TKR kmak's TKR recovery thread

[liam2015]

wonderful update kmak. your physiotherapist sounds very sensible with good explanations.

 

[kmak81230]

I have been very fortunate with good PTs @liam2015. I wasted a lot of PT visits early in recovery as I had not yet found BS and was going 3 x week starting 3 days after surgery I only have seven visits left for the year. This is the time when it seems to be useful as they focus on exercises to increase strength in surrounding muscles groups, coordination, etc. I take notes and photos at PT so that I can work on things in between visits. When I have #2 done I will probably not go for at least 2 weeks or longer so that I can save visits for when I am ready to work more on the functional mobility.

 

[Fire wolf]

That is a great idea to hold off the 2nd time around. And you will be a pro at the exercises! By my 4th shoulder surgery they didn't even bother to send me to PT as I had spent so much time there with the previous 3 that I new the drill inside out and backwards!

 

[kmak81230]

I celebrated week 15 with 45 minutes on the bike in spin class this morning - still low to no resistance - followed by my upper body weight routine. No new milestones beyond the good PT report yesterday. I did realize yesterday in PT that my large muscles on my op leg (glutes and quads) are not very strong so am a little more motivated to do some exercises at home, particularly since I only attend PT twice a month. I think I've settled in to the realization that this is a slow process (duh!) so am going to try to not be bothered by it as much. Have had slight discomfort in my nonop leg on occasion in the past week and if it remains at that level I should be able to put off #2 for a year or two longer. Despite thinking that just about everything causes my knee to swell, it was not more swollen as a result of the eclipse yesterday .

 

[Fire wolf]

That is great news about the biking! Kneerah! One of the things that bothered me post surgery was the differential in leg muscles between Spence's and non-op leg. I had noticed that my quads were dwindling in op leg prior to surgery, which I suspect was due to wearing unloader brace all day every day for 6+ months prior to surgery, and as a result, muscles didn't work as hard. I wanted to regain that muscle mass back in a hurry, and kept pressing my PT to *challenge* me more, but now I am grateful that she knew better! So I am trying to be eh-hem, *patient*, let Spence settle in well, and then push for strength. I hope that you achieve the goals you are hoping for by increasing exercise.

 

[VW54]

just caught up on your thread and news.

 

[Pheebs52]

Wow, 45 minutes at Spin Class? I call that a big milestone! Huzzah!


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum

 

[Polkadot]

I think we should all be eating homemade jam and fresh cilantro. These things seem to be doing you a world of good!

 

[kmak81230]

I wore a really old pair of "Earth Shoes" today as they have a drop heel and I was curious how my walking would be. My fear of getting reminded that we are no longer in the 90s was replaced with pride as I received lots of comments about good walking form. It was nice to easily and more automatically get that heel out there when striding about.

 

[liam2015]

good walking form beats 90's fashions. i like the colour.

 

[VW54]

oooohhh- ohhh- ooooh !!! I'm going to fish mine (earth shoes) out from way back in the closet and try them this weekend! will let you know.

 

[Canada35]

I wear my Birks a lot because of the drop heel. I find it forces me to do heel to toe and they are comfortable for short distances but not long ones when I need more of a heel cushion!

 

[jaschembra]

Clicking, clacking, pop here and there... I think it was around months 2-5 that I would sometimes get this pop feeling on the lateral side of my knee. No pain, just weird and a little scary. At 12 week OS visit I had asked about it and he said it was probably a tendon just getting settled in. It eventually went away and never happens now. Getting feelings this week that my bottom leg may not necessarily be connected to my top leg completely....nonsense. But why do our brains even have fleeting thoughts like that go through them.

Glad you didn't have any backlash after 45 min. biking. Holy moly you go girl. My knee would be screaming at me

 

[kmak81230]

The clicking and popping is certainly a weird sensation. Not much backlash from the biking - just the usual swelling that seems to lessen by the next day.

 

[gertie]

@kmak81230 Great PT report! Interesting what your PT and Pheebs' PT say about glutes then quads. I'm assuming this is because glutes stabilize? I know mine are weak. Also interesting about the clicks indicating increased flexibility. The clicks come and go for me.

 

[kmak81230]

Yes, @gertie the glutes stabilize, thereby improving balance and also one of the largest muscle groups in the body that can take pressure off the knee with certain movements like climbing stairs, lifting things (as do the quads). Also good for posture. I seem to be clicking more and more . . .

 

[VW54]

I wore my earth shoes all day today for ADL.
I like the feeling. Also they give my arches a lot of support. More after tomorrow's trial walk to shop and back ( ca. 800 m.)

 

[Pheebs52]

I have a similar pair of Earth Shoes I haven't worn since....last October? Yeah, thereabouts. I'm going to give them a whirl!

 

[kmak81230]

I liked them as well @gertie. We may restart the Earth Shoes fad! They are a lot heavier than many shoes I wear

 

[Pheebs52]

Darn, forgot to wear my Earth Shoes today! I'm definitely putting them on tomorrow! My calves feel a bit kinked up today and I think the Earth shoes help stretch them out. I also think I'll see if I can get an appointment for a full body massage tomorrow. It's definitely long overdue!