Just wondering here.... those who have had difficulty lifting the leg (straight leg raises) after a TKR - have they been inclined to have stronger or weaker quad muscles before the op? Just wondering if there is any correlation here. Maybe strength of muscles before the op has nothing to do with it though!
Hi Chris,
Maybe ask the physio therapist this one. Myself, pre op not good lifting straight leg a while, could not straighten knee for months before as had a Baker's cyst back of knee. But no prob bending althoug knee would lock up. Immediately post op the leg was straight and uncomfortable but bend was poor and no lift.
Physio said my quads were very weak. I used a belt to lift my leg, then one day found I could lift it myself. But my knee still not bending, lost the bend I had in hospital and the pain was just unreal. 6 weeks on, talk of MUA if things do not look up.
I could not make much progress with exercise before surgery but I walked a lot even though it was painful. I have OA in other joints which does not help.I was also ill and had different surgery in the year before TKR, so not at best fitness level generally. Feel as if all my muscles are weak! But the leg raise is great anyway.
We were given basic quad work I think it has helped me however I work 10 hr shifts on my legs so apart from the bit in the middle was I. Pretty good shape . Every little helps .
I had good quads before and after but took me two weeks before I could lift my leg. Now I'm three weeks two days out and bend is at 85 and straight is at 0.
Thanks for that Cynthia. I hope you can go from strength to strength now:-))) Something else I can't fathom - pushing myself more on the rcumbent bike, I'm finding it's the NON operated leg muscles that are aching more than the operated one! Baffled on that!
Thanks Melanie:-)))) It is interesting!
Aha - so the difficulty in lifting the leg is unrelated to the condition of the quad muscles then! I was wondering if there was a link, but obviously not. It's something else making it difficult to lift the leg - maybe nerves??????? I don't mean as in anxiety, but nerves that have been damaged.
Cheers Chris. Things have been tough, lots of family issues and illness as well as the naughty knee not bending.
I guess the non op leg has been carrying the other one for a while and it starts complaining. I can't pedal yet but everyday stuff is making non op leg ache at times. And hip and back are achy! Oh well, time will be our friend hopefully. Take care.
I'm not sure re-correlation really but you could ask your physio. I was given quad exercises to maintain or build strength pre op and was able to lift leg from day one . I also pushed myself with Aquatone pre- op as advised by surgeon. That was hard as I have a physical job andcended up using a stick about 6 months pre op. Now I don't !
Which helped but still the side muscles (abductors and adductors notvgreat). I guess the lift also needs ligament strength too and they hack at everything doing the op😁😁. I watched it on U ruble !!!
Every case is individual as is your progress . All the best Jan
It's probably a combination of things as to why the leg is hard to lift afterwards.
I also did the exercises before the op, but I had also tried to keep the quads fairly strong as soon as I went on the list! Which was 6 months.
I couldn't lift my leg until the 2nd day after the op. Strangely, I could straighten easily, which hadn't happened in some years, but I couldn't bend it!!
Marilyn
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It sounds as though it's not been easy i many ways for you. I hope that time sorts everythng out now:-)))) Look after yourself too:-)))
Thanks Jan. It sounds from the replies as though it's the luck of the draw to some extent.
Thanks Marilyn - it sounds as though how the leg behaves after the op is pretty random really! Mine lifted easily and strongly and did bend a bit but it was difficult to bend so I was helping it with my hands for the first few days or so. Although when I sat in the chair it bent fine, so it was the quads weak, doing the slides on the bed.
Cynthia...I'm almost 10 weeks out and still can not turn the pedal all the way around on the bike. I try every single day but just won't go. It becomes frustrating some days but I keep my head up. Some days I cry, but gets better. My bend is 105, and its at 7 for straightness. Take one day at a time. Good luck with you!!
Just a thought - have you adjusted the seat to give you the biggest space between saddle and pedals that you can manage - so your legs are virtually straight at the furthest bit? That's how I started on the recumbent. It sounds as though you're doing pretty well to me!
Yes I have, but I'm so short I have a hard time reaching the pedals and then when I move it up I can't get the pedal around. Just keep working at it. I'm done with PT now but am thinking of joining the gym. Positivity wins!!
A lot of people suggest exercising your leg muscles a lot before the op. Personally, I don't think it helped. I played hockey for 45 years and have very strong quads and calves. After the op...dead meat.
Had a hip replaced in '09 where they cut your quads. Before that, I was doing 90-pound leg raises...after the op...5 pounds. Took a while to get that strength back.
Same here. Your legs are basically atrophied from months and months of non-use. Gotta get past the initial pain (3-4 weeks) and then the PT (10-12 weeks). That's like having your leg in a cast for four months. I went from hockey thigh to toothpick. Even your core suffers because you can't do any real exercise.
Again, for some people, it may have helped. Not for me...and I began with very strong legs.
Ah, yes, you have to be able to reach the pedals at their longest. Good luck!
Ah - these replies do indicate that there is no correlation between strength of legs and being able to lift them after the op then. So it seems it's just fingers crossed:-) Thanks Chico.
Hi Chris I could hardly lift leg before op and was in real pain bending it and still can't lift it 3 weeks post op. Really worrying me. I think it is in my mind and I am considering hypnotherapy as a last resort. Tried everything but not a twitch.