Posted , 10 users are following.
I'm still in a lot of pain and bend is only 110. I keep thinking I should be further along. I can go up stairs correctly but it's fairly uncomfortable. I really wish I could get this all behind me and resume my life. I do extensive PTL 3 times weekly as well. Suggestions?
0 likes, 17 replies
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martinarvelo susan43407
Posted
I think you are doing pretty well for seven weeks! At six weeks I was only 90 . . I'm now 135 which is the maximum I am going to get . . You seem to be doing everything right, and it is really just a matter of time now. Many people at seven weeks are nowhere near what you have achieved. . .
mike_57190 martinarvelo
Posted
Feel free to give a week by week account of how you got from 90 to 135 and also how you achieved it.
thankayou
Mike
mike_57190 martinarvelo
Posted
Thank you
Mike
martinarvelo mike_57190
Posted
Hi Mike . .looking back, I wish I had kept a journal of progress, but I didn't.Up until about two months I was pretty much useless mentally, and it took me a long time to feel like doing anything except feel sorry for myself! Yep. pretty useless. Well, at six weeks, as I say, when I went to see the specialist I thought probably about 90, but he said more like 85, but signed me off anyway.. i didn't have a goniometer at that time to check. From then on, feeling stronger and better by then, and beginning to come off tramadol, most of the time when I was sitting down watching the box or with the computer, I spent pushing the foot back with my other foot, trying to improve the bend. I was lucky in that my only chair high enough was actually a wheelchair (I didn't use it as such, only for sitting in!! and I could see progress by first trying to get behind the front wheel then a bit further and further. One day I was really depressed because suddenly, I found I was much worse than previous days, until I discovered it depended on which way round you had the wheel! Yes, this operation also seems to affect one's brain sometimes. I cannot swear to when I got to 135, but I rather think it would be at around six months. By that time, there was little pain except when I really tried to push beyond where it wanted to go.I don't bother any more, at two years post op, as I'm happy with 135. Being a bit overweight, and over 70, I only have about 140 on my 'good' leg. (the fat does get in the way!) In my case, I don't think that for me this famous 'six week window' existed, but it may be true for some people, so I don't think you can just sit back and wait for the pain to go . . or you could really be stuck with knee which wont bend. I have to admit to not being very good about the other exercises, and definitely concentrating most on the bend and the extension . . .Actually, getting to 0 extension was almost as difficult as getting the bend. I had to use a two kilo bag of flour on my knee to achieve that!
mike_57190 martinarvelo
Posted
Not very much is said about this and you refer to a six week window which my physio also says is bunkum.
my own view is that with all the swelling around the knee it can be pretty much impossible to bend properly,maybe others disagree?
thanks again Martin for taking the time,I wish you well.
Mike
martinarvelo mike_57190
Posted
It was my specialist who tried, I think, to scare me into getting a good bend quickly by saying that I only had six weeks, and I would be looking at a manipulation under anaesthetic if I didn't reach it. . .and I agree totally with you. the amount of swelling, which I think in most cases is pretty bad for quite a long time, makes bending very tricky. ...steady but constant is the best I think. . no excesses, but no days off either!
jen04209 susan43407
Posted
You've got to give it time. It takes time, but it will come. It can take up to a year. Hang in there. Good luck.
susan43407 jen04209
Posted
clive45466 susan43407
Posted
Slow down maybe it just needs more time.
It will come.
Good healing
susan43407 clive45466
Posted
cheryl90571 susan43407
Posted
Hi Susan!
Focus on how far you have come since those first hours out of the recovery room!😊
I know it SEEMS like you SHOULD be at a certain place, but the truth is we each are our own person! Our body will let us know when it is healed enough to move to the next challenge.
Look for small improvements every day. Treat yourself respectfully, realising all the trauma you have endured.
You will have your life back a little bit at a time. You will realize that things will gradually get easier each week. There will probably be days that feel like you are going backwards in improvement. Don't let that get to you! We have all experienced that!
Some days may bring more pain. Other days may bring lots of energy. Progress is rarely a steady uphill climb.
It IS all worth it, though! I am a year and a half post surgery and have gone from one step at a time and learning to walk all over again to shopping all day long with few breaks. It takes time. Be patient!??
susan43407 cheryl90571
Posted
mike_57190 susan43407
Posted
rest assured you are in good form.
kimmers88 susan43407
Posted
I will be 13 weeks tomorrow and was only at 100 bend about a week ago. I'm still doing PT too. I have just recently been able to go upstairs but it still hurts and downstairs is even harder for me. I think you are doing great for 7 weeks, better than I was at 7.It will come eventually. My PT person keeps telling me this!
bak7833 susan43407
Posted