Become an Insider

TKR The journey continues

The PT told me to just be aware of my pulse and take it easy when it spikes. I also told him that after I have been resting with both legs up and then get up to go my legs feel week like they will collapse. I know it's not the knee. Something else is going on. I know I just have to slow down. My friend told me I was like a humming bird, constant motion. Today I go out to get a hair cut which I desperately need, another wonderful normal thing to do. Thanks for all your good words. I do treasure them.
 
Amy Jo, you are still in the energy drain period. No wonder you legs feel weak sometimes. You are not the only one. I found I can work about 30 minutes a day and that's all. The next day I have to rest. You just go, go, go and your body needs rest, rest, rest! Give yourself time to get over this surgery before going and doing so much. A high pulse rate is just a sign that you need more rest! Please take care of yourself. We all care!!!

A hair cut always makes a girl feel better! As soon as I feel comfortable driving, I'm getting one!
 
I'm wondering about two things now that I am five weeks and two days out. 1) When is it OK to start strength training? My flex is now 130 and extension just a few degrees off. I feel like I could handle some mild strength training. When I ride the bike I keep the resistance really low.

2) How long do I ice and elevate? Before surgery my knee was swollen for over a year. I just ignored it and did what I usually do. It never seemed to matter much what I did. It was just chronically swollen. Will we be facing a similar situation with our new knees. I know total recovery takes a year. Does that mean icing for a year????
 
Good question Amy Jo. I was wondering that myself. I did skip icing 2 nights on my 4th week. I woke up in more pain than if I had iced, so I continue to ice. I still elevate on a pillow too, because it hurts my knee to lay out straight without it. My extension is still a little off.
 
Great questions. I am not icing anymore and I am doing some light strength building exercises but I'm 10 weeks out.
 
Usually strength training is after two months or more. The icing and elevation is going to depend on you. You know that swelling will limit your ROM. I've found on my work days or other days that I've been very active I've had to ice with my ice machine. On some other days I just elevated and iced during a tv show of one hour and that was enough. I was told I could have swelling for up to a year but I'm not sure if thats true of original TKRs or just revisions.
 
For me I just gradually needed the ice less and less. For the first few weeks I iced a lot. By 2 months I still iced but more like just a few times a day. Once I was back to work at 12 weeks I tried to ice a bit at work, and iced after work.
 
Today was a great day. I had a good sleep last night. I did all my exercises and rode the bike for ten minutes. After that I had a nice nap. My friend came over and he drove my RV to a great restaurant hours away on the St. John's River. We had fun talking in the car and my knee was comfortable the whole time. It is now time to elevate and ice. I am still not driving the RV because it is harder to brake than a car and besides I like being chauffeured.
 
You day sounds wonderful! While you were riding were you able to elevate at all? How about icing while gone? We ladies do like to be chauffeured! Great that your friend doesn't mine doing it.
 
I was able to stretch out my leg but not elevate it. No icing. It seems fine this morning and I slept well. In fact I am thinking of moving back to my old room today. Talk to you later.
 
"It seems fine this morning" from above message. I wanted to clarify. "Fine" is stiff since it is always stiff. I didn't want to give the impression that my knee is anywhere near normal yet. At times it burns and I notice that it is more swollen at night than in the morning. Recently their have been times during the day when it doesn't feel quite as hot as it use to. In other words I think it is healing slowly but surely. This morning I did not get the pain when I straightened it in bed. I sleep with it flexed and straightening it has always hurt but not this morning so I am encouraged. :)
 
Amy Jo, that's great, I can't wait until I can have a good night sleep.

It sounds like you had a great weekend, I'm glad you had an awesome time without having consequences, I look forward to that time.
 
I do know that straightening pain! Mine doesn't feel quite as hot either. I use my face to measure the heat now. My mother had told me years ago when you take clothes out of the dryer and it's been off a while, they feel damp. So use your face and not your hands to see if they are dry. Don't know if it really works, but I can reach my knee, so even if it doesn't work, I feel like I get a stretch out of it! Hope things are much better today.
 
Amy Jo, I know that stiffness and the pain meds don't hardly touch it. But, it sounds like your busy weekend didn't cause you any repercussions! Now, that's a sure sign of you healing! My knee is still much warmer than the other and is 3" larger still, so there's swelling, especially at night. It's amazing that you can sleep with your knee flexed. I haven't reached that goal yet.
 
My knee varies from 37 cm to 39 cm. It is usually 38 at night. My other knee is 37 so the swelling is really minimal but I can feel it in the new knee and the other knee might be a little swollen too since it sometimes hurts me.

I just took a big step toward being normal. I moved all my stuff to my old bedroom. Before I started the move I stepped in and out of the bathtub and used the toilet which is lower than the one I've been using. The bathtub step out is a little difficult but I feel I can do it safely. I only have to go up four steps to get to the bedroom and there are railings on both sides. I will be sure to take my time and use the railings and be super careful getting in and out of the tub. One thing I have learned is that I don't need all the clothes I have! I got along fine with just the stuff I took downstairs and some of it I never wore. I think another trip to Goodwill will be in my future. Since I have an appointment at 1:00 I will just take it easy for awhile now. I feel satisfied that I accomplished something today.
 
Being able to do just one 'big' job a day feels so good! Even just 2 weeks ago I couldn't come close to the outside work I did this morning! Who cares if one thing is all we get done. That's an improvement of where we were!
I end up at least once a year taking stuff to Goodwill. I can't see letting something dry rot when someone else could it. I try not to be one of those people that hold on to things just in case I might need it.
 
It really felt nice to be back in my old room and it was easy getting in and out of the shower and not using the chair. Today I have PT and a dentist appointment. Then I am going to a friend's home for dinner. I may be wiped out at the end of the day but that's OK since life is feeling a little more normal. I still am not able to walk very far without the knee beginning to hurt. I had hoped that I'd be doing much better by now. Tomorrow is week six. A small red area has also developed on my scar. I worry about nickel rejection problems. I try to push that out of my mind but it keeps coming back to haunt me.
 
Have fun today and prop that leg up whenever possible, it'll save you some pain later in the day. Try not to worry too much, scars can change over the course of recovery.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 2,027 (members: 0, guests: 2,027)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom