TKR One month out from surgery, what should a typical day look like?

[KarriB]

Here's the activity progression for TKRs. There's good info here that I wish I'd had. I found that I did stay very close to the schedule even though I wasn't on BS, just because my knee felt better when I didn't do too much.

https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/activity-progression-for-tkrs.14334/

 

[theresav]

6 weeks today since my op and a visitor this morning found it hard to believe that I'm not bored. I think after years of running myself into the ground, working hard and pushing on in pain I am quite enjoying the luxury of "being lazy" too much to get bored.

I get bored but am enjoying the break immensely.

left knee 9/21/15
right knee 11/30/15

 

[theresav]

My pt said to walk but not to push it. Not even the walking. 4 weeks is not a long time. I'm venturing out a bit the last 2 weeks and believe me I feel it. Knee gets painful. Many of the therapists have never experienced the pain...
You have to be the judge of how much you can do.

left knee 9/21/15
right knee 11/30/15

 

[Knee2016]

@theresav, off topic but love your Westie! Mine passed away and I still miss her. I worry about how I'm going to return to work if I don't start preparing for walking and being active for an entire day. At what point will I start preparing for that? I will have to return to work at 12 weeks.

 

[newlybionic]

At 4 weeks my walking consisted of walking around my house, to outpatient PT and then walked into grocery store to ride a cart to pick up a few things. I live alone so I also defrosted some meals and some minimal chores around the house. You'll be surprised how much you will improve over the next 8 weeks. Just don't overdo. When I did it just slowed my recovery down.

 

[kneeper]

I would walk up and down the driveway a few times and then graduated to down a couple of houses and back. (Of course that was in the summer). Start by doing less than you think you can do--you have to make it back home.

 

[skigirl]

I would not worry about going back to work. At four weeks, I felt like my knee was very sensitive. it did not like to do much. At 8 weeks, things were much better--I could do more, but still rested a lot. My doc told me two hours down for every one hour up.

at 12 weeks, i began to feel like my old self. I biked 15 miles with my bike group and hiked with my hiking friends. You will be amazed at the difference between week 4 and week 12. BUT if you overdo in the beginning and make the knee painful and angry, it takes longer to come back. Respect your knee---it just had major surgery and it needs to rest and heal right now.

 

[Knee2016]

In the past 2 days I have rested, iced, and kept my knee up. I feel much better! I am trying not to worry about returning to work. But I can't wrap my mind around doing so little now and being ready. As each week passes, what do I need to do to be prepared to work 12 hour shifts on my feet?

 

[Celle]

Can you look at it this way? You aren't doing nothing. You are working hard at healing.

 

[Clipless]

...As each week passes, what do I need to do to be prepared to work 12 hour shifts on my feet?

When you're recovering from TKR there's no way to train for being on your feet for 12 hours! Here is what you need to accept; your knee is your private Dictator -your own little Mussolini. If you push your Mussolini too hard you will find yourself in a world of hurt. Take it easy and things won't be so bad. Listen to the knee.

 

[skigirl]

I think that you need to find something to do while you are resting and healing so that you don't feel like you are "wasting time". Reorganize your photos---take the 5 million photos off your phone!! call a friend to bring lunch to your house and eat with you. watch downton abbey form series one! I learned to knit using you tube and a website called craftsy. I bought the yarn and needles on Amazon and had them delivered.

Now is the time to do some of those things you have not been doing because you are too busy. Call a relative and chat for a while. It is North Carolina, so you can go outside for 15 min and enjoy the birds.

But, do not expect your knee to support your joint while you pressure it. Your bones need to heal and then you need to work on those muscles. For now, gentle walking is a good exercise---try five min., then 8, then 10. do everything in stages and see how you do afterwards.

Things will get better if you rest---NOT if you hop around on that knee!!

 

[Knee2016]

Reading everyone's words really is sinking in. The last 2 days have been vastly different. @Celle, your succinct phrase is perfect. I am working - just in a way I never have before. @skigirl, I have been coloring! Who knew that could be so soothing? And I have a project that I have wanted to complete with pictures. I need to get outside and walk. I have a steep driveway, so I'm going to have to go in stages. @Clipless, I have finally been listening to my knee. I guess a better way to ask the question is what do I need to do besides resting to keep progressing to the point where I can work on feet? Thanks to everyone - you have been my lifeline!

