@SZone
to BoneSmart,
Sounds like you are doing well with all the normal ups and downs of a TKR.
worrying that I’m not getting my ROM quickly enough
Your ROM at 80 degrees is fantastic, what is blocking your ROM is swelling, like a full water hose is hard to bend, so is your knee. Let the water out (swelling) the hose is easy to bend as will be your knee.
There is no window of opportunity, my surgeon said 90 degrees at 3 months was fine. You are almost there. Keep spending your time resting, icing, elevating, and medicating on schedule as prescribed.
inability to sleep at night more than an hour at a time,
This is a normal response to a TKR, there is an article in the guidelines about sleep deprivation, be sure to read it. (the guidelines are posted below).
wondering when I should be trying to walk without a walker, and regaining a normal gait.
You should wait to walk without your walker when your gait is normal in your walker. Walking with a limp or gait deviation only reinforces walking with a limp or gait deviation.
I’ll be getting them removed next Thursday and will be glad to get rid of them.
We all were glad to be rid of the staples.
I’ve been ramping down my painkillers and have only been taking half of a 10/325 norco in the night when I can’t sleep and using extra strength Tylenol during the day as needed.
You may be ramping down too soon, be sure your pain levels are well controlled. Pain can contribute to swelling, reducing your ROM.
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:
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
5.
At week 4 and after you should follow this
6.
Access these pages on the website
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.
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