Revision TKR I just got my new knee.

[Angel1978]

My dear, you are doing far too much!
Read this:
Activity progression for TKRs

It's only 19 days since you had major surgery. All the exercise you need to do is about 15 minutes, twice a day. Exercise should not hurt and it should not be hard work. You can't make your knee recover by working hard at it. You must not allow the PT to hurt you.

Your knee needs time to get over the operation. You should spend most of your day resting, icing, elevating and taking your pain medications on time, in the dose prescribed for you.


Home PT was not a joke. Not doing a lot is exactly what they should have done. And of course you're still stiff! Your knee has been cut open, the bones have been sawed, a metal object has been cemented and hammered into them, and then you have been stitched back up. Wouldn't you be stiff if that was done to you?

Yeh but she did measure. And jus few leg lifts. She spent most time explaining. The doc wanted me to have intense pt. I just had a partial. Which I was told patella was removed. And I was realined.


SonnysWife

 

[referee54]

You do have to cut back---no house work and let others take care of that. As Caryl has stated, they cut you open and sawed off bones---this is not a gentle surgery---and your body will be angry about it for a while---you need to rest, ice, and elevate to let it calm down. The more you do,the angrier your knee will get,a it you will be in more pain and more frustration.

You are still under three weeks post op, so you need to stop doing all that you are doing around the home---others will have to step up. Your health and recovery is the most important thing---what does not get done around the house is not up to you.

Your job right now is not the dishes or anything else---it is simply to recover.

 

[Angel1978]

Thanks. Told my hub and kids. They be here next week. Hub work and kids will maybe help. I will do better.


SonnysWife

 

[Celle]

The doc wanted me to have intense pt. I just had a partial. Which I was told patella was removed. And I was realined.

Intense PT is not appropriate at your early stage of recovery. It will do more harm than good.
Please listen to us. We have had surgery very like yours and have learned from experience.

By and large, a partial takes just as long to recover from as a full replacement. Treatment in the early days should be no different.

Jamie has explained that your kneecap was not removed. Only the cartilage on the back of it was removed. And most of us have had our knee realigned. It's a common part of the operation.

 

[referee54]

Who is doing the cooking?

Can you get neighbors, friends, or fellow church-members to help you out with the cooking, etc. This is the time for you to do nothing except take care of yourself. Your surgical knee needs to rest, to be iced, to be elevated, and to be gently stretched and exercised.

Anything else at this stage of your recovery is simply too much and is counterproductive---and that will cause you pain, swelling, stiffness, and frustration.

 

[Angel1978]

Not being rude. I don't have no one. I go to church when I can. But not close with any one. I have my kids and my hub that's it.
I am relaxing ice. My hub does the cook. I just do what I can when I can.


SonnysWife

 

[kneeper]

I see you said the cpm hurts at first. What I always did was start with it at a comfortable setting for a few minutes and gradually work up to more and more bend. I also never used it for more than 90 minutes at a time because it became too uncomfortable.
If you do any dishes or anything, count that as "exercise time." Also, really your family should be putting their own dishes in the dishwasher and wiping up the counters. If they don't do it before work/school, they( the dishes) can sit.
Or just put a couple of dishes in at a time.

 

[Celle]

Mary, how old are your children? There's no reason why even little children can't do some simple jobs to help you - and it's good training for them.

 

[Angel1978]

Thanks all. I've set down some rules. Today has not been a good day. Meds is making me sick. The flex I vomit. The perk I vomit. Ibrupution make me sick. So I've had to take some zophran. My kids is 17 girl and 15 boy. My boy has autisum. And my girl has had recent back sugury for curves. I'm limiting my Ẹxcerise on machine. And limiting trips through the house. As far as load dish washer and try clean some I try. But I alsways set down between all. It's just I'm not use to doing nothing. But I assume where it's cold I ache more. The kids try to help. And my hub is alsways at work from 6am till 6pm or sometime he go out town. He is electrician. I don't have no friends. Cause I started going to church. And we'll they did not like that. As far as family. It's me and the kids and hub. As far as neighbors and church. Well neighbors is drunks and I don't like that. Church well I go to a far away church near my home town. So I'm in a mess. The 2 of mine try help. Ans his 3 when they here to do. Cpm does help. An little Excerise are help more than what nurse to me do. She said keep aggressive till pt. Yes more harm. But it's all good. Been laying around all days watch Christmas movies with kids and kitty.


