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TKR Getting somewhere at last!

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Becky.....it is possible, if your knee was bad enough, that the sudden straightening of it with the TKR resulted in a shift of your body's alignment. This can cause all sorts of aches and pains as your body readjusts itself. Time will take care of this.

It's also possible to get a flare up of plantar fasciitis after a TKR. Be sure you are doing stretches to keep everything loose in your leg. An excellent one is to stand with both feet on the edge of a step or raised platform. Balance on the balls of your feet with your heels extending beyond the step. Hold on to the hand rail and slowly lower yourself a few inches so that your heels are below the step level. You should feel a pull in your calves and that's the stretch. Hold it for a count of 10 and then slowly come back up. Do about 10 of these stretches a couple of times a day and see if that helps your discomfort.
 
Thanks. I'll give it a go. Don't think my knee was that bad. I almost feel like it is because I am not walking properly
 
Although I still have lots of issues, pain, stiffness, struggling with stairs, no sleep...........nothing really changed but suddenly at 10 weeks , I feel like I can see a glimmer of light at end of tunnel. No reason why and it might be different tomorrow , I just got up feeling more like myself. Maybe it's just time!
 
Hi Nancy
YAY for you, it is great to even see a glimmer - it will all come in good time! Have a fab day!!!
 
Does everyone walk slowly....or is it just me? No matter what I do I can't seem to speed up! Any suggestions ?
 
Funny that you mention this. Yesterday, I noticed that I had picked up my pace. What worked for me: It's becoming easier to squeeze my glutes when I walk.
And i also stopped saying "heel, ball, toe" and try not to think of the knees.
 
My pace has stepped up only since last week, probably due to the stiffness easing off. I think it all falls into place eventually without you realising it.
 
Nancy.....your sudden feeling of improvement at the 10-week mark happens to a lot of people. Of course, you'll probably have good days and bad days, but it does sound like you've turned a corner! Good for you.

It is normal and right for you to still be moving a bit slower than normal. Your knee has been through a LOT and it takes time for the muscles and ligaments to strengthen so that you can walk and do things normally. As I remember, it was the better part of a year before I could go down a curb without stopping to "get my bearings" before taking that step down. Same with fast walking.....you have to work up to this stuff!
 
speccybecky said:
Does everyone walk slowly....or is it just me? No matter what I do I can't seem to speed up! Any suggestions ?
Click to expand...

Hi Nancy, like you my walking has been slow and controlled. Today for the first time since before surgery we've done our "normal" walk from home for half an hour. I think half way round I just forgot about my knee as I was totally immersed in the scenery..... then quads gave way with a big thump!!!! I realised I'd been walking normally and at a faster pace and thats why. Then I walked up a hill, no problem - before surgery its the hill that gave me absolute agony and limp limp limp all the way up. So improvements continue as we progress along this journey.
 
I think what happens is that with years of pain and not doing much, we get weaker and weaker. Then we have enforced inactivity as the surgery recovers. Then, 'suddenly', we have fully functioning big tough metal and plastic knees, and weak and wobbly muscles which need training. Training which will take a long time.
 
What you are experiencing sounds perfectly normal to me. Isn't it great to suddenly have that feeling that things are turning around!
 
Hi Nancy

I had the same problem with walking slowly, I think we all have, it is only in the last 2 weeks I have started speeding up. As for the hydrotherapy, remember and ask the PT about it, they don't volunteer the info....I attended twice a week for 6 weeks and it really helped with the flexion and strengthening muscles. I now go to the local swimming pool twice a week and do the excercises there and can do the front crawl. I was really worried about getting in and out the pool as it is like a vertical ladder but if you take it slowly it is manageable. At the hydrotherapy pool they have wide steps going down so you wont have that problem. Even if there is a problem getting in and out of an ordinary public pool most of them have electronic chairs to lower you into the pool to allo access to disabled people. I have all sorts of muscle pains in hips and calves but I am sure it is with using muscles I havent been able to in a while and I am finding that excercising them in the pool is realy helpful without putting any pressure on my knee just yet. You seem to be doing great Nancy, its hard going but worth it. I live in Livingston just around the corner from St. John's Hospital.
 
Hi Nancy - Great news about turning that corner-I had much the same feeling at about the same time.

I think that going slow is probably another protection the body enforces-it takes time to feel truly comfortable with the new knee. I have days now when I catch myself moving really quickly and it's a nice surprise -some days I have so much energy I really feel like running -but I don't ..and then I have a day now and then when I seem to be in slow motion..I'm learning- finally - to take it all in stride. Isn't it just fantastic to know that overall we are moving ahead and feeling so much better !
 
Yesterday, I was feeling pretty good...only 2 paracetamol twice. Today I have a different pain above my knee cap so back to pills and ice. I did lower seat on bike so might put it back up for a bit longer. Also been practicing standing on tkr leg on stair and lowering good one down on step below. Jst when i thought i was getting better, Guess I just did too much! :sigh:
 
Nancy, it was probably that practicing on the stairs that got you. I am 5 1/2 months out, just use Tylenol/ibuprfen cocktail twice a day, and am basically pain free. But going down steps still eludes me. Tried in a couple of weeks ago--first time was slow and uncomfortable (should have left it at that) , but then I thought I'd go for a second trip down, and boy, oh boy, I ended up elevating and icing for the night.

And you ARE getting BETTER!!!! But knee is just not ready for everything that we are when we are. It is hard to remain patient, and you're still young enough that the idea of it taking lots of time is hard to deal with. I will be 70 this year (although in my mind I feel 35) and I've had to realize for a decade that everything takes longer to heal for me. And being retired helps a lot since I don't need to get better in a hurry to get back to work.

Just keep hanging in there. The day is coming when you will realize that you've been through the day and not really thought about your knee. I am that way with my hip--I just never think about it at all unless I'm on the forum.

Take care. (((HUGS))) Judy
 
:goodpost: Judy and I agree with you :thumb:. It all takes time and you are doing really well Nancy but it's easy to do too much at our stage with the recovery. I am having to pull myself up sometimes and remind myself I am not long out of surgery and slow down a touch. Take care :thumb:
 
I just got back from walking round the neighbourhood, some gentle inclines, walked up and down kerbs the 'wrong' way ( up with bad, down with good). It was only 20 minutes BUT.....I left my stick at home! A lot of my discomfort is behind the knee. Muscle/tendon I'm assuming?...and it clicks a lot! Think I need to change my 'title', I AM getting there, slowly!
 
Jo is right on, Nancy, you do need to change your title (request Jamie or Josephine to do it for you). It certainly doesn't fit you now and would be much more encouraging for our newbies on the forum.

When I had my hip done, I was always going up or down with the wrong foot first. Then I got two knees done so at last it really didn't matter. And you won't do any damage by doing it wrong---might just be a little more uncomfortable---and eventually it won't matter!!!!
 
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