Warning: Here’s another “novel.”
Did I tell y’all how much I dreaded my RTKR going into it so soon after my LTKR? Well, I really dreaded it, but I’m finding that time seems to be going by faster the second time around. Even though my RTKR rehab probably isn't any easier physically, I'm finding it to be easier mentally. For one thing, when I have trouble doing an ADL or a PT activity, I know that activity will probably be easier next week....or even tomorrow. I just feel better prepared this time and a lot of that is probably mental preparation. Also, even though they're a little more "gung-ho", I really like the rehab group I'm using this time. They push me, but they don't over-push me. For example, yesterday they put me in one of the various knee machines (one where I'd sit in the chair/bench with a bar across the front of my ankles and raise the bar by straightening my legs to lift weights) and asked me to give it a try. When I couldn't even budge it, they held up the bar for me and asked me to try just straightening my right leg to the point where it didn't cause pain. Keep in mind that the chair/bench for this machine is tilted back. When I could only raise my leg a couple of inches in that position without pain, they simply said, "Ok, you're not ready for this exercise. We'll give it a try again next week and see if you're ready." No berating, no “try harder.” We simply moved to a different machine that I COULD do which was a kind of "opposite" machine. The bar was behind my ankle/calves and I pushed down (bent my knees) to raise the weights.
Based on past experience, I went into rehab for my second TKR thinking that I wouldn't LET them make me do anything I didn't want to do, but I'm finding that they don't try to MAKE me do anything I'm not ready to do, even though they do encourage me to do as much as I'm able.
Today I was able to pedal their exercise bike forward (which seems harder to me than pedaling my exercise bike forward), and do a leg press machine using only my right leg, where I’d been using both legs. Granted, with both legs I was lifting 40 pounds for 30 reps relatively easily, and with just my right leg I was lifting only 10 pounds for 20 reps, but I could do it. I like that they tell me exactly which muscle I’m working on with each exercise and each machine.
I’ve attached a photo of my current nemesis stretch/exercise. I'm using the opposite leg positions from what's shown in the photo. My right leg is the straight leg. It’s tough! We’re working on my right hip flexor and working to move my right hip back into position. My right hip is a little bit forward of my left hip, and it’s causing me to turn my right foot a little bit outward when I walk. They said this right hip position is probably the result of how I’ve been sitting at my desk for the past 30 years.
United States
