I am week 7 post op and still on crutches is that unusual. Knee still feels a bit wobbly and after a long day at work feel a bit dizzy. Feel a bit insecure without them at the moment. . Someone I know 20 years older than me is walking short distances crutch free at 6 weeks
Everyone, even different knees on same person has different results. Just concentrate on yourself. Back to work on 7 weeks is very quick for a TKR even for an office job. Try and rest leg with it in elevated position and ice pack it for about 10 minutes.
Do u mind me asking your age . I am now 5 weeks post TKR, I was off my sticks, not crutches, after a week , now walking well (walked a mile last week), bend is 120+ and the leg seems straight. So I would say , based on my experience that seven weeks seems a very long time. What we read on here though is how very different we all are. I am 54 and scheduled for my second TKR 10th April.
Super result and in my experience unusually so. But, hats off to you.. My left knee took about eight weeks for the bend to get beyond 100 but my right knee which was much more damaged is taking longer. At 8 weeks have just pat 95. Previous knee ops were all different in time taken. Even with the help of six weeks in Headley Court one took a long time.
Hi,
I am 3 months post op and still use my crutches. Not all the time but for walking longer distances. I thought the same as you that I should be off them at 6-8 weeks (because im only 45 and thought I would running in 6 weeks) but my physiotherapy lady very quickly told me to still use them. She said that you get a much better walking pattern by using them, I'm tall and with a stick she said I walk with a stoop. I do feel that I am walking far better with this advice... I also felt wobbly and I guess insecure without them but I know don't depend on them but just use them to aid a long walk...
Be patient with yourself and keep using the crutches until you can set them aside. You are working on your feet. I can't imagine how swollen your knee must be at the end of a day! Everyone is different and even each knee is different for the same person.
Everyone heals different. It's really hard to see someone bypass you in recovery. I too am a little shaky at 3 weeks postop, I've put away the Walker but wouldn't consider leaving the house without a cane yet. My PT and doc say the shaky, wobbly knee is poor quad strength and both have me doing a lot of quad sets. I can tell the difference daily. Hang in there, this is a process!
That's great don't feel so bad now. Than you. I would rather walk for longer with crutches than to limp around the corner without them
Hello, I would say if you feel safer with them, keep using them. I am 6.5 weeks post op and although gave up using them three weeks ago , if I am going out I take a stick with me as the longer I am walking about and the more tired I get the more the knee starts to wobble and give way, so I don't think there is anything wrong with continuing to use them. If I'm honest I gave mine up too soon but probably because I found thy got in the way, lol .
I'm 55 . Surgeon did say he had to do quite a bit of work in the TKR
I don't really have much option re.work. I have done three days work over 10 days each time I don't feel so good and knee very swollen at the end. Boss not sympathetic as he needs working staff
Everyone is different. Personally I'm walking around the house unaided, but im wobbly outside so i use crutches and/or wheelchair
Going to see consultant tomorrow, wonder if he will/won't be pleased with my progress despite no physio
Christine TKR 5 weeks 3 days
I was same , my leg was badly bowed and is now straight , surgeon said op should have taken 70 minutes but took 100 minutes, in fact I woke up from spinal/sedation 20minutes before the end ! Keep your focus and try and push yourself with the exercises, I bought a pedal thing from Amazon for £25 which helped with the bend and a little with building of muscle. As I said before we are all different and you are also ahead against others on this forum, so keep going.
No don't you feel bad, I beat myself up something terrible. Like everyone is saying we all are very very different and heal\progress at different rates. I have set myself a realistic goal to be walking better by spring. My dining room looks like a gym... My treadmill arrived this afternoon!☺
Shows your committed to get back to fitness. Well done
I went to work at 7 weeks with both my knees and just took it slow. More sitting than standing and icing at work as well. Each to his own. One thing we can tell from this forum is that rate of recovery varies from one person to next but everyone finds it difficult in their own way. You are doing well if you are noticing improvement. Even if it's only improvement every month, you are still making progress. Good on you!
Well said Gloria. ☺
my aim for recovery btw is one year for each. By the time I hope to be back to normal. My 3 month check with the doc allowed me to list complaints and he simply said, noo you are doing fine, come back and seeme at Easter and I'm sure you will be happier! Easter! That's 5 months away!!! I think we just have to accept all the discomfort which is really hard and be patient. That's what I tell myself and my concerned friends everyday anyway 
Hi Gloria, yes that is my goal. I was totally naive before the op. Thought I was young, fit and I would be walking within 6 weeks... How wrong was I. I am just so grateful to my physiotherapy lady... She always puts things in perspective.
Me too nikki. .. I thought we had to get rid of them ASAP. ... but when I went to physio he gave me a telling off for using one crutch... said it causes posture problems and to use 2 I do have other muscle weakness though so I do need them or mu knee gives way. I am 18 weeks today ..tkr. .