TKR Back again in 2021 ☺

[dogwalker2]

I am doing home physio days 3 to 9 and am pleased with progress. Swelling has gone down a lot but still pretty painful, except when I rest with my leg up with cryo cuff on it. First hydrotherapy booked for Monday and staples out on Wednesday. Does anyone else find their incision bleeds a bit after flexing exercises?.

 

[Benay]

Mine never bled thank goodness. I'd have been horrified.

 

[dogwalker2]

The incision looks really good but it does bleed a little bit when I do gentle physio at home. Think I will ask the physio about it on Monday!!!

 

[sistersinhim]

Does anyone else find their incision bleeds a bit after flexing exercises?.

You should not bleed at any time. Doing so after exercising is a sure thing that you are doing way too much for an infant knee. At your early stage all you should be doing is walking around your house taking care of your daily needs.

The following are our basic guidelines and should help get you started. As you read more on other members recovery threads, you’ll get a better perspective of what to expect and what not to do, especially regarding PT.

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
elevate
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)
don't overwork.​

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

the BoneSmart view on exercise
BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. Here is a week-by-week guide for Activity progression for TKRs


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 a 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 history before providing advice.

 

[dogwalker2]

Oh heavens, I am doing way too much!! Ok going to take some timeout to read all these helpful links. Thank you very much☺

 

[dogwalker2]

Have had a good read of all the helpful info and links. Thank you very much. I have two questions at the minute, namely

- at what stage in recovery should you begin the heel slides and knee flexion shown in "how to do heel slides properly"?
- is it possible to change my thread title? I was silly to use what I chose as now it is out of date. How can I change it to "My journey to recovery".​

Many thanks. This is a wonderful forum☺

 

[Jockette]

We will change your title for you.

You can do those heel slides now, if you want, but only give your knee some movement, don’t bend to a point that it hurts. Only do a few at a time.

. First hydrotherapy booked for Monday and staples out on Wednesday. Does anyone else find their incision bleeds a bit after flexing exercises?.

Personally I would not go in a pool this early in recovery, and especially if my incision has recently bled. Do you have a bandage on all the time? You shouldn’t go in a pool until your incision is healed and doesn’t even have any scabs on it.

Did PT recommend the pool? Does your surgeon know?

My surgeon prescribed pool therapy for me starting at 4 weeks, it was a 50 minute session with way too many bending exercises and it took the extra pain and swelling from it 3 days to settle down. I did not go to the pool again.

 

[sistersinhim]

I agree with Jockette. Going into a pool with any open area is a big risk for getting an infection. I was 4 months before I went into the pool and then overdid with only about 15 minutes of walking around. I waiting another month before I went back in. Then I did it slowly the first few times.

 

[Softtail]

Hydrotherapy under 2 weeks after surgery? Did I read that right. Usually it’s later than that before you can get incision wet , unless there is a way to do it without getting incision wet?

 

[dogwalker2]

Hi all. I asked for the hydrotherapy as it was what I did with my hip. However on looking at my old notes I see it was 4 weeks post op not 12 days.

I have scaled right back on the exercises and the bleeding has stopped except for a funny little yellowbrown dot (about 2mm) almost at the end of the scar that has appeared again. This was what made me decide this morning to call PT on Monday and request transfer to ordinary PT not hydrotherapy and your comments have confirmed my decision.

Thank you all. I will ensure the PT appointment is mostly discussion. I will also get a nurse to check my scar afterwards. It all looks fine (I am about to post a picture in the scar section)!!

 

[sistersinhim]

That's a really good decision you have made about postponing your hydrotherapy. Is that yellow-brown dot a scab or wet?

 

[dogwalker2]

Wet. I showered and put on a new micropore dressing and it came through after an hour or so. Can't see where it is coming from on the scar though as that all looks great. It is about 1.5cm from the shinbone end of the scar. Starts as a very small 1-2mm dot but then spreads into a bigger dot like ink does on capillary paper.

 

[Jockette]

Wet. I showered and put on a new micropore dressing and it came through after an hour or so. Can't see where it is coming from on the scar though as that all looks great. It is about 1.5cm from the shinbone end of the scar. Starts as a very small 1-2mm dot but then spreads into a bigger dot like ink does on capillary paper.

I am going to tag @Josephine,
our forum administrator and nurse director, to come and advise you.

 

[Josephine]

spreads into a bigger dot like ink does on capillary paper.

Are you referring to what is showing on the dressing?

A photo would be nice

 

[dogwalker2]

Sure. This is what the dressing looks like now. The yellow brown mark started very small about 1-2mm.

However I have iced it a couple of times which squashes it.

 

[Josephine]

I thought so. That yellow-brown mark is just old blood which is coming from the healing wound. It's squeezed out as the skin heals. It isn't unusual and it's not a problem. It's also bound to increase as the day goes on.

 

[dogwalker2]

Phew, that's a relief!!! I was imagining hideous infections!!

I am doing gentle heel slides and gentle stretching (the foot on chair and letting gravity stretch,, which I find oddly comfortable) and ADLs.

I am Mum to a nearly 13yr old daughter, 2 dogs and have a very helpful hubby. Even with his help there is always plenty to do, but I am now pacing myself!

I am SO glad I found this Forum. Thank you for your kind help x

 

[sistersinhim]

That 13 year old daughter should be a huge help. When I was 13 I was taking care of my 2 year old sister, the house and cooking frequently. My parents both worked so I was the caregiver and housemaid after school. If I can do it anyone can do it! Letting your daughter be a big help would help her just as much as it helps you. Then you can brag on what a good job she's doing. My mother's praise made it all worthwhile for me.

 

[Josephine]

Did you have your knee done at Wycombe General? I used to work there, though that was back in the 70s and I suspect it has a brand, spanking new hospital by now!

I'd really like to offer you some structured advice but in order to do that, I also need to ask you some questions. Are you willing for me to do that?

 

[Rockgirl4]

I'm glad things are progressing for you and that you have plenty of help at home, though I agree there's always plenty to do.

I ALSO have an almost-13 yr old son, and at this age it's wonderful for them to NOT be the center of their own world. It's amazing how kind and thoughtful kids can be though when mom is laid up for awhile. Best of luck to you.