TKR Knee recovery 2024

[Sdfoxy1]

Hi Shawn
I remember you from the hip forum. Congrats on your new knee! I hope you have a smooth recovery.
Wondering which hip you had replaced, Right or Left? if you let us know we will add that information to your signature.
Lots of comfort to you as you begin the journey!
@Sdfoxy1

Layla I just thought of something funny. I bet you do remember me from the hip forum lol. Just call me ms touchy. haha

 

[benne68]

@Sdfoxy1 You should do what feels most comfortable to the knee. While, you do want to work on both extension (having the leg out straight) and flexion (bending), at three weeks post-op there is no need to be forcing either.

What worked for me was keeping my leg relatively straight, but with a little bend (NOT locked), when I was laying down elevating and icing. When I was sitting up in a chair, I would swing my leg forward and back to keep it moving.

Don't let the PT scare you about ROM. The idea that we have a limited amount of time to regain range of motion has been debunked. You can read threads from many of our members who continue to gain both extension and flexion. through out the first year. And some of us find it continues to improve well into year 2!

 

[Sdfoxy1]

hey guys. Hope everyone is doing well today. I’m 3 weeks 2 days today. I have a question. I noticed if I stand very long like at th counter doing something or after a shower I start to shake. Is this normal. Thanks !

 

[mendogal]

Standing still is notoriously harder on our new knees than walking.
A muscle goes into quivering at the point of exhaustion, and if you're weightbearing at the time (as opposed to, say, sitting at a weight machine doing a workout) it will translate as shaking.
So, not serious; however a definite sign you're overdoing it. I recommend setting a timer for well within your current standing limit and having something right there to sit on when the timer goes off. It's not something you try to push past - you don't want your leg to give out.

 

[selketine]

I'm coming on 6 weeks and I'm practicing standing and doing things. My legs both give me grief about it (my left leg still needs the knee replaced). I can walk longer than I can stand in one spot.

 

[benne68]

I noticed if I stand very long like at th counter doing something or after a shower I start to shake.

In addition to the point mendogal makes, you need to keep in mind that your body is still in the early days of recovery and a lot of your body's energy is going into healing from the trauma of surgery.

That energy drain can leave us feeling weak when we try do things that might otherwise be easy. It's also why we fatigue so easily.

Here's a chart from our Nurse Director Emeritus illustrating how much energy that new knee takes from the body over the first few months of recovery.

 

[Sdfoxy1]

Thank you so much. That makes a lot of sense. It’s hard to come to terms
With why I feel so weak weeks later. I hope it’s draining off my calories too lol

 

[Layla]

Other considerations are hydration and adequate protein. Protein is essential in rebuilding damage to muscles and soft tissue post op. I am not sure if you have an appetite currently, but you will become fatigued more easily if you're not getting enough of the necessary nutrients. I hope you have a good day, Shawn!
@Sdfoxy1

 

[mendogal]

Hey, you posted on Jake's thread about your bunny.
We have a social thread just for our pets! It's here.
Bunny pix please!!!!!!

 

[Sdfoxy1]

Hi I have a new question. I have a painful popping on the inside of my knee beside the kneecap. It happens during certain exercises during therapy. And now it’s happening at the slightest movement. The PT said it’s tendon that’s needing stretched that catching. He felt it as it was popping. After pt yesterday it was so sore I couldn’t sleep on my side last night. I am really worried it is something bad. Has anyone had this. Thanks

 

[benne68]

The PT said it’s tendon that’s needing stretched that catching. He felt it as it was popping. After pt yesterday it was so sore I couldn’t sleep on my side last night. I am really worried it is something bad. Has anyone had this.

Yes! It happened to me during this latest recovery. Mine was the tendon on the medial side of my knee. It hurt like crazy when it happened and bothered my for several days afterwards. My therapist advised me to back way off activity for a week, and to ice and elevate as much as possible. Then, gentle stretches.

What did your therapist advise?

 

[Sdfoxy1]

What did your therapist advise?

I’m going to be honest. There are people in there who act so ridiculous when they are doing their PT I understand why they take complaints with a grain of salt. Some people act like they are dying and are over dramatic. I’m pretty sure they know if I’m in pain that I mean it. He did say it needs stretched. I have four days before I go back so I will work in stretching at home and see if u can work it out. If I done when I go back I will say that it’s too painful I cannot do it. They know if I’m not feeling any discomfort I go beyond what they ask. So I’m assuming that they will go with my wishes. Thanks for responding. I feel better

 

[benne68]

Some people act like they are dying and are over dramatic

This is so true! And they spoil it for those of us who are not complainers. My therapist told me he likes to schedule my sessions for the end of the day because I "don't complain and have a good sense of humor" about recovery.

 

[sistersinhim]

It happens during certain exercises during therapy.

My suggestion is to not do these until your knee is healed enough that they don't hurt anymore. Doing things that hurt during and after PT is counter-productive. Just do the ones that don't hurt you until later.

 

[ladyj]

I have my op for a partial right knee replacement on Tuesday next week 27/2.
I also had my right hip done last year. That is brilliant now, but my overall fitness and muscular strength is rubbish after about 18 months of this process.
Let’s keep each other company through this.

 

[Sdfoxy1]

We sure can. I can tell your from England? I am from West Virginia USA. My hip is also brilliant. We don’t say that here but I wish we did. It was super weak. With the bad knee I never had any way to strengthen it much. I haven’t walked up stairs with that leg for over 10 years. They are working on the hip
along with the knee. I am 60. Female my name is Shawn
Ps. I will watch your knee journey. I wish you the best. I hope partial is easier?

 

[Jockette]

I hope partial is easier?

Not necessarily, it’s still major surgery which causes a lot a trauma to heal from. Healing is part, the skill of the surgeon, and the rest is how your body’s healing process works.

 

[selketine]

I recently started waking up and can't put my heel down on the floor when I stand to get out of bed because that muscle is so tight. At least it's not painful - but that only started this week. Seems like there's something new around every corner. I hope the knee is less painful today!

 

[Sdfoxy1]

I recently started waking up and can't put my heel down on the floor when I stand to get out of bed because that muscle is so tight. At least it's not painful - but that only started this week. Seems like there's something new around every corner. I hope the knee is less painful today!

That was what I had before surgery. I couldn’t put weight on leg when first standing. It had to pop four times into place before I could walk. It freaked everyone out at work. lol. I’m glad it’s not painful for you. And it is something new every day!!! My knee has stopped popping but I haven’t been doing anything but walking and light stretching.

 

[selketine]

I couldn’t put weight on leg when first standing. It had to pop four times into place before I could walk.

Oh yes...I had this before surgery also - I'd have to stand up bent over holding on to something to get it both to straighten and pop into place before I could walk - super painful! It didn't feel like you described your post-surgery tendon pop however - I am glad to hear that has stopped! Hopefully something got irritated and taking it easy for awhile will make it stop. I think my issue is a tight muscle that gets drawn up when I sleep and has to stretch out now in the morning.

All of this reminds me of electronic equipment...when it doesn't work right the usual fix is to turn it off and unplug it, then reboot after a bit - haha!