TKR October 6, 2016 2½ weeks post op'

[Celle]

You're doing extremely well. It is encouraging to hear of someone who is progressing without problems.
Do beware of doing too much, too soon. It's all too easy to go from "just right" to "doing too much".

 

[little red canoe]

You're doing extremely well. It is encouraging to hear of someone who is progressing without problems.
Do beware of doing too much, too soon. It's all too easy to go from "just right" to "doing too much".

Of course. We are taking a small holiday for two days tomorrow, and my PT said just the same thing!

 

[KarriB]

Your PT seems to have a good grasp of what a TKR needs. You're very fortunate!

 

[little red canoe]

Over did it. Knee is tight. ROM hasnt increased in last two weeks.. 114 still. I am OK with that. See the OS tomorrow and afraid of lecture. He got knee to 0 extension in surgery and reminded me he expected it to stay that way. Its not ..its at minus 10 I have very deep hip sockets and the other leg is about minus five.

During vacation I was on my feet quite a bit.. Did ice and elevate but we saw two museums and walked a bit out to a lighthouse. And shopped.

 

[Celle]

The temporary halt in ROM progress is probably due to reactive swelling from joining the ODIC (OverDid It Club).
You know what to do - rest, ice, elevate and medicate.

If your surgeon is disappointed, tell him you overdid things a bit and you're sure you will progress again soon. Don't be persuaded into worrying about it or working hard at trying to increase your ROM. It's still very early days.

Remember that ROM can continue to increased for a year or more after a TKR, so there's no need to rush.
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
[URL='https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/rom-its-worth-the-wait-for-rom.10703/']ROM: it's worth the wait for ROM
ROM: it's never too late to get more ROM![/URL]

 

[little red canoe]

Celle I kind of thought that.. You can get more mobile early or more flexible. There are tradeoffs. Its fun not being constrained to a chair..

I have also been negligent in icing elevating and for five days haven't used any pain meds. I am getting good sleep at night.

I want to kneel on a pad in a canoe by next summer. I probably need 120. The other leg only goes to 130 due to flab!

At any rate I am not letting my surgeon talk me into anything other than watching.

 

[Jamie]

Good idea, little red canoe! I think you're doing just great. We all overdo it at some point. It's normal as we "test drive" that new knee. But isn't it great to get a glimpse of what life is going to be like when these recovery days are behind you. Ahhhhh......true bliss!

 

[KarriB]

Lots of time to get ready for next summer. I realized nearly 2 years after TKR surgery that I could squat in a pool. Boy, was I surprised!

 

[little red canoe]

I've already caught myself squatting.. halfway to the floor I say to myself.. NOT YET.. what are you thinking?

 

[KarriB]

Yes, not yet! I was out of the habit due to years of knee pain and just never tried it. But I was in an indoor pool, got chilled and was squat walking around the pool to stay warm. My first PTs wanted me to squat 2 weeks after TKR. I tried once and said, no way!

 

[referee54]

Yes, not yet! I was out of the habit due to years of knee pain and just never tried it. But I was in an indoor pool, got chilled and was squat walking around the pool to stay warm.

Later on in my recovery, I would go to the gym and use the whirlpool there. I would allow my legs to get nice and warm and do gentle squats to gain a bit of ROM----the buoyancy and the heat from the jets helped considerably.

 

[little red canoe]

Its almost time to fire up the hot tub outdoors. We use it in the winter only. Its almost cold enough to fill it.. Its our post hike in the winter relaxation at below freezing temps

 

[Celle]

Do make sure that your incision is absolutely, completely healed, with no scabs or open areas before you soak in that hot tub, won't you?

 

[little red canoe]

Update. Scar is almost invisible It was closed by 13 days post op... Doc needs to see me in six weeks. Wants full extension and says that I have to work at it by elevating foot on ottoman and firing quads repeatedly Flexion is not an issue.. at 115.

Apparently he wants a better walking gait and says its attainable without pushing down on the knee..

I was permanently flexed at 20 degrees for many years and he says it work to stretch out the knee capsule in back

 

[KarriB]

My leg bridged the chair and ottoman for extension and now it's nearly in the negative or feels like it. It won't happen overnight, but most things worth waiting for don't happen overnight.

 

[Celle]

Did we post you this article before?
Extension: how to estimate it and ways to improve it

Since your knee has been flexed at about 20 degrees for a long time, you aren't going to achieve full extension any time soon. It takes a long time for tendons and muscles that have probably shortened a bit to stretch back again, and you need to do it gently and slowly. It isn't unusual for extension to take longer than flexion.

Your surgeon is correct that pushing down on your knee isn't the right thing to do.

You can help both your gait and your extension if you concentrate on lengthening your stride a bit, and making sure your heel is the first part of your foot to hit teh ground. Then roll your foot forward, and push off with your toes, like this:
Your PT should be able to help with your gait, too.

 

[little red canoe]

I have been walking with intention per the illustration you gave. Slowly and long stride.. Yet my husband can no longer walk fast and I leave him way behind.. He needs to have his foot rebuilt and his surgeon is reluctant as long as he has no pain. He covers miles just at a turtles pace.
I did read the article several weeks ago and will re read today.

 

[Celle]

I sympathise with your husband. Both my bionic knees work beautifully, but arthritis in my ankles and feet is now slowing me down.

 

[newlybionic]

You'll get to your full extension at your own pace. I too wasn't able to straighten my knee all the way before my TKR for many years. If it took me many years to be like that I figured it might take me just as long to get to where I want to be. I'm getting close every day.

 

[KarriB]

Little red canoe, you said on another thread that your OS prescribed one lyrica the night before surgery. What was the purpose? I thought it was for nerve pain or fibromyalgia. Just wondering and thinking ahead.