MUA 1 year this month on TKR

[EalingGran]

Told me not to worry about my ROM,that it might take awhile to get there. Done a little shopping after and it felt so good to be outside in 80 degree

I think it is good that your surgeon seems very sensible and realises that recovery can take a lot of time. I always found it very reassuring when I saw my surgeon and he felt my issues were normal for the stage I was at.
Getting out and enjoying shopping/ good weather again is so important. Wish it was warmer here ( London UK). We currently have some nice sunny days ( with daffodils coming out) but still very cold. Warmth is so good for joints I find.

 

[volLady]

sure hope I sleep good tonight after doing some walking in Lowes and Sams Wholesale today.

You probably shouldn't have been doing this, too, after your already busy day. So wonder it looked like a watermelon. Ice all night, if you need to. As long as you have a cloth between your leg and the ice pack, you can ice 24/7. I almost did for the first 6 weeks or so.

update.... my knee looks good this morn considering what all I did yesterday. Little stiff rising but that is normal I think. I was afraid it would give me fits today but so far ok. Going to do a little walk around my landscaping to see if some of my bulbs are coming up before the storms hit this evening. I live 50 miles east of Nashville,and suppose to be under severe thunderstorms until tomorrow night.....Have a great day...hugs

 

[volLady]

I do believe that my knee is recovering cause I felt something in the area where I was numb at.... woo-hoo.....8 weeks today since surgery..... Praise God!

 

[sistersinhim]

What a blessing to read how you are improving! Just don't overdo it. You know is it very easy to cause a setback. Also, don't be surprised if that numb area is still there for quite a while. I still have mine on the lateral side, but have had 6 knee surgeries on that knee and was somewhat numb before my TKR. It's no big deal and just feels funny when I shave. Some of the nerves were cut during this surgery and may never come back. As long as it doesn't affect your or my movements, then a little numbness is no problem!

 

[Cinders2023]

@volLady I hope you are doing well this weekend. Our surgeries are just a day apart and i have been watching your recovery and rooting for you!

 

[volLady]

@volLady I hope you are doing well this weekend. Our surgeries are just a day apart and i have been watching your recovery and rooting for you!

Kinda over did it yesterday. Pedaled to much on bike and last night my hamstring and quad area ached. Of course my knee was swollen to.which I have came to an understanding that this knee hates me...lol... I do believe the MUA set me back because my husband measured me yesterday and I was at 100 or 101 at 8 weeks. I can do my ADL fine and going up and down stairs ok but the ROM is so slow with me. I feel so tight in my thigh muscles that I am beginning to wonder if they are the ones that is holding me back on ROM. I don't worry no more about ROM because I have decided it will take time with this, also slow recover, swelling,and it will take time. Never had a good ROM before surgery or matter of fact since I was in my early 40's due to OA. My other knee is very unstable due to OA,and I am still using my cane. I am afraid I will fall but I am waiting until next year to fix it. My gait is slow because I am learning to walk the new way. I was bow legged. Now I have 1 straight and one bowed...lol. Thank you for following my journey with this.... I am 66 but today I feel like 76. I just wish my OS would have prepared me more what to expect with TKR. Next time I will be more prepared..... Hugs to ya

 

[Cinders2023]

Hugs to ya

Hugs back to you. I’m 55, walk like I’m 105 lol. Yesterday I could bend to 95 if I leaned into it, 85 if I tried to pull back with my leg hanging. Swelling when I do anything and wishing I had done this in the summer so I am not freezing all the time under all the ice packs!
I am trying to be mindful that all of our journeys are different, but we all aim to be pain free and able to live our lives the best we can. This is only the first 2 months, I can’t wait until I am 2 months further into this journey.

 

[sistersinhim]

I pray you have a very blessed day with less pain and swelling.

this knee hates me.

No, your knee doesn't hate you. It hates your overworking it. Remember that slow and easy makes a better recovery.

 

[volLady]

I pray you have a very blessed day with less pain and swelling.

this knee hates me.

No, your knee doesn't hate you. It hates your overworking it. Remember that slow and easy makes a better recovery.

I know...... cooked out tonight on patio and hubby helped and I feel like I have ran a marathon....lol...knee so stiff and swollen. Mostly what is bothering me today is the calve area and quad muscles..... oh well, maybe tomorrow will be better... Hugs and thank you for your thoughts

 

[volLady]

Hugs to ya

Hugs back to you. I’m 55, walk like I’m 105 lol. Yesterday I could bend to 95 if I leaned into it, 85 if I tried to pull back with my leg hanging. Swelling when I do anything and wishing I had done this in the summer so I am not freezing all the time under all the ice packs!
I am trying to be mindful that all of our journeys are different, but we all aim to be pain free and able to live our lives the best we can. This is only the first 2 months, I can’t wait until I am 2 months further into this journey.

