Become an Insider

TKR Veronica's TKR Recovery

Full Revolution @vonjpo ! :yes!: A great milestone.
 
Timetolive said:
Do you have extra swelling? Swelling can be on the inside and not show. You said PT pushed you really hard. That could have inflammed your knee and made it tight. Are you icing regularly and elevating? I am sorry you are having this problem. It will get better, but don't let PT push you to the point of pain. It does not help. Believe me, I learned that lesson.
Click to expand...
I must admit that I am not icing and elevating as I should. He swears he is not doing his job if he doesn't stretch me and says that is why my knee is tight. I am going to start icing and elevating more.
 
Celle said:
Cause and effect?

Don't allow your PT to push on your knee and you don't need to increase the number or type of exercises.
I think you need to look at these articles:
TKR: work “smarter” and not “harder”
Knee recovery - Lose the Work Ethic!!
Life in the slow lane
Click to expand...
Thank you I will read and re-read. It doesn't help that my spouse compares my recovery to everyone who progressed a lot faster and is really not helping as he thinks I'm not pushing myself. Don't mean to complain but I am trying my best and trying to be there for our 13 year old and all of her activities. for better days soon.
 
Ahhh....I am sorry you are getting compared to everyone else. I know that feeling. The 84 year old woman at church that had her knee replaced and is out mowing her yard....the 70 year old that had his knee replaced and is having no pain and is doing great.....the 62 year old that keeps telling me I need to be swimming and doing water aerobics....the one that tells me I should have used such and such surgeon...yes, we all get compared and measured against someone else. Isn't that human nature? What is missing is the memory of the pain that happened when they first came home, the agony they had privately, that has been forgotten. I will admit, my pain is not a strong memory anymore even though it was pure hell at times. The next time he compares you to someone and says you are not doing enough? Tell him in your sweetest voice, "thank you Darling for reminding me what a blessing Jane/Joe had with their surgery. I am so happy for them. I know you are praying for me and my recovery also." Then.....close your eyes and pretend to take a nap while silently thanking God your husband cares enough to be concerned. They may aggravate the devil out of us sometimes, but they are here through the worst of it and see us in the trenches of recovery. May you have comfort and peace tonight.
 
Hello vonjpo,

Inflammation is the worst enemy of rom. When I had my 1st tkr, I did not understand the importance of icing and elevating. Yes we are bound a total of several hours a day to a chair with our leg up but this is the only way. I found that my inflammation was decreased 1st thing in the morning and this is when I do my best stretches. I always get higher numbers just coming out of bed! This keeps me positive because I know that at the end of the day once My knee is tired and has more swelling I do crapy rom!

Try elevating and icing before you do your stretch exercises and then after again!
 
Thank you so much for the advice; much needed and appreciated. Was told this morning that my best friend since grade school has been given a few weeks to a month to live. She has been fighting ovarian cancer since being diagnosed in 2006. Her daughter contacted me. An hour later I receive a text from my friend. "GM sis! I shall live and not die! How are you feeling today?" She is my Shero! On to elevating and icing.
 
Veronica, I am so sorry to learn of your dear friend's diagnosis. She will need you now more than ever. My prayers and thoughts are with you both.
 
So sad about your friend - it's such a horrible disease. Will say prayers for her.

For me, massage is a good warm-up to flex exercises but ice just makes me more stiff. My PT now gave me the go-ahead to use heat on my knee before exercise also (I'm two months, same as you) I always ice after since that does help with pain and according to my PT at least, slows down any contracting of the tissues you just stretched - have never seen that anywhere else but I guess it makes sense.


Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart Forum
 
charmed-life said:
My PT now gave me the go-ahead to use heat on my knee before exercise also (I'm two months, same as you)
Click to expand...
You can use heat on your muscles, but I think it's still much too early to use it on your knee itself. Using heat there is likely increase swelling, something you don't want.
 
Wow my PT has been using heat as well. Started using it 3 weeks ago while stretching my knee and has been using a heating pad instead of ice after he stretches it. I have been having more stiffness and other issues that I can't put my finger on since Monday. I have been mostly elevating and icing today. Just don't know what's going on. It kinda feels like the implant is too big or something.
Thank you for the prayers for my friend.
 
My Pt also used the heat behind my knee before I started. Then iced me for a 1/2 before I would leave. I'm so sorry about your friend.
 
Heat is very comfortable when getting ready to stretch and has not caused any issues - I have very little swelling - just sometimes when I sit too long it work it harder but it's gone in a day. This is my experience only but it works for me. Just soaked in a hot tub for ½ hour and it's doing great


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum
 
Gonna start using moist heat before stretching and see how it works for me. Made 2 months today. Disappointed that I just graduated to a cane as PT days my leg is not strong enough and doesn't want to risk a fall.
 
It's hard to go against the advice of therapist. With my revision the therapist who had been coming to my house is totally following the bonesmart way. She never pushes or pulls my knee in any way or cause me any pain. At most it is a bit uncomfortable. We usually start by walking around the house to warm up my muscles. Then some stretching and ROM exercises followed by massage. I seem to be doing much better with this program than the one I followed last July.

I'm so sorry to hear about friend and I will keep you and her in my prayers.
 
vonjpo said:
Just don't know what's going on. It kinda feels like the implant is too big or something.
Click to expand...
My first felt like the implant could have been too big. Once all the swelling ( it took a year) was all all gone, then my knee felt just right.
I do not know about using heat on the knee at 2 months, for the muscles I guess it would be fine, but on the knee? There is still a lot of swelling and putting heat may relax ligament and tendons but I think it would flare up the swelling also, so to me I feel,it would be counter productive.
Have you notice that your knee bends easier when your PT have you using heat on your knee? Is there less pain?
 
Creation said:
My first felt like the implant could have been too big. Once all the swelling ( it took a year) was all all gone, then my knee felt just right.
I do not know about using heat on the knee at 2 months, for the muscles I guess it would be fine, but on the knee? There is still a lot of swelling and putting heat may relax ligament and tendons but I think it would flare up the swelling also, so to me I feel,it would be counter productive.
Have you notice that your knee bends easier when your PT have you using heat on your knee? Is there less pain?
Click to expand...
I think it does help when he bends. The pain is less. I read an article that said heat after 6 weeks is okay.
 
newlybionic said:
It's hard to go against the advice of therapist. With my revision the therapist who had been coming to my house is totally following the bonesmart way. She never pushes or pulls my knee in any way or cause me any pain. At most it is a bit uncomfortable. We usually start by walking around the house to warm up my muscles. Then some stretching and ROM exercises followed by massage. I seem to be doing much better with this program than the one I followed last July.

I'm so sorry to hear about friend and I will keep you and her in my prayers.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your prayers. Why did you have a revision?
 
Veronica, my OS recommended heat after I was healed also. He said some people respond to heat better than ice for stiffness and pain. He had me alternate heat and ice.

How is your friend? I have been praying that she has peace and comfort at this time.
 
My friend is very strong in her faith and is speaking scriptures of healing and life. Thank you for your prayers.
I've got to set a schedule to be more consistent with my exercises, icing, elevating, etc.
I have had 3 surgeries on this knee in the past 15 months and some days I am just emotionally tired of exercising, but I know it's a must. I try hard to stay motivated.
 
Consistency with ice and elevation is more important than a schedule for exercises. Unless that's what it takes for you to do any. For me I could just try a few two times a day when I felt tired of doing nothing for a while.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Corganics CBD

Staff online

  • benne68
    benne68
    Staff member since February 4, 2022
  • Jockette
    Jockette
    Staff member since March 18, 2018

Members online

Total: 2,272 (members: 4, guests: 2,268)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom