TKR 2nd June 2022 TKR

[Vinpetrol]

My PT put me in the pool at 4 weeks post op, and it was a 50 minute session. They had me do countless bending exercises and lots of walking, frontwards, sidewards and backwards. It took me 3 days to recover from the additional pain and swelling. I did not go back to the pool.

You will have a better recovery if you take your time and don’t push your limits. This is not a race and there’s no date by which you must do certain things.

Thanks Jockette
I’m already thinking I will give the pool a swerve .

 

[Jockette]

I think the pool can be helpful, many of our members love it, but I think it should be much later, after you’ve done a good bit of healing.

 

[Layla]

Happy One Month Anniversary, Vinpetrol!
I hope this little milestone finds you in a happy place. It's such early days and as you know from your first it takes time, but much brighter days are in your future. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and please stay in touch.
@Vinpetrol

 

[Vinpetrol]

im now 7.5 weeks post op.
progress has been slower this time . Im still walking with a limp and sore without crutch so if I'm going outside the house I take crutch with me .
I am feeling a catching at the back of my knee when I extend it out . It's most noticeable doing my exercises when I'm bending my knee as much as possible then on straightening it out I feel something catching at the back of my knee. Has anyone else experienced this at all? If so any idea what can be causing it?
Im assuming I may just need to be more patient ! I had a session in pool 1 week ago with physio but it was quite a gentle session and although it was a bit sorer after it did ease very soon .

thanks for all advice and comments

Vin

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Month Anniversary!

I am feeling a catching at the back of my knee when I extend it out . It's most noticeable doing my exercises when I'm bending my knee as much as possible then on straightening it out I feel something catching at the back of my knee.

Since you also mentioned this on May 2nd, I am wondering if you considered contacting your surgeon‘s office to talk with a member of his care team?
They will either offer you reassurance or schedule an appointment if they feel it’s necessary.

Im still walking with a limp and sore without crutch so if I'm going outside the house I take crutch with me .

Here’s a tip -
Try heel-toe walking when you're limping.
This involves striking the ground with your heel first, then rolling through your heel to your toe, and pushing out of the step with your toe.
It takes a concentrated effort, but I believe you'll notice a difference. Give it a try.

Here is a visual -

I hope this helps!

 

[Vinpetrol]

Happy Two Month Anniversary!

I am feeling a catching at the back of my knee when I extend it out . It's most noticeable doing my exercises when I'm bending my knee as much as possible then on straightening it out I feel something catching at the back of my knee.

Since you also mentioned this on May 2nd, I am wondering if you considered contacting your surgeon‘s office to talk with a member of his care team?
They will either offer you reassurance or schedule an appointment if they feel it’s necessary.

Im still walking with a limp and sore without crutch so if I'm going outside the house I take crutch with me .

Here’s a tip -
Try heel-toe walking when you're limping.
This involves striking the ground with your heel first, then rolling through your heel to your toe, and pushing out of the step with your toe.
It takes a concentrated effort, but I believe you'll notice a difference. Give it a try.

Here is a visual -

I hope this helps!

This did help . Thanks for the tip

 

[Vinpetrol]

I'm now 14 weeks sine left pkr. The catching feeling at the back of my knee has almost gone . I have a great bend but not so good extension just yet .
I actually lost a couple of weeks out of my recovery progress as I needed to recover from a gall bladder removal that I needed in a hurry !
I am going to physio once a week and go through a program of exercises. I also repeat these daily as much as possible at home.
I am still getting a lot of swelling and stiffness in both knees and am a bit concerned especially for my right knee as it's now been done 13 months ago . Is it still possible to improve this stiffness and swelling ? Even after 13 months ?

 

[Jockette]

I had a very slow first year after my PKR, but I had a lot of improvement in my second year, and even a bit more ROM in my third.

 

[Layla]

Hi Vinpetrol,
You're welcome for the tip. I am glad to learn it's helped.
Sorry to read about your gall bladder issue. I hope you're feeling better now.

It's not too late to ice and elevate when you're around the house. It can help with the swelling, which is causing the stiffness. It may take awhile longer, but hopefully with more time it eases.
Are the exercises a struggle for you at all? Do you notice more swelling afterward?
If not, it may just take more time.
@Vinpetrol

 

[EalingGran]

In our experience here, we have found that most partials don't turn out well and will have to be revised to a total.

I have had a partial, which after a slightly painful start, is doing really well- although just 9 months. I think the advantages can be greater mobility and a very natural feeling joint. But I understand where @ sistersinhim is coming from. I think it is more complex surgery and not all surgeons are familiar with it.
My surgeon is one of the leading proponents and does loads. Also check which kind of partial your surgeon is thinking of. Medials are much more common than laterals and patellofemoral ones. The rarer ones can be even trickier.
In England and Wales you can check your surgeons figures on the National Joint Registry. I think there may be a separate one for Scotland

 

[Vinpetrol]

Hi Vinpetrol,
You're welcome for the tip. I am glad to learn it's helped.
Sorry to read about your gall bladder issue. I hope you're feeling better now.

It's not too late to ice and elevate when you're around the house. It can help with the swelling, which is causing the stiffness. It may take awhile longer, but hopefully with more time it eases.
Are the exercises a struggle for you at all? Do you notice more swelling afterward?
If not, it may just take more time.
@Vinpetrol

Yes I do have more swelling after the exercises , also if I’ve been on my feet a lot the stiffness is worse . Doing nothing makes both knees stiff and doing exercise also makes them stiff ! I don’t have any pain though . Just swelling and stiffness . The swelling is actually not as bad in the most recently operated knee

 

[Jockette]

Doing nothing makes both knees stiff and doing exercise also makes them stiff

I think this will diminish over time. I had a lot of improvement in my second year.

Stiffness/Tightness is a normal occurrence after this kind of major surgery. Your surgeon did major carpentry work and disturbed every millimeter of soft tissue in this area. You aren't tight because your muscle is underused and needs to be stretched and rehabbed. You're tight because your tissue has been disturbed and is healing...and full healing takes a full year or more.

 

[mendogal]

Vinpetrol: if I’ve been on my feet a lot the stiffness is worse . Doing nothing makes both knees stiff and doing exercise also makes them stiff ! I don’t have any pain though . Just swelling and stiffness . The swelling is actually not as bad in the most recently operated knee

Oh I totally get it! On both my knees the stiffness has become *the* dominant issue starting around week 6; on the earlier one it started resolving around 12 weeks.
On both, what I have found most helpful is when sitting in a chair, getting up every 20 minutes for a five minute walk in the house (it was initially every 10 minutes, and I can prolong it to 30 minutes if I change how I am sitting).
The short walks, which I do lots of, are by far the best thing I found to relieve stiffness. That's in addition to one longer walk daily.

 

[Layla]

Doing nothing makes both knees stiff and doing exercise also makes them stiff !

Feels like you can’t win some days, right?
My surgeon mentioned early on that swelling and the resulting stiffness can last a full year for some, so you may be dealing with this for awhile longer. Our poor leg endures a lot of trauma with these major surgeries. Hang in there, I’m sure brighter days are on the way!