TKR Post knee surgery realism

[PegGar16]

@Trey1 This is NORMAL!!! It was also very hard for me with the first one because I am very independent and never slowed down. I think you mentioned you were from the north east so you have a couple of months to plan your garden. My planting schedule is different so I have been mapping out my beds and planning what I am planting monthly. My son built me some raised beds which I am so thankful for. I had my second knee done on Jan 24th and feel I was better mentally prepared for it. The lack of energy is there but I take little power naps during the day. I do a couple hours of computer work and have to take a break. It also doesn't help that I can't get a good night's sleep yet,

 

[Trey1]

Ok so I am 8 weeks post surgery. My range of motion seems fine but straightening is an issue. At least according to PT and dr. Not horrible but they make me think it should be better. I am currently at 5 and I know they want it down to 0 or 1. So I am really working hard on straightening. Elevating my leg for more than 15 min becomes painful. I try to push through the pain but stop if it gets to be too much. Can anyone share their experiences with this issue.

 

[FourCats]

The best “exercise“ I found to help is to use a footrest and move it out so the knee is not on it. Let the knee naturally “sag”. I started with two minutes and slowly built up to five. I could feel the pull behind the knee. After the exercise I gently massaged behind the knee to loosen it up.

 

[hawk2go]

Whatever you do DO NOT weigh your leg down to straighten your knee. My RTKR straightened on a slightly faster schedule than my LTKR. With my LTKR, I let my PT lean in on the knee with his hands on the quad above and the shin below. I cried during those sessions. By the way, I kept my LTKR in the air (elevated), but it took months to comfortably elevate the RTKR. I'm fine now.

With the right I did the exercise @FourCats mentioned above and also the one lying on my stomach. You lie down on your bed with the knee positioned just off the edge. Just let the leg hang and gravity will gently help your extension. Initially, I could only tolerate a few seconds before I stopped but now I can hang for a while but usually stop at 10 mins because I'm bored. In that same position I also do hamstring curls. When you're more comfortable, walking does wonders for extension especially if you focus on the full heel-to-toe motion and stride length.

At 2 months, you should already be seeing some improvement and if you're like most of us, you lean right into that improvement and land on the ODIC bench. Slow and steady, you got this!

 

[glidefloss]

The best “exercise“ I found to help is to use a footrest and move it out so the knee is not on it. Let the knee naturally “sag”. I started with two minutes and slowly built up to five. I could feel the pull behind the knee. After the exercise I gently massaged behind the knee to loosen it up.

Hi @FourCats, @Trey1 ,

I too found that using gravity to do the work in re straightening the leg was a very effective and low impact exercise. Starting out with a few seconds and gradually extending the time. The first attached picture illustrates how I did the exercise FourCats mentioned.

I'm now at the stage where I hang 2 4lbs dumbbells (second attached picture) for 5-6 minutes. My extension has been 0 but I still do this exercise every other day or so, just to make sure the leg doesn't retrogress.

My elevation threshold is closer to an hour when I rest my legs against a wall at a fairly upright position. I'm not sure if it's pain I feel at that time or just fairly intense discomfort (which I attribute to my legs "longing" for its blood. )

Best of luck on your recovery!!

 

[benne68]

@Trey1 I want to second @hawk2go 's warning:

Whatever you do DO NOT weigh your leg down to straighten your knee

Using weights on your leg this early in your recovery will only cause you pain and may even set you back.

Please don't let your PT push you to do anything that is painful. That's counterproductive to your recovery. Contrary to what many PTs tell us, there is no evidence of a “window of opportunity” for ROM. Just read through this site -- many of us continue to gain ROM over time -- and some of our members even report improvement into the second year!

Your extension is fine for just 8 weeks out. For many of us, gaining extension takes longer than gaining flexion. You have lots of time to progress as you continue to heal. You are doing great!

 

[CamGram]

@Trey1 your recovery sounds so much like my first one. I worried a lot that I would never get my right knee straight, yet here I am six months later with a straight right knee. (My physical therapist recently confided that she worried about my progress so much in the beginning that she wondered if I would ever get my knee straight.) I never pushed or allowed her to push my knee to straighten - it just did so with time.

I worried that I would never want to go through another knee replacement, yet five months later I was happy to get a second one. This recovery is going great; my (same) therapist recently told me that I am doing so well that she doesn’t know what to ask me to do! I’m not doing anything differently; my left knee is just recovering at a different pace than my right.

Recovery definitely has its ups and downs but it’s a whole lot easier than living with arthritic knee pain! You’ve got this!

