TKR My Flexion Gains Have Stopped

[NavyGunns]

@Texasaaa, good to hear back from you! I know what you mean about pushing through the pain. A little over to years ago I had two major abdominal surgeries within 6 months. The last one left a 12+” midline scar down my belly. I was told to wait 3 months before I started stressing the incision area by doing abdominal exercises. Even when I got ready to start, over all recovery wasn’t too bad. I thought my PKR would be similar. WRONG! The first 10-12 weeks really take a toll and are tiring, even when you don’t believe you are doing much. And the pain is a lot different!

I’m not going to tell you to ignore your PT and OS, but I will advise that you hear what they are telling you to do and then listen to your knee. If your knee is good with it (and you will know if it is), great! If your knee objects, then maybe it’s best to back off and wait a bit.

I’m almost 6 months post surgery and just really starting to get back into regular leg exercises. Believe me I feel it too. But, I’ve got great ROM and minimal to no pain. Haven’t iced in weeks / months. I’ll be updating my thread this weekend so you can get more there.

Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions when you doubt something, nothing is too crazy to ask!

 

[Texasaaa]

@HoneyB
Thank you for your reply! We certainly sound like our experiences are pretty close!
I need to learn some terminology ie: IT band,psoas muscle etc. I don’t think I was in school the they discussed that .just kidding so now I need to open the dictionary! Thanks again.

Sure sounds like I am having a similar gain as you did/are. Thank you for sharing your story with me.

Thank you @Jockette. I had no idea all that was involved in a TKR!

We had a pre-surgery class here. They tasked about putting your health on the foam block out of surgery to not lose extension and 20 something in bed exercises until you were able to get into the PT room. Nothing like any of this was offered. So I’m basically having to un-learn to RE-learn I guess we could say.

Thank you for your help and response.

It’s amazing how our PT people tell us different things or use different ways to treat us. Until now all I’ve heard is move it or lose it. So it’s hard to do a 180 esp when I’m still in a formal PT situation BUT I am sure listening and I appreciate you and everyone’s reply.

 

[Celle]

@Texasaaa - you don't need to quote a message in order to respond to it.
Just scoot down to the bottom of teh page and strt typing in the box where it says "Write your reply . . . "

 

[Texasaaa]

@SusieShoes my surgery date was Aug 7, Right knee TKR. So I guess I’m 8 weeks in, seems like eternity. Thank you for your assistance, encouragement and advice.

Today I hit a milestone... I was measured at 100 sitting! Seems like the needle is staring to move again. Flexion 98 lying down, with my foot NOT on the mat and 97 with my foot on the mat. We just did some different measurements to see how they were different.

I’ve not had any extension issues since I came out of surgery (O out of surgery). Some folks it seem do not want to measure but I want to know. It’s just a difference in how we all are.

My left leg (non surgery leg) is weaker than my TKR leg as I am right foot dominant and probably why it wore out first as I always lead with that foot climbing etc. On the PT bike I noticed my left leg was cramping (calves) but not my right. Then I realized why. So now when I exercise my surgery leg I try to make sure and give my “good” leg an equal workout.

Have a nice weekend, til later! Texasaaa

Celle, thank you, sorry I’m making a mess of this thread.

So I went down to the bottom and I’m replying as you suggested BUT there are two more messages between your message and the bottom, how does it know to respond to you if there is not a direct way to answer you?

Using the quote it appears to connect the two together.... sorry growing pains.

Also it was suggested that I bookmark this Thread. How do I do that please?

 

[Celle]

It doesn't matter about the messages in between.
If you want to reply to a specific person, you tag them. This article explains how:
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads...er-how-to-answer-when-someone-tags-you.15223/

The above article and many other helpful "How to . . . " articles can be found in this area:
https://bonesmart.org/forum/view/how-to-use-this-forum.74/

I can't tell you how to bookmark your thread, because how to do that is dependent on how you are accessing the forum and what device you're using.
But this article may help you:
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/how-can-i-find-my-threads-and-posts.14732/

 

[Josephine]

@Josephine , yes please advise.

Here y'go then!

It would be very helpful if you would answer each one individually - numbered as I have done - in as much detail as you can then I'll come back as see where you are ....

1. what are your pain levels right now? (remember the 1-10 scale: 1 = no pain and 10 = the worst you can imagine. And don't forget to factor in other forms of pain such as soreness, burning, stabbing, throbbing, aching, swelling and stiffness).

2. what pain medications have you been prescribed, how much are you taking (in mg please) and how often?

3. how swollen is your leg compared to these?

4. what is your ROM - that's flexion (bend) and extension (straightness)

5. are you icing your knee at all? If so, how often and for how long?

6. are you elevating your leg. If so how often and for how long?

7. what is your activity level? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and

8. are you doing any exercises at home? If so what and how often?
This is the most crucial question so please help me by using the format I have left as an example
(which means please make a list and not an essay!)

Exercises done at home
- how many sessions you do each day
- enter exercise by name then number of repetitions of each
etc., etc.

Anything done at PT
- how many times a week
- enter exercise by name then number of repetitions of each
etc., etc.