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TKR Claudia's Recovery

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Claudia, I just read your complete thread and your post with the 3 questions about tiredness, appetite, and rubberbands around the knee really answered all of my questions that I just asked in my post. Thanks to Josephine for the great answer about the tight rubber band feeling! What a relief to know it is not adhesions. Also good to know about the tiredness and the appetite. Everyone's answers are so helpful. Thanks!
Lilly
RTKR
Jan. 9, 2012
 
Haven't posted on my own thread in several days so thought I would send an update. Will be at 9 weeks on Tuesday and I'm feeling so much better. My PT is going well, though some days I am very tired afterward. They are working on strengthening the leg muscles and regaining a natural stride walking. Yesterday I was at 110 flexion pulling heal toward rear end, and 0 extension. I am walking indoors with no cane; I do take it with me when going out but not really putting any pressure on it. My walking isn't always pretty and I have to think about the heel/toe motion. Also noticing more "clicking" feelings in knee when walking unaided. Why is that? I know from reading many other posts that most of us will go thru that.

That buckling sensation I was experiencing (like the knee was going to give way) is almost totally gone now. PT says its because the quad muscles are getting stronger. This morning I got in my car and drove for about 15 minutes. It felt great, no pain and leg/foot moved smoothly from brake to accelerator pedals.

This afternoon I went to the theatre with my 3 granddaughters and their Mom to see "Shrek the Musical". We had a marvelous time and I actually was sitting so comfortably I forgot about my knee. First time that has happened and it was amazing. After the show we met the guys for burgers. I was a little tired when we got home but in a good way.

Am I happy I had the surgery? I think so, and I wouldn't have said that 2 weeks ago. My knee is still stiff, but bending is feeling more natural every day. My energy level is far better but not 100% yet. When I'm tired I take it easy, rest, ice and elevate. I do stretches and ride the stationary bike on non-pt days, but just enough to keep the knee flexible. PT says I won't graduate until I can walk up and down a flight of stairs normally, and I'm not even remotely close to doing that yet. The stairs are a huge challenge for me. Just stepping up one step with the tkr leg is difficult at this point, never mind going down. But I'm ok with that, I know it will come when the muscles get strong enough. I'm seeing enough progress to know it is all going to come together! And I walked into the theatre today with NO knee pain, my knee doesn't throb and ache during the night, so I can put up with the stiffness. This too shall pass!!
 
Hi Claudia, I was going to put an update post on my thread next Wednesday, at 3 months. But you know what - it would just about replicate your's (excep for Shrek the Musical and the clicking sound). I'm 4 weeks ahead of you.
 
Claudia, you are doing great!! 8 weeks out, and look what you have done!! I was doing steps one foot @ a time, not foot over foot. I just fi shed 4 weeks out PT. with small gains, no bike, just nice stretches ! It sounds like what it is suppose to be, congratulations!! How was Shrek? I have sat through "Chip wrecked, & Lorax" with my 8 yr old. It was tough, but much easier than before my surgery!! I no longer have an excuse, lol!!!!!
 
Claudia -you are doing so well ! Just wait another month - you won't believe how much more you progress !!:dancy:
 
Shrek was great. Girls are 11, 9, 7, and they all loved it, and there was some adult humor for us.

Margaret, I don't hear the clicking, but I feel it. Strange feeling. We are pretty close in our surgery dates, and I'm glad to hear you are doing so well also. This is quite a journey we are on!!
 
Claudia, your grandchildren must adore you!! Last week I actually argued with someone who asked me how my granddaughter was, I said you mean my daughter, he said, no your granddaughter. I said no, she's mine. I guess I didn't look so good, lol. I love your upbeat sense of being!!
 
Hi Claudia
I loved reading your update - you are doing just great :wink1: I love all the kids films, nothing better than being snuggled up with the grandchildren on the sofa watching the latest film doing the rounds.

The stairs do seem to be a challenge to us with new knees. I am fine going up but the coming down is the hardest challenge for me so far. I am hanging onto the handrail for grim death - I think the problem is that I do not trust my quad muscles to take the weight? Keep working on going up and soon you will just do it but be warned coming down is hard!
 
Claudia, that's a great post. I am pleased you are doing so well. You are just ahead of me and my progress seems to be behind you . You give me hope that I ll improve. The buckling sensation was worrying me as it means I don't trust myself without sticks, I think it is also what's stopping me doing the stairs foot over foot, well that and the tight painful feeling! I ve been a bit down with this horrible tummy bug it gave me a boost reading your post. Thanks, keep it up
 
Hi Nancy, hope you are feeling better soon and get rid of that bug. You will definitely get there. You are 13 days behind me and it has been in the past week that I've made much more progress, mostly from the slight decrease in knee tightness and ever-strengthening quad muscles. That buckling sensation will go away, just a matter of time and healing. I only notice it right after PT when my muscles are tired from their workout.

