I am almost nine weeks on! Feeling very grown up with my TKR! Any tips for improving
Walking from those further along the road to recovery? I can walk slowly without
Sticks indoors, with one outside, but use two if walking for longer than fifteen minutes.
But still so slow! Beginning to wonder if I will ever walk normally again! I did have a
Month of my quads not working and I am exercising to strengthen them up.
The operated leg used to give way about every ten minutes and now that only happens
Occasionally. So improvement in that area. Don't feel nervous about walking but it feels so odd. I feel like i am needing
To learn how to walk all over again. Very pleased with new knee. But, as with the extreme tiredness this was another
Aspect I had not considered!
That was one of my worries Jenny - I felt as though I should be walking much faster, and it was a couple of weeks or so ago, when I was about eight weeks, that I was thinking that. I don't know if it's more work on the recumbent bike that's helped (I've gone from level 1 to level 7 or 8 now) or if it's just the knee healing more and realising how strong and stable (ha, I sound like a politician LOL!) it is, but I found I had to consciously try to walk faster, and found I could (despite the other knee needing doing). But I do know EXACTLY what you mean. I was thinking 'is it that my legs are weak, or is it that I've got a mental block on walking properly'. I even tried distracting myself by holding on to the linings of pockets as I walked because I felt I was TELLING myself I couldn't walk properly. This all sounds crazy, but I think you'll know exactly what I mean. But it did all gradually change. I'm still not walking as fast as I want to but there is definitely an improvement and I'm not thinking about each step now. Before the op I WAS thinking about each step - it was all painfully slow and hurt so much but now with just one knee done there is such an improvement. So I think this is probably just down to time and confidence!
I found at first i was taken small steps then aimed for larger steps, and walk a bit further each day. It just takes time Jenny. If u stick2 Ur excercises you will be fine but don't over out like i did
Thank you, I can relate to all of that! Also it is tiring for my whole body, as having energy issues
Still! Eating red meat every day as well as taking iron pills doctor prescribed! I think I could maybe try some faster walking...
What you say sounds spot on...But it helps to know that your experience
Shows with time it did improve. So hard walking in london today!
I was soooooo slow...my awareness made worse by the rushing around going on around me I think! But I did manage it. Completely shattered now!
Again - I can relate to what you're saying! I felt, up to a couple of weeks ago, that every muscle in my body was tensing as I was walking! Walking was almost like balancing on a tightrope, so rather than being relaxed - everything was tensed! I still feel that to some point, and think I might well until the other knee is done, BUT am finding now that walking at a stroll IS becoming more natural, so give it time and I hope you'll find the same as I have soon:-))))
Thank you so much.... I will experiment with larger steps, . I think I over did it today!
I went to london was 20 minutes Walk x 4 (20 min would normally take 10 mins!) And train journey plus meeting in between. I thought the rests
Between the walking would make more difference than they did I think! Only just made it home! Flat on my back at the moment!
That's interesting. I was trying to explain to a physiotherapist last week
How HARD I felt the operated leg had to work in order for me to do an exercise which involved me standing on it and balancing, while sticking the other leg out, which had a 1.5kg weight on it. Tense is the word! Maybe while the muscles are still weaker and we have to put so much mental effort into doing things we just lose our flow!
"Stroll" is a very desirable word for me to keep in mind!☺👢
Yes, I should have thought to say that too! When I was trying to speed up, I lengthened my stride!:-)))
That isn't easy with NO weight on it until you've built up muscles. I am rejoicing that I can stand on the operated leg happily to put my jeans on but the other leg is wobbly LOL!
😁 yes, I am practising at home WITHOUT the weight and holding the leg
Bent near the one I am standing on. When I can do that for a minute
I will try with a weight! However, it's good they are stretching me.
I can do a straight leg raise with 1.5kg weight, which is a miracle really, bearing
In mind that five weeks ago I couldn't lift it in a straight leg raise at all.
In a sense you are learning to walk again! It's learning to walk normally, and not as we have done for ages with painful knees. I can't think of any special ways of improving, except keep on doing it, and make sure that you actually are walking with the right movements. I never really had a problem with speed . . well, after the first month or so . . but I had a lot of troubly learning to bend my knee after years of trying to avoid doing that because of pain! Enjoy your new knee!
Phew - you have come on in 'leaps and bounds' LOL! That really is such an improvement. Once I get my date for the next op I'll start those straight leg raises again. I stopped doing them a few weeks ago now, but physio had said how strong legs were. I did them before the op as well as after. It really is very exciting to look back and see the progress, isn't it! Although at the time it might not seem like it, when you look back it's all improved pretty quickly!
Yes, it is different! I had both flexion deformity and valgus deformity, and though
Just small, the leg feels so different. I love it...Just need to get used to it! I have not limped once...which is amazing!
Yes, funny kind of time warp...look ahead to what you cannot do, and it seems ages away. Look back and realise how much has been achieved in what now seems a very short time!
Everything you have written is so needed I am now 14 weeks post TKR I can walk unaided in the house and like you in use one stick because of balance issues cos of history of knees giving way If I'm heading for s long walk and unknown territory I use two No shame cos I'm doing it my way I say that will be will be I'm in no hurry 💗💗
Oops, varus deformity! Not valgus!
I think, as you lengthen stride, you get into 'swinging' the leg more, which is less strenuous than placing every step. So try swinging it forward more?