Hi there. I am 7 weeks post op and feeling frustrated. I did very well the first month, made some progress with the flexion and extension, incision healed well, etc. Pre Op I was only 80 degrees flex and 30 degrees extend and I am now at 110 and 14 (10 on a good day). I have been working from home for weeks. Just got rid of using one crutch and now using a cane. I just seem to limp way too much without it. Physio says I need to work on my quads and hip muscles, so I am. My job requires a lot of airline travel, airports, customer visits etc. I thought by now I would be independent and ready to do that but the thought of a trip alone, snow, ice and long days on the road concern me. I am riding the bike 8km at a time and that is fine. It is the walking around that is not 100% stable. Is this normal? Am I being unrealistic?
Hi Jane you have done so well to get this far, it really is still early days for you, the instability you feel when walking is one of the side effects of the op. I still get it now some days and I will be 7months post op this week. I think the fear of the leg not holding out is inate. I certainly think with the demanding job you have you needa lot of recovery time, we do tend to push ourselves too hard sometimes. I am taking my first trip by plane on Sunday and I'm still a little apprehensive. Take care you will get there
Hi Tucks. I too am 7 months later this week - where has the time gone!!
i still get quite a bit of stiffness but it is so much better than before.
Have a great trip and enjoy yourself. Take care lovey xx
I think we all discouraged at some point. Recovery is way longer then anyone really tells us. I'm seven months and it's only been the last couple that I feel I'm actually gong to really be ble to walk and do more things. It's a slow process. If now if I have a Night I don't keep well or if I'm tried I notice I limp. Sounds like you are probably doing good, just noxious to get on with life which is normal. Slow and steady wins the race.
Janet..
I would have to say you ate on the leading edge of the curve. This is a slow steady process. A process the docs don't talk about in exact terms, only generalities. You appear to be making good progress but take care not to let your expectations get the best of you both physically and mentally. A positive attitude is great but a realist approach is even better. Don't be concerned if you see minor set backs on both mobility and flex. As you put more pressure on the joint and leg oft times you will feel it showing fatigue and weakness and you just have to continue to work through it gently.ale sure you temper excercise with rest, ice, elevation and hydration. An overly tired body will not heal as fast as a rested one
Good luck and stay with this for
You will be given more encouragement and solid advice than you'll get from a clinic full of docs
I think you are doing great! You may want to look at one of the many healing timelines that are online. According to them... you are doing fine... Read some of the other posts and compare.
Thank you my freind, what a long hard road it has been hasn't it? So now its onward and upward , hopefully some lovely warm sunshine and some nice cold beer. Keep well spring is on its way x
Oh it has certainly been a long hard road Tucks. I am so looking forward to this spring and summer as I missed so much last year as you probably did too. We have a lovely little holiday home in West Sussex right by the beach and all I could do last year was limp a few feet then retreat back to the bungalow to put my leg up and cry like a baby! It's still a little painful and I still have to rest now and again, but I can walk for a lot longer now. Have a lovely trip and just think - last year you would have had great difficulty even getting onto and sitting on a plane lol. Love and best wishes to you xx
I think the instability you feel is absolutely normal! When I concentrate I can walk without a limp (seven weeks) but when I first stand up I still move like a duck . . I I'm pretty sure a lot of it psychological but when I don't really think about it I tend to drop back into my pre-operation walking gait. the brain just doesn't want to accept that the knee works now! 8 kms a day on the bike is amazing . . I think perhaps you are expecting rather a lot after so little time?
Thanks everyone. I feel much better just hearing your stories and encouragement. I have never been a patient woman but this is teaching me just that. I think the worry about work is a psychological hurdle I have to come to terms with. I need to temper the need to do it all with the long term well being of me and the new knee.