Talking about getting the bend....

Posted , 6 users are following.

Is it like this always, or just in earlier days after a TKR?  When I'm doing the bend thing in the evening, there is no way I could go straight to maximum bend.  I pull knee up just beyond comfortable, hold for a little while, and then straighten leg again, then a few minutes later repeat and it goes up further, and so on with each time the bend getting better.  Just wondering if in time it will go straight to maximum or will it always need to get there in steps.  What do others find over what period?

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Chris I am nearly 10wks post op and I am just like you. Initially it is so difficult to get any degree of bend and improves slowly after few minutes. It's driving me mad. I feel like I need the joint oiled. Over past few days I am also limping unsure why or maybe becoming a habit I need to stop. .

    • Posted

      I'm getting what would be classed as 'a good bend' initially but it does tae a few goes to work up to that excellent bend, but wondering if it's healing and swelling that causes it. 

      This aspect is what makes me think it is still worth doing these exercises every evening, even though my surgeon s said I don't need to - just to maintain it.

  • Posted

    It takes time , I used to use a board to slide my leg on and mark the position of my foot eack time i used it , that way I could follow the progress of my bend . It's now 19½ years since my left knee , and 17½ years since the right . Did that several times a day and other physio . Now almost 20 years later I am free from pain in my knees and have had no problems with them . It's early days yet for you , hopefully you will be here in 20 years time telling others of your progress and recovery .

  • Posted

    At 14 months, I got nuttin'...  Like the TKR never happened, well, except for the clunking sound...oh, and some tenderness when kneeling on a hard surface.  "Don't do dat." - Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.  0 / +133 ROM, zero pain, swelling, tightness...nuttin'...

    ...just clunk...clunk...clunk...

    • Posted

      Good Chico:-)))  My hope is as it heals, the bend will be there without working up to it:-)))
  • Posted

    I expressed my bending concern to my ortho. His response was to concentrate on straightening primarily and the bend will come. Just don't quit.

    • Posted

      It's all interesting stuff Melinda:-)))  Interesting how different ortho's and physios have very different approaches too!

    • Posted

      Ain't that the truth! And somewhere in the middle is where we need to be, I guess. We have so many points of view here. What a wonderful education that we sure didn't get from the "Pros". It sounds archaic, but they who do the surgery should have some sort of personal experience. Ok maybe not an unnecessary joint replacement but at least an arthroscopy. LOL! biggrin))

      good luck! 

    • Posted

      Yes - we should make ALL the surgeons have a TKR, whether they need it or not, just so they know what they're talking about - I like it LOL!  It reminds me of these programmes about plastic surgery where the surgeon clearly hasn't had any!:-))))))

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