I did not freeze to death until I had this surgery. Usually I am a hot natured person...lol...still have hot flashes at 66! So I was sitting here in the sun room icing and just wondered if the aspirin that I have to take 2 x a day is causing it. Thins the blood. Hubby had heart by-pass surgery 14 yrs ago and has to take 1 aspirin a day and he freezes to death all the time..... Makes you wonder! My OS protocol is to take 2 aspirin for three months to keep blood clots away. My ROM the other day was 100-101 and if I done it 2day it would probably be 80 or 85 if I pushed. I just wished I had never had the MUA even though he said he got it to bend to 130 or 135. When I came to I was screaming in pain in my whole leg area that they gave me morphine to calm the muscles down. I still think I have scar tissue or it's the dang knee swelling and stiffness is what is holding me back. Anyway, I don't care anymore about ROM,I will heal own my own time. Maybe in the next 2 to 3 months we will be dancing like crazy! lol.....hugs my friend!

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Month Anniversary!

I don't care anymore about ROM,I will heal own my own time.

Atta girl! Take a more relaxed approach. You'll get there!
Have a nice Sunday and week!

 

[volLady]

Happy Two Month Anniversary!

I don't care anymore about ROM,I will heal own my own time.

Atta girl! Take a more relaxed approach. You'll get there!
Have a nice Sunday and week!

Thank you so much! I pray I will get there but it will take time You have a great Sunday and up coming week to!

 

[WillB]

thank you all for helping me. I just wish I could get past 90 on my ROM. I am suppose to see the surgeon again this coming Tuesday and I really dread what he will say and do. lov to all

I’ve struggled with swelling and stiffness and at 8 weeks just a little over 105. I have learned one huge lesson! Our knees don’t like to be overworked. Rest and then more rest. When the knee feels a bit better then do a little workout. But expect the knee to revolt a bit. Its an up and down journey and a long one. Don’t assume the “experts” have all the answers. Most of them have never had a TKR and haven’t a clue as to really how it feels. Stay positive and look for small weekly improvements.

 

[WillB]

@volLady I'm sorry you are worrying so and that you still have so much swelling. Please go back through your thread here, to post #34 and read my post on Lymphatic Drainage.
It isn't difficult to do and if you do it at least 2 times daily, you might move some of that inflammation/swelling.

Love this! I actually was to have a lymphatic drainage massage yesterday but my therapist was ill! Really hoping it can help with my 8 week old knee which remains swollen and subsequently stiff. Have heard good things about LDM

 

[EalingGran]

can do my ADL fine and going up and down stairs ok but the ROM is so slow with me

I think ADL and doing stairs normally is more important than ROM.
I have great ROM but still ( 4 months) can't do stairs consistently correctly.

 

[volLady]

thank you all for helping me. I just wish I could get past 90 on my ROM. I am suppose to see the surgeon again this coming Tuesday and I really dread what he will say and do. lov to all

I’ve struggled with swelling and stiffness and at 8 weeks just a little over 105. I have learned one huge lesson! Our knees don’t like to be overworked. Rest and then more rest. When the knee feels a bit better then do a little workout. But expect the knee to revolt a bit. Its an up and down journey and a long one. Don’t assume the “experts” have all the answers. Most of them have never had a TKR and haven’t a clue as to really how it feels. Stay positive and look for small weekly improvements.

thank you for your understanding in all of this.

 

[JusticeRider]

wishing I had done this in the summer so I am not freezing all the time under all the ice packs!

I did not freeze to death until I had this surgery. Usually I am a hot natured person.

I found the same…until just recently I was getting cold so easily since the surgery! I was practically living in a pair of fleece pants because my legs were cold all the time. I wonder what the scientific explanation is for that? Maybe a moderator knows and can share! What I found helped was an electric heating pad I put on my lap while I ice my knee. Bliss!

 

[Cinders2023]

What I found helped was an electric heating pad I put on my lap while I ice my knee. Bliss!

I do this too!

 

[volLady]

Hello everyone! How is everyone doing this week so far? Cold and windy here in Tennessee. My left knee is feeling it too. Went grocery shopping for the first time in the store Monday and done some bending and hard walking with the shopping cart. I paid for it yesterday. Swollen and stiff like a rock, got on bike today and could barely roll over a turn. My knee is angry and it is telling me to let off a while. Today makes 9 wks., since surgery. I bet my ROM today is 100,but I quit worrying because I will heal in time..... Hope everyone has a great week...God Bless to all

 

[benne68]

Today makes 9 wks., since surgery.

While your TKR may have been 9 weeks ago, it's important to remember that an MUA sets us back to square one. Your knee is angry, stiff and swollen because you are trying to do too much too soon. Please give it some time to heal. Pushing will only set you back and slow your recovery.

Take care!