 

[Trey1]

Thanks to all. I just got a brace that I use 3 - 4 times a day with increasing times. It doesn’t hurt, can be a bit uncomfortable. So taking your advice, I am just going to try to stop worrying and be patient. I am very fortunate - have very little pain although there is stiffness. I really can’t do more than continue my exercises and hope for the best

 

[MaryCat]

Ok so I am 8 weeks post surgery. My range of motion seems fine but straightening is an issue. At least according to PT and dr. Not horrible but they make me think it should be better. I am currently at 5 and I know they want it down to 0 or 1. So I am really working hard on straightening. Elevating my leg for more than 15 min becomes painful. I try to push through the pain but stop if it gets to be too much. Can anyone share their experiences with this issue.

I’m about 8 weeks TKR and 1-3 on straightening. Yes I struggle with keeping my leg elevated comfortably particularly while sleeping. Also more sore on cold days. My solution to this is to keep alternating pillows to different heights and positions. Not sure that helps you much also using memory foam or firm pillows so I can keep it just under my knee and have it straight. Now I’m going to try putting blankets under the mattress (saw that in one of the articles here to help w some residual swelling.

 

[Claire56]

I found that the pain when working on extension on knee 1 went away somewhere around 3 months. Not sure where the extension is right now but I believe it is straight to maybe a little negative. Knee 2 at 7 weeks still hurts some when trying to work on extension but I'm told it will improve as the swelling goes down. I think it gets straighter as the day progresses.

 

[Trey1]

Has anyone used a brace called dynosplint? My dr prescribed it to help with extension. You are supposed to gradually increase usage of it. Apparently it’s the length of time you wear it that counts, not so much the tension. I can get to about 1 1/2 hours at the most and usually less. when I am finished my leg feels really stiff and the back of my thigh is what I would call nerve painful. I am going to call the dr and the rep but wanted to see if anyone else has had experience with this. I have great Physical therapists who are gentle and do not push the limits so dealing with this is a not something I am used to
many thanks

 

[Jockette]

I am currently at 5 and I know they want it down to 0 or 1.

I see you posted this measurement on March 1. Has it improved? Even if it hasn’t, and extension of 5 is not bad at all, especially at your stage of recovery. Extension can often take a while to recover.

Yes, we have had members who have used this brace. Actually, I’m surprised it has been recommended for you. It sounds like your medical team is a bit impatient with your recovery, and/or they have a one size fits all protocol. But we are individuals, and not all one size.

Your extension will continue to improve with healing, and patience. Just plain walking can help, especially of you try carefully taking a longer stride, which will give a gentle stretch.

If the brace continues to cause pain, which makes it counterproductive, it might be time to consider discontinuing it.
Saying no to therapy - am I allowed to?

 

[Trey1]

So I just went through knee replacement #2. (1 week out) It’s funny how easily you forget what the first one was like and wonder why you put yourself through this again. My first surgery was very successful and somehow my mind erased all the pain and depression that came with it ( see previous posts). This time is different. My thigh and calf down to my ankle is purple bruised looking. And not just a little but it looks like someone painted my leg purple. I understand that this is not abnormal but my second name is Worrier. And of course there is the pain, the depression, the crying jags, etc. and I have the most awesome supportive family. But best of all I have this blog where I can cry my heart out and get the most awesome support. It’s been a big help! Thanks all

 

[Jockette]

Welcome to Recovery again. Please give us the date and we’ll add it to your signature for you.

Here’s a refresher course for you. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind all people are different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for you.“ Your doctors, PTs and BoneSmart are available to help, but you are the final judge as to the recovery approach you choose.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary

If you want to use something to assist with healing and scar management, BoneSmart recommends hypochlorous solution. Members in the US can purchase ACTIVE Antimicrobial Hydrogel through BoneSmart at a discount. Similar products should be available in the UK and other countries.

2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

don't overwork.​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

​

a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​

b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

​

the BoneSmart view on exercise​

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Activity Progression for TKRs​

6. Access to these pages on the website

​

Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.

And of course there is the pain, the depression, the crying jags, etc. and I have the most

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it

Post op blues is feeling depressed, weepy, nervy, shaky, fearful of the future, anxious, overwhelmed by what is happening to you, convinced it's never going to get any better and finally, uttering that most intense of all cries "I wish I never had this done!" It arises out of a variety of...

bonesmart.org

So I just went through knee replacement #2. (1 week out) It’s funny how easily you forget what the first one was like

This is why it’s so hard for us when others tell us they did…..so early in recovery. They don’t remember the details!

 

[Susie-Q]

Welcome back, Trey!

My leg (mid-thigh down to ankle) was all kinds of crazy shades of purple/blue, then green and finally yellow. It took many weeks for it all to fade away. Hang in there! You know what this is like and with time you will come out the other side with two new knees! Glad you have a very supportive family, that is a big deal!

Best wishes on your continued recovery.....

 

[LaJudes]

When l fell , it was 4 weeks after the TKR , in 2018 , l had no pain . However my knee turned 50 shades of blue and purple . Orthopedic sent me for an MRI , the knee replacement stuff was fine , but the muscle tissue around it was torn . l had to go back to surgery to have it fixed .