TKR Surprised and a bit confuse...from looking around, that makes me normal - I guess!

[Jockette]

Maybe what you’re doing at PT is maintaining your pain level. I stopped going to PT at 8 weeks and just did ADLs and the stretches I liked. Sometimes we have to slow down and give our knee more relaxed healing time, in order to progress forward.

 

[Jamie]

It’s important to realize that your entire body is realigning itself to deal with your new knees. Your pre-surgery body alignment happened gradually over many years. Then suddenly your two new knees put the bones and joints in their proper place, but the soft tissue was still as it was before surgery. It takes a significant amount of time for all the muscles, tendons, and ligaments to adjust to the new alignment. This is what you’re experiencing and it can require some patience to no longer feel those little twinges of pain when standing or walking. Remember, the recovery period for a “normal” joint replacement is a year or more.

Therapy is fine and can help, but only if whatever exercises or massages are provided do not cause you significant pain either doing them or in the day or two following a session. Please be sure your therapist understands and agrees to this. Having some pain when rising from a seated position and walking distances are the last things to come back (along with going down stairs for some people).

Good luck with your new therapy sessions and please let us know how things go.

 

[socman]

Thank you for the words of encouragement. Yes - I, too, hope that the new PT sessions will help. This right knee is just different from my left knee surgery and recovery. I think the biggest factor is that shortly after the first surgery, I was able to ride my bike each day the weather permitted. This time around, the knee has to wait for the riding season to arrive. I think once the end of March and April arrive, I will be getting a lot more exercise in and believe that will make a huge difference. In the meantime, I trust that my therapist and his sessions will go along way in helping me get through this inconvenience. Positive outlook on things help, but I was not really expecting more PT. I just have to get it done and restart the full recovery! Roger

 

[socman]

In my seventh month following my second for procedure. Two concerns: First, my second knee still is stiff and often just kills me with pain upon rising and taking steps. Second, my lower back muscles just cramp up shortly after walking or standing for longer periods of time. Are these kind of typical, long-term situations? Riding my bike for weeks now...no issues until I get on and off when the leg must rise up. I think all of this may be typical and it may take one to two years to get both knees close to normal. Thanks, Roger

 

[Jamie]

It’s not uncommon for a knee to be stiff when rising from bed or a seated position. If your back muscles are bothering you with longer standing periods, you may need to see a therapist for some core strengthening exercises. Your body can get out of balance as it’s trying to deal with deteriorating joints. A good therapist can evaluate your gait and help you get back to normal again.

One other simple problem can be your shoes. If you have not purchased new shoes, please do that. Your old ones have wear patterns consistent with your bad knees and they aren’t good for you now that both knees have been replaced. Be sure to purchase good, supportive shoes to wear most of the time.

 

[socman]

Jamie,

Thank you for the info and suggestions. I will follow through. Roger

 

[socman]

Hi Everyone,

It has been a long time. Had my right knee done in January 2023. The second one followed in October 2023. Went through a month of therapy with my first, and almost two months with my second. Update at almost a year after my second - both knees hurt upon standing after sitting or laying down for long periods of time. Stairs both ways continue to be painful. Very little to no pain when stationary. Generally, less pain than before my surgeries, but swelling and stiffness stubbornly continue albeit less than weeks after surgeries. I cannot walk for more than thirty yards without pain in my knees and my lower back seizing up. Ride my electric bike on the local nature trail almost daily with no pain...it is a semi-recumbent bike.

I have come to the realization that this kind of pain may be chronic and long-term. Oh well...but still pleased to have had the surgeries. No meds except for a once daily NSAID.

Hope everyone is doing fine!

Roger

 

[Toothfairy]

Hi Everyone,

It has been a long time. Had my right knee done in January 2023. The second one followed in October 2023. Went through a month of therapy with my first, and almost two months with my second. Update at almost a year after my second - both knees hurt upon standing after sitting or laying down for long periods of time. Stairs both ways continue to be painful. Very little to no pain when stationary. Generally, less pain than before my surgeries, but swelling and stiffness stubbornly continue albeit less than weeks after surgeries. I cannot walk for more than thirty yards without pain in my knees and my lower back seizing up. Ride my electric bike on the local nature trail almost daily with no pain...it is a semi-recumbent bike.

I have come to the realization that this kind of pain may be chronic and long-term. Oh well...but still pleased to have had the surgeries. No meds except for a once daily NSAID.

Hope everyone is doing fine!

Roger

I’m glad you are overall pleased to have had the surgery. I definitely had ongoing improvements well into the second year , possibly longer. Lots of others have said this too you may well still have improvement to come.

 

[Jockette]

I definitely had ongoing improvements well into the second year , possibly longer.

I agree with toothfairy, I had improvement even into my third year post op.