PKR 18 months post op

[Josephine]

It all makes sense but I'm just worried about my strength returning.

I understand that but right now you're only 4 weeks out from major surgery and need more time and patience to heal ! That comes first. Once that is done and dusted, about 3 months in all, then you can start worrying about strength training. But you're putting that cart before the horse, so to speak. Healing and training are different things so pace yourself and do each in due time. Stop doing all those exercises and once your knee is better with no pain, limping or stiffness, then you can consider doing the fitness stuff. Okay?

 

[Hellie19]

I understand and I know I should listen to my body which I have done today as it was telling me it was exhausted and I have pretty much slept the day away.

 

[Hellie19]

Think I'm finally turning the corner as keep forgetting to take painkillers. It`s 5 weeks today. Main problems I'm having are:

1) Straight leg raise/leg lift still cant do, really hurts
2) Opposite leg which is 7 months post PFKR is starting to suffer under the strain , is painful and starting to swell.
3) still got a fair amount of tiredness, can`t get through a whole day without a nap.

How does anyone else feel at 5 weeks?

 

[Celle]

@Hellie19
You've had three major operations in less than a year. That is bound to knock the stuffing out of you, and of course you feel tired.
You have this: Energy drain for TKRs - multiplied by three, because of the relatively short time between your surgeries.
Allow yourself time to recover properly and try not to worry if it seems to take ages.

I suggest you stop trying to do the straight leg raises, since they hurt. Remember this, from the BoneSmart mantras:
- if it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physiotherapist (PT) - to do it to you
- if your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again
As your leg recovers, you will regain the ability to do things like straight leg raises. Just give yourself (and your legs) a break for now.

As for your first PKR, since it takes a full year for complete recovery (yes, even for a partial), this knee is still a youngster, too. It's been doing double duty, so it's allowed to complain. I know that both my TKRs let me know for almost a year, if I had done too much for them.

Give yourself and your knees and hip more of this: rest, elevate, ice - and try not to worry about the speed of your recovery. My first knee replacement was a partial and I think that was my most difficult recovery.
It really can take just as long to recover from a partial (PKR) as from a total knee replacement (TKR) and 5 weeks is still very early in the recovery process.

 

[LoveGiants]

@Hellie19
It's strange, but true, that sometimes younger people seem to experience more pain than older people when recovering from a knee replacement. Also, no matter what your age, your knee itself still needs the same amount of time to recover fully from this surgery, which is a major trauma.

This is interesting to me. I had my RTKR on the 12th and the first week was extremely painful —5–8 no matter way I did and that was taking 2 Percocets ever 4 hours around the clock and elevating and icing. It's finally manageable today. I swear I'm going to scream the next time I hear anyone say something like, "I know someone who was on their bike/had no pain/etc" I don't want to hear it.

@Hellie19 - I'm sorry you're going through so much pain and tiredness. It's hard to be patient and get the rest. I hope you feel better.

 

[Josephine]

1) Straight leg raise/leg lift still cant do, really hurts

Then don't do them! I did none at all for either of my knees and they have worked out just fine!

2) Opposite leg which is 7 months post PFKR is starting to suffer under the strain , is painful and starting to swell.

Just what Celle said!

3) still got a fair amount of tiredness, can`t get through a whole day without a nap. How does anyone else feel at 5 weeks?

Again, what Celle said. The energy drain is most acute up to around 6-7 weeks and sometimes even longer. It's no good trying to fight it, you can't.

 

[Hellie19]

To go or not to go ?? I am 6 weeks post op and due to go away for a few days on Saturday. I have just been out to pick a couple of bits up, I was only out an hour ad now my knee is painful and swollen, rest and elevation right now. My issue is, I wont have the facility to ice whilst we are away so I`m quite worried but could really do with this for my husband and I before I start back to work. ???

 

[sistersinhim]

I'm 8 weeks out and I wouldn't go anywhere for a few days if I couldn't ice.

 

[Josephine]

I am 6 weeks post op and due to go away for a few days on Saturday. I have just been out to pick a couple of bits up, I was only out an hour ad now my knee is painful and swollen. My issue is, I wont have the facility to ice whilst we are away

Your issue is that it's still far too early to be contemplating such an outing. Especially if you can't ice! Your trip out should have told you that far more clearly than any of us could!

Read this again Activity progression for TKRs

 

[Hellie19]

Worried about relying on a stick. My muscles all feel very weak, I guess its because of having the two patellofemoral replacements and hip surgery all within 7 months and the ongoing arthritis pain at the bottom of my spine anyway I can walk without a stick in the house albeit very slowly and if my quads give ad I have a wobble theres always something to grab on to, but, outside no way, the pain in my back is so immense and my quads are so wobbly. Should I just ditch it and try so I don't become reliant or carry on however long it takes ??

 

[Josephine]

Don't worry about becoming reliant on a stick! When your body is good and ready you will find yourself forgetting to use it! As long as you are conscious of needing it, then you need it and should use it. Trying to force yourself to do without is a good way of developing a long lasting limp.

 

[kneeper]

Best to be secure and keep using the cane. As you walk more your legs will strengthen and you'll find you need it less and less. Each knee is on its own schedule so resist comparing to others.

 

[Hellie19]

I am somewhat confused 9 weeks post op, saw consultant and physio on Monday. I have 120° and 0° The consultant physio said I wont damage New knee and to work it to capacity now as in highest weights I can manage but with fewer repetitions and to really push till my body says no more as this will kick start quads. So I did as was told now I have major swelling and stiffness and to top it off went to see an osteopath today regarding long term back issues with haven getting worse he pulled me from pillar to post, I feel truly battered.

 

[sistersinhim]

We've been told on here that we are to do no weights at all until our knee is at least 3 months old. Yours just turned 2. Please be careful and not push it too much. It will rebel! Many of us know from experience!

 

[Josephine]

to work it to capacity now as in highest weights I can manage but with fewer repetitions and to really push till my body says no more as this will kick start quads. So I did as was told now I have major swelling and stiffness

Yep, that's 'cause and effect' okay! That 'consultant physio' doesn't know what he's talking about! Crazy!

 

[Hellie19]

I am 18 months post patelofemoral knee replacement. My knees are susdenly feelong really tight and the left replacement is burning - is this thw weather ?

 

[SusieShoes]

Hi Hellie19! It could be the weather. Many of us feel increased stiffness or achiness in our knees with weather changes. Have been doing any new activities? Or more activity than you usually do?

 

[sistersinhim]

Do you remember stepping differently? How about sleeping on it wrong? It can be many different things. How long has it been going on?

 

[Celle]

Hello again, @Hellie19
You'll notice that I have merged your newest thread with your two other recovery threads from 2016.
For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:

• That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
• If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated
• Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.

So please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here.
Don't worry that we won't see your question because, between us, the staff read all new posts every day.
If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.
How to tag another member; how to answer when someone tags you

If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we'll get it changed for you.

Here are the instructions on finding your thread, How can I find my threads and posts? . Many members bookmark their thread, so they can find it when they log on.

 

[Hellie19]

Not done anything different as I can't do too much or walk far due to hip and problems with Sacroiliac joint. Only different thing is about 7lb weight gain as my walking is getting worse so I'm doing less exercise