TKR POCTDB recovery thread

[Poctdb]

Ha! Just got back from the gym.....couldn’t wait to put the new bike together.

On a recumbent bike at my regular settings at my gym....I can ride the bike.....10 revolutions forward and backwards. I could have done more but baby steps. It hurt but at the same place heel slides do. So a possible replacement for heel slides?

Touché....I am emailing the therapist. Thursday appointment I expect to be on a bike. For at least 10 revolutions forward and backwards.

 

[Celle]

On a recumbent bike at my regular settings at my gym....I can ride the bike.....10 revolutions forward and backwards. I could have done more but baby steps. It hurt but at the same place heel slides do. So a possible replacement for heel slides?

When using the recumbent bike, you should have the resistance set at zero. At this stage of recovery, you're using it to help with flexion, not to regain strength.
Yes, you can use it to replace heel slides.

 

[Celle]

The PT emphasized how far ahead I was at 95/0 and was thrilled with me walking a mile already. BUT then he started to assess other areas.
mess.....
No hip strength and great imbalance in the strength that is there (those hip adductors have been in vacation for 20 years due to the crooked leg impacting both legs) very little balance one legged on either leg.
Not enough extension according to the PT to even try the bike... thoughts...I said “Seriously?” “Nope no bike till 115 flexion.” says the PT.

Well, what does he expect at only one month post-op and with your past history? He's comparing you against some arbitrarily-set standard of what is "normal" and he's not making any allowances for individual factors.

As for "no bike", many people use the bike this early in rehab. Even if they can't do a full rotation, just rocking the pedals back and forth is helpful.

 

[Poctdb]

@Celle
Thank you. This is what I thought also. I had read of many people on the site celebrating when they were able to do a full rotation early in recovery of flexion.

My bike is always at zero resistance due to how bad Mr. Knee was.....some day maybe it will go to a two. ( bike starts at level 1).

 

[Poctdb]

@Celle
Sorry to bother you again but is there a article on how to send a link to someone so I don’t place a long post on another persons string?

 

[Jockette]

You really don’t need to post a link, your surgery buddies, as well as everyone else, will see your thread has a new post and will read it.

Great job on the bike!

I was dumb the first time I rode the bike at 3.5 weeks, and with the idea that I had to work really hard in PT, I forced the rotation, crying the whole time. I was very shaky, also, and it caused me a lot of extra pain.

Thankfully I found Bonesmart about a week or so later and learned about a gentler approach.

 

[Celle]

We don't have an article on how to post a link, but I can try to explain.

First, you need to copy the link address/URL of the site you want someone to go to. That's the address at the top of the page that starts with something like "www." or "https://".

Then go back to the post you're making and select the 7th icon at the top of the posting box - the one with a little green cross under it -

A box like this will come up:

Paste the link address/URL into the box and select "Insert".
And there you have it:
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/poctdb-recovery-thread.54817/page-5#post-1330221

 

[alexthecat]

You can also just type or paste the URL that you want to use directly into the text of your post. The forum software will automatically convert it to a link.
www.bonesmart.org/forum

Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk

 

[Poctdb]

@Celle thanks

 

[Poctdb]

Emailed the PT.....he will “certainly add the bike into my treatment plan”

 

[Poctdb]

PT yesterday. I am legal to drive...

PT attempted manual manipulation and was refused. It is in the chart that “patient requests no manual manipulation.”

After warmup, I have no stairs so we started on them.... I headed to the big stairs.....”No...we will start on the aerobic step up box.” Way easy...one riser to raise it.....way easy. Off to the big stairs...up is fine foot over foot. Down can be done but there is not quite enough extension as of yet. My hip hikes up just before hitting the floor. Also, “Why does your ankle roll to the side?” Grrr....I thought I had fixed that in home PT. DRAT!

PT put weights on my ankles and says” Sit there and dangle your legs over the edge of the table for 5 minutes.” “Why....what does this do?” I asked. He said, “it is the only way I can think of to slow you down a little.”
Actually, it felt good.

Bike for 10 minutes at the end. Flexion was 104 but is not a comfortable 104. So...more work to be done. But as the PT said” Have patience. You can’t get it back in one day....”

And a joke....
Did you hear about the butter? Well, I really can’t spread it around.

 

[Celle]

PT attempted manual manipulation and was refused. It is in the chart that “patient requests no manual manipulation.”

Well done for refusing to allow that.

PT put weights on my ankles and says” Sit there and dangle your legs over the edge of the table for 5 minutes.” “Why....what does this do?” I asked. He said, “it is the only way I can think of to slow you down a little.”
Actually, it felt good.

Please don't allow weights, in whatever capacity.
They aren't necessary for knee rehab and they could do harm.
Saying no to therapy - am I allowed to?

 

[Ladyala]

Hooray for driving, that's great!

 

[luvcats]

Isn't driving nice? I didn't go far, but just being out unescorted in the sun with the radio up made me feel pretty good. A few minutes of normal.

 

[Poctdb]

Just got back from the gym. Lifted upper body and did 15 minutes of really S-L-O-W forward rotations on the bike.

SO SLOW....that the bike would not even stay on...I had to time it on my watch.

Two people at the gym (bless them) tried to explain to me how to turn the bike on....then I explained Mr. Knee...
They were so complimentary “Wow you are doing this? That is great!” Then....” Should you be doing this?”

I am so glad to be out of the house.....

 

[Celle]

Good one! Congratulation on being able to do a full rotation on the bike.

 

[luvcats]

Hooray for full rotations!!! I'm planning to hit the seated elliptical on Monday. I can't wait to see how close I am to full rotation.

 

[ElanorG]

That's so great you are back at the gym! I can't wait to get back to the gym, even if I am just doing upper body stuff I know I would feel better. I feel like all the corpuscles are just stagnating!

 

[Poctdb]

I have always exercised. The shower after exercise is like a reward....taste the sweat....know that you have worked. (That may be TMI...but it is what it is.)

In my case also, exercise comprises a great deal of my social life. (Tennis, skiing, pickleball, walkathons)
I am so grateful to be able to have a “reward shower” again.
I explained it to the PT “I understand that all of the things you have me do have a purpose but being on the bike makes me feel like I am in the gym working....not like I am a patient.”

 

[luvcats]

“I understand that all of the things you have me do have a purpose but being on the bike makes me feel like I am in the gym working....not like I am a patient.”

Yes. This. I have a date to hit the rec center this afternoon with Beloved and I am possibly inappropriately excited. lol It's such a normal thing to do. Well, sort of normal. I usually like to go at 10 am, but my carer has been slacking on the self care, so it's time to make this about both of us.