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Tkr pain and stiffness

Posted , 13 users are following.

tom67073
tom67073

Hi I am reaching the 4 week mark, and I am still having problems. The major problem seams to be when I bend my knee it feels like it is catching and then locks for a second. This really hurts when I am doing steps, but it happens when I am doing heel slids or any other bending.

I was just wondering if anyone else has or had this problem. My surgeon said to keep eye on it, and it sounds like hamstring tendinitis?? So we are doing exercises to strengthen the hamstrings but I have not felt any relief.

Thanks again for any and all input

1 like, 242 replies

242 Replies

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  • linlee
    linlee tom67073

    Posted

    Tom I had the same thing. And my pt person said my muscles aren't strong enough yet. So we are still working on them. My walking and bend has gotten better. But when trying to lift a straight leg it still "hinges" at the knee. And yes it is painful. My pt keeps assuring me that it will get better. Just have to keep working it. He said it's the way the joint is moving. Rubbing instead of the way it is supposed to move. I had manipulation at 6 weeks. Pt thinks something happened with the muscles then. I'm 11 weeks po. It has gotten better. For whatever reason it's a slow process for me. I do my exercises faithfully. My pt did have me stop one of the exercises I was doing to strengthen my hamstring. I was over working it. That tendon you spoke of was "angry". Are you in pt now?
    • tom67073
      tom67073 linlee

      Posted

      Hi linlee

      Thank you for your response,

      Yes I go to pt 2 times per week. I also do my home pt 3 to 4 times a day, I agree I think the tendon is angry, I hope that is the case. It could be I am just over doing it. I go to pt tomorrow going to review all excerises with him just to make sure I am doing them correctly.

      For now rest, ice, elevate, repeat

      Thanks

      Tom

  • susie07313
    susie07313 tom67073

    Posted

    Hello Tom, Oldfatguy and Irish Al - muscling in on your conversation as I am not sure how to add a follow on.... hope you are all well.  

    I am 12 days out from TKR and not doing too badly.  I am sleeping better at night than I expected, thank goodness, but am really struggling between around 6pm and 11 or so - lots of pain, can't settle, shooting nerves, muscle twitches etc.  Any recommendations please?

    Also, I am listening to my body and trying to do my best, but my bend is only about 75 if that - is it too early to worry? I dont want to get stuck and wont see the PT again until Friday. I have read too much about scar tissue and manipulation!

    Thank you in advance, and thanks for helping me to get this far

    Susie

    • tom67073
      tom67073 susie07313

      Posted

      Hi Susie

      Welcome I hope you are feeling well. 75 degree bend 12 days out is great. My advice is listen to you body it will tell you when enough is enough. Take your meds when scheduled and ice ice ice ice elevate then more ice. You will find ice will become your best friend.

      Do your daily exercises that will help keep scar tissue at bay. Don't read to much into manipulation follow your doctor and your therapist advice.

      12 days is very early in this long process. It will take time. We are all here for you.

      Someone is always here 24/7.

      Take care

      Tom

    • susie07313
      susie07313 tom67073

      Posted

      Hi Tom, thank you.  Icing as I write.  Orignally I was told that I should achieve 90 degrees before coming out of hospital, but wasnt anywhere near it, so was worried about going backwards which i seem to be. I know its a very long process, I think I am just feeling in a down dip! Thank you as ever

      Susie

    • tom67073
      tom67073 susie07313

      Posted

      Everyone is different it took me a few weeks to get to 90. My therapist and doctor were more concerned about getting straight, the bend will come they told me. And they were right.

      Thanks

      Tom

    • Irish_Al
      Irish_Al susie07313

      Posted

      Hi Susie,

      Early days yet. Big time.

      Tom has given perfect advice.

      Everyone here will support you and each other.

      I am almost 13 weeks out. This morning I went for a walk on the seafront in Arklow, Ireland. I was with my wife who is a serious power walker, I told her to go ahead as I am slower. BUT

      without a shadow of a doubt it was the best and fastest walk I have done in 2.5 years. I felt great....genuinely almost in tears...walking again....beautiful glistening Irish Sea......so happy. It is with it. By the way I was stuck at 90 for weeks and weeks, now I'm about 115. So don't worry, do the RICE and you'll be fine. We are all here for you.

