Snapping hamstring 13 weeks after TKR can anyone relate?
Posted , 4 users are following.
I have a terrible and annoying snapping of my hamstring (advised by my PT). Every time I bend my knee it snaps, sometimes loud and clear. It has been going on for a while but is getting worse. My therapist feels it is the hamstring which is tight. We are trying some exercises which so far has not helped. It even happens when I come down from my recliner it snaps! Has any of you experienced anything like this? I am getting so disgusted I hate to even bend my knee! I am 13 weeks post op and want this to go away. Any suggestions welcomed please!
0 likes, 13 replies
faybubbles dolores84206
Posted
I had a TKR 9 weeks ago, and I have a popping noise. Sounds like my kneecap did before I had surgery. Doesn't always do it, but not sure what its from. Its a totally weird feeling. Hoping someone can answer for us. Love this site.
dolores84206 faybubbles
Posted
Thanks for replying, yes hope it is something normal that will soon go away. Don't even want to think that this could be a lifelong thing. We went through too much to now have to worry about this! I am going to give it some time and if no improvement will see my surgeon!
faybubbles dolores84206
Posted
I go see my dr on the 17th now. Will ask him then. Its alot longer process then what I imagined it would be. Keep thinking that I'm going to wake up and be normal again. Good luck with yours and if I get some feedback I will share with you.
dolores84206 faybubbles
Posted
Thank you so much... it's great that we can help each other out!
cheryl90571 dolores84206
Posted
Hi Dolores!
Oh YES! I certainly CAN relate!😬😨😩
This was one of the biggest reasons I went to the doctor in the first place! Mine felt like GUITAR STRINGS that would twist and turn and CATCH at random times. TERRIBLE!
Over a period of about five years my knees were getting worse and worse. I didn't realise I was walking with BENT instead of STRAIGHT legs. All I knew was that I had to figure out a way to walk!
Long story short-- I had both knees replaced in 2015. My first was in June and my second was in October. With the two knee replacements I was in physical therapy for SIX MONTHS, twice a week.
Exercises that helped my hamstrings the most were: 1) heel lifts, 2) straightening my legs by putting them straight out on the physical therapy bench and at home on my ottoman while engaging my quad muscles.
I CONTINUE to do these even two years following surgery.
Another thing that is helpful is pointing my toes while my legs are on the ottoman then stretching my toes the opposite way, toward my body.
Overall STRETCHING throughout the day and night is my most helpful tool. I have done yoga for a number of years and just modify yoga stretches to meet my needs. Very, very helpful!
Avoid quick movements. Do everything in a smooth manner. Stretch your legs BEFORE you arise from any chair or stool or booth.
Try these things.
Let me know if they are of help!
dolores84206 cheryl90571
Posted
cheryl90571 dolores84206
Posted
The first exercise I did that helped me stretch my hamstrings at physical therapy was this wooden box with a wooden section that tilts at various angles You step on it with both feet then lean toward the wall, stretching the hamstrings. You count to ten, rest, and then repeat. We did it three times. By the third time I could feel a difference! That was in my first therapy session!
Over the weeks the tilt was made gradually steeper, challenging me more. At home I rolled a beach towel and taped it. I put it on the floor in front of my kitchen sink and held onto my countertop as I stretched. I still do this from time to time to keep those hamstring GUITAR STRINGS behaving!😁
I'd say my hamstrings felt increasingly better from my first session. Keeping them stretched by doing appropriate exercises worked wonders.
I hope you will find relief soon, too!
dolores84206 cheryl90571
Posted
You are so helpful Cheryl, I really appreciate it. I know exactly what you are talking about, the box that tilts at various angles. They have it at PT and I see other people using it. I am going to tell my therapist how you said it helped your hamstrings and ask to go on it. I just love this forum and all of the great advice we get. Thanks again, I will keep in touch and let you know how I am doing.🙂👏👍
cheryl90571 dolores84206
Posted
Sandy, my AWESOME PT, would always have me begin on the bike. It was quite awhile until I could bend enough to make it all the way around. I had LOTS of swelling particularly with Knee #1!!! I would rock it one way and rock it the other way. She ALWAYS encouraged me! I worked hard and took ZERO breaks, so she KNEW I was really trying hard.
