Keeping leg straight

[dmort]

Hello all....my husband had his Left TKR on the 17th and came home on the
19th. He's doing well, I see small improvements each day. He isn't giving me a hard time about doing his exercises and has been using his CPM machine. The one thing that the PT and nurse who came to our house both said is that when he's relaxing with his leg elevated he's not keeping his leg straight. His knees were in pretty bad shape and I know he was not walking or sitting with good posture before the surgery. And now that darn legwants to turn out when he's relaxing. Any suggestions? The PT said to put something heavy next to his leg but pillows don't seem to do the trick. I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

 

[Jamie]

Is he turning his whole leg out at the hip? Are there any problems putting weight on the leg when he stands?

My guess is he's reverting to a bad habit from before the surgery that may be hard to break. Can he relax more on his good side so that he's not tempted to turn that leg?

I'm not a medical person and haven't heard of a problem like this on the forum, but I wonder if there is some type of brace that could be used if he can't keep from turning his leg. You might give the doctor's office a call and ask. Also, have the PT SHOW you what to do with a "heavy object" next time he or she comes.

 

[dmort]

Jamie...you are exactly right. I think it's a bad habit he picked up from his days of sitting and walking with bad knees. The PT said to put the object against his leg to keep it from turning out. He suggested a bean bag? But I can't picture what he's talking about or where to find one!

 

[PAgrandma]

Dmort,
It sounds like you're describing my husband's knees and legs! John had LTKR March 4th. He has always had bowed legs and walked with toes pointed out. The surgeon did straighten the leg slightly, but in his recliner with leg elevated... old habits "kicked in". We found instead, the couch worked best and as for the "bean bag"... Fill a zip lock bag with any dry substance, peas, corn (I feed the deer) or even beans! Maybe a bag of flour or sugar.
Hang in there... from one caregiver to another.
Joyce

 

[dmort]

Thanks so much PAgrandma. It's been a learning experience for sure....and we're not even to one week post-op! I willl keep playing around and see what works. He is not happy about having to keep his leg straight, that's for sure!

 

[PAgrandma]

dmort ~ neither is John. After my last post to you I grabbed a bag of flour from the freezer, set it (and him) on the couch. He says the front of his leg is painful in that position... but is doing it.

An after thought. to go the bean bag route you could fill a couple of socks. If you don't have any plans to cook the beans someday... they work well when baking a pie shell (line shell with foil and beans... keeps the crust from getting saggy).

 

[aussie]

Hi Dmort,

I had my TRKR 4 months ago, I had the same experience with my knee. I never had the habit of my knee turning out prior to the operation, so I think it may be something that happens after with some people. When I put my leg onto a footstool or the like it would just fall to the right, it was just more comfortable in those early days. I made sure I did my PT exercises, and as long as I kept up the exercises, I allowed it to fall that way if it was a time I was just relaxing. I didn't worry too much about it even though I found it strange, and now 4 months down the track it's more comfortable to have my leg out straight and my extension is fine. Just naturally progressed to that. However, go with what your PT says. There is another thread on here somewhere where it was discussed I'll try and find it for you.


Good luck to both you and hubby,

Chris

 

[aussie]

Hi Dmort,

The post is "moves to the right". Hope it all helps.

Chris

 

[backbay38]

Dmort -- I had a somewhat similar experience to your husband's. I had been walking with my toes pointed to the right (RTKR 2 months ago) before the operation. The surgeon realigned my leg so when I walk my foot points forward perfectly straight. But when I put my foot up it -- and the rest of my leg -- wanted to turn out as it had before. I think it was a foot and hip thing. anyhow my PT caught it in the first home session and made me very aware of it so I caught myself whenever I looked at my leg (which was alot early on ). And although I had full extension from the beginning -- I also found it uncomfortable to sit with legs straight out or elevated unless I turned my leg to the right -- or rested it on the other leg. It hurt behind and to the inside of the knee. But that has gradually gotten better and better as the swelling went down and now I can leave the leg straight in a resting position -- but not for a very long time. But as I said it DOES get easier and I am sure it will be fine down the road with all the stretching my PT and I do..... So just convey all this to your husband and watch and tell him to watch and correct his position. No one suggested putting anything next to my leg; it sounds like a very good idea to keep the leg in the right position.

