i just went past my 1year Anniversary Feb 21st. I was looking at some of my posts from last year, I remember being so discouraged that I couldn’t bend my knee to the 120 PT wanted. I walked out of there crying many times because I was so afraid of the manual adjustment, my surgeon kept telling me that I was doing fine but I got into a competitive thing with other people who were walking, bending that knee to 120,throwing away the cane after a week, not taking painkillers, whew, lots to live up to.
Then it finally all came together, I could bend that knee to 120and beyond, didn’t need pain killers, I was out walking the cane and tripping on it so I discarded that.
So if you’re new to this please don’t be discouraged. You will get to where YOU are supposedly to be. No one else feels what you feel so keep your exercises up faithfully, ice like crazy, move around a lot, you can’t hurt this titanium knee, I was exercising the other day and it felt so strong.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST !! I am 5 months out and feel depressed some days and good some days - feeling better recently and appreciate your post a lot !
Love your post! I am 3 months post TKR but..., totally confident I am going to do great. Last year I accompanied my husband to a formal party 4 months after a septic arthritis infection- on a walker. Last night I went- no cane- no limp- no walker- no pain meds. I am so so encouraged! Thank you for your victory post!!!!! I am not where I want to be but confident it will happen.
Thank you so much.Your post has given me hope.I know I am only 6 weeks but can’t bend my knee much.Nearly everyone seems to be doing much better than me,don’t get any formal physio in NIreland after op so just doing it myself.
I'm also 6 weeks post op, can straighten fine , can't bend either really struggling, I have just started lifting my leg as my muscles in my thigh were not having it, I rolled a towel and did it though the pain was awful. Reading the posts on here are really supportive and encouraging, but also realise it's not a race . My consultant has given me till the 20th to bend it myself otherwise I will be having a MUA so I am determined to do it 😁
Fantastic! I too am one year post op on 8th March, and have been looking over this experience. It was hard ...a real challenge, on all fronts but so worth while. The freedom of living life more fully with mobility and no debilitating pain is something I could not imagine ever having again before the TKR. Life had indeed shrunk! The patience needed in recovery is great, but what an investment.
You are so very right and I am sure your encouragement will help others greatly.
NEVER compare your recovery to that of anyone else. Just leads to messing up your head. Concentrate on YOUR recover...OWN IT!!! Here's some help with the PT...
Hi Pat. I'm in Northern Ireland too and had TKR No 1 in June 2017 and No 2 in March 2018 - both privately! I got my GP to refer me for NHS Physio both times and it has been great.