PT and surgery on the other knee

[maumeefootball]

I will be getting my TKR for the right one in two weeks, which will be 10 weeks post op from TKR on left. My concern is how to keep working the PT on the left especially the first couple of weeks post op. My PT had me going twice a day every day after surgery. This would mean three sessions per day two for the right and one for the left. It takes me about one hour and forty five minutes to complete a full session at the gym.

Anyone out there who has been through something like this have any thoughts or suggestions. I have had to really bust my tail to get improvement and I don't want to backslide.

 

[Josephine]

Wow - that sounds like something of a punishment routine! Thing is, you'll need to pull back considerably to let yourself recover from the new op. You can't keep up a routine like that without consequences. Can you talk to your PT about working out something a bit more user-friendly? I can't think that cutting back for a month or so is going to be that bad for your left knee. You will be doing some PT after all. You should also discuss it with your OS. He might expect to have some input in it.

 

[backbay38]

I had only one TKR Maumee -- but when my PT released me at 2 months and sent me back to my rgular gym workouts he said to do them as I had done before the TKR - 2 or 3 times a week. I have been doing the leg exercises 3 times a week - with just walking on weekends. But I do stretches for both legs every day and work my quads (straight leg quad sets) and bending daily. You won't want to hit the gym right after your second TKR so while you're doing the leg lifts et al at home -- just do what you can for your older knee 3x a week. The newest knee will need the most attention and as long as you keep up the bending and a little strengthening you should be fine for the other, I would think. If all goes well you will be walking a fair amount within a couple of weeks anyhow and that by itself is really good exercise. Plus of course as soon as you have enough bend in the new knee to do the bike -- that will be exercise too for both legs! Good luck!!!

 

[Texas]

You must be very strong to do that. But I do envy you. If you want to do something you do. I think you will be just fine...No I know it...Kim

 

[Judles]

What kind of boot camp is THAT???

 

[Gringo]

wow. Makes me want to pick up a case of beer and go hide in the woods.

 

[stives]

I had exactly six months between my two TKRs. After the first one I had no PT except for the three days in hospital, then I was sent home with a little booklet telling me what exercises to do. Because I was a bit of a wimp, I suppose, and the exercising hurt, I don't think I did anything like as much exercising as was recommended, and certainly nothing at all like the amount you have done. You will therefore probably be at the same stage after ten weeks that I was at after 25 weeks!

I was a bit concerned that my left (first TKR) knee wouldn't be up to coping with walking, standing etc when my right knee was replaced, three weeks ago today. However, it has been much much easier than I thought. Both legs are now really strong, and I am walking well without aids. I think the exercises I am now being much better about doing are helping both knees, so the left one is improving too.

I still don't have any PT othen than what I do myself at home. I do have an exercise bike, which I've managed to get round in a full circle for the first time today.

You sound as if you are a young, otherwise fit football player, whereas I am a 66 year old granny who wrecked her knees playing badminton 30-odd years ago. If I can find huge improvements in doing pretty minimum exercise post-op, then I would think you have nothing to worry about.

I would say that after the first week post-second-op, the first knee seemed stiffer than it had been for some time, and I am sure this was due to the fact that I did virtually no walking for the first week. I usually walk everywhere, usually at least a mile every day. So, I think you are right in thinking that the forced lack of exercise to start with might affect your first knee - but it's a very temporary blip. As soon as you get going again your first knee will take off from where it had got to.

Best of luck for op number 2. It was much easier second time round for me, so hopefully you will have the same experience!

 

[maumeefootball]

Thanks to everyone for the info. I do have appts set up prior to surgery with both my PT and OS so I plan on getting their input. I forgot to mention that when I am under they will do a MUA on my left knee. The OS does this as a standard procedure whenever someone has both knees done. One of my fears is that the PT told me I had to get going with bending and movement right away after the manipulation or I could experience a real set back. Definitely don't want that to happen.

I cam out of the hospital at 62 degrees forsed ROM and I am now at 110 forced after 8 weeks, so I don't want to go backwards after all of that sweat and tears.

 

[Josephine]

I think you're worrying too much. That can be counterproductive all on its own!

 

[marennorge]

I had my right knee done 9 weeks after my left. I did pre-surgical exercises for both knees and did PT exercises on both knees between the surgeries. After the second surgery, kept on working on both knees. That's the only way to keep from backsliding, and it is doable.

