TKR FC Bayern's House of Healing

[Jockette]

Given that you were dealing with a bad knee for 20+ years, you probably need more time for it to get to 0. I would also think that having your hip replaced can only help.

Walking heel to toe, and taking a longer stride, if you can, can help gently stretch the back of the leg and improve extension over time.

In the early months I would be sitting on my couch with my legs up on an ottoman in front of me, and I would pushed the back of my knee down towards the couch. I didn’t use a rolled towel anywhere, just my leg, the couch and the ottoman, which was actually a couple of inches lower than the couch.

But I hadn’t really had any issues with extension before surgery, other than being in my 60s and not the least athletic. It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t bother me and I didn’t even know what extension was until after my surgery when my surgeon kept checking it. I was never worried about my extension, it was my bend I was very concerned about.

 

[Celle]

I agree with Jockette. It may take you longer than most people to achieve full extension, but I think you'll get there in the end, even if that's not until after your hip replacement.

Jockette has suggested the right things you can do to help improve your extension. This article may be helpful, too.
Extension: how to estimate it and ways to improve it

 

[FCBayern]

Well what has started out a hip recovery seems to have become knee replacement rehab 2. The hip seems to be doing well. off narcotics and other than some weakness in my quads keeping me using the walker everything looks good. The almost 11 month old knee however is a different story. It's swollen, tender, doesn't want to bend and is causing much more pain than my hip. I'm using much more ice on my knee than I am on my hip.

 

[sistersinhim]

I imagine your hip surgery has made you walk differently, thus upsetting your knee. When I fell and broke my foot and ankle on the same leg as my tkr, my knee was just a few weeks shy of a year old. My knee threw a fit right along with my foot/ankle. I was most definitely walking differently and my knee didn't like it one bit.

If your knee doesn't settle down be sure and call your doctor.

 

[Jockette]

I’m sorry to hear your knee is upset after having your hip replaced.

Are you going to PT for your hip?

 

[FCBayern]

Are you going to PT for your hip?

@Jockette I am going to PT for my hip but all I'm doing is walking and a few "mini" squats (just bending a little at the knee) and pushing up on toes so nothing that should bother the knee at this point.

 

[Pumpkin]

It is possible for your hip to refer pain to your knee. As your hip recovers, your knee will start feeling better.

 

[FCBayern]

What a difference 10 days make. My knee is no longer aching and flexibility has returned. Had a couple of busy days this week without any set backs so I'm pretty happy right now.

 

[sistersinhim]

Wonderful post. You are seeing coming along very well.

 

[FCBayern]

Been a while since I've checked in on the knee side but today makes my one year anniversary with my shiny new knee. It turns out my knee recovery was being affected by the bad hip I didn't even know I had until a few months ago. I had been having groin pain before I even had my knee replaced but it was diagnosed as a muscle related issue because of the way I was walking on the bad knee. WRONG! 30 years of walking on a bad knee wore out my hip. Since my hip replacement my knee has improved remarkably. I'm currently at about 125 flexion and +4 extension. I think both will improve in the next few months now that I walk normally again and more importantly I'm pain free for the first time in years!For the first time in over 18 months I'm able to take the dog for a walk and live a normal life. For those of you in the early days hang in there, it's not an easy journey but the destination is well worth getting to.

 

[FCBayern]

Happy second birthday to my super custom aftermarket knee! I have a hard time coming up with the words to describe the difference my joint replacements have made in my life. I hadn't realized how small my world had become, pain was a constant companion, and that pain affected my decisions about everything I did. Two years into recovery the world is my oyster. My ROM continued to improve over the last year, I'm now at 135 degrees of flexion and -1 of extension. The best part of all, I'm PAIN FREE! I'm now retired and can hike, bike, swim, fish, scuba dive, all things that had become very limited or had been eliminated from my life due to joint pain. A big thanks to all of the BoneSmart staff and fellow BoneSmarties for all of the advice and support I received here, it made my recovery much better than it would have been without all of you!

 

[Cococay]

This is so encouraging to hear! I’m beyond thrilled to hear how amazing things are for you.

 

[Goma]

Fantastic, it's so encouraging to hear of such a positive outcome. I hope I get where you are

 

[Layla]

Happy Two Year Anniversary!
Wonderful update and encouraging to those following behind. Health and happiness to you as you begin this New Year and year three with your knee.
@FCBayern

 

[sistersinhim]

Your outcome is the reason we all have had this surgery!

 

[FCBayern]

I had something weird happen last night for the second time. I woke up early in the morning with my knee at a pain level of bout 7. Was able to move around nd get the pain down enough to go back to sleep but the knee was cranky for the first half of the day. In both cases I was sleeping with a pillow between my legs, but the only thing that makes sense to me is I'm somehow getting it into a position that it doesn't like over time. Nothing I'm particularly worried about since it was several months ago the first time it happened.

 

[Pumpkin]

the only thing that makes sense to me is I'm somehow getting it into a position that it doesn't like over time

Your are probably right, our knees do not like certain positions, glad you are feeling better this afternoon.

 

[djklaugh]

@FCBayern Your knee might also be a bit stressed if you've been doing a lot of walking on different surface than you are use to ... like on sand? Walking on the beach is much different from walking on pavement or sidewalk.

 

[Jockette]

Good point, @djklaugh

 

[sistersinhim]

My TKR knee is going on 5 and occasionally it will wake me up hurting. I think somehow my soft tissues will get in a 'bind' or something like that. Usually, I get up and walk and then it's OK. These knees like to show their rear-ins every so often!