unsure

[jacques1]

I don't know how many times I go on this site every day. Too many to count.
Although I have heard and read encouraging experiences, I can't help but to still feel so unsure of my recovery. My surgery was the 7th of Jan.
I left the hospital with a bit of confusion. Our hospital set up a complete Booklet on Knee replacement. I was suppose to see a physiotherapist prior to going home which didn't happen. My Dr checked my rom the day I went home. He stated he didn't want me to excercise too much until staples were removed. I guess I was anxious to leave hospital so I never really checked with exactly what he means. I looked in my booklet and I know the excercises that I thought I would be doing once I came home but, like I said, I am so unsure of myself. When I get up to go and sit, let's say on a kitchen chair, I can't sit properly and I feel discomfort. I started to walk with my cane and did so for a couple of days but I am back at the walker. My day consists of laying on one couch with leg elevated, getting up to walk around, going to the other couch to elevate leg and ice it. I know I heard good advice about giving myself time to recover but as silly as this sounds, I want to make sure I am doing things right. I find myself walking the way I did prior to my surgery, you know that walk that you do to keep your bad leg moving along with you. I couldn't straighten my leg before and of course I can't yet. I am afraid to pop my knee. Someone must relate to me

 

[aussie]

Yes, in the early weeks I couldn't find a chair that I could get comfortable in, I went from one chair to another, it became a joke with my daughter, we have our own chairs we sit in at home, I have a single lounge chair, she has the lounge, (couch)I'd be sitting for 5 mins and say "Can we swap chairs?" 5 mins later, "Can we swap back" etc etc. I'm quite comfy back in my own chair now, which I'm sure my daughter is thrilled with. Even now if we are out, chairs can be uncomfortable. All in good time I think.

It's all really scary and I read heaps before I had the surgery thought I had it all set, no worries, boy was I wrong. Experience has been the best teacher and the people on this forum. It is a really slow process, and I mean slooooooooooooow, do give yourself time and if you need the walker use it. I did the same when I had a hip replacement, I went back to the walker, thinking I was going backwards but it supported me for a couple of days then I progressed again. Do what works for you.

My OS and the physio told me my knee would have to have the severest blow to have anything happen to it, they are pretty tough! (the knees I mean not the OS) LOL

I think we have all felt we were never going to improve in those early days, and it's still such early days for you, hopefully some others will back me up on this, but it does get better with time and a lots of work.

Chris

 

[SportHog]

Hi Debby. I think your expectations may be a bit high for just over a week from surgery. You need time to heal and it is a slow process. For 3 or 4 weeks you may just walk a little and then have to rest, elevate and ice the knee. I would walk around the house and then rest. I did my physiotherapy at a clinic in Kanata and it consisted of ultrasound, acupuncture, heat, exercise, electrical muscle stimulation, etc. I did PT for about 2 months, several times a week. Don't get discouraged! You are still in the very early stages of recovery. PM me if you want more info on the PT. I, too, did not get a lot of PT support at the hospital. I did do the exercises in the book though after the clips were removed. Just take it easy for awhile on the exercises.
Cheers, Ross

 

[Doug]

Hey all,
I'm now one year post op...There were a group of us on this site last year who shared so very much of our lives and our encouragement during our recovery.
At one week, even three or four weeks, you are in a period where most of us sit and wonder "What did I let them do to me"?
You had some major surgery. Go to Utube and look at one of the operations. It is going to take time to heal.
Most of our legs were in sad shape prior to the surgery so it is going to take time, and major effort to rebuild and take full advantage of what I have come to think of as a miracle knee.
Yep, a miracle. I've worked very hard this past year. My Dr. released me from phisio therapy at three weeks because he knew I'd work it as much if not better than the therapist.
Just relax and follow your Dr.'s directions. Just do slow bending and straightening...
Stick with is and you will reap that fantastic reward of "mobility".

 

[JenniferG]

Jaques, You are still a newbe and right where you are supposed to be. 1 week is just starting to wade in the pool as it was put to me when I was there. Some are on the walker for weeks. And sitting in chairs was a incremental thing. 15 mins here. Change position, walk then elevate again. Sounds like you are in the ball park. When you get out to PT they will work with you on your gate.

 

[Jamie]

If you don't have PT scheduled at this point, I recommend that you contact your surgeon. You should be starting it soon. Once you do, you'll find yourself improving each week. But measure your steps forward in WEEKS at this point, not days. It takes a while (2 months) to get to the point where you feel like you are getting "yourself" back again. Post often for support. That's what this forum does best. And....be sure to take your pain pills on schedule!!! VERY IMPORTANT!!!

 

[jacques1]

Well it is almost midnight and normally I would be asleep by 10. I decided to get up and come back to my survival network.\

Thank you, thank you. I was so excited when my Dr told me it was time for the surgery I was so excited. I want to much to be able to walk a distance.
I would be happy to go around a block. I thought I was prepared for this, but I guess I really wasn't. I will keep you's posted so I can get somemore feedback. Thanks again. Hopefully, I can now get into bed and sleep.
I find I get anxious.\\

Deb

 

[Linda2]

You can do some exercises that help build strength without even bending your knee. You can do ankle pumps, quad sets, leg lifts, sliding your leg sideways and back (my husband would put a cookie sheet under my heel for that one. You could even do the slides bending the knee if you don't push too far. Are any of those in the book you got? Definitely stick with the walker until you see the OS again.

 

[shutterbug]

Dont be discouraged. You are still in the dark days. The light will come soon. Pardon my metaphors. You are still early. I am at 12 weeks and feel 100% better than at 1 week. After 2-3 weeks you will feel much better. Stay on top of the pain meds, take stool softeners, and try to sleep whenever you can. It will get better!!! I switched between walker and crutches for 4 weeks. I am walking without any aid now. And in Maine this time of year..... Well you know. Take care and heal.
chuck

 

[Gretchendz]

Gosh, what they all said. I had RTKR in April and LTKR in October.

Both times, it was easily 4 weeks before I could sit comfortably in any chair for more than 5-10 minutes. Used walker for probably 4-6 weeks. Gradually I used it less for moving around the house but used it for going out where I was uncertain of terrain and kept it by bed at night so if I had to get up to go to the bathroom I had something secure while I was still sleepy.

It is still VERY early for you in the process.

And when you start PT, plan for that to be pretty much all you can manage to do that day. Seriously. For most of us, you will be swollen and sore from it for about 24 hours after.

The first time I went in the grocery for milk (at maybe 5 weeks post-op) I was EXHAUSTED after a walk to the milk and back in the store! Two months later, after PT, exercises, and healing, I walked around a flea market pain-free for 4 hours! It does get better. As Jo will tell you, it's not just the knee but the effects of having major surgery--anesthesia and all that.

As for knee straightening--both times I couldn't straighten them fully until have 2-3 months --and then it took lots of PT. Of course, I could not straighten either one before surgery, so maybe I am a bit slow in that department.

You are doing fine.

And--as you know--ask anything here. The best part of this forum is we can ask all the questions we don't want to bother doctors and PTs with.

 

[jacques1]

WOW what a response. Thanks so very much. I feel much better knowing I am where I should be. You answered so many questions.

Could someone suggest how to sleep. I understand it will be a disturbed sleep for awhile but maybe someone found a comfortable way that would help.

Again, thanks for the support. I was wondering if I did the right thing.
I guess there will be many tears shed in the next little while.

Deb