8 weeks post LTKR

[shelly52]

I need your help! I am an RN by profession that had bi-lateral hip osteotomies 12 years ago. One failed and I had a RTHR while the L remains intact albeit with chronic discomfort. The recoveries were difficult but nothing compared to my knee replacement 8 weeks ago. Like most of you my underlying condition is osteo arthritis but my patella sat laterally on the side of my leg secondary to an accident as a child. Part of the replacement called for the patella to be relocated to where it should have sat anotomically correct in the center of my knee.

My replacement seemed to recover well the first 3 weeks and then "froze". Home PT felt I needed a manipulation but that took me 3 weeks to get scheduled. I had the manipulation 11 days ago and my surgeon was able to get me to full extension and 110 degrees of flexion. In recovery I got to 90 degrees and 95 is my best to date. I have started outpatient PT 2xweek and am most diligent with my home regime 3xday.

I am very discouraged with my lack of progress. I try very hard but still need 1 crutch in the house and 2 outside. I still can't do a revolution on my stationary bike, walk up a step on the leg, or fully extend when walking.

The pain is always there. Hip to knee laterally and across the front. I toss and turn in bed despite pain meds and am only comfortable standing or sitting for short periods of time.

I must be back to work in 4 weeks and I fear this is not going to be possible. Has anyone felt like this at 8 weeks?

 

[Max Wallace]

More people will be responding soon. Sorry I can't help but at 8 weeks I was at work. I hope everything gets better quick.

 

[Josephine]

8 weeks but 11 days since the MUA, don't forget. I would say there's no way you can go back to work yet.

What pain meds are you taking? I think you may not be on enough.

 

[Texas]

Hi and welcome you are still at 8 weeks to me thats early but im a knee i know they are very different but you did just have a MUA..........try to take it easy i think you will get there you sound determined.....thats great....post anytime and please let us know how you are doing........i really wish you the best............)

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Shelly. Welcome to BoneSmart.

As you can tell if you've read any of the other threads in the knee recovery forum, this surgery can be one of the most challenging in recovery. While some folks seem to bounce right back, most find themselves going months before things seem "right" again and improvements in ROM can occur up to a year or more following the surgery.

A lot depends on what your situation was before your knee surgery. If you had a chronic condition that caused your body to compensate in other ways for an imperfect knee joint, it can take a while for all the muscles to readjust to the corrected knee.

Also, if your leg muscles were not strong before surgery, that can make recovery longer as you must work to build that strength back up....especially the quad muscle (the large muscle on the front of your thigh).

The fact that you are having difficulty on your bicycle tells me you probably have some swelling. Are you icing and elevating your knee LOTS each day? I used to sleep all night long with my knee wrapped in ice....did that for probably 4-5 months! If your can adjust your bicycle seat, try putting it at a setting where you can get all the way around. Stay with that for a while and then start moving it to a more challenging position. The cycling action is excellent for your knee....it provides exercise plus it just loosens things up. Be sure and ice after a "ride" though, because the activity can cause additional swelling for a while.

You should not be in as much pain as you describe either. What type of medication are you taking and how often? I don't think you have adequate pain management.