Encouraging Doctor Visit

[Skeet]

I just came from my 6 week PO checkup. I was so excited! My doc says my ROM is awesome, more than he typically sees at 6 weeks for TKR. He is very pleased. I have been depressed about my progress so this was so wonderful to hear. I'm approved to return to work PT (4 hours a day) at 8 weeks PO, from home. He told me a TKR is one of the most difficult surgeries for folks to recover from. Said it would be quite normal for me to still be on pain meds at 3 months, although I should be off them not long after that. So, it was encouraging and uplifting. I needed that! Just wanted to share some good news for a change.

 

[referee54]

Congratualtions! You are (pardon the pun) taking big steps. I bet you will be glad to go back to work! I was---I was bored. Keep up the great work!

Tim C.

 

[Josephine]

Skeet, I am chuffed to bits for you! I really am. That is wonderful news.

 

[Skeet]

Thanks, ya'll. I'm walking on air tonight. Just so pleased to know I'm on track. Day to day if feels so slow, so it's great to know I'm on track. And I wanted others to know that even when we are disappointed in our progress, others are not. We set our expectations so high. And I was relieved to know I wasn't a wimp for being on pain meds, still.

Thanks again for sharing in my joy!

 

[Doug]

congratulations.
You guys really set a high recovery standard for me to shoot for.
I'm having another of those sleepless nights. It is 2:00 am and I've been in and out of bed at least three times. Although I'll be tired when the sun comes up, I'm really looking forward to working out today. I plan to start back with some upper body then hit the stationary cycle. I keep adjusting the seat to challenge the ROM. I hope six weeks from now I can tell success stories like you all.

 

[Skeet]

You'll be doing great in 6 weeks. I focused the most on ROM since that needs to happen early or it can be a real challenge. My doctor told me that he wanted me to work extremely hard to ensure I could straighten my leg so I began working on it in the hospital daily and continued when I got home. Once that was good I started on the bending. I have a small 6 pound medicine ball that I use at home in addition to PT. I sit and roll it back and forth and side to side. It really helps keep my knee from stiffening up and helps with the ROM. I still need to work on strength now, but that can come later and still be okay. You don't have to work yourself to death to make good progress. Just be consistent and do things off and on all day. You'll get there. All the best to you! Seems like ages since my surgery. This is slow but it gets better, I promise.

 

[Joanie]

What does ROM mean?

 

[Josephine]

Range Of Movement

 

[Joanie]

Thanks Josephine. I thought that's what it maybe meant but wasn't sure. Does it just mean the straightening, bending, lifting and pushing down at the back of of your leg.

Can I also ask, is it normal to still walk with a limp post surgery? I had a marked shortening of my left leg prior to surgery but it is now staraight and I have to work on keeping it that way!! They don't call it the cruciate ligaments for nothing-excruciating pain at times!!!!.

Now I feel when I am walking that my left leg is longer than my right and I am pulling on the back of my ankle and calf when walking (right leg).

Will this eventually even out? I phoned the physitherapist the other day and she assured me that this is normal and I'll eventually start walking more evenly balanced. I'm just scared my hips get affected.

My right knee is still athritic and will require it done at some time in my life but everyone was hoping that if I got the most deformed leg done first, there would be less pressure on my right leg thus the pain would reduce-relucatnce is due to my age-I am only 47.

Thanks for all comments.