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bumleg

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Hi all, its me again. Bumleg. I have more questions. Since I am still limping around and it seems to be because my leg won't fully extend is there any other exercises I can do to help increase the ROM? I also still have swelling on the front and medial side,just below my knee. Could that being limiting my extension ROM? I am doing the stretches, and leg lifts so that when I finally get to have surgery I will be ready. I have started limiting portions, eating only when I'm hungry and laying off of some of the junk food that I like so well since I can't seem to make myself stick to a strict program. The lbs are coming off slowly but at least they're conming off. My current OS wanted me to lose 30 lbs and that is my goal right now. I have finally gotten all of my records from my current OS and will be sending them to the new one so he can review them and decide if he will see me. I'm hoping I'll get to get a new knee sometime this summer while my daughter is out of school so she can help me. As you know the knee only hurts when its walked on and every-thing else hurts when I'm on my feet too long. Its a wonder I can lose any weight at all. I didn't eat a lot before and to try to lose the weight weight quickly I would have to practically starve myself. I get frustrated feeling like I'm in a catch 22 situation. I will keep on doing what I am doing and exercising as much as I can and hopefully I will get there eventually. In the meantime I have been reading the forums and coming up with more questions to ask the new OS. Thanks for all of your help,and encouragement on the TKR journey.
 
Hi there, bumleg. The swelling is probably part of the general inflammatory process that is the arthritis itself. Plus a generous amount of fluid the joint produces in response to it. Could be any number of things would limit your extension - excess fluid, the arthritic changes.

There was a suggestion here that putting your foot on a foot stool with nothing supporting the knee while you watch TV gets gravity to pull the knee straight. Some said it was very effective. However, they were all post-op. don't know how effective or tolerable it would be pre-op but it could be worth a try.
 
Bumleg, before I had my surgery, my therapist had me do an exercist to increase extension where I would lie on my stomach on the edge of the bed with my knee right at the edge of the mattress and the rest of my leg extending out into the air. I would lie like that for up to 5 minutes. At first we started with just the weight of a shoe on my foot. Gradually I worked up to 5 lb. weights on my ankle. In this exercise, gravity does the work to stretch your leg to a greater extension. However, before my knee surgery, I was never able to get full extension because of the arthritis behind my knee cap. I still limped. But....the good news....immediately following my knee replacement, my extension improved and no more limp! I hope the same result for you. Best of luck!!!
 
Oh, Jamie, thanks for the encouraging words. Like you, Bumleg, I cannot get full extension in one of my legs. I am pre-surgery and am getting both done at the same time. I have been on anti-inflammatories for more than 6 months now, and even with that I still have days where one or both swell, especially when it is raining. I know that without the full extension, it makes it painful to stand for any period of time. I often have to cummute standing up on trains, and by the time I get to work I am reduced to tears. Right now I think it's a good idea to try to get some of the weight off (something I am also wrestling with) and get as much strength in your quads as possible. Each time I find myself sitting in a chair, I keep lifting one leg up at a time for 20-30 reps until I can't stand it any longer. That should help you get through the recovery easier. Also, my Dr's PA told me to try to bend my knees while in the shower (while hey are nice and warm) by putting my foot up against the edge of the shower stall and pushing down. Good luck to you. I'll be watching your progress.
Sharon
 
Sharon, we you are lifting your leg are you lifting from the knee or hip? My PT had me lifting from the knee in my pre-op exercises. The intent was to stengthen the quad. And FYI, it makes me sad to imagine you (or anyone) arriving at work in tears.
 
Bumleg: I am exactly where you are...pre op for a single TKR sometime this summer. And after two days of being on my feet this week-end, I'm miserable - after this length of time, my ankles and hips hurt too. I also need to lose weight but it's very difficult when you can't do anything. And I would have to starve myself also to lose a lot of weight. However, I AM able to ride a bike a bit at a time so I've been trying to do that even a little at a time and I found about four exercises that are recommended for TKR pre-op strengthening. I can't help thinking that the 22 stairs that I trudge up several times a day HAVE to be doing SOME good in keeping me mobile. Since I can't take the anti-inflammatories, I take Tramadol and sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. So here we are, huh? I know I'll be looking for a support buddy when I have my surgery so we can compare notes so keep posting!
Roo
 
Sharon, we you are lifting your leg are you lifting from the knee or hip? My PT had me lifting from the knee in my pre-op exercises. The intent was to stengthen the quad. And FYI, it makes me sad to imagine you (or anyone) arriving at work in tears.

Jen,
My OS actually told me to lift from a sitting position with leg straight out, so I guess that's from the hip. He said to avoid things such as the leg extensions at the gym because they are too hard on the knee. I can't do that anyway; hurts way too much. Believe it or not, I am still able to do some squats, so I'm doing them too. As long as I don't bend more than 90 degress, I'm okay. As far as arriving to work in tears, well, that's not an every-day occurrence, but when there are delays, it's bad, and people do not see a disability so don't give you a seat. Metro rides within the city (once I get there) are always standing-room only, but that's a short ride. I guess that's life in the big city! Glad I get to go home to the "burbs" at the end of the day. If you ever make it down to D.C. for sightseeing, Karen (1jt@atime) and I can show you around!
sharon
 
Glad to hear tears are a sometimes. When I did the leg lifts it was like kicking while sitting in the chair. Or the way you would swing your legs when you were little and the didn't touch the ground. That is more a knee movement. That is good for quads. I did some squatting also, as far as I could. In the shower when everything was hot and loosened. I figured what ever move and stretch I could start with would only be a benefit after. I'll sight see as long as I don't have to walk, my knees are killing me! kidding.
 
