TKR The Light At The End Of The Tunnel

[Solar Cycles]

Hi Jaki. I've now got over 90 degrees bend but I'm around 40-50 degrees off straightening my leg and I still can't do any straight leg raises. My foot is still sore and bruised although the area around the tibia is less painful, also after exercising today the tendon at the back of my knee on the outside is really painful probably due to me trying to straighten my leg.

How s your recovery coming on, are you still experiencing sleepless nights, I still am. My appointment too see the consultant is on the 20th June.

 

[Mutley]

Hi Stephen,
Wow, your still very up & down at the moment but fair play to you, 90 degrees flexion is pretty damn good with what you've been through.
Do you mean 4-5 degrees on extension? If so, that too is wicked as I'm still around 6-7 degrees! Drives me nuts especially at night as I still spend most of the night trying to keep the blooming leg straight As for the straight leg raises, have you tried using a band or rolled up towel to put round your foot & then just manually lift your foot up? When I couldn't do them I would try this a few times & then try & lift the leg using just the thigh muscles & every so often I think my little brain tricked my leg into lifting upwards! Just a thought....
I only seem to post on here to have a moan, which I did yesterday. Just a bit frustrated with an on going pain on the inside of my knee, same place as where I used to get the original bone on bone pain. I'm so ready to be moving forward & then something else crops up that seems to put a stop to my plans I can accept the stiffness or achy feeling when you've done a bit too much, but back to pain & pill popping really pee's me off! As for the sleep...don't even go there

 

[Solar Cycles]

I think most of us come on here to moan Lol. I've got my figures mixed up I never know how to measure flexion but I'm an awful long way off getting my leg straight, I have tried the pillows under my knee but that exercise is a no no, the pain is excruciating, I am using my good leg to help straighten my other one. I think your right about a one step forward two back with regards to aches and pains this appears too be very much the case for me.

 

[Solar Cycles]

Physio went quite well today she measured my ROM at 95 degrees though flexion still has a long way to go, with regards to my bruising ands foot pain she thinks there is a possibility that this maybe Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and will monitor this over the coming weeks. I've never heard of this before but the Physio said this can occur after a TKR.

 

[Riley]

Is it normal for your leg muscles to feel more painful over time?

I am experiencing this also!

 

[Mutley]

Good news Gonna look up the symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome as I am fed up to the back teeth
( all my own BTW!) of all my continuing pain in my thigh, groin, shin & side of knee. You'd think at 5.5 months out things would be settled by now Really hope things start calming down for you too after all you've been through
....looked up the symptoms & can safely say I HAVEN'T got that! Feel bad for anyone who has though

 

[Solar Cycles]

Yes I'm hoping I haven't but until its confirmed I'll remain positive. How is your sleeping pattern now Jaki ?

 

[Mutley]

RUBBISH Finally made an appointment to see my Doctor on Friday. I suppose you keep hoping things will get better but after having ANOTHER night being in a lot of discomfort & then being awake ALL NIGHT, I thought enough is enough. I take it your is no better either?

 

[Solar Cycles]

The last three nights I've managed a few hours sleep, but yeah I'm still finding a good nights sleep as elusive as finding a crock of gold at the end of the rainbow.

 

[robynhood]

You have my sympathy. So so TIRED of not getting a good sleep. Ive come to hate bedtime because you work yourself up so much youre not exactly relaxed when you do go. Im hoping it will improve soon and I just count myself very lucky i dont have to get up and go to work.

 

[Solar Cycles]

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted and kept you all up to speed. First the positives, ROM is still around 95 degrees I just can't get that bit extra just yet. A few days ago I managed to do my first straightish leg raise, the fact that I can raise my leg is very satisfying I just now have to build from there in regaining my quad strength.

Now the negatives, the soreness down the front of my lower leg is back and the top of my foot is still incredibly tender and sore to touch. Also the back of my knee remains painful around the tendon area as are all my muscles. Still I'm reasonably happy with my progress but just a bit concerned at all the aches and pains elsewhere and the lack of sleep still.

 

[speccybecky]

It is very early, I was still miserable at 2 months. As soon as I stopped hoping for a nights sleep the better I was. Just doze when you can and find something else to do in the night.

 

[Mutley]

Evening! Sorry, I've been very bad checking in to see how things are going ROM of 95 is very good at this point of your recovery I think! As for the straight leg raise that's brill news! All of a sudden you'll be doing them without much effort using the brain or quads & your be wondering what all that fuss was about As for the continued soreness & aches & pains, well, I don't quite know what to say ? Have you been given any further indication as to what exactly is causing it? I don't know if your saw my last post but I was describing my many varied aches & pains which are still continuing at nearly 6 months down the line Very frustrating I have to say. As for the sleep, well, I went back to the Dr & she has put me back on the Amitriptyline. My choice of 25 or 50 mgs but I've started to take it regularly & I seem to be getting a bit more sleep. Some nights better than others but hey! Mustn't complain! We're trying to get the sleep sorted to see what effect it has on my pain. I believe the more well rested you are the more your able to cope with the pain. Have you been back to see your Dr to get something prescribed? I'm sure it will be worth it. Your about 8 weeks post op now so it's good to hear that you are starting to recognise some of the positives in your journey, even if they do seem small Wishing you all the very best & keep us posted with your progress

 

[Solar Cycles]

Hi Jaki. I was at the Physio earlier this afternoon and my ROM is now 100 degrees which is fantastic, as for the aches and pains they are still there more so after having a little tumble this morning. The Physio thinks most of these will settle down but this can take nine months post op in doing so, she was a little concerned at how bowlegged I appeared though but after examining me on the Phsio bench it does look like this is down to muscle wastage and weakness of the joint in general.

My appointment with the consultant is on the 20th June, I'll discuss my concerns regarding pain and tenderness and the instability with him then. Until then I'm quite pleased with my progress and I'll leave the concerns until then.

 

[speccybecky]

Your op was on 28 march, Mutley, that's no time at all. Be patient!

 

[Mutley]

Your op was on 28 march, Mutley, that's no time at all. Be patient!

Uuummm, mine was December 1st Nancy! Makes me almost 6 months post op! I think you'll find Solar Cycles was on the 28th March!

 

[speccybecky]

Oops! Sorry, must take more water with it.

 

[kneeper]

Yes, just think of how bad the joint and muscle were before the surgery. They take time to adjust.

 

[Solar Cycles]

I haven't been on here for a while so I thought I would update my progress. Saw my consultant on Thursday and he's really pleased with how things are coming along, I've now got 110 degrees bend and flexion is at around the same at pre op with an 10 degree lag. I'm still in a bit of pain but mostly down my lower leg and muscles. I still also get quite a lot of swelling and stiffness, on the exercise front I'm now doing 3km a day on the exercise bike, at the moment that's as much as I can muster. I've got my next appointment too see the consultant in 12 weeks time, he normally sees TKR again around the 9-12 month mark but due to the unusualness of my procedure he would like too see if things are still on track.

 

[Mutley]

So pleased to hear your update Unfortunately I think the swelling & stiffness is probably going to be around for a bit longer in which case just keep up with the icing & elevating even if you think you don't need to! Good news that your consultant is seeing you more regularly too. Here's to your continued progress & please pop by from time to time with any further " Good news" updates Jaki x