TKR Lindylee's RTKR 20 January 2020
- Thread starter Lindylee
- Start date
United States
... I've yet to muster up even the thought yet....Lindylee
post-grad
Thanks all. It feels so good to be getting back to normal activities again and socialising. I went back to my Pilates class yesterday and have my first dance to go to this Saturday.
@Irish471 I'vet been with my chiropractor for 2 years now as I have scoliosis and degeneration of the spine - just falling to bits really
@Irish471 I'vet been with my chiropractor for 2 years now as I have scoliosis and degeneration of the spine - just falling to bits really
Lindylee
post-grad
Lindylee
post-grad
@DLR Yes! I couldn't believe how good the straight one looked alongside the crooked one. My husband was amazed when I showed him. It gave me such encouragement. Roll on the time I have 2 straight legs and no aches and pains (fingers, toes and everything crossed!)
@Jockette It's such a feel good factor isn't it when we can start getting back to our usual activities, so good for morale. It was Pilates yesterday, lovely to see everyone again.
@Jockette It's such a feel good factor isn't it when we can start getting back to our usual activities, so good for morale. It was Pilates yesterday, lovely to see everyone again.
Lindylee
post-grad
I had a fabulous night out dancing last night. It was just so nice to put on a posh frock, a pair of heels, even if they were fairly low, and be out socialising with the usual crowd. I did a fair bit of dancing too, with no ill effects so far other than a mildly swollen knee, but someone commented on how less puffy my whole leg was. It gave me such a psychological boost being out with everyone. I hope those still suffering will be able to enjoy something similar soon. Take care everyone and look after those knees. Happy Sunday!
Lindylee
post-grad
It was all going so well and then I went for an assessment at our local gym yesterday. In our local area they offer a 12 week 1:1 course at the gym to help increase your activity levels following ill health or surgery so I thought I'd take advantage of it. She watched me walking and said my knee was drifting inwards as I walked. This was my problem before surgery and I hoped surgery would correct it and make my knee feel more stable. It did seem that way for the first few weeks and then I had begun to feel it was moving inwards again as I went upstairs.
Does anyone know if it will always be like this, or is there anything I can do to stabilise it? Is this something that continues to be a problem with a valgus knee and is it likely to impede recovery or make a difference to how long the new joint lasts? Each time I saw my OS's registrar he mentioned it was a complicated knee, although when I asked he said it shouldn't make any difference to my recovery, but now it's got me wondering.
Does anyone know if it will always be like this, or is there anything I can do to stabilise it? Is this something that continues to be a problem with a valgus knee and is it likely to impede recovery or make a difference to how long the new joint lasts? Each time I saw my OS's registrar he mentioned it was a complicated knee, although when I asked he said it shouldn't make any difference to my recovery, but now it's got me wondering.
I haven’t commented on this because it’s out of the realm of my experience, but I think maybe you should try to see your surgeon again?
I will tag @Josephine for you. She’s been away from the forum this week but should be back soon.
Lindylee
post-grad
@Jockette Thanks Jockette. At a routine blood test this morning, the practice nurse asked me about me knee and when I explained about it drifting she sent a note to my GP. I had a call later to say they've referred me back to PT for further assessment, although when I mentioned it at my last PT she said the the exercises should help, but they don't seem to, as it drifts whilst I'm doing them. It may be that it's something I have to live with, but I'd like to address it if I can.
I’m sure it’s not something you want to live with, I would have expected the TKR to fix it, if it was me. Did your surgeon say he might not be able to fix it?
DLR
graduate
@Lindylee one of the exercises I did with PT around 10 weeks post TKR the first time was lying down hip raises but because of my previous valgus knees she had me keep an about 7 inch rubber ball between my knees to stop drift and allow my quads to learn their new position and strengthen in position. I would also use the ball between knees for wall squats too for the same reason
Can you explain more fully what you mean by "drifting"?
Do you mean that you feel part of your knee replacement moving, or do you mean that your knee tends to turn, point in a different direction?
Lindylee
post-grad
@Celle It doesn't feel as if the knee points in a different position, more that the whole joint moves sideways so that instead of my leg being straight looking down on it when it's bent, it's still knock kneed. When standing or raising my leg straight up, it's completely straight, but when I bend it, it seems to want to revert to being valgus. Is that just because the muscles and ligaments are used to being that way? I also get pain on the outside of the knee just around where the crease of the knee is, don't know if that's significant.
@DLR It's interesting that you mention that exercise because it was after doing that one that I had a lot of pain and when I first felt it started to move. No-one mentioned using a ball, but when I told my PT I was having trouble with that exercise she tried a ball, but it was really painful so instead she tied a therapy band round my legs and told me to push out against them and then I could do the hip raises without the pain. I just hope I haven't done any lasting damage and that strengthening the muscles and ligaments might help. I wish I'd understood more about valgus knees beforehand.
