questions prior to knee replacement

[jacques1]

I haven't had my surgery yet, it is Jan 14th. I have been doing my
excercises faithfully but after my leg movement changes so quickly I
don't think they are helping. One minute I can walk so so and if I
sit down and get up to walk it can be so painful that I drag my leg.
The pain and movement of my leg changes drastically. Is that how
everyone was prior to knee replacement. It is very stiff and painful
in the back of my knee. I am just wondering if after knee replacement
this will change.

 

[Josephine]

Oh it will change, I promise! And you're bound to get those problems at the moment as your knee is worn out. But it's essential you keep the muscles in good trim. If you can, try to figure out which exercises make your knee most painful and either limit or avoid them. Concentrate on exercises that will build up muscles without using the knee too much.

 

[Gretchendz]

Welcome!

Jo is right. The point of exercising before surgery is not pain relief; that's why you need the surgery.

However, research shows the best predictor of how much mobility you regain after the surgery is how good a shape your muscles were in before the surgery. Therefore, the exercise you are doing now --building those muscles now, will help you immensely in a few weeks as you recover from your surgery.

The first weeks after the surgery will be tough; but at some point (usually 4-6 weeks for most of us) you will start to realize how much it has helped. You'll still be achy and stiff and sore--but that passes too (can take up to 18 months.)

The most important thing is to be realistic about your expectations. (and take your pain meds and stool softeners after the surgery!)

And--please ask anything at this forum--the folks here are great!

 

[Simon]

Try some isometric ones like tightening your quads and hold for 10 seconds

Simon

 

[Linda2]

Quad sets (like Simon said) and leg lifts are really helpful.

 

[JenniferG]

All that quad exercise will make recovery easier and quicker. Stick with it and good luck!

 

[Nursepair]

Good luck on the 14th Jaques, are you from Quebec? I live in Ontario. Sue

 

[beth1954]

Jacques,

That's exactly how my knee feels. If I am up and around and walk a short distance, it gets to be "not too painful." If I go to the grocery store and walk all over the place, I am miserable for a couple of days. I have the same problem too with when I have been sitting down for awhile, getting up is excrutiating. I can't put any weight on it at all. At work, I get up and then just lean on my desk for a few minutes.

I hope your surgery goes well. This forum has been so helpful for me. I just love everyone because they answer with exactly what they have experienced and are so encouraging too.

I hope you are out of pain soon!!!

 

[jacques1]

Sue
I live in Ontario, actually Ottawa.

Thanks for this site and to those who replied to my concerns.
My anxiety level is really high today. I really hope I am doing the
right thing. I went to get the equipment I will need for after and
I can't fit the grab bar on the bathtub wall. I have the bench.
Anyways, I am sure people had to adjust how to do things for the first bit.
I am even concerned if I will be able to take a shower in the hospital and
I'm not even there yet. Oh well, it seems that everyone here survived so
I am sure I will too.

I will post as soon as I can get myself home and at the computer.
Thank goodness for this site.

Debby

 

[SportHog]

Hi Debby

I found that the bathtub bench seat was great (2 legs outside the tub & 4 legs inside). That way you can manouver yourself into the tub safely. I used a walker with wheels and found it useful in transporting food from the fridge to the table on the seat. A cane was all I needed for stairs and walking (other than the walker). The elevated toilet seat is essential. Good luck, we will be here for you. I sent you a PM as well.
Cheers, Ross

 

[Josephine]

That's a neat idea, sporthog - haven't seen a bath stool like that. Where did you get yours from?

 

[SportHog]

Hi Jo:
I rented it from the red cross in Ottawa. It was a godsend. You sit on the edge outside the tub and then swing your legs over the tub and in. You need to keep the shower curtain under your rear end so water does not dribble outside. But, it does work well and is very stable. They call it a bath transfer bench.
Cheers, Ross

 

[Max Wallace]

Pre op exercis is very important just rember your knee is probably as bad at this point as it can get, but the muscle can get much stronger and will aid post op. I am 7 weeks post op and I have a new life. I have no knee pain I have some muscle pain I think some people have not seperated the two and they are very different.

 

[SportHog]

Hey Max, you are so right. Just wait until your 4, 8 12 month anniverseries and note the difference. It is so worth it.
Now you can enjoy all the activities you love.
Cheers, Ross

 

[Josephine]

One like this? Me like!

 

[SportHog]

Similar but my first one had 6 legs. 4 in the tub and 2 out. That was for the RTKR. The bench for the LTKR was like the one you show (4 legs). It worked just fine. Just make sure you distribute weight such as not to tip the bench.

Cheers, Ross

 

[calling_all_angels]

Hello Jacquest1,
I too am having TKR on the 14th. And I have been in so much pain that I
have not been able to do any of the excerises except for the ankle one.
And that keeps causing charlie horses in my leg. But after reading some of the old post I am really worried that since I am unable to do them that I will have a harder time getting back to normal living. I had been going to curves before the knee decided to cash it in. And I have still been going and doing upper body. But no one has said anything about it being a long recovery time they just say nothing to it. But now that I have read the old post, I have to confess that I am a little worried. Thanks for listening.
^i^

 

[Josephine]

Well, that's the problem - people don't tell you everything. But here on this forum I like to think we have a policy of always telling it as it is. You may well find it not quite so easy as someone who has done the keep fit stuff but that doesn't mean it will be impossible. You seem well motivated and still doing the upper body stuff (which is more than I am!) so I'm sure you'll do just fine. Just don't expect it to be all over in a couple of weeks, that's all.

And now you're here, you can come and rant, vent and whine all you want. There will be plenty of us here to pull you through! You joined a family here! Welcome to BoneSmart!

 

[calling_all_angels]

Thank you for the warm welcome Josephine. I wish that I had found this web site
weeks ago so I could have asked more question about the TKR when I was a the Doc's
I had hoped for a partial. My MD thought that I should ask about it and I did. But Ortho
DR. said there was not enough ? on the sides to do one. So total it is. But I still wish that he had come back in and told me instead of his Nurse. Not that she was not nice. It is just that I would have liked to know more on what the sides had to do with it?? I
understand that there is nothing left between the knee cap and joint, but I would have liked to talked to him as to why? So I could wrap my mind around it. But he is a good Doctor so I have to have that leap of faith that he is doing what has to be done.
Again thanks for listening.
^i^

 

[Josephine]

Oh that's no problem - I can tell you that! The 'not enough' the nurse mentioned was probably articular cartilage.

The knee is comprised of three compartments - the medial (inner), the lateral (outer) and the femoro-patellar (femur-knee cap). Unicompartmentals are only appropriate for cases where the damage is confined to either medial or lateral compartments, more commonly the medial. Another parameter for a uni is that the damage is not too widespread across the joint surfaces. It's only suitable if the cartilage and bone damage is confined to the central areas where the prosthesis would be sited.

If there is damage to the FP compartment, then a patellar button is required and that does not go with a uni as you can see in the image below. Some surgeons do actually do a patellar button alone where the damage is confined to the FPC alone but this is not very common and wouldn't work with a uni.

Sounds to me like there is no borderline choice here so he really is doing what's best for you.