I drove to church this morning and several people commented that I was walking much better. Glad it shows!! Now I've just got to keep working on the stairs, will keep you all posted.
 
CLaudia said:
Also noticing more "clicking" feelings in knee when walking unaided. Why is that?
Click to expand...
The reason for clicking is because the nice soft, impact absorbing cartilage has been replaced with hard metal and plastic. And yes, you muscles and ligaments are a bit slack after the surgery and can take some weeks to tighten up. In the meantime, your bone ends (with their implants) have a tendency to make a noise when they come into contact. Just tap a spoon on your table top - it's the same thing.
 
Hi Claudia, these next two weeks will show you even bigger improvements every day! Once I got to a certain strength level, my exercise program progressed more quickly. I was able to go to the next level of weights in days not weeks. For instance, I went from five pound ankle weights to 15 pound ankle weights in two weeks, but it took four weeks to get the five pound ankle weight. I tried twenty pounds yesterday and did three sets of eight.

Once quads got stronger, my gait became more confident, I could do the "step up" exercises more easily and now my steps have started One over one going up. (going down is still too weak).

Sounds like you are on the exciting road to feeling free again! I can't wait for grandchildren!
 
Woo Hoo - 10 weeks today! I can remember thinking I would never get this far. Just a status update, I continue to get stronger. No need for naps any longer, even on PT days. I still take a Tylenol PM at bedtime, but I'm sleeping so much easier and turning from side to side easily during the night. It is still most comfortable to put pillows under my legs so why not!

My knee is still stiffer than I would like (though definitely improving) and I must remind myself every day to be patient, the knee will heal when it is ready. I just came from lunch with my sister and brother-in-law. He had btkr 3 years ago and breezed through it, one of those extremely strong, rare wonder people! By 10 weeks he was walking with no problems whatsoever and I'm trying not to compare myself to him. After lunch we walked a bit to some shops. I did not have my cane and walked slowly and clutched my husband's arm for support if going down a step or crossing street. Working on heel/toe, but it certainly is not a comfortable feeling yet. I wouldn't say I'm limping much, but my strong confident gait is nowhere to be seen. Last week I am sure I gave the neighbors a laugh while out walking when my leg suddenly froze up for a second, I felt like I was going to topple over and held both arms out like airplane wings to balance myself!! I gues I might as well maintain a sense of humor and laugh at myself.

Is anyone else struggling with their walking? Anything I can do to help myself? We are headed for 2 weeks in Florida on 4/14 and my goal is to walk freely along the beach in the lovely soft sand.
 
Hi Claudia, well again you're mirroring my recovery. I'm 4 weeks ahead of you and still have trouble at kerbs when out walking but has been getting easier for the past week or so. I've been purposely going to kerbs and the like and making myself do them - before I was avoiding them and finding ramps. I now take one hiking pole out with me so I have some support if I need it. Have fun in Florida.
 
Claudia, sounds like you are making real progress and have the goal of Florida to spur you on. I have booked a week in The Canary Islands for June and I hope to be improved by then. although I was told pre op not to walk on sand or swim in sea??
 
Hi Claudia
I am a few days ahead of you and like you I think 'Wow, 10 weeks and I have a new knee!'. We should give ourselves a pat on the back :thumb:

My knee is still stiff sometimes - very annoying but it will go in time (so I'm told). My walking is coming along slowly but like you it is not a natural gait yet. I have a mirror positioned on my landing and I practice my walking in front of it. It really is effective as I can see where I am going wrong. My physio gave me a tip of making sure I try to straighten my operated leg when it comes through to strike the ground. He also told me to relax and swing my hips in a slightly exaggerated way (only to be practiced in front of the mirror at home :th_heehee:), this is good for getting rid of the pesky limp.

It is quite funny the antics us knee people get up to!!! In the next couple of weeks I bet you will have moved on again to different level and you will be walking fine for your holiday. Have fun :thumb:
 
Congrats on 10 weeks! You are doing great. I'm only 5 weeks and having trouble with my gait as well. Still have dreadful limp. Have a wonderful trip and enjoy the sand beneath your feet.
Cheers,
Helen
 
Thank you ladies, I know I can always come here for support and good advice. Nancy, I'm going to check into that walking on sand. Never thought about it but guess I better ask. The Canary Islands sound wonderful and exotic!

Jo, I definitely need to remember to pat myself on the back instead of worrying about what I can't do. I think part of it is family thinking I should be further along. I know it's normal for them to feel that way, not having the slightest clue what this is like, but sometimes I almost feel guilty. How ridiculous is that? I do love your hip-swinging tip and intend to try it immediately!
 
Almost forgot, I had the strangest sensation in the knee tonight. Felt like something was crawling up the incision line. Perhaps some nerves are coming back to life??
 
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