TKR 3steps forward. 2 steps back

yes I have overdone it and had to rest for 24 hours learned my lesson then....so you are still having the stiffness after 16 months....gosh they really isn't tell me much about all this post op stuff, peeps just kept say ooo knees they're hard......! Leaving me hanging, so good to compare notes thanks  

I told my husband today it doesn't seem like my muscles are getting stronger. I'm faithfully doing my exercises. I can feel the muscle finally developing. I just feel a little shakey when I walk unaided. And the pain behind my knee seems to have gotten worse. Does anyone have this? I know I would be so much further ahead if I didn't have that.

Hi Linlee!

Try this: Put your legs up on an ottoman or a pillow on a chair. Flex the quad muscle of your thigh on one leg as you place your hand firmly on that area. Hold the flex a bit and then release and relax. Repeat on the other leg. It will SHOW YOU how you are getting those muscles to be stronger!😀

To feel less shakey try balance practice! Stand on both legs by the kitchen counter or near a railing or any solid, stable, non-movnon-movable place. Lift one leg, bending at the knee. Count to 30. Release. Repeat several times. Do the other leg. Use the counter, railing, etc. to steady yourself as needed. Once you get good at balancing on the floor, you can put a rubber mat, a rolled up bath mat or rubber disks found in sports stores on the floor and use them to help increase the balance challenge. Balance practice REALLY helped my stability and it also helped me catch myself several times when I tripped over a floor mat at the mall AND the garden hose outside in the yard. TWO falls averted thanks to balance practice!😊😊

I sometimes get pain behind my knees. I had it prior to surgery, and I have it sometimes since my surgeries. When I get pain behind my knees, what helps the most is stretching those ligaments gently. I roll up a big beach towel and put it against the wall. I put the front of my feet on the towel with my heels on the floor. With my hands against the wall for balance, I slowly raise my heels so the towel is supporting the front part of my feet. I hold this to a count of 30, rest, and repeat a few times. This stretch is very helpful for stretching those ligaments which hurt when they are too tight.

Hope these ideas from my PT sessions help you! ☺

Cheryl thank you so much for these exercises! I'm going to do them right now. I'll let you know how I make out. I read all your comments on here. This forum is so lucky to have you. Thank you so much!

Cheryl! I did the exercise to stretch the back of my knee....I can't believe I can feel a difference already! I can feel it actually loosen up! Amazing! I have dealt with this for weeks! Thank you thank you thank you! Maybe I can get some sleep tonight. ..so appreciate your advice. ..xx

Good! You can continue to do all of these even if you are shopping or working outside. I like finding ways to incorporate stretches throughout the day no matter what I'm doing or no matter where I am.

Another stretch that continues to help me is lifting my toes and front of my foot up and holding it awhile as I am standing or sitting. This stretches the calf muscle and back of the knee ligaments, too.

Thanks so much for your kind words!

Wishing you a restful night!😌

Aw so nice to hear that's working for you, with so little information via my healthcare team I have been searching Internet and this site along with YouTube have been invaluable for me too.  YouTube videos TKR post op exercises and so helpful, I can't do them all yet but the direction is reassuring.  Hope you continue with your success Cheers Su

Just got back from pt. I am 113 in bend now. As much as I try not to focus on the # I do get excited when I have improved. My Dr wants me at 120 by 6/16. I showed him(pt) the balance exercise you gave me yesterday. He said that is very good and to add it to my daily ones. I have been doing a heal slide where I'm sitting and dig my heal into the carpet and slide it back. I was doing that many times a day. He is thrilled how my quads and hamstring have come back. But he thinks the tendons behind my knee are angry. So no heal slides for a few days. Hopefully the pain will go away and stay away. I drove myself to my appt today. What a great feeling of independence! It's been a long time. Off to the races in NH tomorrow. Hope everyone has a good evening. ...♡

Yeay driving! Way to go.. You seem to be making good steady progress I seem to have stuck,  I managed to loosen up all muscles all around the knee but left hand side front and back are still solid. I have good movement despite that but it would be good to feel this loosen up. Good luck

It has been a very tough road. I have taken many notes so when I have my other knee .

down I will know what to do! I spent 6 weeks with a pt that Didn't have a clue what to do. That really set me back. So now that I'm with a new pt guy and progressing finally I'm pretty excited. ..

Hi Deborah,

I am so sorry for you.

Have you been prescribed painkillers? Are they strong enough? Are you sure they are agreeing with your stomach.

I recommend you contact your doctor, it is not c acceptable to feel this way every morning.

Please do this and take care,

Alan

Ooo that doesn't sound right, I agree with Al, talk to your Dr pain meds are an important part of recovery, sleep is important too, so nag until you get this sorted, you won't be able to do exercises without proper pain management. Important to take pain meds with food to avoid sickness and you can also get anti nausea tablets prescribed. I'm sure things will get a lot better once you have sorted this out so good luck Cheers Suki