TKR Still can’t kneel after 13 months tkr

[#sully#]

Hi, @Daveboy1810
thank you you for your detailed progress, much the same over here in the UK, as we have a national health program over here we don’t have pay out for health care, I’m on day 24 post op, (age 68) I dont need walking aids now, but I still have to walk very carefully, my main problem is in the evenings, the pain attacks me as soon as I lay in bed, no matter what I do regarding pillows scattered all over the bed, & medications, I cannot get the pain to subside, I end up getting up every hour & have a walk round our home, hoping somehow I can walk it off look forward to seeing how you progress

 

[Pumpkin]

@#sully#
to BoneSmart!

I dont need walking aids now, but I still have to walk very carefully,

If you have to walk carefully, you probably would benefit from a walking aid to help normalize your gait, a cane or one crutch is probably all you need.
I suspect your walking carefully is stressing your brand new knee this early in recovery.

my main problem is in the evenings, the pain attacks me as soon as I lay in bed,

Your night time pain may be from over stressing your knee by asking it to do more by walking without an assistive device.

Here are a few questions.
Are you doing any exercise?
How much are you walking?
Are you taking any pain medications? (OTC or prescribed)
How much and how often are you exercising?
How often are you icing your knee and for how long?

Sounds like you are doing well otherwise and just need to slow down and let your new knee heal.
You are still in the early days of this yearlong + recovery. Most start to feel much better around 3-4 months with your know continuing to heal over the next year.

Please post your surgery date, a moderator will add it to your signature for you. Having the exact date will help us properly advise you. Thanks!

 

[Pumpkin]

You'll notice that I have Copied your newest post, a copy remains in Daveboy1810's thread and started your recovery thread. For several reasons, we prefer that you have your own recovery thread:

• That way, we have all your information in one place. This makes it easier to go back and review your history before providing advice.
• With your own recovery thread, you will see the posts and advice others have left for you.
• Having only one thread will act as a diary of your progress that you can look back on.

So please post any updates, questions or concerns about your recovery here. If you prefer a different thread title, just post what you want and we'll get it changed for you.
If you need an urgent response to a question, just tag a member of staff.
How to tag another member; how to answer when someone tags you

Here are the instructions on finding your thread, How can I find my threads and posts?Many members bookmark their thread, so they can find it when they log on.

 

[Pumpkin]

Here is your copy of the Knee Recovery Guidelines, the articles are short and will not take long to read.

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
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 these pages on the website

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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.

OneStep App Request

Since December, BoneSmart has offered a number of pilot tests and special promotions with our partner, OneStep. Members were allowed to use this unique app at no charge to help us evaluate the program’s effectiveness for prehab and recovery for joint replacement patients. Feedback has been...

bonesmart.org

 

[#sully#]

Thank you for your advice on walking aids, my op was performed on 3rd august, I think you may be right about discarding them too soon I do light excercise 3 times a day, I go for 3 10 minute walks daily, I take ibuprofen 2 times daily with paracetamol, for the evening pain I take oral morphine twice through the night even though this does not help at all I ice my knee after every exercise period for 20 mins, and all through the night as well

 

[kneeper]

You may need to reduce some of that exercise for a bit. How does the walking feel? Walking is good but maybe do 1 or 2 walks and fewer repetitions of your exercises. In a a few days try a little bit more and see how you do.

 

[#sully#]

i haven’t done any exercises today, except for a 10 minute walk with my little dog, i’ve Been in bed an hour now and the bad pain has returned again, I do think I’ve been overdoing it

 

[Jockette]

It’s early, early days for you. Rest up and don’t feel guilty. The walk with your dog was good for you, and any necessary walking around the house counts as exercise. Other than that, take it easy for a couple of days.

Don’t think of it as “sitting around doing nothing”, think of it as giving your knee the best opportunity in which to heal.

 

[#sully#]

Hi, as in the header I’m post op 5 months, I’m walking 2 Miles a day for exercise, my knee feels reasonable but not great, the main issue I have is lateral pain on the outside of my right knee, which has been there since day one, it is quite a worry to me, anyone any ideas ? I think it could be a tendon/ligament problem ?

 

[Roy Gardiner]

I suggest seeing a physiotherapist and/or a masseur. You are right, it's soft tissue, not the knee itself.

 

[ski_bum]

@#sully# I am not a Doctor or Medical knowledge BUT, I have similar pain and after 6 months PT & Doctor think it is the IT Band.
I had a great Bonesmart site RE: IT BAND bookmarked but have a new computer and not everything has been moved over.
The exercises there sure helped my pain.
Tried to find it in Bonesmart but what came up was all the people with IT Band issues.
Maybe someone can help find Bonesmart IT Band site. It is very good.
Good luck.

 

[ski_bum]

@#sully# I found the site.

ITB (ilio-tibial band) issues and treatments

The IT band is combination of muscle with a covering of tough fibrous bands called fascia. It starts on the outside top of the pelvis, passes over the greater trochanter of the hip, down the outside of the thigh and inserts into the side of the patella (knee cap) and the tibia, (shin bone). It...

bonesmart.org

 

[#sully#]

Thank you all for your help, appreciate it

 

[Rubyroo]

Hope you are having a good knee day Sully!

 

[#sully#]

Hi Ru, many thanks for your good wishes

 

[#sully#]

Forgot to say, I’m having a reasonable knee day

 

[Rubyroo]

Glad to hear! Little improvements! You got this Sully! Keep posting and feel free to elaborate on how you are. We care & we understand!

 

[Rubyroo]

@#sully# Sully! How’s it going? Who’s that cute pup in your picture? I hope you are having a good day today!

 

[#sully#]

Hi Ruby, slight improvement daily at the moment, still got the lateral pain, but I think I’m going to have a good recovery Eventually,
the “puppy” is my 12 year old Shih-Tzu Molly, how’s your recovery ?

 

[Rubyroo]

Good morning Sully, I call all doggies pup/puppy no matter their age- as kind of a term of endearment. My recovery is going pretty good. I have my last PT session this morning! I will be glad to be done with that. Our pets sure can be a source of love & comfort can’t they?