TKR Thank you!<

[Josephine]

PT - I'm really doing very little and not to a point of discomfort. I read all of the Bonesmart articles and backed way, way off. Sorry if it wasn't clear, but yesterday i did one session of no more than 10 of each exercise i listed (no PT at all the 2 days before).

Perhaps I didn't make it clear enough. You need to do NONE AT ALL!

I will need to build up a little strength. there will be a lot of work to do to get it "normal". I know it's too soon to do much towards that. I'm thinking i will just walk outside and maybe ride the UTV around the yard for a minute.

My dear, you are two weeks out. This is not the time to be thinking about strength building. Maybe at 12 weeks but not before. You leg appears to be out of condition now because injured. You don't work injured legs hard - or at all! You rest them. Only then will you get where you want to be. But I promise you, you will get there without exercises.

Also please read the link Karri left you, though I did leave it in my post as well. If you follow that protocol, you will be doing well.

 

[Jamie]

I'd stay out of any vehicles when or if you go outside right now. They vibrate and bump and that is not helpful for a new knee. Your knee is angry at you right now and it's important to get ahead of this swelling. Be consistent with your icing, elevation and pain meds and you'll eventually get to the point where pain is properly managed. Once that's established, then you can slowly go forward with slightly more activity every few days.

 

[Sheepdogn]

Okay, thanks. Didn't make it outside today, decided to just hang out with my friend the ice pack and my leg up.

 

[Jamie]

Good plan!!! Maybe a good snuggle with that gorgeous puppy dog in your avatar too.....

 

[little red canoe]

If you join the ODIC the Drs Rest Ice Elevate are always available.
Fortunately the things we do to ourselves are reversible if you recognize them as overachievments.

 

[Sheepdogn]

Just did a quick five minute walk around the kitchen/living room with the rolling walker (extra caution because non-surgical knee is quite bad). Can i just say, I love my new knee. Yeah, it hurts some but it's just two weeks tomorrow since RTKR and it's already so much better than what I've been walking around on for years. I was way, way overdue for this surgery.

I haven't used that leg for "strength" things since my 20s. It was bashed along with the other by a drunk driver and has never been right since being repaired. The one legged method for going up and down stairs they teach us for post-replacement? I've only been able to do stairs that way for probably 30 something years. My leg is stiff, yes, but it's straight! And I can already feel it getting more normal. Very cool to look down and see my foot actually sitting flat on the floor.

Anyway, happy me, and I just wanted to share. I'm already looking forward to getting the other done.

A quick question. I was reading the article on heel slides and it said it's the only "must do" exercise, starting at day one. Yet I've read a whole lot of "don't do anything" the last couple of days. Should I start doing some heel slides, maybe in another day or two? Swelling and pain seem better for me today so thinking maybe a couple of days of cushion, then start some slides?

 

[KarriB]

You can do heel slides, but not 10 x 3 a day, just a few and do them without anything to pull your foot. Use your own leg power as the article suggests. Follow the activity progression and you'll be fine. I prefer the sitting heel slides.

https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/activity-progression-for-tkrs.14334/


https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/heel-slides-and-how-to-do-them-properly.26903/

 

[Josephine]

I was reading the article on heel slides and it said it's the only "must do" exercise

Sorry for that. The article was over 2 years old and that comment has been removed!

 

[referee54]

eah, it hurts some but it's just two weeks tomorrow since RTKR and it's already so much better than what I've been walking around on for years. I was way, way overdue for this surgery.

That is the neat thing about a TKR---there will be some pain or discomfort----but that will subside in time---arthritic pain will only get worse.

 

[Sheepdogn]

Off today to the OS to get staples out. Seeing the PA, who has been a great person to talk to about all of this stuff, very sensible.

 

[referee54]

Off today to the OS to get staples out. Seeing the PA, who has been a great person to talk to about all of this stuff, very sensible.

Let us know how things go---getting the staples out is a step in the right direction-- a"mini-milestone", if you will.

Let us know how things went and what the PA had to say.

 

[KarriB]

It seemed easier to bend without the staples. Taking them out was not fun though.

 

[newlybionic]

I hope the staples removal went well for you. It was much easier than I thought it would be. Give us an update on what your PA says.

 

[Sheepdogn]

Staples out, all looks great. PA happy to see bending well and straightening well. I was uncomfortable on the long ride to the office, having the leg down for such a long time. I've had it elevated almost constantly since the surgery, and usually have ice on it too. Then long wait in the office and long wait on my dad who needed to make a stop. But not long before we got home (after maybe 4 hours with the leg down), all of a sudden my knee/leg got very comfortable and it's felt like a million bucks since. I thought I might pay later in pain, but so far it's still feeling pretty happy. Very strange but I'll take it! Onward and upward!

 

[Sheepdogn]

A quick update for today. Knee mostly pretty happy, not much pain other than the usual evening pain. I'm using a bit more pain medicine on the suggestion of the PA and that's helped. Bit of swelling this evening but I spent a little more time puttering around the house this morning. Had some company so tidying up the house a bit was my "PT" for today. Getting around in the house with no cane or walker until evening when the legs get tired. My non-surgical knee has been complaining about my new gait but seems better if I don't use a walking aid. If I go out I keep the cane handy. Off to outside PT tomorrow. Doubt my ROM has changed much since last week but we will see. Kind of feels like maybe I'm in limbo between needing to just wait out the swelling and starting to make some progress? Is this about where people start getting frustrated or blue?

Couple quick questions - is there such a thing as elevating too much? Not too high, I mean not having the leg down enough?

And @KarriB , is that a border collie in your profile pic?

@little red canoe , I meant to respond to you earlier. My replacement got put off two years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer just as I was starting the pre-op stuff. Gotta do what we gotta do! I hope you're well and on your way now. I am!

 

[KarriB]

Yes, many get frustrated with lack of progress as well as boredom and the blues can set in. But progress will come in time.
Yes, Piper is a red and white border collie. Is yours short haired/smooth?

 

[Celle]

is there such a thing as elevating too much? Not too high, I mean not having the leg down enough?

I haven't heard of any problems.

 

[newlybionic]

Don't forget to ice that knee every night when elevating. You should still be doing that several times a day.

 

[Sheepdogn]

If i'm not up and about, I'm elevating and icing. Ice is my friend.

Home from the PT session today. Extension at 0, ROM was 87. Not bad for 3 weeks out. Therapist said ROM of 90 degrees at 4 weeks is a very good predictor of recovery, so feeling like i'm doing well. I've been doing gentle PT stuff, not pushing it at all and letting the knee recover.

Big news of the day, i went up stairs with my right leg! That is probably the first time in about 20-25 years. I tried out that leg on stairs just before going into the hospital for comparison - i literally could not do one single stair. How cool is that?!

@KarriB yes, that's my boy Bill in my pic, a smooth coat black and white, retired sheepdog. I have 4 others as well who work my sheep.

 

[KarriB]

Piper has never beem exposed to sheep, but when she was a pup she would herd the children.

Your ROM is good for 3 weeks and you can continue to gain ROM for well over a year. It certainly is exciting to see progress of any type in this long recovery! Good for you!