      Take care,

      Alan

    • susie07313
      susie07313 Irish_Al

      Posted

      Thank you Alan, thats so good to know. So happy for you, my only aim is to be able to walk with my family.

      Warm regards

      susie

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 susie07313

      Posted

      Hi Susie

      I had my first outpatient physio at 14 days post op and my bend was 85 degrees, just keep at those exercises slowly but persistently and it will come, I am 10 weeks now and walking pretty well and cycling.

      As the others have said, listen to your body, try not to over do it (almost impossible on good days!!), elevate and ice. I got hardly any sleep for the first 14 days, after that it started to improve as I gradually was able to lie on my side (I hate lying on my back) and felt myself very lucky to get 4 or 5 hours sleep.

      Hang in there and be patient (I find that hard!! 😜), you will get there.

      Sandra

    • susie07313
      susie07313 sandra07433

      Posted

      Thank you Sandra, I will.  I am desperate to be on my side! Sounds great to be cycling at 10 weeks.  Just feeling a bit down and definitely impatient but everyone really helps.

      Have a good night

      susie

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 Irish_Al

      Posted

      Hi Alan

      Great news that you are now able to enjoy a lovely walk by the sea now, let's hope summer has finally started so you can enjoy many more in the next couple of months.

      Take care.

      Sandra

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 susie07313

      Posted

      It's actually surprising how quickly you improve, at 4 weeks I actually said to a friend that I didn't think I would ever be able to cycle again, I was sees awing on the pedals of my exercise bike but just couldn't bend my knee enough to do full cycles, it seemed far too painful, then I had a physio appointment later in the week and she had me on the exercise bike in the gym which was higher and pushed me to doc the full rotation, the first time was quite painful but once I had done it once it became much easier, it took another week to do it on my lower bike at home and I piled cushions on the seat to make it a bit higher. I find now that if my knee is a bit stiff cycling loosens it up. Everyone recovers at different levels so don't beat yourself up if you can't do something and someone else can (I have good bend but still can't get my leg fully straight, you just have to keep plugging away at it)

      You do get some strange sensations as things start to heal, I found icing the whole leg from knee down helped, by 6 pm your body is likely telling you it's had enough.

      Take care and have a good night.

      Sandra

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 susie07313

      Posted

      Susie...

      Of all the damage done by this surgery nerve damage can be the most frustrating as it is by far the slowest to heal. You may find these pains and twitches come and go for months. Keep dining the streatching excercises but don't be so aggresive you create set backs. You can deep message with your finger tips but don't use any creams or oils until the incision is completely healed and the scabs disappear as the chance of infection is to great. Try not to measure recovery in days.....3 weeks, 6 weeks, 13 weeks, 6 months. It is much healthier emotionally to look at the long range, long term effects. Like the old adage of the watched pot doesn't boil neither does the over examined knee heal. Add heavy amts of hydration to the other things that have been said. Dried out soft tissue can't and won't heal as quickly as flexible, soft tissue. Be good to yourself and rest. Human nature says let's get going and get this over with but reality says be worn out slows down healing. Just the idea that we have been put through so much so quickly and that we are expected to do so much so fast drains the body and mind. I've found that when I feel depressed over not being able to do what I think I should I grap my bottle of ice water, turn on some softvrelaxing music and elevate the leg and really relax. I may look like a lazy slob to others but to me I'm a comfortable slob. Remember when we push too hard we take a chance the body will push back.....and the body will win. Stay with program and your new friends on this forum.

    • susie07313
      susie07313 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Dear Oldfatguy, thank you very much, wise words as ever.  Feeling better today, and will try to set realistic milestones.  Funny how others perceive it, as you say you may look like one thing, but actually be another.  For example, I look like I'm doing nothing when I am desperately trying to lift my leg from straight! Or I'm totally zoned out from everything else because I am so tired. There is NOTHING like the comments on this forum to help.

      Wishing you well, have a good day

      Susie

    • Irish_Al
      Irish_Al sandra07433

      Posted

      Happy Christmas Sandra & Family.

      Are we still on for our sponsored TKR walk in 2017.

      Best Wishes,

      Alan

    • sandra07433
      sandra07433 Irish_Al

      Posted

      Hi Alan, how are you getting on? It's hard to believe 7 months have gone by since our ops!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. Definitely up for a sponsored walk in 2017.

      Best wishes

      Sandra

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