Walking,gym after knee surgery.

John, you are doing well, so try and keep it that way. Whatever you do, us caution. It sounds like you are in the right frame of min. You are far from healed at 4 weeks. I'd say continue doing what you're  doing. Wait until you see your surgeon. He'll do X-rays to ensure that things are healing. I wouldn't think of going to the pool this early. ONe slip and you're back to a minus square one. All the best to you. Don't rush it.  

There's so many exercises you can do at home besides going up and down stairs since that's a good exercise but it exercises only certain muscles. I did away with a cane within the first week post op. I focused on walking 'heel-toe', a normal gait in my house and although I was slow walking at first, I was quickly able to do it without the use of a cane to rely on. I actually found the cane to be cumbersome and clumsy to my gait. I do a lot of ankle pumps and hamstring extensions while sitting. I also do a couple of sets of leg lifts lying down. Even at 7 weeks post-op, I'd be a little fearful of walking around a swimming pool. But my incision developed a blood pocket that burst open one day and that area bled on and off for a few weeks so I was told to keep that area dry, swimming would have been out of the question. I also focus on massaging my suture line. It has been very painful, like pins and needles, the nerves regenerating I guess, but the slightest touch of even the weight of my bedsheets was extremely uncomfortable. Now I can touch it without too much pain so I use a hydrating lotion and try and massage and stretch out the scar, I also move my kneecap up and down and sideways to keep it loose.

Falling and the fear of falling is one of the universal concerns and for good reason. I fell the day after my revision and twisted the femur into or as its known a torque break. The knee held up beautifully but the fall and break has led to several more surgeries, infection and two years of absolute hell. I've had 11 surgeries total, 6 since Jan.2013. I've had to rehab the leg a total of 5 times now starting in Sept 2002 at age 65. Now at almost age 79 I'm still working on it. Continue to work diligently but don't overdo it. The body needs rest and hydration. You can help promote healing by doing the right thing but you can't force the body to heal by pushing too hard. It would be like yelling, screaming and cussing the body thinking it would force it to do better. You are right to be concerned about going outside if you dont feel comfortable out there. I'm in the US and I know right now is the wrong time to be going out in public. Everyone is in a hurry and busy with the season. The last thing they are concerned about is a guy on a cane dragging along at a snails pace. Tis the season to be cautious. Your body will give you indicators to move ahead......listen to it. Good luck. Stay on this site. These folks have all been through it and will give you straight talk based on personal experience. We are all different so everyone's story may have a little different twist.

I would wait if I were you. As you say the last thing yu want is an accident at this stage. Be patient.

Take care and keep in touch

Sarah

Re the swimming, unless the pool you are going to use has a slope for walking in, I would leave it for quite a while yet. . climbing up the steps sounds like hell to me!  I went to a lovely hydrotherapy pool, where you could walk in gradually, and you were never anywhere near out of your depth. if you do go, take it gently to begin with.  You won't notice how much you are working. . the warm water makes it much easier. . but the next day you WILL notice it!  I had a terrible day the next day, and I make the same mistake the second week, before realising what an idiot I was!  Certainly don't risk slipping . Because we live on a VERY steep hill, I had to do my walking round and round the perimeter of the house. Very boring indeed, but ti was the same exercise!  don't rush too much . . persevere with the exercises, but don't kill yourself!

I would say the best thing you can do for the first 6 weeks or so post op, is to do the knee strengthening exercises. Before you start going on walks you need to feel confident that your knee can cope with it. I would advise sticking with the exercises as making the knee and the surrounding muscles stronger is vital. If you're in doubt about something, you could contact your physiotherapist and get his opinion on it.

Best of luck.