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Getting thigh muscles back in shape

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marennorge

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I had my left TKR in May 08 and my right TKR in July 08, so it has been almost a year. I go to the gym every other day and pedal for miles on the stationery bike as well as do some upper body exercise machines. On the days I don't go to the gym, I still do my PT routine. Not to mention walking my dog 3 times a day.

My recovery has been great, and I am thrilled to have knees that are pain free. But I am frustrated by the continuous ache that I have in my thigh muscles just above the knees...probably where the OS snipped a little. How long does it take for these muscles to heal? It's the only thing that makes it tough to stand or walk for a length of time or get up from a chair. Any input someone can share?

Thanx.
 
Marennorge I had MIS TKR about 10 weeks ago and I have transitioned from the PT exercises (leg lifts with ankle weights) to the leg press and leg extension machines at the gyme 3 times a week, along with using a multi hip machine for the inner and outer thighs and - now and then - a sitting hamstring machine. The leg press has a secondary training effect on the hams. I also do the floor work - balance, squats holding free weights, stair steps holding free weights, side to side moving lunges and will add in front lunges now as well. And I bike, use the elliptical trainer and/or walk on the treadmill at least 5 days and week and try to do some long walks outside on weekends. I still have some discomfort (I wouldn't call it pain) in the bottom of the quads, just at the top of my kneecap. You feel it going down stairs. And I think it can take 6 months to a year to rebuild your quads if they were very weak. But you might try ( if you aren't already) using the equipment at your gym. It's a faster way to build strength than walking and the PT exercises also need to be upgraded as you get stronger. Also be sure you are challenging yourself on the bike -- with "hills" etc -- not just peddling for miles at an easy pace. I don't have any knowledge about an ache from muscles being cut since it didn't happen to me. AT least not there. My sense is that if your muscles are weak they will hurt and the stronger they get -- the less that will happen. Hopefully some people here who DID have the quad snip will be able to share their experience....
 
Of course there is the other side of the coin where one has done too much and ended up with inflammation in a tendon or ligament. Perhaps you could try some NSAIDs and/or some cold or heat treatment, whichever works. And whatever exercise it is that makes it hurt, ease off a bit for a while until the inflammation dies down a bit. Striking the balance is the answer which isn't always as easy as it seems!
 
Boy is that the truth!!! Balance and moderation is
EVERYTHING in life, Jo!!!! :)
Hope you are feeling good today!!! :)
How's the physio coming along??? :)
 
marennorge said:
I had my left TKR in May 08 and my right TKR in July 08, so it has been almost a year. I go to the gym every other day and pedal for miles on the stationery bike as well as do some upper body exercise machines. On the days I don't go to the gym, I still do my PT routine. Not to mention walking my dog 3 times a day.

My recovery has been great, and I am thrilled to have knees that are pain free. But I am frustrated by the continuous ache that I have in my thigh muscles just above the knees...probably where the OS snipped a little. How long does it take for these muscles to heal? It's the only thing that makes it tough to stand or walk for a length of time or get up from a chair. Any input someone can share?

Thanx.
Click to expand...

I think BackBay is on the right track. With my bicycle routine, I do several short spurts where I put the resistance up 3-4 steps higher than my regular speed. Don't try to pedal any faster, just increase the resistance to whatever point makes you feel the "push" of getting those pedals 'round. That should work just the muscle itself and not aggrivate any ligaments or tendons (which could give you some swelling).
 
I went to the gym this morning and set the bike to do various routines so I would get more resistance on the pedals. Will keep pushing myself more to see if that helps over time. Thanks for the advice.
 
that's great Marennorge! Just monitor your legs that your are pedaling equally with both and not favoring one. Probably having had both knees replaced you don't favor either leg (I tend to favor the new knee and have to consciously push hard with that leg) -- but just in case. My PT set the bike for a program that put in 2 or 3 short "hills" and they were really hard to do. Which made me realize I hadn't been doing enough on my own.
 
