MUA My new left knee

[beachy]

I'm the week after you and my swelling is getting better, but is still warm sometimes.
Be very careful with this therapist. He is completely wrong about a window of time for ROM.

 

[Cinders2023]

Thank you @sistersinhim @EalingGran and @trinket for the encouraging words. At 5 weeks today, I have taken a few unassisted steps in the last week, but mostly use the walker in house as I can pack items in the attached bag to take with me from room to room. I have been using a cane when I feel strong enough and for outside walks each day for the last week.
My husband is going back to work next week and I thought I’d be confidently walking on my own by then. Its helpful to see others have been where I am and made it though this mess to the other side!

Be very careful with this therapist. He is completely wrong about a window of time for ROM.

Agreed. I plan to take the information he offers and apply it when it helps, toss it when it doesn’t. So overwhelming when dr and therapist both insist they know everything and I should just blindly listen. Every person cannot possibly have the same exact healing experience. I have seen that just by reading experiences here.

 

[ARH]

Any other super-swellers out there? How many more weeks of constant battle over swelling can I expect? BTW I am still using a walker, trying to switch to a cane the last couple of days, but don’t trust that new knee to hold me up yet.

Hi Cinder, My 7 week anniversary was yesterday (12/19/22 TKR) The meloxican I took that was prescribed after surgery did a number on me and I can't take any nsaid now. And I am a super-sweller. Two things that help me are: 1) I'm using my over the knee post op socks again (don't like it but they really help!) Just on my right new knee leg.
2) When I'm resting and mostly at night, I'm back to using the calf squeezers that had also been prescribed prior to my surgery. I have seen whole leg (Intermittent pneumatic compression devices) used primarily for DVT prevention. But they are also reportedly used for better circulation and healing. Mine are just lower leg but with my ice machine on the knee they work perfectly.
My scar looks great, I am able to now (after 6weeks and total scar heal) go into hottub and do good stretches. Then ice and elevation. Hottub may seem counter for swelling but I feel much better after.
The frustration to do more is very real. But I am glad that I now have ROM at 120. I'm just beginning to work on going up stairs, and working on balance. Still limited on standing for long or walking any distance.
Good luck!

 

[beachy]

I just hope he doesn't try to manually bend your knee.

 

[JusticeRider]

I plan to take the information he offers and apply it when it helps, toss it when it doesn’t. So overwhelming when dr and therapist both insist they know everything and I should just blindly listen

Cinders, I agree with @beachy , It’s easy to give in to the pressure and do things in pt that cause swelling and pain later. I love my pt and have been with them through 4 surgeries, but this joint replacement is something else. I ended up taking a long break from pt. Even though they stopped forcing my knee when I asked them and respected my wishes, I still felt the mental pressure from them, warning about the ‘window’ etc. They made it sound like if I didn’t get my bend soon, I would be a 45 yr old cripple and never be normal again It was not good for my morale so I stopped going. I will go back when my knee is less reactive, I have little more ROM, and it feels ready for more strengthening work. Meanwhile, my mental state is much better doing my own pt.You may have a totally different experience though! At least you’re going into it knowing what you want and don’t want. I didn’t know any better when I started.

 

[Cinders2023]

I'm using my over the knee post op socks again

This is something I plan to ask about at my dr visit next week. I frequently wore compression sleeves (ankle to knee) when sitting on long car and plane rides pre surgery, but figured I’d need something that went over the knee to be helpful.

I am able to now (after 6weeks and total scar heal) go into hottub and do good stretches.

I can’t wait for my incision to heal and get into a hot bath. I used to do stretches pre surgery to loosen up the old knee at the end of the day. As long as I can get back out

I just hope he doesn't try to manually bend your knee.

Tomorrow is 2nd PT. Going to find out if he meant what he said or if I can trust him to not overstep.

@JusticeRider I know what you mean by the pressure they put on us to be at some number by a certain date. I wonder if this is insurance driven? My PT let me know I was authorized for 6 visits (2 weeks) then have to complete the 6 before my insurance will allow a new approval for more visits. I keep wondering why the drs and PT haven’t figured out what the people on this forum have? Maybe because they haven’t lived it.

 

[JusticeRider]

I keep wondering why the drs and PT haven’t figured out what the people on this forum have?

I know! I mean how many thousands of people from all over the world come through BoneSmart sharing their stories and proving that the ROM keeps coming for months and even years? The evidence is overwhelming. My next door neighbor told me it took her 2 yrs but she regained her full range of motion after her TKR. I just don’t know why the docs and pt’s have to threaten and scare us. It really makes recovery so much more stressful and painful

 

[JusticeRider]

Also: I find a compression sleeve really helpful for swelling! I got a stretchy, lightly compressive knee sleeve by DocMiller on Amazon and ended up getting another of the same so I could rotate through the wash.

 

[Softsong]

I had my ltkr on January 3, 2023. I found this forum a couple weeks prior and have been reading, but not posting until today. I thought I had done enough research to have the knowledge to get through my recovery with little to no problem. Boy, was I fooling myself. at 4 weeks, 2 days I still find that spending even small amounts of time on my feet cause my knee to swell up. I am spending most of my days icing and elevating still. My surgeon is a 2-3 hr car ride away and my 2 week follow up was a miserable affair that took 3-4 days to recover from. I have my next appointment in 2 weeks and was wondering if anyone had advice for minimizing the agony of the car ride? I rode in the back seat last time with ice pack and leg elevated best I could. I was so stiff and sore I could barely move at my dr visit. Hoping maybe just being further along will be helpful. Any other super-swellers out there? How many more weeks of constant battle over swelling can I expect? BTW I am still using a walker, trying to switch to a cane the last couple of days, but don’t trust that new knee to hold me up yet.

I had my surgery the same day, and also had a two hour ride to the doctor for two week checkup. So, I know how rough it is. The whole day was so long between travel and while I was at 0 extension and 90 flexion, my incision was infected and they debated admitting me to the hospital. I got a prescription for antibiotics and a steroid pack and I had to text pictures every day. I was going to suggest riding in the back seat, but you already did that. I have a big old Buick and was able to slide in from one side, and slide over to the other door with a pillow for support. I carried ice in a chest and used ice packs. Still, like you, it took a lot out of me.

 

[beachy]

@Cinders2023
How was your PT today?

 

[Cinders2023]

@beachy PT went ok. I had a morning session and I was more able to do the exercises than I did at the end of the day at my previous session. They added about 8-10 new stretches or exercises that I had not done at home, but all of it was doable. I even managed my first step up/down a curb today. Yay me! I asked for the list of exercises we did so I could do them at home and they told me they wanted to make sure we had not over done anything before sending me home with a list. Sounded safe. I will do the things I remember tomorrow, so long as I’m not too sore. I’m resting and icing now, but seem no worse for wear. I took a few steps without the cane or walker at home this morning before PT so it seems I am building some strength (and confidence) if I look at week over week progress.

@Softsong I will have my next dr visit next week and dread the long car ride. Hope it’s not as miserable as the last one. Going to be bring the ice chest and ice packs again too. Sorry to hear your incision got infected. Hopefully you are healing. My flex & extend numbers are pretty terrible, something like 85 and -10 but they are slightly better than previously so I’ll take it. Trying not to get too hung up on them, I just want to set a near goal of driving. So I only need enough bend to sit in the car comfortably right now!

 

[Jockette]

They added about 8-10 new stretches or exercises that I had not done at home, but all of it was doable.

It may have been doable at the time, but that’s a lot of exercises for a 5 week old knee. You really don’t need that much!

Regaining our ROM does not require forceful bending or painful exercises.
Regaining our ROM is more about Time than repetitions of a list of exercises.

Time to recover.
Time for pain and swelling to settle.
Time to heal.

Our range of motion is right there all along just waiting for that to happen so it can show itself.

In the general run of things, it doesn't need to be fought for, worked hard for or worried about. It will happen. Normal activity is the key to success.

And, just so you know, my ROM continued to improve well into my second, and even my third, year post op, without doing a list of exercises.

 

[beachy]

My tkr was a week after yours. I just started PT. Had my second appt today. 8-10 new exercises does seem like a lot. How many reps?
Please be careful not to over do it.

 

[sistersinhim]

I, too, think that's too many exercises to add at one time. Try just one or two of them and see how you do.

 

[Cinders2023]

beachy Jockette sistersinhim The reps were 10 or for 1 minute depending on the task. Although even when I wrote it, it sounds like a lot but some of the new things were:

roller pinning (is that even a word?) my calf and hamstring

shifting weight from foot to foot both front/back - like taking a step and side to side

practicing taking a step over a foam speed bump looking thingy

a calf stretch and a hamstring stretch different from the one my home PT did

I have been I & E and taking it easy the rest of the day but still was able to take my 10 minute outside afternoon walk. It was 63 degrees today, so I HAD to spend a little time outside. Tomorrow will tell the tale if it was too much, for tonight I’m going to be optimistic…….which isn’t my true nature.

 

[beachy]

Only you will be able to know if its too much. My PT told me to do the exercises 3x day 10 reps each. That's not happening LOL. She isn't able to know the extent of my ADLs which I consider to be home PT.
Our weather was outstanding yesterday, too!
Personally, I walked a lot during my first tkr recovery in place of all the PT exercises. But, that was me.
If you start to hurt and swell cut back and ice.

 

[benne68]

was able to take my 10 minute outside afternoon walk

That's excellent for so soon post-op!

Keep walking, and don't worry about exercise reps -- you're still in the early recovery phase and it's much too soon for strength training. Focus on stretches and movements that don't cause pain.

You're doing great for just a month into this year-long recovery!

 

[Cinders2023]

Had my 3rd PT session this morning, it was ok. We did the same things we did on Wednesday and none of it was painful. We ended the session with measurements and I’m now 5 and 90 degrees. I definitely see improvement over what I could do last week, but I suspect the honeymoon is about over. He insisted swelling has nothing to do with not getting the bend back. He said it was from lack of movement. I have not been sitting around for 5 weeks so that irritated me. We might have to break up.
I am walking 2500-3000 steps a day and exhausted by end of the day. Am I being a wimp?

 

[Jockette]

He insisted swelling has nothing to do with not getting the bend back. He said it was from lack of movement.

He is wrong. Consider looking for another PT, I don’t think this one is going to help you much, and you don’t need the negativity.

I am 6 years post op. I fell recently, and landed right on my PKR. It swelled up. Guess what, I could hardly bend it. As the swelling went down over time I regained my previous ROM, without doing any exercises!

Regaining our ROM does not require forceful bending or painful exercises.
Regaining our ROM is more about Time than repetitions of a list of exercises.

Time to recover.
Time for pain and swelling to settle.
Time to heal.

Our range of motion is right there all along just waiting for that to happen so it can show itself.

In the general run of things, it doesn't need to be fought for, worked hard for or worried about. It will happen. Normal activity is the key to success.

 

[Jockette]

Am I being a wimp?

No, not at all! You are coming along fine!