huge improvements by way of muscle issues. It is focused on nerve stimulation at meridian points to have your brain "relearn" to use/fire those particular muscles, especially severely atrophied ones. Slow release.
Good luck!
jamesAB TitaniumKnee
Posted
I have a mini bike maybe I should use it a bit more?
Thanks, Jim.
lynda49844 jamesAB
Posted
Have you thought about hydrotherapy? A friend of mine who plateaued and couldn't straighten his leg found that after just two sessions his knee improved so much that he could straighten it and carried on exercising in the pool on his own. It might be worth a try. You need a good therapist though, as it's easy to get carried away and do too much when the water is supporting you.
jamesAB lynda49844
Posted
I think, as I am effectively wheelchair bound and need assistance to get dressed/undressed, hydrotherapy could be problematic. But thanks for the suggestion.
lynda49844 jamesAB
Posted
Sorry to hear that James. I think they may be used to assisting people in wheelchairs, but appreciate it might still be difficult for you. I wish you well going forward.
TitaniumKnee jamesAB
Posted
Yes, yes gently going round and round to slowly strengthen and lengthen. Also look into Kneehab XP. It is a quad strengthening device for severely atrophied muscles from disuse, injury and surgery. Bonus, it also has three multi path TENS functions for pain relief. My quads are still severely skinny making stairs, keeping a straight gait, etc so difficult. I also strap on my Össur Cold Rush Therapy machine into my Zimmer to sleep for straightening.