Bumleg

Weight loss is the hardest thing when you can't move and have already cut back your meals. What I found is that sometimes the problem is that you are eating too few calories. It seems when you do this your body goes in protection mode where it stores more calories so it has something --- it's way to protect against starvation. I also found for me that carbohydrates do me in so I eliminated white foods -- potatoes, pasta, corn, rice and bread. Also, drink at least 10 glasses of water a day. I was really getting frustrated as what worked the first time I lost weight was not working, I was stalled. I tried the program at broken link removed: https://www.squidoo.com/Fatloss4idiotsdiet. Now the actually website (this link is to a good review and a forum) says lose 9 pounds in 11 days. We all know that is probably stretching it. I lost about 4 pounds every 11 days. I think for a short time this could work. It is easy to follow. I usually ignore this stuff but I did need something different. It might help you get a jump start on things.

Simon
 
I've heard that sometimes just switching things around jump starts the body into dropping when you hit a plateau. Start big and end small breakfasty. Haven't triied that approach yet myself. I have had great success with a southbeach approach. Or basically low/no carb, high protien.
 
I was diagnosed with diabetes with my pre-op testing for my TKR. I had to cut out all the simple carbs - refined sugar, flour, junk and have lost 2 pants sizes in 4 weeks. Don't cut carbs completely, you need at least 80-100 grams a day to keep your body going so it can burn fat. I'm eating 1200-1400 calories a day (don't go below that!!) and do several 15 minute sessions a day - gently - on a stationary bike. Now the weight is starting to come off faster. I used to ride an hour a day and had trouble losing wt, ---change the carbs! I generally eat low fat/lean meat and either a vegie or a salad and between meals a half of a fruit. I eat 100-200 cal portions every 2-3 hours between 8am and 9pm. Sugar free popsicles help too. NO SODA! You can ignore my "advice" or not.
Barb RN
 
That sounds like a sound eating plan. Might give that a run through myself.
 
I was diagnosed with diabetes with my pre-op testing for my TKR. I had to cut out all the simple carbs - refined sugar, flour, junk and have lost 2 pants sizes in 4 weeks. Don't cut carbs completely, you need at least 80-100 grams a day to keep your body going so it can burn fat. I'm eating 1200-1400 calories a day (don't go below that!!) and do several 15 minute sessions a day - gently - on a stationary bike. Now the weight is starting to come off faster. I used to ride an hour a day and had trouble losing wt, ---change the carbs! I generally eat low fat/lean meat and either a vegie or a salad and between meals a half of a fruit. I eat 100-200 cal portions every 2-3 hours between 8am and 9pm. Sugar free popsicles help too. NO SODA! You can ignore my "advice" or not.
Barb RN

Good suggestion. I am going to try this myself. I finally got an apointment with another OS for May 27th. I am excited to see what he has to say and how we decide to proceed. I am soooo looking forward to not limping around and having the back and R knee pain issues from it. I would really like to have just a uni spacer but I don't know if thats an option of me at this point.
 
Congratulations on getting your appointment with another surgeon. You'll know immediately when you find the right one. I didn't find THE ONE until the THIRD surgeon I saw....so never give up hope. Good luck!!!
 
Hi yall, I found my surgeon today. He's a very nice fellow. He also has lots of experience doing joint replacements over 4000 hip + knee combined. He did the first knee replacement in my area in 1972. He uses the Johnson Dupont rotating pivot. After reading this forum I had decided thats the one I would like to have but I would have gone with his preference. He also uses a computer to help with proper realignment. The surgery is June 20th. Its a total replacement and I am so excited and looking forward to being able to have a life again. He did tell me that some people still have pain after the replacement but if its not enough to cause me to limp and be miserable like I am now I can deal with it. I'm not expecting to have any knee pain aftward other than the norm. So many of you have already had them and are doing just fine. I don't see any reason why I shouldn't too. I have had enough sitting on the couch as my main activity of the day. I feel like I have a new lease on life. Thanks to all of you for your input and support. Its greatly appreciated.
Raye
 
Raye, I'm so happy for you! I'll be waiting to hear from you when you cross over and join the club with new knees and new lives!!!
 
Great Raye! Doesn't it feel good to just have it scheduled and know that you will soon be on the way to recovery? It's not an easy road but I think worth it in the end. I had my first tkr last fall and I'm scheduled for the second on the 9th of June. Karen
 
Oh you'll be hearing from me. I am so looking forward to joining the new knee & life club. When I got the surgery scheduled it felt like a weight had been lifted . I haven't smiled as much in weeks. I even had to do the happy dance while sitting of course when it was scheduled. I think I'd have dance a jig if I was able but then if I was able I wouldn't be needing the new knee huh?
 
Doesn't it feel strange to be excited about having major surgery like this? I'm with you Raye! I was and am the same way! It's the excitement of getting some resemblance of life back! Yea for all of us!!!!!
 
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