tkr almost a month ago. Can stretch to perfection; handle three flights of stairs one step at the time with no issue; can vacuum, mop etc . Going to Physio three times a week and working out at home three times a day. Started massage therapy twice a week. Tramadol for pain and cannot reach 90 degrees. Excruciating pain if I am pushed passed 80. 69 years old and in fairly good shape. I have adhesions and am praying I will not need manipulation. What is my issue?
You may be pushing too hard. Cut the home excercises to once a day. Rest when you can and dont be pushing to get this all done in a day. In some areas you are way ahead but in ROM you are tied up. Try massage and take the weekend off. You aren't going to fall behind in the other areas. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water so you are well hydrated. Dried out soft tissue absolutely will not streatch. Rest as much as possible because tired muscles will not heal. If you were going to a gym for conditioning your trainer wouldn't let you do lifting every day as soft tissue needs time off. I have been through this for what is now my 5th time and have just hit 90 with minimal effort as my situation will only allow for small amounts of pressure. I start outpatient therapy 3x's a week this coming Thursday but will still not be allowed to push to the extreme for a couple more weeks but my Dr is very happy with the progress. I have had 11 surgeries and 30 rounds of radiation on this leg in 13 years. 6 of those since Jan 2013 and I am 78.
Too much too soon. Vacuuming & mopping shouldnt be attempted for 3 months at least. You are using the muscles in a sideways movement, this can cause damage to the muscles. The exercises with pain management is good but backwards & forwards only.
Take it easy it isnt a race!
Im 10.5 months post op. I dont have any pain. For the last 3 weeks ive been working in our allotmen, including digging & putting up new fences followed by all the harvesting
Im 70 and I wasnt rushing back to work, I allowed my other half to help when I needed it
So start over again with your exercises, I had to at 8 weeks after a car crash when an idiot hit us in the back and take it easy
Thank you so much for you r feedback. I feel this pressure as it was made clear to me upon leaving the Hospital that 90 degrees is a must in the first few weeks or adhesions will set in. Would like to hear what others have to comment.
I think you're expecting too much. Rest is also an important factor. At 8 weeks I still had bruising from the surgery, you need to give yourself time to heal. You are really lucky you haven't done more damage. Take time to elevate and ice.
Everyone is different, there are no rules as to what we should or should not be doing, we use our own common sense. I'm three months now since surgery and I am doing everything I did before, but my bend is not good either, I can't say what it is but will know when I go to physio at end of this month, but I am not overly concerned, I had the other knee done in 2011. I have had that manipulated twice and each time what an IMprovement no pain at all afterwards I walked out very happy, and I expect the same to happen this time I am actually look forward to getting it done as I know it is perfectly fine, I can't rest as much as a lot of people as I have my parents living with me aged 91 and 89 and unfortunately I don't think they realise just how big this operation was, so I just plod along every day . Good luck, jackie
hi colito i agree with OFG you are pushing too much ,ive done what your doing ,and i too couldnt get the desired rom it took alot longer than 4wks to get there ,as others have said before its a marathon not a sprint ,its great your motivated and you need to be but give yourself a break and rest a little .i have had bi lateral two and a half years ago but one of my knees got broken during the op so it left me with serious complications and shortly after broken cement needed the whole knee opened to remove got very stiff knee only 70% bend eventualy just over a year later i had revision with the hope of better quality of life im now coming up to my year post op in two weeks time ,im for the first time in two and a half years smiling and looking forward my straightening has greatly improved with the help of others here who gave me some great advice my rom is 95% just but it comfortable to sit without having to hang on and i know it s stretching more and i still believe it will reach 100% OFG is right about the water i drink alot of it now and im seeing the benifits of it healing will only go at its own pace but i know where your coming from you are afraid not to excersise in case it stiffens up i was like you doing too much till my doctor said to my hubby reel her in and make her rest , .we are not saying dont excersise we are saying take it slower it will move i think your doing amazing at 4wks i wasnt at that point at 4wks thats for sure take the advice we were where you are it took my the full 12mths to get me to going for walks without exaustion and pain slow down !!
I hoovered up for the first time this morning and only the lounge carpet...I am 23 weeks po and 75. I do the exercises as and when not a regime now , no pain, walk but not excessively and elevate and ice with a soft leg massage every morning to start the day. You can overdo it, this op is slow and steady for recovery, had the first one done 8 years ago so I am following the same as I did then.....slow and steady then you have no problems.. don't rush it, it can't be done that way.
I am 12 wks out and can not go pass 90. They have stopped my Physio telling me that it may be hurting it. My entire leg is also still swelling. I try and do the exercises at home so as not to lose any ROM. I had a manipulation last mth and he was able to move it to 100. When I woke up, so could I. But once the block wore off, it was back to 72 at the time, but I was able to work it up to 90 where it has stopped. They told me it was the swelling that is stopping it. I have had 5 surgeries on this leg, so that may be part of it. They told me to wear the stockings and I have another appointment next week. I use a compression ice machine so I don't know what the stockings will do if the machine doesn't help it. Anyway, pray it goes well for you.
Goodness me Colito, you are doing so much! I was still unable to do very much at all at 4 weeks. You need to build the exercises up and as for going up stairs. I am 15 weeks in and I go up one at a time and need a stick to go up and down. Please be careful. Take heed of all this advice. Slow yourself down.
Oh my gosh your ding great!! Only one month yes there is a lot of pain still. I'm at 3 1/2 months and I'm at 100 ROM and I still have pain. I don't think you will ever get a MUA. Your doing great!!!!