I have just got myself a mini bike (sit and pedal). I used it for one day set to the lowest resistance, for just 10 minutes. Now I feel as if I have gone back weeks. My replaced knee has gone back to feeling as if I have a kneepad strapped on it, and both knees now ache all the time, and my ankle is swelling during the day. This is three days later. I am nearly at 4 months and thought I was beginning to recover. Now I am not so sure. None of you have said you get this. Do I have a problem?
 
That's bound to happen the first few times you do an exercise, silverbird. Did you ice afterwards? It would have made a lot of difference.
 
Believe it or not, starting out with 10 minutes might have been a bit much for your leg muscles and soft tissue. Start our slower than that even....say 2-5 minutes several times a day. You can always move up, but when you swell then you must ice, elevate and even possibly take an anti-inflammant (Tylenol, Aleve, etc.) to get the swelling down. As your body strength builds, you'll see less of the soft tissue swelling. This happens to a lot of folks. I'm just glad you have the bike. It will help....just go a bit slower to start.
 
Jamie and Jo are right (as usual). If you're not used to the bike or any other exercise your muscles need to build very gradually. 10 minutes may not sound like much but it really is.
 
I can remember one of my big milestones of rehab was being able to go once around on the stationary bike.

But in the end to get in shape for skiing (about 8 months post-op) to get quads in shape I'd do stairs two at a time - like doing one leg squats with 220 lbs.
 
Marennorge, sounds like you are doing all the right things. I am 16 weeks out from having BLTKR and am still trying to get the muscles around the knees in shape. I do the elliptical thing about 5 days a week at 20 minutes at a time. That gets the old cardio going and me dripping wet. I also use the leg and knee machines to gain muscle strength. I still have some pain when moving the legs sideways at times, but still better than what they were.My left knee was much better than my right earlier, but that has seemed to change lately. Still ice them after a workout and that really seems to help. I'm hoping one of these days the stiffness will be a little less. Keep up the good work and good luck....Billyboy
 
Billyboy....I know what you mean about the pain twinges. I'm just over a year out from RTKR and I still have to watch those little "twistie" movements that you make with your leg when you're fully active. I can still get pain and swelling if I do that type of movement too fast. Now that outdoor and gardening season is starting, I'm noticing it more. I guess my muscles still have a ways to go yet!
 
Hi there I hope you dont mind. I posted a note to you on Loggon, didnt know if you would go back... I see you are far enough out. When you did the lil slip thing did it hurt after? Are you happy you got all this done? Do you feel somewhat normal now ? Sorry just really curious !!! Kim
 
Back to getting the thighs in shape-- a timely topic for me anyway. When I got the seat down to the right level I thought I'd start at 5 minutes slowly. That is what the "bible" suggested. Well after doing this three days ( not in a row either) I have decided to back off and start over again with 2-3 minutes. Just too much discomfort even with icing, just not worth it.

I hadn't ridden a bike in years and my muscles knew it. On the other had walking and working in the yard are things I always did and those go pretty well.

How important is the bike anyway? The recumbent at PT was really easy but mine up on the trainer is another story:pzld:.
 
Lakelover --I'm not a PT or gym trainer but probably if you do bending and squatting a lot in your yard and house chores -- and do a lot of hilly walking -- you'll eventually build all the muscles you need. On the other hand -- the bike is good for warming up musicles and keeping or increasing the ROM as well as building the quads as you increase time and intensity. It's up to you how fast you want to progress. But I've had PT for a number of knee operatiions and injuries and always -- the sessions start with 10 minutes on the bike so there must be something to it...
 
Lakelover, riding a bike is ALWAYS a good idea if for no other reason than the cardio benefits of a 30-minute workout at least 3 times a week. As for your knee....I think you could consider whatever normal activity you do as good exercise (as long as you really are DOING stuff) but it's just not as concentrated. Might be better to stick with the bike for a while until you reach the ROM you are comfortable with.
 
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