Marennorge
LTKR -- May 12, 2008
RTKR -- July 19, 2008
New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA

 

[maumeefootball]

Mare

Thanks for the reply. It's good to hear first hand from someone who has been through the same thing as what I will be going through. I plan to keep doing as much as possible for the left knee once I have surgery on the right.

 

[calling_all_angels]

football,
Thats all you can do is keep that left knee moving. And with all you are doing now, you should do just fine.

 

[Texas]

wow 68 to 110 that is terrific...........Keep it up.......I am at 6 weeks should I start doing weights, lil ones but for my quads . How does that ork with bending? Does it jst make your knee stronger in general ? Sorry all the questions but I didnt think about weights.............Thanks in advance ...........Kim

 

[lakelover]

My PT never said anything about weights. She thinks that walking, using the bike and just everyday activities will strengthen the leg enough. In a book I read it said most people get where they want to be with this but if you want to be stronger for certain sports etc you can do weights after 6 months out. There are all different ideas on this. The book I have also shows people using machines earlier than this, but I don't have any. I am just sticking to my bike and walking and a few ROM excercises, but I do not plan on doing any heavy duty sports either.

 

[maumeefootball]

My PT regime consists of about 25 different exercises and about 45 total sets. All of these are presribed by my PT. They are divided evenly between strengthening and stretching. I was using a weight on my ankle about two weeks after surgery doing leg raises and extensions from a variety of positions. Gradually she kept adding exerecises. Currently I do 6 sets of leg extension on a weight machine and 6 sets of leg flexion or leg curl on the same machine. I also do one and two leg leg presses, and an inner and outer thigh machine. As I gain strength the PT will increase the weight, sets, or hold time. So I may start with one set of ten with just a pause at the top then pause 3 seconds then 5 seconds then add sets then add weights. It's not as complicated as it sounds. There are also different exercises that build strength but aren't done with weights, chair stands are an example. In addition I do some one leg balancing exercises where I stand on the leg and bounce a ball off a trampoline and catch it. Then there are several stretching exercises. It has worked very well for me so far.

Just a word of caution every PT has a different routine designed to get you well. Be careful trying to mix two programs together as it may not fit into the long range plan for you. Also you need to be careful trying to do an exercise you may not be ready for. There has to be a gradual build up to certain exercises you just can't do them right away.

 

[Texas]

Then you really do have the bionic knee Lol, You are doing fantastic. I will discuss with my Dr then, but good to know, I didnt even think about weights. Dont know why...........Thanks for all the info.........Kim

 

[lakelover]

Would you mind telling me your age and athletic experience and how long ago you had your first TKR. ? Hate to get too personal but you are doing soooooooo much more than my PT even mentioned when I was discharged at 6 weeks out. Had my surgery 8 weeks ago.

I am a 60 year old "granny" and I wrecked my knee when my bicycle skidded out in some sand about 25 years ago and then arthritis set in.

I have no intention of being any type of athlete. I hope to be able to take a nice walk, maybe do a little hiking, ride my bike around the neighborhood and basically not have to think about getting pain in my knee from any of it.

I am wondering if I was short-changed in PT. ? Frankly at my age I don't think it is realistic. But I am concerned maybe I should do much more than I am doing.

My exercise per day is a group of ROM exercises for about 20-30 minutes followed later in the day by either a walk as far as I can go until legs get sore or ride the bike on the trainer a little. I am just working up to 5 minutes on that. And then I do housework or a little in the flower bed whatever needs doing that day.

Anybody else care to comment. If my PT is way off I will call the PT and find out their theory behind my "program".

 

[Jamie]

Lakelover.....I am the same age as you are and I can tell you that at 2 months out, your activity level is more than what I was doing! Remember that everyone is different and you are doing just fine!!! Don't worry that others are "ahead" of you and doing more. As long as you are making progress, that's all that matters!

 

[lakelover]

Thanks Jamie, I know on these boards there are people of all ages and they always don't tell them. A 40 year old person ( the age of my son) is way ahead of a person 60 years old just by virtue of age. I read of someone a month out, riding a bike 10 miles. I can maybe stay on mine 5 minutes- on a good day. Guess we can't compare apples and oranges or younger and older people.

 

[Jamie]

Age is somewhat a factor, but a LOT of folks on the forum were VERY active before their surgeries. I think activity level is an even bigger issue. I don't know about you, but I am not what anyone would call a "sports" individual!!