TKR Sept 25 - left knee

[KJ24]

At fourteen weeks and I still cannot walk around without causing pain in my knee and calf muscle. Plus I cannot left my leg up more than two inches off the floor while sitting in a chair. When I saw the doctor two weeks ago he blamed it on needing to do more PT. I go to PT three times per week and do all the exercises that they give me. The day after PT my pain is the worse. When I told this to my doctor he said “PT will cause a litte pain but it is necessary to get the range of motion.” He then sent me home with a week of steroids and told me to get an evaluation from my back surgeon.

I had a discectomy back in 2019. While the knee surgeon doesn’t think my knee pain has anything to do with my back. I feel he has just brushed off my concerns about this knee replacement. I feel like I will be forever stuck with a bad “new” knee.

 

[Jockette]

I go to PT three times per week and do all the exercises that they give me. The day after PT my pain is the worse.

It seems that the PT you are getting is hindering your recovery, rather than helping it. Appropriate PT does not make you have more pain the next day. Since what you’re currently doing isn’t working, why not consider stepping away from formal PT and let your daily activities be the healing movement your knee needs.

When I told this to my doctor he said “PT will cause a litte pain but it is necessary to get the range of motion.”

“A little pain” is the operative phrase. What you describe is more than a little. Painful PT is old school. Many of our members rehabbed a gentle way and had great results. “No pain, no gain” has no place in this recovery, and yet most of us are told this.

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.

Myth busting: No pain, no gain

With rather blatant snitching from a couple of other sites, I give you the lie to this saying! Wikipedia No pain, no gain (or "No gain without pain") is an exercise motto that promises greater value rewards for the price of hard and even painful work. Under this concept, competitive...

bonesmart.org

 

[Jockette]

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy

You will have noticed there is a significant opinion here about the potential hazards of PT. You may feel that your therapists are experts and know what you should be doing. However, over the last several years I've been here, I have observed that the more intensive the regimen of exercising...

bonesmart.org

 

[Layla]

The day after PT my pain is the worse

PT shouldn't make you feel worse afterward. I am sorry that it has. Pushing too hard or feeling pressured to force movement can lead to swelling / inflammation as it likely has for you. Hopefully you are letting the PT know about the discomfort you're experiencing in the moment, afterward at home, or the day after. Consider asking your PT to modify certain exercises so that you feel challenged, but not pushed to pain and your recovery stays on track. Make sure you're icing and elevating afterward also if you're not already.

Have you thought of dialing back the PT for a couple weeks and doing the exercises at home along with some gentle stretches? Might be worth a try...
Wishing you comfort and a good week!

 

[KJ24]

My knee doctor claims the reason I have pain is because I don’t do enough PT, but both walking and PT cause pain. I’m so confused on how to get my knee to heal. I tired of not being able to walk without a limp. I would love to be able to have a normal gate without having pain.

I thought knee surgery was to help but the pain is worse now than it has ever been. After 14 weeks, I would have thought I could at least go grocery shopping without limping and causing pain. The pain is not stiffness pain, it is like something is not aligned properly. I’m so frustrated that months have gone by and I still cannot walk without having pain issues.

 

[KJ24]

I go to PT three times per week and do all the exercises that they give me. The day after PT my pain is the worse.

It seems that the PT you are getting is hindering your recovery, rather than helping it. Appropriate PT does not make you have more pain the next day. Since what you’re currently doing isn’t working, why not consider stepping away from formal PT and let your daily activities be the healing movement your knee needs.

When I told this to my doctor he said “PT will cause a litte pain but it is necessary to get the range of motion.”

“A little pain” is the operative phrase. What you describe is more than a little. Painful PT is old school. Many of our members rehabbed a gentle way and had great results. “No pain, no gain” has no place in this recovery, and yet most of us are told this.

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.

Myth busting: No pain, no gain

With rather blatant snitching from a couple of other sites, I give you the lie to this saying! Wikipedia No pain, no gain (or "No gain without pain") is an exercise motto that promises greater value rewards for the price of hard and even painful work. Under this concept, competitive...

bonesmart.org

My doctor claims that I need more PT. He has been told everything that is done at PT and wants them to do more. My range of motion is only to 97 degrees and he said if I don’t work on it now, it might not ever get better.

It is not only PT that causes pain. I cannot even walk for 30 minutes around a grocery store without having my knee killing me.

I only have two more PT appointments as my insurance runs out. My doctor wants me to pay out of pocket. That is not going to happen since I am still not back to work so I am limiting my expenses.

 

[KJ24]

The day after PT my pain is the worse

PT shouldn't make you feel worse afterward. I am sorry that it has. Pushing too hard or feeling pressured to force movement can lead to swelling / inflammation as it likely has for you. Hopefully you are letting the PT know about the discomfort you're experiencing in the moment, afterward at home, or the day after. Consider asking your PT to modify certain exercises so that you feel challenged, but not pushed to pain and your recovery stays on track. Make sure you're icing and elevating afterward also if you're not already.

