I had my tkr on my right knee last Wednesday and returned home on Saturday. I'm 57. Of course, like all, one day is fantastic and then you have a bad night, but I'm already pleased I had the operation. I have a couple of questions that I would like others to give me their experience on:
1. It feels as if my whole day and evening is taken up with exercises as my pt said I have to do them every hour and then a walk every two hours, followed by an ice pack. The booklet says 3-4 times a day, which seems more realistic. I've settled on 7-8 times a day. Each session is about 15 mins.
2. Painkillers- I'm taking 2 x 500mg paracetamol with the option of an additional 1 to 2 dihydrocodeine tablets. I've been needing 1 of those each time and sometimes the 2nd one too. Is that too much, should I try harder to reduce it?
Thanks for any help those of you beyond week 1 can give me. I still can't lift my right leg up off my bed without the help of my dressing gown cord and the PT seems to think I should. Although some of the exercises do bring tears when I'm more tired, I am persevering.
Denise
Whoa whoa! You are doing way too much that early on. How is your swelling? If it is a lot then you have to reconsider the pt. And don't worry about taking too much meds. You're not a druggie! You need them to be able to move, that's what they're for. At this stage your main concern is healing and ice.
Without wanting to disagree with your PT, every hour for excercises seems too much and hardly gives you time to recover in between.
I was told to do the exercises three times daily, and go for several short walks around my garden daily.
I'm not surprised you are exhausted.
Listen to your body. If you are almost in tears, you are pushing yourself too hard.
We all get there in the end, make it easier for yourself. At your stage you should be resting more.
do what you feel comfortable doing. I know the therapists are keen to get you as good as possible, but sometimes they are too keen.
Take it at your own pace.
If you can't do a straight leg raise, don't worry, you will eventually.
If you need painkillers, take them all the time, don't wait for the pain to kick in.
I had both my knees done separately, and didn't push myself so much.
You will get better, Be kind to yourself.x.
Thank you Laura, that makes me feel less stressed about it.
I'm really beginning to doubt the PT's wanting every one to get back to normal so soon. Where's their logic? Of course we all want to as well...but heck...time heals too
Thank you Michael, it's so useful to consider others thoughts. My swelling is still considerable and I don't have much feeling on the right side of my knee yet. So I shall take it a little easier but continue to push myself. Really appreciate your comments and I feel much better about it.
It's a long painful recovery, but all of us on this forum will have been through what you are going through, and the key to a good recovery, is exercise, ice, and patience.
You will get frustrated at times, and upset, it's all normal.
It will have been so worth it in 12 months time, and yes it can take so long, everyone is different in recovery time.
Stress doesn't help you. You need a calm approach, and rest.
Tough at times but you are absolutely right Laura...
Denise, you are over doing things. If your in tears while doing your pt then your over doing it. You should be doing pt 3x a day as tolerable. You should be resting and icing that leg! The swelling alone will make pt more difficult and so will the pain. PT has good intentions but your body is telling you that your not ready for certain things. PT'S like to go by the book and every patient is different! Rest is the best thing for you right now and keeping that leg elevated above your heart. I hope you get to feeling better soon!
Wow Denise that is far too much. I'm 12 days in , and not doing as much as that. (I'm 56). You need to balance getting moving with healing.
I am getting worried because I can't do the leg raise at all despite trying really hard. I looked on you tube and there are some really good short videos by two physios who seem realistic in their expectations. They say initially don't worry so much about the strength- that will come- concentrate on the bending and straightening. Have a look- they made me feel better!
I don't know where you all live, but I'm in UK, and we have physio a few times in hospital then go home with exercises on a piece of paper! I have an appointment 19 days after the op when my letter says they will assess my progress and decide if I need anymore appointments! So we are very much on our own, making it hard to know if doing enough or not.
I'm using you tube as my advisors, and in touch with 3 fellow patients that had op at the same time and supporting each other.
As for meds Denise I cut mine down a bit but then exercises became impossible, so I've realised the meds are to help me so am taking the lot for now!
Slow down a bit, and good luck xxxx
Agree with all tht is said above. Don't try to rush things and every person heals differently.
As to the not being able to life leg - I had the same problem. I was given a leg lifter which is a bit like a dog lead - you know the trick ones where you walk an invisible dog. I was getting frustrated as no matter how I tried the lower leg/foot wouldn't budge. My physio said I was trying to lift with the wrong muscles. I was trying to lift from the thigh or hip not the knee - because that muscle was still tramatised. He made me life the other leg so I could feel the correct muscle working and soon afterwards I managed to shift it a bit. Was only mms at first, but once I knew what to do it progressed. I hope that explaination makes sense or ask you physio to explain better. Good luck!
Thank you Linda - great tips!
Mandy, you have made me feel so much better! I'm in the UK too, so have that bit of paper 😄. Good luck with yours too
Just take care with all of that book scheduling. All too often this is way too much for the average person and can cause setbacks. Listen to your body. Don't push yourself into pain as it will keep you from doing things correctly. I've always found throughout my 5 rehabs that if you take it slow, do the exercises correctly you do better. Trying to push too hard too fast causes you to get tired and and either do things incorrect or incomplete.
A couple of other things. At your level, take pain meds on schedule and hydrate all day long
Hi again- I just looked at our exercise sheet again and hadn't noticed that it originally said every hour but the physio crossed it out and wrote 3x daily so I think the hourly was an error that they don't all agree with or perhaps don't notice. Hourly is definitely far too much and will cause pain and swelling.
Hope you are having a better day xx
That's brilliant! Mine is the opposite, booklet says 3-4 times and PT says hourly 😂. I feel a lot better - thanks Mandy!
Ha ha! I they all say something different! Better coming up with ur own plans!!
Everyone has there on pace but thats to much i started 3 times a day now 2 times a day but more repititions im 17 days post op things are going well im at 110 on rom i see my doctor tomorrow. This forum has been a great support for me . So dont stress it will all come i was taking heavy meds and now coming off slowly . I will keep you in my prayers.