TKR 2nd TKR

I managed 20 mins at around 50rpm with low/medium resistance
You'll realise that this is training rather than mobility exercises. If you get swelling or pain, reduce the resistance and time - which you will already know, I think.
 
Thanks Roy

I'm being careful. Had several earlier goes at cycling but stopped due to discomfort. Today it felt fine and I've iced and rested immediately after. There was no pressure through the pedals.. I was happy to achieve the ROM and mobility. Saddle is still quite high. Little and often is going to be my mantra.
 
Saddle is still quite high
I'm sure you'll have seen my take on using the bike for mobility stretches, but here it is again just in case.

  • Set the bike to zero resistance
  • Set the saddle low enough so that a single rotation is a challenge; difficult but not painful. When a rotation becomes easy right from the start, lower the saddle a max of 1cm.
  • Gently turn the pedals, through discomfort but without pain.
  • Continue until the knee is 'warmed up' and the rotation is now easy, or for 2 minutes, whichever is the shorter time.
  • Repeat several/many times a day, but don't go mad. Diminishing returns will apply; my guess is that half a dozen reps would be enough
  • Do not pedal fast or for more than 2 minutes, this is a stretching exercise, not training.
  • And if you get any pain or swelling in the 24 hours after doing this, cut it down until you don't
Here is a bit more chat and some pix and how 'healing' and 'training' are different
 
Still waking up and feeling an 'alien' knee! Curious to know how long before you wake up and you are not conscious of it?
It was probably about 6 months before I quit thinking about my implant. Now, not at all. It's much better than my old knee. You will get there in time, just don't push it too much or you'll set your recovery back.
 
Hola Eddy. In a reply to one of my posts you asked about "muscle wastage" in the repaired leg/quad. As I have started to go up/down stairs I have been surprised at how sore & weak my right quad feels. I would have thought that lack of use would affect both, but maybe dependence on the non-repaired one kept it stronger. (7 wks out for me.)
 
Hi all

My first TKR (right leg) in September 2020 went really well and the forum gave me great feedback and confidence during my recovery.

As a UK resident, I've been very lucky to get my left leg TKR done this week, Tuesday 8th December. I've been lucky to have the procedure done despite Covid and lucky to get it done so close to my right leg TKR. The NHS in my case has proved superb, with the highest quality of care and professionalism.

My right leg feels strong to support my left leg recovery. Its 2 days since my op and I'm writing this with my leg elevated and being iced. Brusing and swelling is similar to my last experience.

Does anyone have any key points regarding a second TKR? Harder, easier the same? Any potential pitfalls?

I think I know what to expect but it's great to hear about other members experiences.

Regards

Eddy
 
I should have said my goals now are to return to cycling and gentle tennis. Both achievable with patience I think
 
You'll notice that I have merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread. For several reasons, we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:
  • That way, you have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
  • If you start 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.
 
Good to be a supernova! Its also a good description of my bruising which is truly impressive and has spread over all my thigh.

I cant find the thread I wrote called " 2nd TKR"...its disappeared so i dont know if I had any responses. I asked if anyone had experienced any pitfalls associated with a 2nd TKR. My first was September 2020. Second was 8 December. Could you guide me to where it might be please

Regards Eddy
 
6 days into my left TKR recovery. Quite different pattern to my recovery from my right TKR in Sept. I have much greater swelling, and more widespread bruising. My whole leg is heavily bruised from foot to upper thigh and as a result stiffer and harder to flex. However my knee feels stronger at this stage and walking is easy and comfortable. I am focusing on resting, elevation and icing. I'm finding my post op exercises are relatively easy.

Question I have is: should I wait for my swelling and bruising to reduce before walking and exercising a bit more?
 
Eddy,
This early you are probably better off staying with your current exercise and activity level, and let your knee heal. Then you can start to increase exercise and activity. It is very easy at this stage of recovery, to set your recovery back.
If you want to increase your activity and exercise you will have to go slow. Our knees have a habit of not complaining about too much activity until the next day.
 
6 days into my left TKR recovery. Quite different pattern to my recovery from my right TKR in Sept.
Welcome to recovery again, @Eddy .

Try not to compare your recoveries. Even with the same person, no two recoveries are alike. Your second replacement is going to follow its own path and recover in its own fashion.

Here's a refresher copy of our recovery guidelines, to remind you:
Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:
rest
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

5. Try to follow this

6. Access to these pages on the website

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.
 
Thank you both..good advice and sensible. Think I've been surprised at the difference in healing. My left knee is definitely being more awkward, not hurting too much but very swollen.....it was the most damaged of the two and I am left footed ...maybe these are contributing factors...?

So just going to hunker down, elevate and ice
 
I think you are right. The more damaged, the more work inside that had to be done. This probably is exactly what your knee had to go through. The more work the more healing your knee will have to have.
 

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