I am 4 weeks out from TKR and was able to walk a relatively pain free (and slow) mile. That really felt like a giant step after the pain and immobility of these past weeks. I can feel I have a long way to go but this is a start. I iced immediately when I got home and know that I will pay a little for this later but we have weather coming in tonight and I thought I would give it a shot. I am 57 and due to epilepsy don't drive and rely heavily on busing, walking and biking around. I was also doing yoga prior to all this so I was pretty flexible. It is exciting. My PT said to work on strength and balance and especially the stationary bike for a few weeks prior to trying to ride the bike. I'm going to just day by day it and see how it goes. Any recommendations/advice would be appreciated.
Hello Sky
well done to you. I am 10 weeks in now and am just walking for extended periods. You sound pretty fit but remember the body will take time to heal completely so be patient. 4 weeks is still quite early days and dont be surprised if you feel sometimes that you are taking a step back. Strength and balance are the key definitely so be religious about doing your exercises but not aggressive. Build on it daily, take your pain meds and ice your knee after as you are doing. This forum is a wealth of info and support. We all have such different stories but a common thread. Good luck!
By the sound of things you are doing welll. This site will,tell you that everyone is different. Yoga seems to have prepared you well. Has your knee bend been measured? Be prepared for the ups and downs that will come your way. Keep up with regular icing and pain control. I am 9 weeks post op. This is my second TKR. Both different. My first went like yours, my second no way! Only nowhere I returned to the gym. Stationary bike every other day and cross trainer with care. My knee is still swollen and in the morning it's stiff. Is yours? Carry on with the good work and I wish you a speedy recovery.
Robert
Hey Robert. My knee bend is about 5 degrees to around 123. My biggest complaint is that the knee becomes very painful in the early hours and I get up to ice and elevate and medicate if necessary but sometimes it really hurts and sleep is evasive. I'd say sleep deprivation has been a big factor and I kind of muddle thru the day and nap when I can. I'm not even close to going back to work. I would definitely say today was a good day but I have been warned about the spikes and the depression that goes with that. I am just getting on the stationary bike and expect to use that a lot. Thanks for the encouragement and I wish you well.
Sally, thank you for the encouragement and advice. I'm glad I found this thread as it is very informative and gives me info about what to expect from people that are actually going thru it, not that I doubt the MD's and the Physical Therapist. Best of luck to all of you.
Sleep deprivation is awful. It's impossible for the first 6 weeks. Only now am I getting 6 hours with pillow placed between legs. Struggling tonight. It's 02.29 uk. Eventually tiredness will win I hope.
Tell me about it. Just wish i could sleep.
Well it looks like we are all in the same boat with this one then... man, it is not fun. I end up just being exhausted to the point of incoherence and go out to the couch and turn on TV very low for background noise with ice on and MAYBE get two hours... And the pillow between the knees does help. Thanks again for sharing
Sally you're 10 weeks out with the sleep issues still?? I truly hope that gets better. Anyone else out there with suggestions-- I'm all ears.
I am 12 weeks still with waking all through the night to change position. Last two nights have not taken pain meds so wonder if this is why. I walk on my own and partly with a stick still. I know I gave a long way to go still but at least I am getting some sleep now. I honestly thought I would be completely back to normal now but this is not the case. I still get soreness as I did before on inside left of knee and behind it. The only thing that has gone is the arthritic pain. I don't think I will have the other knee done now.
Susan both my surgeon and physical therapist said that the majority of people have problems up to 6 MONTHS after surgery and some take as long as a year. I hope you give it some time and stay with it. You mention the arthritic pain being gone. Mine, too, was gone today during the walk and in the past, that 1 mile would have been agony.
It is now almost 2am here in Colorado. Time to ice and elevate and maybe read quietly or watch a bit of TV. I'm hoping I don't have to medicate as I am getting some nausea and trying to pin down it's source. Anyway, hang in there Susan.... note: there is beautiful snow coming down here and maybe next year I will be able to ski some gentle runs. I have not skiied in years due to the arthritis/damage and am an avid skier.
I am 80 years old. Do you think I will be able to ski after my second TKR? I couldn't before. Not enough snow in Essex 
LOL
You seem to be doing very well to walk a mile after a month, all I can say is I am. 13 Weeks post op had it on Nov 5th, had terrible time for 3weeks in tremendous pain, as they took out a partial knee replacement that was fitted 3years ago and did not work, I felt I was getting slightly better each day, was able to bend knee at least 90degrees but sometimes I pushed it that bit further and my God did it hurt, like a knife being stuck into the back of my knee, I just kept doing a little bit each day, until last week when I thought I would try and ride down my lane about quarter of a mile, made big mistake did not have seat high enough so I bent my knee past its comfort zone, my god it hurt but persevered, WRONG, knee came up like balloon, iced it for ages, feel as if I have put myself back about 3weeks very painful, now limping as I can't put full pressure on it, will have to take it easy for a while, so all I am saying is don't be impatient like me, spoke to a chap who had a knee fitted 12months ago and said swelling has nearly gone down,walking ok unable to kneel on it but got no pain, so be careful you don't push yourself like me and go backwards , good luck Graham
Plenty of snow over here in Spain . . I'm 70 . .perhaps we can both learn to ski? On second thoughts . . perhaps not . . . . .
Isn't four weeks a little early to be using a bike? I know there are so many different ideas, but my physio says no bike until about ten weeks! You seem to be doing great for four weeks!
I have been offered a sunshine holiday in Marcia prior to my elective TKS.. When do you think is the earliest optimum time? I am not planning to skit his year LOL.
Murcia perhaps? It can be pretty cold right up to May really on the Mediterranean coast . . June would be lovely . July and august too damned hot! Of course, as everywhere, the weather doesn't always do what you expect. We live in tenerife, eternal sun etc. . well, it's rained pretty well every day for the last six weeks here in the north of the island!
Away, the rain plays merry hell with arthritis as does the cold. I have been SO cold even indoors lately. Thank you for your prompt and kind advice. June is UK best month too but I may venture to see my granddaughter iin MURCIA Maytime. I have an op in July and another end of November. The fun is endless 
I'm not going anywhere near my road bikes for a while. The stationary bike awaits. I have absolutely no tension on it and right now I just gently move my feet back in forth in an arc without going the full 360. I can do that but there is pain so I back off. We have quite a bit of snow and more to come so I supect I will be using that more often. I have a very small apt and really no room or long hallway to walk in. I'm going to ask my brother or nephew to clear a little path for me to walk in. I'm glad this detached apt is on the ground floor. I have some swelling and pain from yesterday's walk but expected that. Thanks for the encourage ment from everyone. I love the skiing jokes!
ha ha! Well maybe I'll be able to unexpectedely tap dance or something. I guess just on one side would be rather pointless. I'll settle for walking without pain.... or manageable pain. My folks skiied into their late 60's.