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TKR DodgyKnee no more<

You are only two weeks out of surgery don't worry about your bend you still have lots of swelling...ice, elevate and medicate:chillpill::ice:
 
Hi @uva55
I'm at 18 days, I have very little bend and trying not to stress about it ( completely understand how hard it is though).
I have my first PT Friday and will be interested to see what they say. Not going to let them push me too much mind you....[emoji4]

It's still very early and I'm sure you'll see improvements soon.


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Hi @DodgyKnee
Just wondering how you are today, hoping you are still getting pain control. You had a rough go of it at the start.
Best wishes,
Tabby xxx
 
Remember we can't compare, maybe I had a little less swelling, I really iced and elevated all the time, I even used ice packs under the knee, my first 4 weeks even while sleeping, no joke all the time I was not moving I was icing and I did heel slides twice a day. My home PT showed me some stretching excercises that I did once a day. If your swelling goes down, you will be able to bed a little more, patience!!!

Have a great Sunday!!!
 
Thanks everyone, hard not to panic when you've had a polker straight leg before due to knee adhesions.

Pain meds holding at current levels and timeframe, thank you. I'm going to try that wall idea Ellejay suggested.

I'm off to physio tomorrow, same one I used for my micro fracture procedure. The first few times I visited then, she just used her magical machines to reduce inflammation - ultra sound and mega pulse - so that's what I'm going for. Hope yours is as gentle tracythfc - speak soon.
 
Your knee is a mere baby. Lots of us had low bend at 2 weeks. A swollen knee won't bend. Use lots of ice and keep movements gentle.
 
"Poker straight leg" reminded me of something long ago. My husband had an aunt who had a "poker straight leg." I don't remember what caused her problem in the first place (accident?), but back then the doctors repaired it by fixing it in place so she could stand up and walk - after a fashion. No knee prostheses back then. I'm guessing she had it done in the 1930's or thereabouts. We are fortunate that they can now give us replacement knees that work.
 
Just a little update. Went to physio on Monday, she's worried about the lack of bend.

She used the mega pulse machine and then 'helped' me to bend the knee. Don't worry, she only did the "then just a little bit more" that the library articles recommend. I let her cos I have to confess I have been too wimpy to do this to myself for fear of setting off the mega-pain again I experienced the first week. Also, I was overly dramatic when we reached the point I wanted her to stop, to ensure she did right away! Back again on Thu. Flexion measured at end of session, was 55°.

Tue, I went to visit Wound Care services again. Incision still not completely closed but they said it looked better (back again on Friday). We were running late getting there due to traffic and there is fair old walk once inside the building to their offices, which obviously I attempted at some speed (well, for a traumatised knee and two crutches anyway).

Upshot of the two consecutive day's outings is knee thinks it was too much. It was not happy last night or still this morning, so we're both having a rest day today.
 
Sounds like you are being real smart caring for that new knee. It takes time and patience. Too bad we can't get patience in a pill.
 
@DodgyKnee was reading your postings, your a good month behind me surgery wise, but I also had a spot that pulled apart some after the staples were removed.
I had a pocket of swelling on the inside of my knee when I left the hospital I blame that on the drain tube being removed to soon. This pocket stayed around a good 4 wks or more, finally with gentle massaging and Ice and elevation it cleared up for the most part. ( think this might have been what pulled my incision open )
But I still have that area directly over my knee cap that is healing, not infected, but continues to have some drainage, O.S. doesn't seem concerned about it, said in time it will heal completely shut and fill in.
It's a pain as it should probably be exposed to air to help heal, but Ice packs go directly over it, bandaids make it ooze more so it's been a slow healing process.
Why do they think yours opened up??? And are they concerned and have any additional plans to help it heal shut?
Just wondering as in some ways were in the same boat.
 
Hiya @zzevi - I didn't have a drain at all, so that's a difference.

They haven't commented on why it's still got open patches, I just assumed some people are quick skin healers and others take a little longer. They don't appear to be at all concerned, but I am back there tomorrow for another check, so will ask them the questions then.

They've been putting steri strips on and then covering the incision with iodine infused dressings, topped off with a usual cover up dressing (sticky edges).

Don't worry about yours though, here's a true story.......My OH had hand surgery on the palm of his hand many years ago. At the remove stitches stage, there was an actual hole in the middle of his palm, a fair size, where you could see into the inner workings - I kid you not! They told him not to worry and it would eventually fill in - sure enough, it did.
 
I didn't have a drain. My husband had one in the 80's with a pump attached. I nearly passed out watching it. It is interesting how OS do things differently. I hope your scar heals over quickly.
 
@Floridagal and DodgyKnee it's interesting that not all surgeon don't use drains, I know my friend just recently had her knee done at a different hospital and different surgeon and she didn't have a drain either.
Wonder what the purpose is for them?
Picked up some butterfly bandaids and may try using that to help pull the area together. It's just kind of gross looking.
 
Hi, happy weekend all.

Update is that on Thursday at Physio, at the end of the session, my flexion measured 67°. She helped me with a new exercise that I've heard many of you talk about - that of dangling your leg over the side of the bed. I can't do that on my own as it just won't go down far enough over the edge and I can't yet hold my own leg up under its own steam. She supported my heel and slowly, slowly incremented it a bit lower.

Wound care place happy with progress. The two open patches at the bottom of the scar are now joined together, but the two at the top of the scar, although improved are not quite back together yet. Same treatment given as last time and I return on Friday.

So, 3 weeks yesterday. Still feel very much behind the curve, especially after watching a bloke only 2 weeks out of surgery virtually stroll down the corridor at the wound care place!

Still cannot lift my leg - I know it doesn't always come back straight away, but is 3 weeks + too long?

Also, don't feel this improvement in flexion is sustaining itself - felt very 'straight' today. By the way, I am finding the heel slides much easier sitting in a chair rather than lying down.

Hope you are all OK and have a good Sunday.
 
@DodgyKnee I'm almost 5 weeks out of partial and I still can't lift my leg own my own. Flexion is vastly improving, but no extension on my own. I've been told to continue the exercises. Sometimes it just takes a bit longer. I'm definitely learning not to judge my progress by others though. We all heal differently. Best of luck!

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3 weeks isn't too long for being able to do a straight leg raise. Everyone's knee was in a different condition before having surgery so we will not all heal at the same rate. Comparing yourself to others can cause you to become depressed. I found out at 5 months I needed a revision and had it at 8 months. So I was 8 months behind others with my same surgery date. I'm almost where I want to be but we are both just taking a different route to get there.
 
DodgyKnee said:
@Celle I read earlier on another thread that you too had no bend whatsoever. Do you have recovery thread that charts your progress and activity? If so, can you please provide a link to it for me?
Click to expand...
Sorry I didn't answer this sooner. I've been away for a couple of weeks.

I do have a recovery thread, but I didn't make particular notes about what happened when.
As I remember, it was about 5 days post-op before my left knee would bend at all. It was just too swollen. Nobody worried about it and when I could finally feel the knee starting to bend a bit, the surgeon just said something neutral, like "That's good".
 
Hi @DodgyKnee
Im 16 weeks out and my recovery feels like it's in slow motion. It's very very early days for you yet, try not to worry about anything, it will happen in its own time. Having patience and keeping calm is one of the most difficult things about this surgery, but you are getting good advice here.
You have a good day too!
Tabby xxx
 
How are you doing now?
Im glad I had them both done so would have a chance of your pain. It is so strange on how everyones journey is the same and so different.

Applepie Bil TKR 7/28/16
 
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