TKR Wilma's Recovery

[referee54]

I am recovering and am quite excited at the idea of walking without a limp. The physio said that it will take some serious effort but certainly possible.

Did you walk with a limp prior to your TKR? If you did, the PT will most likely have you do some exercises and rills for you to "relearn" the affected leg to develop the correct gait.

"Mechanics is muscle memory"---and you need to simply concentrate on what will actually feel unnatural---the correct mechanics of the gait.

I had some similar issues with my gait after my BTKR and I had drills and such to practice the correct mechanics of my gait.

It may take some effort, but you can get it done!

 

[SuperSnapper]

@Wilma morning, Deb,

Just wondered how you are doing. I realised yesterday that the last two weeks had gone so quickly and it's nearly :tree lights:! And I haven't done anything! So yesterday I forced myself to sit at the computer for 5 mins and did some online stuff but my knee hated it! Won't be doing that for a while.
Hope life is improving after staple removal. My stitches are still really tight and they are supposed to dissolve but seem to be taking ages and they itch too!
First physio for me today. Hope yourswent well the other day?

Mary x

 

[Wilma]

@SuperSnapper - Hi Mary

Hope the physio went well for you today. I can imagine your your scar feels tight if those stitches haven't dissolved. Maybe you need to get someone to look at them? It is so much better now my clips are gone but the scar is tightening a lot. I would like to moisturise it but know I shouldn't yet.

I have been online shopping too. My problem is I need to 'see' stuff for inspiration. Not long to the cut off date for Christmas deliveries now too!!

I'm expecting a Tesco order to be delivered this afternoon. I've ordered all non perishable Christmas things - just have to make sure they don't get eaten before time.

Today I feel a lot stronger. I am not relying on the crutches as much in that I don't use them to support my weight - just to balance. After saying that though I've just got back on the bed to rest with my ice machine. The days are long but the nights are much longer. I'm still waking about and hour before my meds are due. It's hard to get back to sleep but I can't (don't really want) to sleep during the day.

Let me know how your physio appointment went and what they want you to do.

Deb x

 

[SuperSnapper]

@Wilma hi Deb , glad to hear you are feeling stronger than before. It's so good when you feel you are progressing.

The physio went really well thanks, and she was pleased with my progress. She's not an advocate of doing anything that hurts and just wants me to do more of the same and continue to rest, ice etc. I am cleared to walk without a stick in the house as my balance is good and it doesn't hurt. Swelling is going down nicely but like you she thought if the stitches started to cause any trouble I should speak to the hospital. They are really tight but she said they should be dissolved soon, just keep an eye on them but the scar is fine. So all good really. Range of movement and extension are fine too . I was so relieved that my instinct to ignore the advice about doing lunges and squats from the hospital physio was right.

I do hope you manage to get more sleep soon. I ditched my cryo cuff and go to sleep with a gel pack on my knee. It's fine as long as there are layers of cloth between skin and pack and it keeps it cool and comfy until I drop off and for ages after. The cryo cuff was waking me up, I swear. And all that faffing about with it in the night drove me nuts! I still wake up but manage to get off again.

My scar is really dry too , the physio said to moisturise and massage round it.

Haven't done much since I got back except everlasting elevating etc etc etc but it appears to be working!

Hope you have a better weekend with more sleep

Mary xx

 

[SuperSnapper]

@Wilma Deb, your thread has gone very quiet so I popped across to ask how things are going for you.
The nights are stil a problem for me. They go on so long!
Hope you are OK?
Mary x

 

[Wilma]

Hi All - hope you have all enjoyed Christmas and are having a relaxing Boxing Day. Christmas day was busy for us, but very enjoyable. 7 grandchildren excitedly opening presents made my day.

Knee wise - still very swollen and big problems getting any bend. I know it's harder because of the swelling but at 4 weeks 3 days out I expected more than an 88 deg. bend (as does my PT). I am stretching and bending as advised but stop when it's painful. Do I make myself go through the pain?????? I really don't want to go to through the MUA route!

Deb

 

[Angel1978]

I have same issues and bend issues. As I am told time heals all. And the swelling is problems. Xxx best regards.


