Become an Insider

Bilateral TKR Confused on PT pushing<

My therapists have all watched a TKR. I’m getting closer to watching the video.

Getting back in the saddle was wonderful but as the day goes on the soreness gets worse. Not just my knees. Gonna take it really easy the next few days. The therapist said not to ride 2 days in a row and only 2 days a week is good.
 
Your PT sounds like he knows what he's talking about!
 
3 weeks if basically resting and doing nothing painful. My left knee is better but of course still stiff. My right knee is still very swollen, mostly above my knee. Very stiff and still painful. I think my lower legs are still swollen all the way to my feet. I know it’s a year recovery but everyone I know who has had TKR has done so much better. I lose weight to a great size prior and worked with a trainer 2 a week fir 6 months along with doing major strenuous yard work. I thought I would breeze through this. Stupid.
 
I’m so sorry you are disappointed that all you worked so hard for before surgery did not give you the results you expected.

My expectations for recovery didn’t come true for me either. I had a partial, and between what I read about them online and what my surgeon’s office did and did not say, I expected a 2-3 month recovery.

It wasn’t until I found Bonesmart at 4 weeks post op that I learned this recovery could take a year. That’s quite a jump from 2-3 months!

This recovery, with all its different and unexpected aspects has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

I have to keep telling myself there’s nowhere to go but forward.
 
I knew before surgery that recovery is a full year. But everyone I knew that did one was really good by 12 weeks with basically no swelling or pain. I’m at 15 weeks today and my right knee is very swollen and stiff and pretty painful. The left too but not as badly. I
Had pt today and she’s pleased. Asked if I’m extremely fatigued and YES. I thought that would be gone by now but she assured me no surprise. We are taking it week by week. I’m still to do my stretches and no strength. Easy and rest. I think she realized about 3 weeks we were over doing it at least for me.
 
I watched a video with read bones and the sawing and drilling etc. it was unnerving.
 
I’m wondering how long it took others who had TKR to wake up in the morning, stretch or move, and NOT have your first thought be your knee. I think that will be a turning point.
 
@bitkr, I’m at 5 months and it’s still the first thing on my mind in the morning!
 
It will be a long time before your first thought is not about The Knees. It may even take longer than 6 months.

One day, you will suddenly realise, part-way through the day, that you haven't thought about your knees at all.
 
bitkr said:
knew before surgery that recovery is a full year. But everyone I knew that did one was really good by 12 weeks with basically no swelling or pain.
Click to expand...
@bitkr i’ve been trying to get perspective around this thinking too. My husband was hit by a drunk driver nearly 9 years ago and after a couple years of surgeries and hard work people would see him and say wow he is back to his old self. I would be frustrated by their comment because while they saw him getting around looking good they didn’t see behind closed doors, the rest and recovery even day to day activities did require, the exhaustion, the pain. I think it is the same for TKR...we see people out and about and think wow they are doing so much better than I am, but we don’t see their sleepless nights, their need to ice and elevate afterwards. I know for myself people see me at church and figure I am great, they don’t see it takes one or two days to recover. Be kind to yourself, this is a hard journey, I am a TKR I can’t even imagine your recovery as a BiTKR.
 
It takes several months before most people will wake up in the morning and not have at least some knee stiffness or otherwise be reminded they have new knees. There was a distinct period in my recovery, at around six to nine months, when I would wake up each morning with no pain at all in my right knee... and still pain in my left knee. I knew it wasn’t anything to worry about, but — it was annoying because it was there. Recovery takes its own sweet time.

You will encounter lots of turning points. Turning points where you regain enough mobility to feel almost normal. Turning points where you feel lots less pain. Turning points where stairs become easy, or you realize your knees are no longer stiff in the morning. Recovery builds upon each turning point.

As others have said: Be kind to yourself. Healing is invisible, so we can’t see it happening, but it is taking place deep in your knees and you will reap the rewards when it’s finished. You can’t rush it, so find ways to make peace with your body until all is done. You’ll be able to feel the progress, more and more as time passes.
 
bitkr said:
I knew before surgery that recovery is a full year. But everyone I knew that did one was really good by 12 weeks with basically no swelling or pain. I’m at 15 weeks today and my right knee is very swollen and stiff and pretty painful. The left too but not as badly. I
Had pt today and she’s pleased. Asked if I’m extremely fatigued and YES. I thought that would be gone by now but she assured me no surprise. We are taking it week by week. I’m still to do my stretches and no strength. Easy and rest. I think she realized about 3 weeks we were over doing it at least for me.
Click to expand...

Hang in there. One thing I've learned from here is that the "normal" spectrum is quite wide. So far, everything I've asked my PT or OS about...they've told me it's "normal." If I wake up in the morning in huge amounts of pain - normal. If I wake up and it doesn't feel so bad - normal. Left knee has tons of bruising, the right not so much = normal.

What I find strange is the fatigue. Sometimes, the fatigue just creeps up on you without warning and overwhelms. I was told to 'nap often' or whenever necessary. I haven't had to take any naps yet, probably because I am able to get a good night's sleep. The way I look at the fatigue is, during that time frame, it has been decided that, all of my energy is being directed toward nothing but recovery of my knees, and am glad for it.

Good luck with your journey and remember it's unique to you...can't compare to anyone else. I think things have gone well for me so far, but there's a lot of chapters to go yet. I anticipate that the outpatient PT will be quite a challenge.
 
I haven’t checked in lately but I’m still struggling. I’ve been reading again and have a few comments.

I’m at 17½ long long weeks. I’m definitely in the “blues” because I wish I could go back and have my natural knees. But I know it wasn’t an option. I’m a very active person and as you all know this is difficult.

