Thanks for replying Josephine I can't do those multi quote things so l hope the following makes sense. I have tried to give as much detail as possible so forgive me if you feel it is an essay!
Pain on rising: The pain on rising and for the first few steps thereafter seems to be associated with the MCL and ACL - the former was an issue prior to surgery. In addition, l have noticeable varicose veins on my L leg which, since surgery, have become enlarged and quite painful at times. I expected this. I have assumed that the intermittent pain at the top of my leg towards the groin is associated with the VV's on the saphenous as the pain/discomfort is somewhat similar.
Analgesia: Unfortunately l cannot take Tramadol and neither do l wish to at this stage. I consider that l gain good-adequate pain relief from the medications l am taking to enable me to get around. I don't know what walking is supposed to be like at this stage. I have read that swelling and stiffness post TKR is more common when there has been a previous issue of trauma to the joint so maybe this is a factor too.
ROM: l asked my husband to assess my flexion this morning and he estimates it to be around 120. Not sure how to assess this myself. You wonder why my 'ROM is so low'. What would you expect it to be?
ICE: l will ice more often. I could ice for longer but the pack is warm within about 20 mins. I have asked my husband to fetch another while he's in town this morning, either that or a bag of peas! Does getting up to replace the ice pack not defeat the object of resting?
Stairs: l cannot go upstairs without hanging on to the handrail and sometimes pushing myself up on the stair with the other hand. Yes, it hurts to go up sequentially (? Ligamental).
Set exercises: l don't do set exercises as outlined by other posters - heel slides, leg raises etc. I did do initially but it resulted in a lot of pain and swelling which prohibited even more movement so l stopped. This was at the 2 - 3 week stage. This is also around the time l found Bonesmart and read that it was time, not exercise, which increased ROM and that ADL provided good exercise in itself. I have found this to be the case and considered that l was making good progress until this last week.
Additionally, l am acutely aware of the need to protect my (R) knee which is down to bone on bone and which is more prone to giving way than my (L) leg ever was and which crunches with every step and which, particularly at night, emits a loud click every time l bend it.
Cross trainer: This isn't used much at all! I tried it initially in W3 - 4 (l think) but it hurt too much. I've perhaps used it x 4 since then, the last being on the 20th of this month. I cycle for approx 2 mins on low resistance to start with and with the seat at a level which enables me to achieve at least 90 - 100 degrees flexion. Once warmed up, l lower the seat so that flexion is at 120. 2 mins more of cycling and if all is good, l may increase the resistance until l can feel it in my quads (as advised by physio in order to strengthen my quads which in turn would support my knee). I have never exceeded 10 mins in this activity and stop when it becomes uncomfortable.
New this week: ls bony-type pain in the knee itself, mostly occurring at night, which tends to waken me, or it's there when l happen to waken (which l do several times a night; usual for me). It feels very similar to the pre-op pain l had. It even feels as though l have the horrid tibial tuberosity pain l used to get which l don't think is even possible now.
Currently: l am sitting at the kitchen table, on the pew. I can flex my leg comfortably to 120. In doing so lovely can feel pain/discomfort/tightness at the back of the knee, also around the LCL and MCL. On standing there is muscular-type pain in my (L) calf and the ITB feels tight as do the quads. On walking there is stiffness above the patella and in the calf and thigh though this and the ITB stiffness wears off after walking. The pain in the LCL is much less after the initial steps. I notice l am in the habit of pushing myself up from seated, also of swinging my KR leg from the hip as described by other posters (l didn't realise l was doing this until l read those posts). Seated again, the muscle of my (L) calf is niggling.
One other thing l've noticed is the feeling of swinging my (L) foot out a little on walking. Equestrians would understand this as 'dishing'. I don't think l did that beforehand.
I've tried to give as much detail as possible without turning it into an essay. I am feeling a little despondent this morning but having taken a cosh of Ibuprofen 800mg (still within safe range) my knee does actually feel more comfortable. I'm sure l'll feel better once the boys have returned from spending their Christmas money!
United Kingdom
Of course! Silly me!
