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TKR 10 week check up

Wait until you hear from @Jamie but I would certainly think you could. I was healed enough at 4 weeks to get in the warm water therapy pool at PT without covering the wound. I have wanted to take a bath myself. My only concern is that I can't get out of the tub since my husband is out of town! I think I might wait until he gets home on Friday!

Roxie
 
Jamie said:
Thanks for posting the links.

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.

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There are more exercises in this article:
Exercises for Extension
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I did very much the same thing---I did have an ankle weight set with adjustable weights and would add small increments. It was boring as all get out, but it did work, and it worked without all of that pain.
 
I was told to lay down on the bed and let my leg hang down like Jamie mentioned. I actually thought it felt great.....much better than it would have felt with someone pushing down on it. It worked!


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naynay30 yrs. said:
Is it too early at almost 8 Wks Friday to take a bath? Incision healed. I am so sore?
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Talk to your OS and get his permission first. The first shower that I took---weeks and weeks after my BTKR, was one of the most amazing and wonderful things that I have ever felt. It helped with ROM, too, as I would sit tin the shower and let the shower head jet its hot water on my quads, and I would gently stretch them, and then ice them after I go out of the shower.
 
My hubby's on a golf trip Roxie so that's a good point. Normally I think I could get out but since I'm so sore and stiff might not b a good idea! :)
 
As long as your incision is fully healed with no open areas and no scabs, you should be fine with a bath.
 
referee54 said:
I did very much the same thing---I did have an ankle weight set with adjustable weights and would add small increments. It was boring as all get out, but it did work, and it worked without all of that pain.
Click to expand...
Audiobooks or podcasts have been the only way I can do these timed exercises. I'm up to 15 minutes hanging off the bed; they haven't mentioned weights to me. She gets me to 0 in therapy very easily, but I'm always a hair above initially.



naynay30 yrs. said:
Can I take a bath at this point ? Soaking in warm water with epson salts sounds amazing?
Click to expand...

While my incision is healed I've been told no bath or warm pool at this time because of swelling. (Get, why is it my ROM isn't over 90? Ya think?)
 
You do need to be sure someone is with you when you do your first bath, though. Getting in and out of the tub can be very tricky. You definitely don't want to risk a fall. You might try a nice hot shower....
 
don't know if this will help you or not, but for extension I found that sitting and resting just the heel of my foot on a footstool really helped gravity do it's job. I had asked my in house therapist if it would be a good idea to put a weight on it to help and she said not to, that gravity alone would do it. I have an ice machine with a pad that goes all the way around my knee without much bulk, so sometimes I would sit like that while icing. my extension reached 0 just before the 3 week mark. just a suggestion.
 
My extension last week was 0. This week a tinge less. At 8wks I'm still stiff and swollen but was up to 120 today. The therapist was so focused on me losing 1/4 of an inch on the extension she pounded the heck out of me!
I iced all day and just took a hot bath. (Yes I was able to get out) didn't think of the hot water with swelling but honestly I don't care. One time won't hurt and I feel a lot better. Massaged leg while sitting in bath. I know what works for me and No one is going to tell me different! Good nite ladies!!
 
So did you have a trick for getting out? I am so anxious to get into my whirlpool bath but not being able to get out would be a bad thing too! I think it would feel good.

For the life of me, I can't understand why your PT was so aggressive. Your ROM is great! Sadist!!!!

Roxie
 
Roxie I used both hands and pushed up on my good leg.
She was concerned because my extension had reduced by a 1/4 and so she pushed shoved and put a weight on my leg!
Jana'
 
Kaiser travel lodge off west main in El Cajon. Had surgery at palmist Escondido. Great hospital!! When did U have knee done??
 
Sounds like a knee-cation with lots of :ice::elevate: and maybe a few gentle stretches is a good plan for today.
 
Well after that horrendous pt appt yesterday morn, I iced and elevated the rest of yesterday and most of today . Just a few lite stretches and alittle walking around the house .
mom had to take me to kaiser to pick up prescription and that 30 min was enough! I needed a pain pill and ice again as soon as we got home. I just got up and walked at 11pm and knee feels better! Not so tight or painful.
Will rest ice and elevate tomorrow until appt with chiropractor to try electrical stem for swelling and pain.
 
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