Kneeling

[dadman35]

I am 16 months out and am wanting to do some kneeling stretches. Its pretty painful on the new knee. Any thoughts?

 

[mom2fencers]

Dadman35,
Hi! With my RTKR back in 2014, it was many many months before I could kneel. I started out with a small pillow under my knee, one that had some give to it. I knelt on both knees in front of the couch for 30 seconds then let up. Did it a few times in the day then got to a minute. Finally got to where I could kneel ok and put the pillow aside. Then built up the same way without the pillow.

In fall of 2016 I fell and shattered my left elbow and fractured the lower arm. I rehabbed it for 1.5 years. I could not take a bath as it and my bad left knee had no push to help me get up. When my arm was finally stronger I remembered that I could kneel on the left knee, so I would turn over in the tub on my right arm so I could kneel on both knees. Then I could get myself up and out.

With my LTKR I am 6 weeks post op tomorrow and have been able to kneel on it since a week ago. I got down on the floor and was amazed. Knelt and it was fine...that is NOT normal.

Try the pillow method I used and see if it works for you.

 

[SusieShoes]

Did you ask your surgeon if you would be able to kneel on the new knee? Some implants are less “kneeling-friendly” than others and we’ve heard of surgeons who tell their patients not to kneel on them. Most, though, will permit kneeling.

It helps if the surface you are kneeling on is 1) lightly cushioned and 2) not too wobbly/cushioned. The knee appreciates a little bit of yield but not so much it has to do too much work to support your body. For example, my knees much prefer a regular mattress. Mr. Shoes got one of those thick cushy toppers for our mattress and... knees hate it. Too much wobble!

You might have to “train your brain” to the new sensations of this knee when kneeling. Use a pillow or cushion as @mom2fencers suggests. Kneel for only a short time. Do it again later. And again. And again. You may get used to the way your new knee feels. It may become less painful for you.

Depending on why you wish to kneel, a gardening kneeling pad might be a solution.

Another option is a knee pad. There are lots of types available. A few members have had great luck with them!

 

[dadman35]

Thanks so much for the input.

 

[mom2fencers]

Dadman35,
SusieShoes noted “train the brain” and do short time practices. That really helped me. I learned that from my OS PA when trying to let my leg hang strait for a minute. Excruciating pain. The PA said just use 10-second intervals and build up. The PT had wanted one minute to start building up to three minutes... from 10 seconds I finally got to three minutes but on my timetable.

With my first TKR the PA at 6 months said not to kneel or jog. Ha! My jog is a very slow one. My OS saw me and said, “You are now 64. You’ve exercised three months to get ready for this. If you want to kneel, DO IT. If you want to jog slowly, DO it. Just be monitoring yourself and if pain, back off.” So I did...

From October 2017 to May 15, 2018, I did squats in the rack, leg presses and extensions, and jogged. On May 16 I got the left LTKR.

Inch by inch then rest then assess and repeat or rest again. That’s my motto.

 

[Celle]

Hi @dadman35
You'll notice that I have merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread.
Even though it's been quite a while since you last posted, for several reasons we prefer that you only have one recovery thread:

• That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
• If you keep starting new threads, you miss the posts and advice others have left for you in the old threads, and some information may be unnecessarily repeated
• Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.

So please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here.
Don't worry that we won't see your question because, between us, the staff read all new posts every day.
If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.
How to tag another member; how to answer when someone tags you

If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we'll get it changed for you.

Here are the instructions on finding your thread, How can I find my threads and posts? . Many members bookmark their thread, so they can find it when they log on.

 

[Celle]

I can kneel, but I don't like the feeling.

As SusieShoes said, some surgeons prefer their patients not to kneel, so do check that first.

If he/she says it's OK to kneel, start by kneeling on something soft, like a pillow on the bed. Work up gradually to kneeling on harder surfaces - a cushion on the carpet, then just on the carpet or a yoga mat, until you can kneel on a hard surface.

I can tell you that my knees still do not like kneeling on a hard surface, but I'm glad I can do it in an emergency. When our kitchen water-cooler sprung a leak, I had to go out and kneel on the driveway, to turn off the water mains supply to our house. I would have been flooded if I hadn't been able to do that.

 

[Spex10]

I couldn't bear to even try to kneel and haven't done so for years.

 

[mom2fencers]

I am a competitive shooter involved in IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) with my husband. Because of my left knee situation, I’ve had to take penalty points when a specific stage calls for a kneeling shot behind a huge barrel or kneeling and shooting at targets thru a window. There are about 50 regular shooters in our IDPA group.

We know who’s had knee replacements—we’re the ones who take penalty points by standing instead of kneeling!

I am determined to have my left knee be able to kneel well and also arise! in the future so I can avoid those penalties.