SonnysWife

 

[Celle]

Do I make myself go through the pain?????? I really don't want to go to through the MUA route!

No, you don't work through the pain. All that would do would be to further irritate your wounded tissues and inflame them.

There's really no need to rush to get ROM and also no specific time period when an MUA cn be done, should you need one.

Do remember that ROM can continue to improve for a year or even more.

 

[kneeper]

I think just keep doing the somewhat gentle bends and lots of
as the swelling goes down, typically the bend increases.

 

[Jamie]

Hi....haven't heard from you in a while. Are things doing better now?

 

[Wilma]

Hi Bonesmarters - I am now almost 10 weeks out of LTKR. This week I have managed to get 95 deg bend and a completely straight leg. I have had 3 therapists, 2 I haven't been very happy with. My present one is good. She pushes me to try much harder to achieve bends and stretches without overdoing it! I do get a bit of swelling a couple of hours after a session but icing and elevation sorts it out. She assures me that I am on track for a good recovery.

I am now at the stage where I am happy that I went ahead with surgery. The horrible nagging pain of a damaged knee has gone! I do have aches and pains but I know that they will go (fingers crossed). I can walk quite well without any aids indoors but I still use one crutch outside for confidence. My aim is to walk without a limp (and wear high heels).

We have booked a family holiday to Disney World in July so I am working towards that. Quite an incentive!

This forum has certainly helped me through this process. The amount of experience and support is amazing.

I had my surgery on 25th November at Wrightington Hospital in Wigan. My surgeon is Prof. Peter Kay and I am happy that I chose him. If anyone has any specific questions I am happy to answer.

Deb

 

[bottomshollow]

@Wilma! So good to hear that things are going really well for you. And I can assure you that they will continue to get better and better. Your bend will increase slowly but surely over time; and those nagging little aches and pains will slowly diminish and then fade away.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[SuperSnapper]

@Wilma
Hi Deb, good to hear from you and really glad to hear you are doing well with less pain. Your third PT sounds good. I've found too that icing and elevating is the answer if I've done too much and I still have an hour lie down in the afternoon just to make sure I rest. The Father Brown series on BBC 1 has excellent anaesthetic value although I do like to watch it.
It's great not to have the arthritic knee just as you said. I don't miss that one bit.
How are you on the stairs? I'm still not totally confident although I can go up quite happily the normal way, I usually come down one leg at a time. I expect it will come one day. It's better on shallow steps.
I went and met my walking group last week and did about half the walk. It was good to be out and about again.
@eldon has had her second operation and is posting again so it was good to hear from her too.
Sending you lots of good wishes
Mary x

 

[Wilma]

@bottomshollow @SuperSnapper - Hi Thanks for the encouragement. I can walk upstairs pretty normally but tend to throw my leg out instead of bending, a habit I need to quit fast! Walking downstairs is still two feet per step. I have been on short walks but still feel better with one crutch. I am amazed at what you are able to do Mary!

My biggest problem seems to be exhaustion. I can hardly do anything without having to rest after a few minutes or so.

Good to hear that eldon has been posting and has her second knee firmly in place.

Deb x

 

[SuperSnapper]

@Wilma Lots of people seem to have the exhaustion. I think I've missed it but I still feel a bit tired and as I said still have a rest every afternoon. I'm sure you'll build up stamina again. Take it slowly.

I know everyone on here says that Partials are the same to recover from as full TKRs but that's not been my experience so far. Or I might just be lucky. My surgeon said it would be a year before I felt properly better and I am at about 80% but the improvement has slowed. My physio was amazed at my progress too but I put it down to the hours I spent in the gym before the operation which was all done at my surgeon's suggestion.

I had the throwing the leg out bit at first going up the stairs but it takes such a lot of concentration to overcome it.

Over the next few weeks, I'm sure things will start to improve and you'll soon be feeling like your old self. If your physio is thinking you are on track and you're working well with her, that seems to be the way forward.

Mary x

 

[kneeper]

Just keep pacing yourself. Your energy will gradually come back even though it feels like it takes forever for a lot of us.