TKR. Want my old life back

Hy victoria 

im 12 qeeks post op full tkr. Firstly i dont know what u do for wprk but i think thats far tp early and to be at the gym every day i duno how u do it. I dont feel the same but my pain isnt the same pain i had before either.

yes we dont feel the same as before but we knew this before our ops.it is still early day and its not a quick fix, this ol is a slow recovery and u shouldnt [u]and, cant really rush recovery.

you and i will get back to ourselves  im aure but it will take time..

but no way in the gym everyday.. i hope u feel better soon xx[/u]

 

Hi. It's been nearly two years since my bilateral TKR's. I'm at 115 and it's taken a long time to get my hair and balance tolerable.

Slow down, rest, eat clean, do a little exercise each day. My physio says gym is not perfect. Pool walking, non-stressful, low impact exercise is what knees need. Can you get to a hydro pool? Your old life is gone. Make a new one. xx

I just want my old knee back. I’m 17 months out . I have great stiffness, swelling and PAIN. I waited 15 years for this and wish I had never had it done. My Physician doesn’t want to hear my complaints, just gives me a sad face and pushes me out the door. I refuse to take narcotics and only NSAID’s rarely. I will never ever get the other knee done. I’m worried about my future mobility.

Hi Victoria,

i have found from my own experience that listening to my body has made all the difference in my recovery. I almost 6 mos post op. It’s been a long recovery and only recently stopped PT. Since stopping PT and working everyday but resting and listening to body my knee finally became less swollen which allowed me to bend more. I do a lot of walking now and work on heel slides and straightening. Have been to gym but not everyday. 

Relax and don’t push yourself so hard after this surgery. Major changes have happened and the body has to recover. Keep pushing hard I fear you will end up pushing recovery further away. It’s a delicate balance. Everyone’s is different. No one can tell you the exact recipe for it BUT your own body. Tune in and it will guide you to your recovery. I am now a firm believer in this. Take all you know to do with recovery exercises and then apply it wisely. Must let body and knee guide the process. It will speed your recovery and you will see the subtle but solid impact. So many reminded me it’s a marathon not a sprint. 

Best wishes for a smoother recovery. It will come in time. 😘

It is soooo excellent that you are working on the quads and glutes...AND CORE!  Absolutely mandatory for a full recovery.  The 90-degrees is worrisome so I would recommend PT to break through that scar tissue.  Else, here are some things you can do at home...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-rom-work-at-home-620053

Pull waaaaay back on those heel slides!!!  Remember, this is NOT a linear recovery.  Advances, setbacks and plateaus are all part of the game.  Post this on your fridge...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-reality-of-a-tkr-recovery-in-one-picture-626038

"Never give up!  Never surrender!" - Tim Allen, Galaxy Quest

Have a good rant...it's a good thing to get it out!

Things do continue to improve...in their own time though!

Don't make a judgement of this experience til the one year mark.

It might be that the combination of working full time plus the gym is a bit too much? Swelling can restrict bend, is your knee still quite swollen?

With a bend of 90 you can hopefully do most things you need to...how straight is your leg? And how is your walking?

If the lack of bend is getting you down, it seems that many many people continue to experience improvements for well up to a year.

I realise surgeons and hospitals are all different and have different protocols but in the end it would be your choice whether to have a MUA.

I think it that If someone's flexion is under 80 and the extension more than 15 this would be a real hindrance in daily life, but with 90, while I appreciate not optimal, it is functional. I would have thought, as it is early weeks still, you have plenty of time and room for improvement and I am hoping you don't get too discouraged, or made fearful, about things, because though bit doesn't feel like it, it really is still early.

Feeling very tired, indeed, over tired is going to vastly affect your mood. You must be whacked with full time work and gym visits!

I think it might be worth you considering going a bit easier o yourself...and if you have got a lot of swelling once this goes down you gain a lot of bend with no effort at all!

Well, sorry to hear things are hard for you, and I hope you do feel a lot better soon.

Listen to your body, and look after yourself,