Hi, I know I may have my thick head on this morning, but I keep reading about the "12 week window" what does this mean? does it mean that you cannot improve further after these 12 weeks ??? is there any point in doing more physio or is that as good as you are going to get, sorry but I just dont get this.
Hi Susie, my understanding or 12 week mark is some people see a big difference once they hit 12 weeks....comfortwise, stiffness, mobilty things they can do, going back to work and sleep. Everyone is different. I am 22 weeks and would say 15 and 20 weeks were when I could sleep better, walk slightly further, go back to work and stifness and tighness has only eased a little at 20 weeks. |You need to keep doing physio to keep muscles srong. I do stretches, static bike 20 mins daily and walk half a mile twice a day. I can't walk any further than that at once or i get incredibly stiff. My bend is 120 and straight 0. You keep improving and can do for up to 2 years I was told.Hope this helps . S x
Thank you Sue, you have really helped to clarify this for me, I am 12 weeks today, I am sleeping better and have gone back to work, hoping the stiffness will improve sooner rather than later 
would feel fantastic if I could get rid of the knee pain which apparently could be muscle...... glad you are doing well Sue xx
Thanks Sue. I'm at 8 weeks bilateral, trying to get off pain meds, have 125 ROM and 0 extension, can walk 60 min, and ride bike 40 min, stiff in both knees but tolerable, BUT I can't get a decent nights sleep!! Wake up sometimes 4-5 times in 8 hours. What do people with TKR do for sleep?
HI Ann, you are doing really well at 8 weeks and both knees, you bend and straight are excellent. I can only walk 20 mins but do it twice a day and bike 20-30 mins as well as stretches etc. My knee gets very stiff if I try to walk further to the point I struggle to get home. Sleep was my big issue. I woke up to 4 times a night as found it hard to lie on side. I took meds before bed and used ice. If i woke i got more ice. Sleep became better as time went on but it took me to 15 weeks to get a good nights sleep. Some nights i lay and lay awake. I rested as i needed during the day and still at 23 weeks I do not have as much energy as before. Some people on here seem to sleep no problem but it was when i moved the ache or stiffness woke me. I know some people on here too use a pillow for support with their knee but I was told not to as it does not help your bend. Well done on getting both done, how did you coe. I need my other one done and am daunted by having to go through it all again as I know now what is infront of me wereas before this one did not really understand what I was letting myself in for. Best wishes for your continuing recovery. xx
That's what I'm hoping that a few more weeks and sleep will return. I also wake up cause my one knee feels achey and very warm, and I'll ice in middle of night. The other knee is fine and sometimes I forget it had surgery too! Go figure! I found ice Paks I can strap on my knees and then I fall asleep versus using the ice therapy machine. But I'm taking a sleep aid and doc will not renew script. I have 10 days left! Sue, I had no choice but to do both knees. The bone on bone in both deformed by legs into a bow shape. I'm very happy I did both, and went into this knowing the first few months would be tough. But I went into a rehab facility for 7 days after hospital, and had PT twice per day. They had me master stairs before I left to go home! My girlfriend and husband took care of me. First two weeks were tough, but after that improved, and I started driving 3 weeks post/op! All in all I'm very grateful and feel blessed, and soon as I get a full nights sleep I'll feel like a million!