@DLR It's interesting that you mention that exercise because it was after doing that one that I had a lot of pain and when I first felt it started to move. No-one mentioned using a ball, but when I told my PT I was having trouble with that exercise she tried a ball, but it was really painful so instead she tied a therapy band round my legs and told me to push out against them and then I could do the hip raises without the pain. I just hope I haven't done any lasting damage and that strengthening the muscles and ligaments might help. I wish I'd understood more about valgus knees beforehand.
I think that's probably the answer. Your muscles and your ligaments have to accommodate being sightly different lengths from what they were previously. That could be the cause of the pain, too.
I think all those exercises are unnecessary and are also partly the cause of your pain. Stop doing them for 3 weeks and see if your knee settles down.
jboles
graduate
Lindylee
post-grad
@jboles That's my fear now.
I had no indication there might be any difference between the recovery or that my knee would be more complicated until the registrar mentioned it as I was going into theatre. When I went for my pre-op the nurse said it was a complex procedure, but when I queried it I was told it was just down to a non-routine prosthesis being used and they allowed more theatre time. Maybe I was naive. I assumed a bone on bone knee was just that and surgery would cure it, although obviously there can be complications and I knew that not everyone was happy with the outcome.
@Jockette I didn't think to ask that question specifically, just assumed any issues would be corrected with surgery. I remember hearing that the tracking should be greatly improved.
@Celle I don't have the pain all the time, but it was there even before and when I wasn't doing that exercise, which I do for my back and hip issues rather than my knee. That area plus the centre of the kneecap have always been where I've had most pain, the joint itself has never been really painful after the first few days and I did wonder about this IT band issue. I seem to remember reading something about it and valgus knees somewhere.
This morning, after reading @DLR comment about the ball between the knees I remembered my PT hadn't used a ball, it was a pillow. I don't have a large ball around, but thought I'd try my Pilates ring and no pain! Brilliant, thanks for the suggestion. I'll try that for this week, but if the pain persists in between times I'll lay off the exercises for a while until things calm down again.
Thanks for all your advice and suggestions.
I had no indication there might be any difference between the recovery or that my knee would be more complicated until the registrar mentioned it as I was going into theatre. When I went for my pre-op the nurse said it was a complex procedure, but when I queried it I was told it was just down to a non-routine prosthesis being used and they allowed more theatre time. Maybe I was naive. I assumed a bone on bone knee was just that and surgery would cure it, although obviously there can be complications and I knew that not everyone was happy with the outcome.@Jockette I didn't think to ask that question specifically, just assumed any issues would be corrected with surgery. I remember hearing that the tracking should be greatly improved.
@Celle I don't have the pain all the time, but it was there even before and when I wasn't doing that exercise, which I do for my back and hip issues rather than my knee. That area plus the centre of the kneecap have always been where I've had most pain, the joint itself has never been really painful after the first few days and I did wonder about this IT band issue. I seem to remember reading something about it and valgus knees somewhere.
This morning, after reading @DLR comment about the ball between the knees I remembered my PT hadn't used a ball, it was a pillow. I don't have a large ball around, but thought I'd try my Pilates ring and no pain! Brilliant, thanks for the suggestion. I'll try that for this week, but if the pain persists in between times I'll lay off the exercises for a while until things calm down again.
Thanks for all your advice and suggestions.
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Neither
I do wish doctors wouldn't say things like that. Correct interpretation is that it will be complicated for the surgeon but that doesn't mean it will affect the recovery one iota! It won't make a scrap of difference to your recovery.
Lindylee
post-grad
@Josephine Thank you, that's reassuring. Hopefully the PT might be able to pinpoint the problem and suggest a solution. Do you think I should ask to see the OS at this stage, or is it simply too soon?
Irish471
senior
@Lindylee , I was knock kneed. I say ‘was’ because I think surgery corrected that. I haven’t had my gait evaluated. @DLR, I like the idea of using the ball to help the quads adjust. I am going to ask my PT about that.
Is your pain at the back of the knee at the crease? I have discomfort there when bending and every time I try to bend farther than 90 degrees, I feel like something seizes up or blocks me from bending farther. I asked about it at my 6 week check up and the OS said since everything has been realigned, my hamstring and IT band have had to readjust. It made sense to me. It’s been an on going issue.
Is your pain at the back of the knee at the crease? I have discomfort there when bending and every time I try to bend farther than 90 degrees, I feel like something seizes up or blocks me from bending farther. I asked about it at my 6 week check up and the OS said since everything has been realigned, my hamstring and IT band have had to readjust. It made sense to me. It’s been an on going issue.