Have you thought of dialing back the PT for a couple weeks and doing the exercises at home along with some gentle stretches? Might be worth a try...
Wishing you comfort and a good week!

I think the doctor places fear that if I don’t do my PT and get ROM better now it will never come. This is what makes it hard to stop going to PT. I keep wishing that one day I will wake up and everything will be good. I fear that natural PT will not be enough to get me back to a normal walking gate.

 

[Jockette]

People are all 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.

There are so many opinions about this recovery. Your doctor’s opinion is only one. Since all this PT hasn’t helped, it might be worth trying something different. In my opinion, they are working you too hard and your knee has not had a chance to actually heal.

 

[sistersinhim]

I’m so confused on how to get my knee to heal.

Exercising and PT does not make your knee heal any faster than what it is able to do. But, doing too much can slow down that healing by causing more inflammation, swelling and pain. More up-to-date OSs and PTs know that after joint replacements all that is needed is gentle movements, and lots of icing and elevating. Many of our members don't even take PT or do exercises, they do just their normal daily activities around the house. That is what is known as normal PT. I am one of those that took no PT or did exercises and I recovered just fine.

My range of motion is only to 97 degrees and he said if I don’t work on it now, it might not ever get better.

That's an old thought and has been proved over and over again to not be true.

 

[dubloosh]

When I told this to my doctor he said “PT will cause a litte pain but it is necessary to get the range of motion.” He then sent me home with a week of steroids and told me to get an evaluation from my back surgeon.

Hi, I've been reading your posts and am sorry you are in pain due to aggressive PT. I've learned from members here that one does not need to push and/or hurt a new surgical knee to gain ROM. I had an infection at the top of my incision and put off outpatient PT for more than two months. During that time, the swelling in my knee (replaced October 2023) subsided, and my ROM began to increase so I could bend my knee more and more. Please don't let anyone hurt your four-month-old knee.

 

[dubloosh]

I think the doctor places fear that if I don’t do my PT and get ROM better now it will never come. This is what makes it hard to stop going to PT. I keep wishing that one day I will wake up and everything will be good. I fear that natural PT will not be enough to get me back to a normal walking gate.

Your being gentle with your knee with increase your ROM. I'm sorry your doctor is scaring you. Others here are right that if you stopped PT for a while and gave your knee some relief, then you may be surprised to find the swelling is decreasing, and your ROM is increasing.

 

[KJ24]

It is almost six months PO and Knee is still causing issues so I’m getting an MRI done this Thursday. Quad is still not working correctly even after ending PT and doing Pilates three days a week. Nothing has been helping with the level 2-3 pain I still have in my knee. I’ve had steroid shot, take Gabapentin, gone to a Chiropractor, and had a deep tissue message. Still painful to walk. I am still hating the fact that I got this “new” broke knee.

 

[sistersinhim]

It's very early in your recovery, and you are only halfway through this year-long recovery. Have patience, it will get better!

 

[Layla]

I am still hating the fact that I got this “new” broke knee

I am sorry you're feeling this way.
If you haven't already, try going about the activities of daily living now that you've finished PT and Pilates, along with icing and elevation and see if it makes a difference.
Best Wishes for your MRI on Thursday, KJ.
@KJ24

 

[KJ24]

Update: the MRI showed a Baker’s cyst and some quad thickening. Going to see doctor next week because the pain has no gone away. He said he needs to evaluate if the IT Band is still causing issue or maybe it is hamstring tendonitis. Seven months PO and still having lateral pain when walking. The knee its self is not painful it is something that attaches to the knee. More studies needed to find out what is causing it.

 

[Layla]

I am sorry, KJ24. I wish you the best with the appointment next week and hope your physician its able to get to the origin of your pain and a plan to resolve it.
@KJ24

 

[KJ24]

I saw my knee doctor this morning because I'm still having pain at 8 months PO. He said nothing on the MRI indicates that the knee should still be painful when walking. He wants me to see a Rheumatologist to see if I have fibromyalgia. I have an appointment with a different knee surgery first week of July. Also called family doctor to get referral to Rheumatologist. Crazy that 8 months later and I still can't walk without pain.

 

[sistersinhim]

Crazy that 8 months later and I still can't walk without pain.

Actually, this isn't that unusual after a joint replacement. For most of us, it takes at least a year to recover from a major surgery like this one is. It is a time thing. It takes time for those soft tissues to completely heal, and pain will come and go as that healing takes place. But, it is a good idea to knock out any other possible causes, and I think it's a good idea to follow your doctor's advice.

 

[Layla]

I am sorry you're still struggling with pain. I wish you the best for your appointment with the Rheumatologist.
Wondering if the Knee appointment you have in July is for your opposite knee?
Please identify which knee was replaced in September 2024 so we're able to edit your signature. Thanks!

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@KJ24