Week 4 TKR

Melanie you sound like you're doing great at 4 weeks out!! 110 bend wow! I wasn't there at 4 weeks. I was allowed to drive at 6 weeks and went back to work at 9 weeks. It's tough though. Very tired and swollen by the end of the day but I did have both knees done at the same time. I average about 8 1/2 to 9 hour days. Lot of catching up on exercises at night and icing. It's a long haul! Best of luck and prayers. ??🙏

I was off 12 weeks, some are much luckier than others.

Good healing

Wow that's great I had both tkr and six weeks into it I've got great extension but only 93° on RT knee and 100° on left I'm struggling to get mine to bend did you get conformis knee or off the shelf

Hi Melanie,

?I had a right knee,partial knee replacement on 6 Nov (medial  compartment).

?I'm a bus driver in the tourist industry, so in addition to driving I have to handle passengers baggage, not much of it weighing less than 15 kgs. I do 10 hour shifts.

I was a NHS patient and surgery was carried out in a private hospital. My agreed guidlines were I had to achieve at least a 90 degree bend and as straight as possible flexion as I could before being discharged and I did this and went home in 3 days.

?I decided I'd NOT try and beat the system by rushing to work early. I spent 8 weeks totally dedicated, totally focussed on my leg. I stayed on crutches,  until my surgeon gave the all clear. That was at 8 weeks and at that point I started driving my car again ( a manual). I returned to work bus driving at 11 weeks, a phased return over three weeks and then back to normal hours and duties. (a manual bus too).

?I made every post a winning post - I was never ever going to repeat anything. And I didn't.

Now - its as if it never happened.

?BUT, BUT - I did something that nobody asked me to do - not in anyones guideleines. I spent 8 weeks prior to surgery going to a private sports injury massage therapist to strengthen my leg muscles, so that my leg was in the best possible condition for the surgeon to work on. Once the dressing was removed - post op - and my GP's practice nurse was satisfied there was no infection -  I returned for more muscle strengthening work and for work on the incision line to break down scar tissue and prevent it forming. If the scar tissue forms it is a big, big problem for a patient to overcome and can impede recovery and make exercises really hard work. Much harder work than it need be.

?For me, stepping outside the box, doing things differently and as recommended by muscle experts was the best thing ever - job done.

?Good luck, but take it easy, pace yourself.

John

I had a right tkr on Feb 5th. My flexion is still only 90 degrees so not great. I think 110 after only 4 weeks is amazing! I do my exercises and walk every day but my knee bend just will not improve. My pt does not seem concerned and just tells me to continue with the exercises. I do worry though and don't know what else I can do.