Hello, I am 14 weeks post TKR things will improve over time dont try to rush it. Your gait may be different now that may be the cause of the back pain, get your physiotherapist to check your hips are aligned now. I had back pain almost straight away after it was that my leg length was now 12mm different. A shoe lift has corrected that. Its a marathon not a sprint I was told by my surgeon, recovery takes some time. Good luck
#3 will get your leg straight…
See if any of this applies to you…(PS: I believe it does as we almost all had the same problem…)
my right lower back and hip ache unbearable! I’m on constant pain meds! I hope it goes away soon, no sleep and can’t sit still for long periods of time, also foot numbness and pain, can’t drive yet! anyone else going thru this??
Hello and thanks for your reply
I had the same issue, leg hasnt straightened for two years and like you the surgeon said he got it straight during the op but its bent again now about 25 degrees.
Hope you are on the mend soon
I also had my leg straightened at the time of the TKR . I have suffered pain, it seems under the knee cap, when putting weight on the leg since the op. last November and can only walk short distances indoors, using a Walker. Knee Surgeon said pain due to hip and sent me to hip Surgeon for hip replacement. Hip Surgeon found nothing wrong with hip and said he would tell GP and Knee Surgeon. That was on July 9th. Everything has gone very quiet…
thank you Jean i will try this x
Thank you, seeing him tomorrow so will ask him to check.
Really sorry to hear that. I’m guessing that post operative care varies from one health authority to another. I was taught how to use crutches to go up and downstairs before I had my operation and had to demonstrate to the physiotherapist that I could do so before I could go home. James, I hope you see some improvement very soon. Good luck.
Really sorry to hear that. I’ve learned a lot about other people are doing.
Pilates cured my servere back pain that surgeons couldn’t do anything for, in a few weeks. After my TKR mild back pain due to sitting around for weeks (I couldn’t do anything else) and stopping Pilates. Having restarted Pilates back pain has almost gone and general muscle strength much improved.
I’m 4 months on my right knee and 7 weeks on my left knee and they are still not straight. you get exercises to straighten them. I was 8 years with both knees being bent and bandy legged so they said that it would take longer to straighten them. but after 3 weeks I wouldn’t be concerned
HI carol, 3 weeks is not a long time , surgeon told me it can take up to a year to heal fully, so you have along way to go, but dont loose hope, all you are feeling is quite normal. After 6 to 8 weeks you should see some improvement, but you’ll continue to make progress day on day, week on week. I don’ t know if your’re from the UK as i am ( Cornwall ) but here they stress over & over that you MUST stay on your crutches for at least 6 weeks, even if you feel quite able without them. It might be whats causing your backache if your’re just using one stick so early on. Your knee will heal at its own pace, so don’t be too disheartened. When I first had my TKR done ( JAN '18 ) I thought, what have I done to myself ? now I’m so pleased not to have anymore pain…I’m having my second knee done in a few weeks, so I can look forward to all that you’re going through all over again ! Haha. Good luck with your recovery, I wish you well.
Sorry, what does ROM stand for?
I agree with you. I’m in Greater Manchester and was told to use my crutches for six weeks. Same with my hip replacement three years ago.
Range of Motion. The goal is 0 degrees straight and +120 flexion. I started PT at -14 / +84 and finished at 12 weeks with -1 / +123. It was hard, painful work but you need the flexion to do stairs again. Got stuck at -4 for weeks…frustrating until I broke through that scar tissue. It then gets a bit better as you do the muscle rebuild. Last check was 0 / +133. Very happy with those numbers.
Thank you. My numbers were pretty good, when I was reassessed six weeks after starting the weekly rehab sessions at the knee group of the hospital I’m under, but I don’t remember them. They’re written down in the letter to my GP reporting on my post op checkup. Not sure if they are still the same.
Thanks Jo hope you keep on getting better
Hi Junie
I’m in the Northwest of England. Thank you for your encouraging comments.
Hope your surgery goes without a hitch and recovery is smooth,.
Do let me know how you go on.
All the best,
Carol x
Hope you are feeling much better soon denise x
You may want to consider the ROM at Home link I posted above or check YouTube for some exercises. There’s also a wooden/plastic appliance that you can buy to help with the heel slide exercise. No matter what you do, it’s gotta get done. That scar tissue must be broken down in order to walk correctly and do stairs. Takes time, work and patience. Like the rest of us, you’ll get there.