 

[kangaroo]

What about a bag with sand in it. Sometimes the radiologist people use sand bags to keep limbs in the right place for xrays. I remember them using them when I was a kid to stop me from moving during the x ray... Kind of like the wheat bags that you can buy to put in the microwave and heat up for sore muscles and the like.....
Rachel

 

[Jamie]

Dmort.....I think all the suggestions you've received are good. You may have to crack the caregiver's whip a little when you see him lapsing into that turned out position. 'Course it would hurt to be straight sometimes....his leg and knee muscles are having to learn new positions! I agree that if he keeps at it, things will probably straighten out. Do continue to talk with his PT about it, though....just so they are aware. The PT provides periodic reports to the doctor, who may order more or less of something depending on the reports.

Gee, do you think the PT was refering to something as big as a bean bag chair???? That was the first thing I thought of when you mentioned bean bag. But that seems a bit odd......

 

[dmort]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I hadn't thought about sand, or flour. He said it hurts a lot on the top of his leg when his leg is straight. The PT also told him it's a big no no to sleep on his side but sometimes that is the only way he can find any relief so I say if he has to do that to get some very much needed sleep, so be it. He is just one week post-op today. He is doing his exercises and his stretching/extension so I can't see where it would cause any real harm.

Aussie - thanks for the info on the posting.

 

[Jamie]

I slept on my side as soon as I could because it was much more comfortable. So I think he'll be fine. You might prop some pillows behind his back when he does that so he can lean into them. I found that to be more comfortable. Also, some people used the body pillows you can find at Walmart or Target and they worked well to flop one leg over.

The muscles on top of his leg will hurt. That's from the surgery and they take a while to heal. Be sure he's taking his pain meds on schedule. The pain will subside eventually.....he just needs to keep doin' what he's doin' and hang in there.

And Dmort.....hugs to you. Caregiving is HARD WORK!!! You are obviously a very caring and gentle person.

 

[dmort]

Thanks Jamie....I must admit I'm exhausted. But then I look at my poor hubby struggling to get comforable and I forget how tired I am. I have to return to work on Thursday so I'm a little anxious about him being home alone. But he is doing good.

 

[Linda2]

I'm a big fan of the body pillow. I put it under my operated leg when I was on my back--all the way from almost my waist to the bottom of my foot. It really helped to make me more comfortable on my back.

 

[Jamie]

Dmort.....maybe you can call and check on your hubby frequently throughout the day. These guys like the attention like that.....being a patient is difficult for them.

 

[Gretchendz]

I had the same problem--it was hard retraining my legs/muscles to work straight after years of not being straight. Tell him from me that when he has it straight and it is hurting--that's good! That's what I kept telling myself...next thing I knew I was walking straight with no pain.

 

[Nursepair]

I also found the body pillow was great. drape the whole leg on it, I too used to sleep on my side in bed, make sure your foot is supported. Maybe even another one to lay behind him if need be?

 

[backbay38]

I slept on my side the whole time since it is the only way I can sleep. But I had to wear an immobilizer for the first 6 weeks which had just a slight bend in it; my surgeon was worried about the leg freezing in the bend position after all that time at night. Made it a little more difficult but I found a few "comfort" spots and your husband will too. And of course each day (most days)it gets better...

 

[aussie]

My pleasure dmort. I know how scary this unchartered territory can be early on.

I was sleeping on my side and almost tummy in hospital and no one told me not to, in the beginning I just put a pillow under my operated knee if it was the top knee and if it was the bottom knee I put a pillow between my knees. I still sleep on my side or tummy now. I'm 4 months PO now and have no problem with flex or extension so I imagine hubby will be ok too. I think your body lets you know if it 's not comfortable. Let's face it too, in those early days you don't actually sleep long enough to get too stuck. :(

Chris