Hey everyone! It's been helpful to read the comments here from others that have also had a TKR and experienced the frustrations and concerns that come with it. I had a TKR on my left leg on September 6, 2022, after tearing the posterior root of the medial meniscus two years before. I didn't have any arthritis when it happened. But it developed quickly in that knee after that.
My last appointment with my surgeon was at 6 weeks post-op and my next appointment is at the 1-year anniversary, so quite a lot of time in between and I've had so many questions. My biggest concern and fear now is what's normal and what isn't. My knee is still pretty achy around the joint line on both sides and especially at night and it's also still a little stiff. I'm aware of it with every step and really feel it when I'm going downstairs with that extra stretch that creates. It also will just randomly give out at times when I'm walking and so I'm reluctant to try to carry my 2-year-old grandson, especially on stairs. When I was still doing PT, the therapist thought that maybe it was loose if it was giving out and that I might need a revision! Yikes!! But when I emailed my surgeon and explained what was happening and what the PT said, I think he got a little offended by it. I was wondering if I should come in and have the doctor check it out, but he simply wrote back, "The PT is wrong. You don't need a revision. You just need to strengthen it." So what do all of you feel? Is this normal for it to just give out unexpectedly?
After 10 weeks of very painful physical therapy, I got my ROM back good - flexion is 130 degrees passive and 133 active and last time it was checked I was at 4 degrees extension. It's interesting that the posts here say that PT shouldn't hurt, but my therapist obviously didn't know that. There were so many times that I had tears streaming down my face and I was gripping the table with white knuckles as he pushed it! And it would hurt a lot more for hours afterwards. Sigh... Since it's still a little stiff, I'm continuing 3 sets of 10 on my heel slides once a day. But it still being achy and stiff at 4 months has taken me by surprise.
I really thought at this point it would just feel normal like my other knee and I would only need to work on getting it stronger. But that hasn't been the case. Plus, there is that awful numbness on the entire lateral side of my knee. Ugh! Does it get better too? The good news is that the inside/medial side of my knee finally is feeling better now. For weeks it felt like I had a 2nd degree burn or road rash and I hated having anything touch it, including my sheets at night. That made for a lot of sleepless nights. Anyway, I'd appreciate your thoughts and ideas...
My last appointment with my surgeon was at 6 weeks post-op and my next appointment is at the 1-year anniversary, so quite a lot of time in between and I've had so many questions. My biggest concern and fear now is what's normal and what isn't. My knee is still pretty achy around the joint line on both sides and especially at night and it's also still a little stiff. I'm aware of it with every step and really feel it when I'm going downstairs with that extra stretch that creates. It also will just randomly give out at times when I'm walking and so I'm reluctant to try to carry my 2-year-old grandson, especially on stairs. When I was still doing PT, the therapist thought that maybe it was loose if it was giving out and that I might need a revision! Yikes!! But when I emailed my surgeon and explained what was happening and what the PT said, I think he got a little offended by it. I was wondering if I should come in and have the doctor check it out, but he simply wrote back, "The PT is wrong. You don't need a revision. You just need to strengthen it." So what do all of you feel? Is this normal for it to just give out unexpectedly?
After 10 weeks of very painful physical therapy, I got my ROM back good - flexion is 130 degrees passive and 133 active and last time it was checked I was at 4 degrees extension. It's interesting that the posts here say that PT shouldn't hurt, but my therapist obviously didn't know that. There were so many times that I had tears streaming down my face and I was gripping the table with white knuckles as he pushed it! And it would hurt a lot more for hours afterwards. Sigh... Since it's still a little stiff, I'm continuing 3 sets of 10 on my heel slides once a day. But it still being achy and stiff at 4 months has taken me by surprise.
I really thought at this point it would just feel normal like my other knee and I would only need to work on getting it stronger. But that hasn't been the case. Plus, there is that awful numbness on the entire lateral side of my knee. Ugh! Does it get better too? The good news is that the inside/medial side of my knee finally is feeling better now. For weeks it felt like I had a 2nd degree burn or road rash and I hated having anything touch it, including my sheets at night. That made for a lot of sleepless nights. Anyway, I'd appreciate your thoughts and ideas...
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