Total Knee Replacement

i also had a situation similar to yours if you had the op private did it not include physio in the price you paid because i did not get the physio until 8 weeks after the op i was doing the exersise  on the discharge sheet but should have been doing many others aswell it put my recovery back a fair bit its best to get the physio going asap good luck

I had my knee replaced in a private hospital on the NHS. Was told I would have my own room. First night I did but immediately the 2nd day I had to go in a room with 3 other beds in it. The care was not good. A 90 year old man was sitting in a chair for 2 hours waiting for assistance to the toilet. I kept pressing MY buzzer for him. I was discharded after 3 days and minimal physio and had to pay for a taxi to go to my rehab,which i had for a week and was brilliant. NHS. 

After my rehab I was told I would have to wait a month for physio. Fortunately I am in Westfield and had done research before surgery. Got a fantastic phsio to visit my house under the scheme. I reccomend Westfield,but dont know how long u have to be in to claim.

Hi Rose, I am 3 weeks out too, and in terms of what you should be doing and your progress, I highly recommend folloiwng the thread on this forum that is by Chico Marx, something like TKR (Or I wish I had another kidney stone....), sorry don't know how to link it to you! Chico and lots of others (try oldfatguy's thread) give amazingly well balanced and informtive info on all aspects of recovery.

I had my operatoin privately, and although entitled to lots of physio in the private hospital, I cant get back to London to access it at present, so I am paying for private physio at home - but only once a fortnight.  I am battling with the GP to refer me to the   hydrotherapy unit in the local hospital unit - I have spoken to them directly and they are not busy at all and encouraged me to come, but cant accept me without a referral. Very odd!

You sound like you are doing well - my bend at 3 weeks is only about 60 degrees and I am working hard at it - too hard it appears as this morning I am forced to sit with it icing and elevated because of swelling (actually to be honest the first swelling since coming home).

If it is any help, my last physio session told me to use one crutch indoors, but two outdoors for safety, and definitely one stair at a time. 

Hope that helps. What a struggle it is.

Regards

Susie

Here's my link...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499

You've gotta start breaking that scar tissue down with a PT and get to 0/+120 as soon as you can.  Pretty much everything I've learned is in the post.  Hope it helps...

Rosie, I'm glad there are people on here that can relate to what you are experiencing in regards tot he challenges specific to your country. It sounds like you are right about where you ought to be at three weeks post op, so whatever you are doing, keep it up. You should be at about your turning point where you can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel - at least it happened for me between three and four weeks. There are some good videos and instructions online for exercises after a TKR. My PT had me practice walking up and down the stairs, but stepping as a normal person would, not having one leg step up and the other leg joining it on that same step - I had both knees replaced at the same time, so this was a great challenge, but it was so good for me.

-Mo

There are people in this forum with far more expertise than me but I can tell you that I did not start physical therapy or even exercises for 3 weeks after my tkr. My doctor believes you need some time to heal first. Although I am doing okay I do think it would have been beneficial to start trying to get that bend a bit sooner as now it is stiffer and more work to get there. Maybe it is hard regardless I will never know. I just know that I feel I have to work harder as a result. I am 6 1/2 weeks post tkr and have my bend finally to 100 but it does hurt to get it there and still need to get it to 120. I never had problems with straightening it. I read about something called flexi-bar and bought it on Amazon. I honestly think if I had it at the beginning this would have gone SO much easier. The bar is a simple solution that really does work! I ordered it and have only been using it for a week. I think it has been a huge benefit. I would recommend it to anyone with a tkr scheduled. I wish I had mine to begin with. You can sit in a chair watching TV and use it to get your bend. I cannot wait to get measured this week. I put tape on the floor and measured with a pen my progress and each time I use it my foot can go further back. It still hurts, it's not a miracle but if done like they suggest it works!

Peggy's right.  You start serious PT a few weeks after the surgery.  First, see your doc...staples out...start healing.  Take your meds...get sleep...eat healthy...hydrate.  Then PT starts breaking down the scar tissue that starts to form inside your knee.  Goal: zero degrees straight and greater than 120 degrees bent (0 / +120)...then exercise to rebuild all your leg muscles.  It's all a lot of hard work and some serious pain...therefore the heavy meds at the beginning.  The first weeks are the worst...it does get better if you put in the work...promise.

Everything I learned is in the link in my previous post.