A little concerned...

[ladyblue]

I am a little concerned that every time I get out of bed, my TKR leg will not straighten. To make matters worse-my foot won't lie flat on the ground for me to walk. It is such a battle everyday since the PT has been pressing down on my knee. Most of the day , my hamstring muscles and ankles ache terribly. What do you think the problem is and what can I do? Seems like I have my problems now than before the surgery!

 

[Doug]

Sounds to me like you need to have a discussion with your O.S. I can understand the tight, sore hamstring but have no idea about the ankle unless perhaps you stressed it during some of the pt exercises.
I'm the opposite as far as stiffness. I have full extension, but when I get out of bed the flexation is really stiff.
Best of luck with it though

 

[Josephine]

My guess is that not only do you have tendonitis in the hamstrings but also in the ligaments in the foot. In which case you need some massage from you PT and some anti-inflammatories to take the inflammation down. Ibuprofen is a good one (though you shouldn't take it if you have acid stomach problems.) Of course, icing will help.

But you should get a visit to your OS or doctor to get it checked out. It's very easy to over-do things during physio/exercising and end up with various '-itises' (tendonitis, fasciaitis, etc!)

 

[Pattipoo]

fasciaitis.....that's a darn!!! Been there/done that/dont ever want to do it again!!

 

[gatiger]

I had cortisone shots for that 'fasi-stuff', kills bugs dead.

 

[Josephine]

I had them regularly in my shoulders for my rotator cuff impingements. Was a real life-saver. Don't know why I never added that to the list.

Funny, since I stopped work and stopped using the flags at church, don't have that problem anymore!

 

[ladyblue]

Went to PT this morning and when it came to pressing the knee flat (by my PT) I just couldn't do it. After he started pressing down for the first 15 seconds the tears just started to pour. I begged him to stop..which he did..but then he said that he would do short presses (but more of them) to help. He doesn't understand why it is this way because things were good until now. I asked him about manipulation and he said that it may help. The tightness is unbelievable and we both agree that I need to see the OS before my scheduled appointment in April. I go on March 18th and I can't wait!! So fed up with not being able to stretch my leg out flat and walking like a zombie.

 

[Doug]

Ladyblue,
Are you able to sit on the floor? I get down there, prop my back against the couch and spread my legs out about three feet. You can slowly press down and stretch it pretty well. It is a little less strain than using the ottoman technique... then there is the whole ordeal of getting up off the floor. Hope you can work it out. It might just be some inflammation.

 

[Nursepair]

Ladyblue, read my bit on page 7 of Tips to straighten TKR leg, #67 it may help?

 

[kath]

Hey Doug, how do you get back up off the floor? My other knee is so bad (the unoperated one)that I am afraid if I get down there I won't be able to get up. That's why I don't soak in the nice hot bath either. So afraid of being stuck there. I guess I could wait to my big ol husband is home to pull me up, but just wondered if you just spring to your feet like a cat or if you have a trick...wait you are the guy in great shape...never mind.

 

[Pattipoo]

OOHHHHHH....hot tub bath.....OHHHHHHHH.....I just went to my happy place........ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....bubbles..........mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmsteam................

 

[Doug]

Kath,
I originally sat in front of the couch so I could reach back, lean back an push myself back up onto the couch to get up. Kind of wiggle backwards on to it. To use Patti's analogy, I probably looked like a big fat drunken monkey.
Now I am able to get up normally but that has taken some work.