SonnysWife

 

[Poppet]

@Mary Davis - have you read this article regards the time it take for healing from surgical intervention - you are still so early in your bodies recovery timeframe.

Excellent that you are laying around watching movies - perfect my dear!

Slow and steady and remembering that recovery from a joint replacement can be a marathon and not a sprint gives one permission to recover in one's own timeframe

The following is a link to an article which provides the current science regarding the healing beneath and around the implant and approximate timeframes for the healing phases and processes and the relevant nutritional information for each phase.

Healing Phases & Nutrition

 

[Angel1978]

SonnysWife

 

[Angel1978]

Thanks for the article it was very helpful. Time for me to slow down lol.


SonnysWife

 

[Jamie]

These folks are right, Mary. Slow waaaaay down. That last photo shows your knee is quite swollen. You need lots of resting, icing and elevating your knee so that your toes are above your nose. All that's really required in terms of exercise at this early stage are about 5 minutes of gentle bends and stretches 3 or 4 times a day along with some walking around the house to use the bathroom, get something from the kitchen or change the place where you're resting.

 

[Nana moon 27]

Hi Mary

I've read through your thread. I'm no medic, I should not be advising you but one of the exercises you are doing at this early stage is too harsh yet. I only know because I was advised against it by Josephine, who is the nurse on this forum.

The exercise I am referring too is the one with the towel under the back of the knee. If you tag Josephine, remember to put a @ before her name, she will answer your queries xxx

Love Nana moon 27 xxxx

 

[Angel1978]

Thanks I'm being easy. I am laying around ice and elivating...


SonnysWife

 

[Angel1978]

These folks are right, Mary. Slow waaaaay down. That last photo shows your knee is quite swollen. You need lots of resting, icing and elevating your knee so that your toes are above your nose. All that's really required in terms of exercise at this early stage are about 5 minutes of gentle bends and stretches 3 or 4 times a day along with some walking around the house to use the bathroom, get something from the kitchen or change the place where you're resting.

Thanks Jamie. I am slowing way down. Right know prop up and ice. Walks to bathroom and kitchen. Just its hard to not be up. But I am doing better. I've set rules down lol.


SonnysWife

 

[Jamie]

Good for you. That is very wise until you get the swelling under control. Be sure to take your pain meds on a set schedule too. That will help along with the rest, ice and elevation. Your body needs time to heal.

 

[Angel1978]

Thanks all. Appreciate it very much. It's hard when u have ill hub and handicap kids. But I will be doing a lot sit and prop and ice.


SonnysWife

 

[Angel1978]

Thanks I'm really not in psi unless I move the wrong way or set the wrong way. I find it hard to start the steps to walk. But in my home not using nothing to walk. Just taking it slow. Ans I alsways have some one behind me. Do have question though. When I walk sometime my knee wants to go forward why is that? And is it common for the to still to Pop?
I have to call doc office on Monday. I take ibrooutrin 800 every 6 hrs for swelling. But I notice it's hard on my stomach. So going see if he give me Celebrex or something. Yesterday was bad day. Was puke all day. No pain just ache. Had take some zophran. Xxx thanks


SonnysWife

 

[kneeper]

I never took my pain meds on an empty stomach. Ibuprophen and celebrex can be hard on your stomach and most people have found it helpful to eat something with them. A few crackers or something.
I'm glad you talked to the doctor.

from your description, I think you're getting what many of us have while our legs were healing. It would be a good idea to use your cane still for a while until you're stronger. It will get better with time.