TKR nightmare!

Posted , 7 users are following.

I'm new here, but could really use some advice. I had my TKR on March 10 of this year. Since then I have had TWO manipulations. My PT can force bend it to 115, but when I try to walk, it won't bend much. I still use a cane and walk like I'm crippled. I still have a lot of pain and swelling also. When I bend it, it feels like there is a band in there or there is something hard in there?! I'm so discouraged.

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  • Posted

    Hello Joy,

    I'm 13 weeks po and had an MUA 6 wks ago today.   Under anaesthetic my bend was 140, the day after under force from the physio it was 70, 3 weeks later 25.  Approx 3 weeks ago I had my 1st physio session and have a 2 per week since in hydrotherapy.  I pay for deep tissue massage once a week.   In the last 3 weeks I have gone from 25 to 83 - I cannot maintain 83 and think my bend is 70.   I have spent the last 3 weeks learning to walk again properly!   Instead of swinging my TKR leg out - I try and bend the knee, I drop my foot heel to toe and swinging my arms helps me walk (or march)!   I too have some pain and swelling.  I too have a band under my knee which both my physios tell me is scar tissue which is constricting my knee moving.   On Thursday this week I am going to have further massage to break this down.   All the physios are confident that given time, exercise and massage that the scar tissue can be minimised and I will move better.   It may be that you are the same?   Ask your physio and OS the questions..   Good luck.

  • Posted

    1 am 4 months in still have that band around my knee. There is still swelling although the pain is getting a little better. I can go up the stairs with a railing but too difficult to go down yet. I am riding my recumbent bike 20 minutes a day. I can walk without a cane but I don't walk much because of heel spurs and plantar fasciitis. I get very discouraged some days and I can only reach 107. Everyone is different. It takes over a year for some to recover. Others recover in 3 months. Do what your body tells you. It will come eventually.

    • Posted

      What do you do in order to cope with the plantar faciitis? Have yyou  got special supportive shoes?
    • Posted

      Jeanne, you are doing good. You can expect swelling for a long time, maybe up to a year. I still have it in one knee 21 months post op. But that's because my knee cap on that knee needs replaced. As I was starting to get in some walking longer distances I was hit with planter fasciitis. It's horrible. A friend finally took me to The Good Feet store and I was fitted with inserts. It's not cheap, but they are the only thing that made a difference. They are hard and I wear them in everything, even velco them into my sandals and flip-flops. I can't say enough about them.

      A note on the stairs...my PT had me attempt them starting around 2 weeks post op. I managed, very slowly a couple. I went down looking absolutely ridiculous. But I was determined to get it to where I was looking like a normal person. Daily I would try tackly about 6 - 10 stairs. I'm happy to say that I can now go up and down like anyone else, though maybe not as fast or with the same jump in my step...but I'm doing it. With some work, I'm sure you can do it too. Good luck.

    • Posted

      I ended up with planter faciitus after my surgery and found the only thing (and I tried it all) was inserts from The Good Feet store. I wear them in everything. If I'm on my feet, inserts are under them. The pain is greatly diminished. I don't dare go without them, but I can walk painfree now.

    • Posted

      I found some shoes called KURU on the Internet. They are helping and the heel spurs don't seem to be as bad. They are not cheap either but a lot better than my other shoes. I try to do a couple of stairs but have to hang on to the one railing I have with both hands. It looks ridiculous but I still can't do more than two stairs. Maybe in time it will come. I really would need a railing on each side but I don't have access to them right now. Thanks for your help! !

    • Posted

      jeanne Just found kuru website.

      ​How do you go on if the shoes are unsuitable? 

    • Posted

      No, I am in the USA. Saw the shoes on the Internet by googling help for heel spurs and plantar fasciitis.
    • Posted

      Thanks for this info.The Pl f is driving me nuts.
    • Posted

      Thanks. I am wondering what to do if the shoes are unsuitable. Did u actually go in the store and try them on first?
    • Posted

      You can return them if they don't fit right. I bought the ones called Carrera. Just try them on.and put plastic bags over them so they don't get dirty. They are a little uncomfortable at first because the inside has to mold to your feet. It has been recommended not to wear your old shoes as your stride will be different once you begin walking again.

    • Posted

      Thanks for the info on the shoes, I'll have to check them out. And good luck on those stairs. Two steps is better than none.

    • Posted

      They don't have a store. You can only order them on their website. They are pretty true to size and also have a roomy toe box which accommodates my hammer toe.

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