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TKR 10 week check up

I think because my knee aches when I sit to long I have avoided it. It's stiff but today I could see alittle improvement. Think I will sit outside with my dog tomorrow if not 95! And sat at reunion should b fun! I'll just take meds and ice while there! Thanx guys!
 
Jana,

My knee aches when I sit more than 10 minutes. Elevating it makes all the difference. I even elevate it in a restaurant. I only sit in a booth, so I can elevate discreetly! Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to go out. I even elevated when I had my hair done last week! Wherever you go, try to get a chair so you can elevate. I am sure people would understand!
 
Hang in there Naynay...this journey is just that, a journey..no 2 are alike and thst is OK...you are the ONLY one who knows what works for your knee...it is just trial and error...what works for some doesn't always work for others...but you will never know unless you try :) I use Blue Emu cream and I found thst it gave a bit of relief because I massaged it in to the knee and found some relief. .not necessarily from the cream itself but from the combination of the 2....keep on keeping on my friend!
 
Thank U!!! U r so right!
Last night I started massaging incision where it's numb, across, not up and down after researching online.
Felt alittke looser . Where the numb part is is where it's the tightest when I walk. I do little see little baby steps slowly.
PT today with a different therapist . Curious to see what she does and what my ROM. I'm keeping on keeping on!
What's the alternative?
 
I think we have to learn to measure our progress over months rather than days like we'd like to. That's what I'm figuring out anyway although we don't have to like it! But the flip side is that eventually, we'll be back to the life we want to have.

Roxie
 
You're exactly right, Roxie. There are so many little ups and downs in knee recovery. That is why we encourage people not to get discouraged and compare their progress on a weekly basis and not daily. Monthly gives an even better picture! There is progress....it's just not in a straight line. Celebrate the smallest success. Deal with, but don't dwell on any setbacks. Patience and focus on the positive.
 
Just left PT. Had a new therapist,
NOT Good!
I told her from the start I had backed off some on pt but was still stretching alittle every hr, walking around my house, and riding the bike once daily for 5-10 min .
She got on the defensive says she's been doing this for 37 yrs worked with hundreds of patients and has seen people never get their ROM or straightning where it should be if they don't get it in the 1st 3 Mos.
I asked her if she'd a replacement and of course she hadn't but she's treated lots!
I told her about this site the thousands on here, it's philosophy and she said no way.
She measured my knee straight, and I've lost 1/ 4 of an inch. But gained 2 inches in my bend! 120! Hurray!
I have been working only on the bend because it's been so tight and hard to walk. But I DONT hurt myself and neither does my reg pt guy.
She proceeded to have me do several exercises for straightning the leg. They hurt some what when I was doing them and at one point I said stop no more!
However once home an hr later my knee is super stiff I can barely bend it and the back of my leg hurts terribly! I was in tears!
I'm icing and took 2 Tylenol since it's not time for pain Meds
I'm going to take it easy the rest of the day just icing elevating resting and occasionly walking!
I so darn mad !
 
These kind of PTs never understand the Bonesmart way. They think we tell people to lie around like slugs.
And (often for good reason) they discount anything you tell them is from the internet. they don't know we have actual medical professionals (like Josephine) here.

In my experience the PT *assistants* are the worst--I had one who was very aggressive.

You are right to listen to your knee. Do your bending and straightening exercises but don't hurt yourself like this PT hurt you.
My PT said it was ok to be a bit sore after PT but if you were still sore hours later that was a sign it was too much.

You're absolutely right to take it easy the rest of the day.
 
Good for you, sticking up for your knee! It is really hard to know how far to go, isn't it? I've done the same, called uncle after I should have. Hope your leg recovers quickly.
 
Good job, Jana. Like my PT told me, there are still "old school" PT's out there that think like yours obviously does but that he sees more and more of them coming around to where they do not think aggressive PT is the way to go. Are you stuck with this new PT from now on? If so, I'd ask to be transferred to someone else -- that's just not right!

Sorry you're in so much pain. :(

Roxie
 
Roxie I only had her because my guy was out . Already called her supervisor and told him what she did and that I will not see her again!
@tigz had ice than some heat now going bk to ice! She pushed my knee down so hard I should of kicked her!
I'm printing the article I'm including below and making sure she gets it!
Icing in San Diego!


Evidence suggests that aggressive physical therapy after TKR, is ideal to obtain full range of motion post-operatively. https://orthopedics.about.com/od/kneereplacement/qt/stiffness.htm. Yet, as orthopedic surgeons continue to perform TKR, they are finding that this evidence is false. Patients are unable to achieve full range of motion after aggressive physical therapy because they are causing an inflammatory response in their knee that thickens the soft tissues surrounding the TKR, and decreases the patient’s range of motion.



Surgeons at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) found that patients that do not undergo physical therapy have better outcomes then those that do. HSS instructs patients and physical therapist not to perform aggressive physical therapy after TKR. Yet, they are reluctant to listen to the surgeons’ opinions and believe friends, or old methods, as oppose to being open to new information.
 
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I have read that same article. I hope the PT you had takes it t heart and I hope you are feeling better tonight!

Roxie
 
Thanks for posting the link.

That ol' "push the leg down" trick for extension is really brutal! Here is a better way that uses gravity and is a lot more gentle on your tender knee. Start slowly with no weight on your foot (not even a shoe) for 5 minutes...less if it becomes very uncomfortable. You can do this several times a day.

3. Lie face down on a bed with the edge of the bed at about knee level or just below. Let your lower leg hang in the air. Start with a period of about 5 minutes several times a day and add another 5 minutes every 2-3 days until you reach 20 minutes a couple of times each day. Once that is comfortable, start adding weight to your ankle. Begin with 1 lb. and gradually add another pound of weight (to a maximum of 5 lb.) each week for the 20-minute sessions.

​
There are more exercises in this article:
Exercises for Extension
 
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@Jamie Also what's the link to your recovery thread? Thanks! Julie
 
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Back in the "old days" when the forum was just getting going, we didn't do our recovery threads the same way. People had multiple threads. Jo was just starting to manage BoneSmart then in 2008 and I had just stumbled across the forum. So, here are a bunch of links:

Need a little support
Progress feels good at 4 weeks
Up last night
New bicycle routine
The Heebee Jeebee Kneebees tonight
Knee tightness

If you check out my threads from 2008, you'll see I had many of the same questions and concerns everyone has with a TKR. Years later of working with Jo and helping people with their recoveries, I've learned a lot about what works and what doesn't. By the time I had my second knee done, the recovery seemed a lot easier because I knew what to expect.
 
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I'm so sore I can barely move the knee. Should I do any easy stretches? Or wait till knee is not so sore? I can barely walk now!
I'm so mad. I was feeling really good about my knee.
Let me know if I should rest and ice until it feels better or try to do alittle something ? My straightning was just alittle off. Reg therapist was not worried!
 
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I'd be really mad, too. If your extension was just a little off, at this point in your recovery, that's no big deal. The process @Jamie posted works very well (although my therapist said only two minute intervals, then rest, then two minutes again).
 
I think you've done plenty of exercise for one day. For the rest of the night, just ice and elevate. Be sure to ice the back of your knee too. It will get better. You just need to give it a couple of days. You can resume the gentle bends and stretches tomorrow.

You might also try massaging your leg from mid calf to the thigh. Move your hands in a circular motion upwards from the calf. Stay away from the incision if it's not completely healed. Sometimes this can make you feel better and possibly even reduce some swelling.
 
@Jamie
Incision is healed it's been 8 Wks.?
Can I take a bath at this point ? Soaking in warm water with epson salts sounds amazing?
 
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