TKR AG TKR new knee

[Celle]

Most people find that going to work is sufficient exercise for their knee and they don't need PT any more at that stage.

By the way, would you like your thread title changed? You're quite a way past three weeks now.
If you'd like a change, just tell us what you would like the new thread title to be.

 

[agarrett]

@Celle title change would be good.....AG TKR new knee...that works, thanks

And unfortunately when I go back to work, I sit at a desk basically all day, not much exercise so more worried about making it worse st least until it is much better on the healing timeline. My Therapist said I should try to get up every 30 minutes even if just to walk around my chair and move my knee a bit.


Right TKR 27 December 2016

 

[Jamie]

Thread title changed for you! I'm just catching up with your thread tonight and I'll second what Celle has been saying. You are doing great! As long as you're making some improvements, I'd tell the surgeon you want to keep working on your own (assuming he actually does talk about an MUA). But I'd be surprised if he does.

 

[agarrett]

@Jamie thanks. As always some good days and some not so good. yesterday was great bend and today is stiff. Tomorrow is another rest if needed day. Patience in healing is tough. I think @Celle advice was good easier to feel progress week to week instead of day to day. Overall each week is better. I just didn't expect to be down snd out this long. Surgeon had said six to eight weeks and I took 8 as the conservative number. But have readjusted perspectives. Really appreciate the support and info here.


Right TKR 27 December 2016

 

[Jamie]

Don't know why, but many surgeons do underestimate the time needed for recovery. We tell folks 10-12 weeks before going back to work and up to 6 months to really feel "right" again. Trust me.....you're well within "normal" for this process!

 

[Needy Knee]

@agarrett For me the 1 hour days are great. I have been working from my bed since the first week. I do accounting work and it is tax season so I was able to bring home a lot of stuff to get "balanced." There are only 2 of us doing all the administrative/accounting work, so if my coworker got something she couldn't handle, she would just scan it in and email it to me. Going in for a short time allows me to be able to swap out my work, touch base with the "powers that be" and keep the mail under control. It takes only 7 minutes to get to work, so it's not too bad of a drive. Right now it is the only drive I am making. Hubby is still driving me to doctor appointments and PT. I elevate and ice almost the second I get home. Is there any way you can do some work from home for a while?

 

[Celle]

Apart from the upset to your knee that going back to work can cause, there is another reason why we recommend taking sufficient time off. Many people suffer from a "brain fog" for the first couple of months - a general inability to concentrate for long and sometimes a loss of memory. It's not a good idea to be doing calculations or making important decisions at that time.

 

[newlybionic]

I went back to work full time at 12 weeks. I had the opposite problem where I'm standing most of the time. I think if you can at least stand and take a few steps as often as possible you could start working at a desk by then. If you can elevate and ice your knee at work that would be great too. Just make sure you do nothing else on your work days and come straight home.

 

[agarrett]

Today was a tired day. Although woke up a few times during the night, not unusual any more, got plenty of sleep. Went to PT and then lunch and then nap time. Been awake and yet feel I could drift back off without too much challenge. Had changed PT to the mornings and working through that schedule change this week.


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[agarrett]

Friday managed to get a massage and really lucked into someone who does trigger point, injuries, etc. i knew my muscles were tight but didn't realize how much they were limiting my walking and recovery. After the massage, i was able to move much better, i mean night and day difference. I don't know what had caused all the tightness so my biggest concern is how to avoid getting back to where I was and being able to continue to loosen these muscles so my recovery progresses. While doing light stretches I think he managed to bend my knee the farthest it has been as well. Oh and this was after a big flare up of swelling from this week, which again not sure what set it off either. So after that huge frustration, this was my light at the end of the week. Not sure how frequent I should get the massage to stay on top of this.


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[KarriB]

My PT did a leg massage at the end of every session. It was the best part of therapy and really did help loosen my quad.

 

[lennie]

My PT did that also.


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[agarrett]

Going to have to ask my PT, the were massaging around the scar a little but nothing on the muscles.


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[agarrett]

When did everyone stop icing at night and stop elevating at night? I think the position is starting to irritate my hip and lower back.


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[DebM]

I have had 3 lots of back surgery in the past. I have never iced and elevated at night, apart from a lowish pillow under my knees. I don't sleep well on my my back and because of being bilateral I can't yet sleep on my side. Needless to say I don't sleep well.

 

[KarriB]

I stopped elevating at night around week 4 so I could try sleeping on my side for an hour or so every night.

 

[agarrett]

Good OS visit today. Approved to return to work. No MUA at this point and said looking good. Return in a month to confirm ROM continued to increase beyond current 110 degrees and then looks like next follow up would be my surgery anniversary. Next weeks challenge is to ensure I don't overdue it going back to work and keep up with my PT exercises. Work equals sitting at a desk all day, so goal is get up at least every hour to stretch and move to avoid stiffness.


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[agarrett]

First day of work and although at home found getting stiff an easy thing to do. I moved around a lot, did exercises, rode the bike, but still needed to ice and elevate at 2 pm to calm things down. Found a limitation yesterday, had trouble getting out of the backseat of a car, not enough leg room and my knee wasn't bending much. Ready to not think about my knee during the day, when does that come????


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[KarriB]

I still find it difficult to get out of back seats as does my dad. He was in my backseat this weekend and really struggled.
The time will come when you'll go about your life without a thought of your knee, but at 2.5 months it's not time yet. Remember this recovery can take up your a year to feel 100%. It took a while for your knee to get into the shape it was in before surgery, so it'll take a little bit to feel normal.

 

[agarrett]

Have made it through the first two weeks of work. Very glad I have been working at home, made it much easier to get through the days. Have a day this week, I must go to the office. Found working days were exhausting and some naps are still needed at times. Had a breakthrough for flexión getting to 113-114 degree, was very excited. And now get to 110 fairly easily but days still start around 100 or even less sometimes. Even with bad days, which do happen, the good news is progress is still apparent weekly!


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