I’m doing PT once a week and only stretching in between. Instructed to do strength exercise. Looking at your pictures, I’m beyond moderately swollen. Above my knees, esp the right one, is huge.

I’m actually more painful last week or so. I can’t stand even from a high seat without pushing. I know it’s a full year but I really thought I would be further by now. My therapist said it seems my body is “not accepting the new parts”. She doesn’t mean rejection just the extreme swelling and increase in pain my left leg is straight but right lacks quite a bit. Don’t know they measure. My left bends to 135 and the right typically 130.

In addition to the knee issues, ever since surgery I’m having BP issues. I passed out and almost died in the hosp with BP of 67/36 and oxygen way down. I shook all day from the trauma. Never had BP issues and usual for me is 110/68. My GP told me Thursday my BP is fine and just don’t faint. Really? When they called today to report on labs I said by the way when I’d been up over an hour today my BP dropped to 71/57. That got his attention so not sure what’s next.

My main issue though is the swelling and tightness and pain from that. I’m doing what I’m supposed to and it’s getting worse

Thx
 
I'm sorry you're still having problems.
Usually, persistent swelling is related to doing too much for your knees.

I'm going to ask @Josephine , our Nurse Director, to advise you. She has many years of experience in orthopaedics.
She'll probably ask you a lot of questions. Do try to answer them as fully as possible, so she has all the information she needs, to advise you appropriately.
 
My goodness, that sound's like a horror story!

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?
 
Here y'go then!

It would be very helpful if you would answer each one individually - numbered as I have done - in as much detail as you can then I'll come back as see where you are ....

1. what are your pain levels right now? (remember the 1-10 scale: 1 = no pain and 10 = the worst you can imagine. And don't forget to factor in other forms of pain such as soreness, burning, stabbing, throbbing, aching, swelling and stiffness).

2. what pain medications have you been prescribed, how much are you taking (in mg please) and how often?

3. how swollen is your leg compared to these?


4. what is your ROM - that's flexion (bend) and extension (straightness)

5. are you icing your knee at all? If so, how often and for how long?

6. are you elevating your leg. If so how often and for how long?

7. what is your activity level? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and

8. are you doing any exercises at home? If so what and how often?
This is the most crucial question so please help me by using the format I have left as an example
(which means please make a list and not an essay!)

Exercises done at home
- how many sessions you do each day
- enter exercise by name then number of repetitions of each
etc., etc.

Anything done at PT
- how many times a week
- enter exercise by name then number of repetitions of each
etc., etc.
 
1. Lowest is 0 when resting and the worst an 8 if bend too far or step wrong. Normally about a 3-4 if doing stuff. This is considering swelling. That tight band feeling is still bad.

2. I’m not taking pain meds now except 15 mg mobic in AM which is also for migraine prevention, neck and back, foot. I was on oxycodone but been off since about week 8 except a few pills when really bad.

3. Moderate but larger than that picture esp above my knees. Right worse than left. Slightly swollen all the way to feet. I have a slight indentation when I take shoes and footies off

4. Left 135 and straight. Right 130 usually but not straight. Can get hand under. I can push flat but painful when held.

5. Might be approaching problem areas. I’m not icing much at all lately. When I do it’s in a pillowcase and I leave it on about 20 minutes. Been a week or so since iced. I constantly bend I’ve leg up at a time (recliner the type with separate foot) or put a leg on the floor. I keep moving.

6. Sitting on recliner with foot stool reversed so high end at feet so legs fairly high but not above heart.

7. I’m normally very very active so I feel low activity. But in reality it’s probably high. I’m single so do all. But cleaning is not often and have a roomba. I eat simply- cereal and protein bars and usually frozen dinners. So not up long. I do the shopping but that pretty fast. Fall yard work is here so going to try to just do a little at a time and pay for hard stuff. I gave a horse and started riding 1-2 times a week but we mostly walk and my friends are bringing her in from the field. I have a gang of cats and they are a lot of work. Have not been walking for exercise due to heat.

8. PT said stop home exercise due to swelling and pain. I’m bending further since stopped. I only stretch at home. When sitting constanyly bend one leg up at a time and try to straighten esp right for a couple of minutes usually once daily.

PT is once weekly for last month cut from 3/week. It’s a lot though and I’m sure too much
Eliptical 8 minutes set on 1 to warm up
Pt works on knees to help loosen
Steps raising knees up in front -2 passes down floor
Steps kicking leg up behind 2 passes down floor
Steps raising leg up and forward to loosen hips -2 passes
Steps backward raising leg up and back -2 passes
Step ups using bar to help -15 reps each leg on 14” box
Stretch calves on slant board 3x30 sec
Wall sits 4 x 30 sec
Monster walk 4 passes (short) with green band
Side steps 4 passes with green band
4 way 20 forward, side, back each leg red band
Balance board 2 minutes
Balance board 20 squats 5 sec each
Stand on foam pad feet one in front of other and throw 3 lb ball into trampoline x 20 each way
Stand on foam with one leg throw 3 lb ball info trampoline- 20 each leg
Leg press don’t know weights 2 sets 10 with both and single with less of course
Table:
Leg extensions 7 lbs x 20 each
Leg lifts 7 lbs each leg 2 sets 10 up, side, Babi
Clam shells green band 2 sets 10 each side
Bridges 20 w green band
Wall slides 20 each leg then she measures
Heels on tool and prop legs 5 lbs each 5 minutes
Stretch hamstrings 3 x 30 sec
Ice with compression 10 minutes

But no other strength all week. I need this to ride and I’m skiing in February.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Corganics CBD
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Staff online

Members online

Total: 2,447 (members: 6, guests: 2,441)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom