TKR New Left Knee . . . Check!!

[Mimi]

Niki, what a wonderful day for you!! You have weathered such a long recovery with a positive attitude and come through it so well. You are amazing! You have worked so hard at putting your life back to normal and now you are finally walking!

Best wishes for a continued recovery and keep up the great work you are doing with the walking! :yes 4:

Mimi

 

[Dhare63]

Congrats Niki, you should be so proud! Just take it easy, remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint! I know by what you're posting that your independance is just around the corner!

Dawn

 

[editor98]

Okay, now that I have 24 hours of walking under my belt, I have to say that I am IN AWE of all of you who were walking right from the start! How did you do this with a knee and leg right out of surgery??? I can't even imagine!

My muscles have come alive overnight, and they are letting me know that they don't like it! The top part of my calf muscle and my quad are feeling like I ran a marathon last night. I'm pretty sure the calf muscle cramping is from the three trips up and down the stairs yesterday because my other calf is complaining as well (just not as loudly). I'm about ready to do my exercises/stretches so maybe that will help work out some of the kinks. After that, my plan is to ice and elevate while I try to get some work done.

I've been walking with the cane to get to where I'm going in the house, but then once I'm there I'm walking with no assistance. And I really can walk without a limp but I have to really think about it, otherwise I'm limping. I did have some pain in the knee itself last night, which is why I took the hydrocodone. I'm thinking I may have to do that on the nights after I've had PT. I also iced most of the night last night.

I've told y'all before that my son and his family are living with us temporarily, so my 3-year-old granddaughter has witnessed this whole thing over the last 2 months. This morning every time she saw me she said with surprise in her voice, "Mimi, you're walking!" It was like it was a new miracle every time--even if she had just seen me walking 2 minutes earlier! Kind of like the way I feel too! :biggrin:
Niki

 

[Diney]

Hi Niki
You have got a knack of making everyone else feel great! However to be walking without a cane after what's happened to you really is amazing. What a boost to have your granddaughter appreciate what you are now achieving. Well done! consider the aching thighs and calf as badges of honour but don't do too much!

 

[Jamie]

Niki....boy, I miss reading your thread for a day or so and here you are WALKING all over the place!!! How wonderful! I'm sorry your muscles are giving you such fits. That's to be expected from the "vacation" they've had. Take things slow (in spite of what that PT wants) and you'll get there.

 

[carousel66]

Niki
I'm so happy for you and your increasing independence.
Sounds like your body has "noticed" :hissyfit: you have not been walking around.
Just take it slow and easy.
it is allllll about baby steps.

 

[grabbit97]

Glad to see that you are moving.... it's a step in the right direction eh? Keep up the good work, and keep us posted.

 

[Mimi]

Niki, I am so happy to hear of your daily progress! Those cramps, aches, and the pain is just your body coming back alive to a new "normal". This is such hard work, and you are such a trooper that you will have great success!

Your Granddaughter knows what wonderment it is to see you walk! My Granddaughter was only 8 months old when I had my surgery. But she knew that I was in pain and something was very wrong with Nonna. She was in a walker and came around the corner and saw me in pain and her little face expressed compassion without a word. These little people in our lives are so very special!

Mimi

 

[MsHeidi]

Yay! I'm so happy to read this as I checked in, Niki! You are on your way now. The nightmare phase is over! My knees are doing very well. If I could only get this chest problem to go away, I'd be great! I'm glad your waiting is finally over and you will be able to get on track. Don't be surprised if you have more pain in your leg now. You may need the pain meds, but that too shall pass. Merry Christmas!

 

[Rusty5]

Nikki: Just checking in to the forum this morning and read your latest news.
I am so excited for you. What a great feeling it must be to be walking on your new knee at last. You were so patient and it has paid off. God bless you........

 

[Jazyb]

Hi Niki, When I just read your post that you are walking it brought a lump to my throat - I am so happy for you and relieved that you can now move forward with your recovery. You have been amazing the way you have dealt with your fracture issue - an inspiration to me.

Now, remember to still take it easy and listen to your body

 

[editor98]

Man, oh man, my muscles are protesting this walking thing! My calf muscle feels like a huge knot that is on the verge of becoming a charley horse. I've been limping big time since yesterday afternoon because these muscles just don't want to give an inch. I have been stretching my calf and hamstring a lot and have also been putting heat on. But I think it is probably going to take some time for my muscles to realize that I expect them to carry me around again! I was complaining to my PT this morning about my calf muscle, so at the end he had one of the assistants come over and give me a leg massage. HEAVEN! I think I love this man! I'm going to be looking to finish every PT session that way from now on...

...and so, my PT is not happy with my flexion. He didn't measure me today, but just eyeballed my bend and stressed again that I need to be working hard on this at home. He thinks I am much too apprehensive about bending and that is holding me back. I think I'm apprehensive too--it hurts! He brought up the brace device again. Maybe he thinks if he keeps threatening me with that I'll miraculously gain 15 degrees! :th_heehee: I don't have PT again until Tuesday, so I'm going to have to get to the gym over the weekend and get on the bike. I still can't do a revolution in either direction--and that is frustrating me. I'm going to try to raise the seat up a little bit so I can at least get around, and then I can start lowering it from that point. I feel like I am making no progress on the bike whatsoever.

I so appreciate y'all checking in with me and all of your well wishes! It still feels so odd to be able to get up and walk! Looking back, September seems so long ago. It's kind of hard to believe....9 weeks! I am so glad that's over!
Niki

 

[Mountain Kat]

Niki, I really hope your muscles give you a break and soon! Hopefully they will remember the walking thing pretty quickly, but thank goodness for that massage! Do try raising the seat on the bike, as high as you can and still reach. Once you get it going around, it will get easier and easier, even as you lower the seat! You will get there before you know it!

 

[Mimi]

Niki, You continue to make great progress! Those muscles just have been on a long vacation and it is back to work time and they are not ready. You will get there soon. Try not to push too hard and if you have pain, listen to that pain and stop. Overdoing is a set back, so don't go there. Slow and easy wins the game!

Also don't let the PT push you with the ROM. It does come in time and now that you can put weight on your leg it should start to change. Can you do the bed hang? Can you use a 2 or 3lb weight on the ankle? I found this to be much more helpful than the month I spent in the dynasplint!! I would never recommend that torture device for anyone!! It takes up hours each day and it is not possible to ever sleep in it. I tried it and maybe gained 3 degrees in a month, Hanging off the bed with a weight was quicker and did not involve torture. I think you have had enough of that these past 9 weeks. If they threaten you with the "torture device" tell them to get lost. Ask for a different PT or go someplace else where they respect your wishes.

I was very lucky with my PT. They were not pushy and stopped measuring me and worked very hard on my walking...a long slow process for me.And they were very respectful of my pain that was never in any good control and they did not want to add to it. It was a fine line to walk, but they did and it helped me greatly.

Mimi

 

[Rusty5]

Nikki: May I suggest that you buy a bike? That's alot of work to go to the gym and put only a few minutes on the bike. Early on in my recovery, I was using my daughter's stationary bike and I had it in the dining room. I would use it several times a day and would "people watch" out the window. By using it, I mean I would sit on it and just rock back and forth on the pedals thinking "this is going nowhere!" but one day (and it didn't take long) I was able to do a complete rotation backwards with some cheating. After tasting success, I was hungry for more and eventually I did rotations forward and then pedaling with energy until I outgrew the bicycle. It was a cheap model and when I started doing full rotations, my heel would often touch the floor and sometimes when I brought my knee upward it would hit the console. Poorly designed bike! So I was pedaling with caution. Then I realized that I needed a better bicycle so I could progress. My husband and I went out one night and spent the money. The new bicycle is in the basement and a pleasure to use. I am so pleased that I can actually walk down to the basement and back up. It escalated after that--kinda like when you buy a dress and then find that you need shoes to match and oh, yeah, your purse needs to be updated. Well, I found that now I needed something to read on the bike---here comes the Kindle and oh no, there is not enough lighting in the basement to read, ok, buy the special cover with the light. All in all, it was fun to set up my special exercise cove and work my knee. It will happen to you, too, maybe you won't need the Kindle!!

 

[editor98]

Kat, Tomorrow at the gym I am going to raise the seat on the bike. I don't think it will take much to be able to get around backward, and I still do have a slight flex in my knee on the bottom pedal with where the seat has been. So maybe one notch up will do it for me. I think once I can go around it will be a lot easier to work on it.

Mimi, The dynasplint--I can't remember if that's what my PT called the device that he keeps talking about. I think it's something that you put on and then crank the flexion to your limit and keep it there for a while. It sounds like torture to me! I know that you've gained ROM over an extended period of time. That is encouraging! I'm trying not to worry about it, but it's hard when you have someone telling you every other day that it's something to be concerned about. The leg hang over the bed with a weight--are you talking about for extension where you're laying on your stomach? I do that one with a 2 pound weight. My extension is not bad--in the 1 to 2 range. I think the rest will come as the swelling eases up. It just seems to be the flexion that my PT is concerned about.

Rusty, I have a Kindle! I just don't have a bike--or a basement for that matter! The gym is only about a half mile from our house, and prior to my surgery I would be there four or five times a week. So going to the gym is kind of what I'm used to. I'd probably be one of those people to hang my laundry on my bike if I had one at home!

Okay, I just got out of a hot shower so I'm going to be a good girl and go do some flexion stretches before I hit the ice again. And I've given up and decided that I probably need to use the cane for a while until my muscles start cooperating and letting me walk. I was trying hard not to have to use anything, but you know, it's just not worth it! I will get there eventually.....
Niki

 

[Pumpkin]

Great to hear how you are progressing, your range will come along in your knee. It just has to get used to the idea that it is ready to get back to walking again. Does your gym have a warm water pool or jacuzzi? That is where I make my best ROM gains.
Steady as she goes, you will be fine. That is advice I need to take too!:th_heehee:

 

[karmigirl]

Niki,

I agree with Rusty, my hubby got me a bike (recumbent do to back issues) at about 3 weeks out. It was great I could hop on when I had a few minutes and do about 10min at a time. Sure beat going out when ever I wanted to use the bike. I feel it really helped with muscle strength and kept the knee much looser if I felt it tightening up. Now I need to get back to it to try and lose some weight.

Please don't let your PT bully you into the flexion thingy. You have to realize you are a bit behind (not do to your own fault) and now that you are walking and more mobile it will come. MHO but I would not let them talk me into the brace, if your OS is not happy with your progress I would think he would suggest it or possibly a MUA. You still have so much more time for ROM to come and you really can't rush the process.

 

[Jamie]

Niki....it is very important that you use some type of walking aid until you are strong enough to walk without a lot of effort. Remember that it's only temporary. But that extra support is helpful to developing the proper gait and it will help keep pain and swelling down if you are trying to force your walk so much.

 

[Retsel]

Niki, I agree with Jamie, use the cane and don't feel bad about it. My knees let me know when I could give up the cane especially around the house. Now I only use it when I am going to walk long distances or if there is ice or snow on the ground. Listen to your knee it will let you know when you don't need the cane as much. You are doing great!!!