We headed to the wooden box next. I always did therapy in my bare feet. I didn't want to slip on the equipment, and I could really feel everything in my bare feet--a big help to my focus! I think I got so used to yoga done in bare feet that wearing shoes just made no sense to me.
Yes, this forum has been GREAT! I discovered it several weeks into my first knee replacement and check back daily even now. I always learn new things, and I also want to give back to those who are new to the surgery like others helped me early on with my recovery. There is something VERY SPECIAL about having people from all over the world connecting and supporting one another!??
Yes! Please let me know how things go for you!
Physical therapy was THE BEST for me. I learned what exercises to do and how much I should do them. I learned about why I was doing each one and what it was doing FOR me.
Side note: When I FINALLY was able to complete my first all-the-way-around rotation on the bike, I yelled out, "I DID IT" without realising that I yelled it OUT LOUD!😳 I got a STANDING OVATION from everybody in the therapy room! 😁
I felt like I had just won the lottery!!!😊
faybubbles cheryl90571
Posted
I am 9 weeks out from my TKR and I am still unable to go all the way around on my bike.. I get so frustrated when I get on my bike at home and can't make it around. My therapy is done now, and I have been thinking of joining a gym. I walked on the treadmill at therapy and felt so good, and I dont have a treadmill at home. Its a tough long process. I'm ready to be healed and normal again. I walk with a limp which bothers me also. So thankful for this site. Thanks again for listening.
dolores84206 faybubbles
Posted
Faybubbles, just keep trying eventually you will be able to do a full revolution on your bike. Make sure the seat is as high as it goes so your bend is not so great. Once you accomplish it you can gradually lower the seat to create more bend. Don't get discouraged, it will come. As far as the limp goes, as your leg straightens the limp will go away. You can lay on your stomach with a 4 lb. weight on your ankle hanging off the bed for about 4 minutes. This will help to straighten your leg. You can also try to push your knee down as far as it can go on a hard surface working not only your quads but helping to get your leg straight. Just be patient, there is light at the end of the tunnel!
cheryl90571 faybubbles
Posted
Hi there!😊
You will get there! Just keep stretching gently, rocking as far forward as you can and then as far going backwards as you can. Don't get to the point of pain because TJAT is never a good thing when recovering from a TKR! For me, I ended up making it all the way around GOING BACKWARDS first! Still counts!!😁 Then as I kept going, I made it around FRONTWARDS, too!
BIG DAY!!😁 Woo! Hoo!!👍👍
Each bit of progress is HUGE! It will come for you! Be patient with yourself. You have gone through A LOT, and your leg is getting used to your new knee. Muscles are getting used to the healing going on, and nerves are STILL wondering, "What just HAPPENED???!!!"
Be sure to let us know when your BIG DAY happens! Then we will have an online KNEE PARTY!!!🎉🎈??🎉??🎉??
faybubbles cheryl90571
Posted
Oh how I love your positivity. At 4 weeks I went around during therapy hurt like a son of a gun, but after that I haven't been able to. I'm at 9 weeks now and nothing. 😢 I have a recumbent bike at home that I ride everyday for stretching, back then forward, back then forward. Lol. With my bike you can't raise the seat up or lower it, it can go forward and backward, if I push it back all the way I can barely touch the pedals as I'm 5'3. I keep working at it. I'm trying to decide if I want to join the gym, treadmill, bike, leg presses all them I did at therapy, and I have the bike only at home. I do stretches, squats, hot tub exercises daily, I'm just anxious to be better, instead of feeling so helpless. I want to get back to work also. Thanks for listening and the Amazing positivity. 😊