 

[KarriB]

I learned there was nothing i could do to raise my stamina. While in rehab the second time I told my OT I wanted to work on my stamina. Little did I know it would take another two-three months before I'd have much stamina. Next time around I'll be doing some coloring!

 

[shrdlu]

At 4 weeks, I was told specifically not to walk. And my PT would have been horrified if I was trying to walk on slopes. I was told not to be on my feet for more than 30 minutes, if it could be helped. At 4 weeks, I was working on straightening and bending. By 8 weeks, I was told I could walk without the cane and that I could spend more time on my feet. Now here is the big difference....at 4 weeks, my leg would swell up with very little activity and was stiff all the time. By 8 weeks, my leg would only swell a little bit and it took longer to swell, and it was stiff but would loosen up quicker. Between 8 weeks and 12 weeks, I was building up stamina, and I was beginning to go back to my normal routine. At 3 months, I wasn't planning my day around my knee anymore, although my knee wasn't 100%. My surgeon said that most people notice a big difference around 3 months (12 weeks). So heal the leg faster at the beginning and you will be able to do more later.

My tip for you is to sleep at night with your leg elevated. With my 2nd leg, this is what I have been doing, and I have experienced a lot less swelling overall and a lot less discomfort. With my 1st leg, I could never get comfortable those first few weeks. With my 2nd leg, I sleep in a recliner with a cushion and foam wedge (specifically made to elevate the leg-- my PT place ordered it for me) propping up my leg and elevating it all night long. I can do things this time around that I had trouble doing with the 1st leg-- like take naps on my side or on my stomach on the bed, even though I am only 2 weeks out. Control the swelling in the early weeks, and you progress faster overall.

You will have time to build stamina between 8 and 12 weeks.

 

[kneeper]

I have a steep driveway, so I'm going to have to go in stages.

Inclines are hard at first, so maybe the driveway isn't so good right now...
My driveway has a very slight incline and it felt ok.

 

[Knee2016]

What is befuddling to me is how PT's expectations vary so much!

 

[skigirl]

Well remember they were not all trained in the same place--and by the same person. Just like every other profession---some are really good, some are okay and a few are not so good. Somebody had to graduate at the bottom of the class.

 

[Knee2016]

Both the home health physical therapist and the outpatient physical therapist have a long list of exercises that they recommend are done at least 2 times per day. I have stepped way back on which exercises I do but still try and do something 2 times a day. I continue to have a very difficult time elevating my leg without it hurting my achilles or my lower back. I am icing all of the time and keeping it straight. My knee hurts behind the knee and on the sides. But I certainly am much better than I was a week ago.

 

[Celle]

I continue to have a very difficult time elevating my leg without it hurting my achilles or my lower back. I am icing all of the time and keeping it straight.

You don't have to keep your leg absolutely straight when you're icing and elevating. I wonder if that's why elevating is hurting you?
A little bend is OK.

Have another look at this article - you'll see that the pictures showing the correct way to elevate all show a littel bend in the knee.
Pain and swelling control: elevation is the key

 

[Clipless]

"Has anyone else had back issues prior to surgery and how did this impact your rehab and recovery from the TKR?"

@Knee2016 , Hi, I'm replying in your main thread because we're not supposed to keep starting new ones. Just ask your questions right here in ***Your Thread*** and people will reply. Anyway, yes I have pre-existing back problems. I also suffered a back injury following my LTKR when the hospital bed malfunctioned and crunched me like a bug. It hurt for months, but what can I say? I survived. My back feels pretty good now (knock on wood!), though the underlying problem remains. How did my back issue impact my recovery? If PT asked me to perform an exercise that would stress my lower back I either refused or requested a modified version. For example, when I perform straight leg lifts I bend my other knee and support my hips with my fists. I read in a previous post that your back hurts when you try to sleep with your TKR leg straight? I don't know who told you to do that, but you don't have to do it anymore. Go ahead and curl up on your side, or whatever makes your back happy. Be comfortable!