So, tomorrow is now 11 weeks following patellafemoral replacement and I am totally fed up! I've only had two or three occasions during that time when knee has felt a little more "like mine" and it is very disheartening when you think you can feel some improvement and then it stops. I have very stiff knee, as if the muscles are stuck and "won't give" - this after countless exercising (I've even purchased an exercise bike!), using my stepper, resting massaging, elevating, icing etc. It is beginning to take over my life and I am having some really weepy days thinking about it. I've now emailed hospital to ask for appointment to see consultant, first one was at 8 weeks when I was told all was normal, but I've not progressed any since then! Physio tell me my muscles need to wake up (I've worn a knee support for last 11 years which has done the job of muscles, so they've forgotten what to do!).
And, I've also now got continuing problem with pins and needles sensation in little and ring finger on hand that uses stick. I'm told its to do with the ulnar nerve that runs down from shoulder to hand and is due to pressure of gripping stick - does,anyone else have this problem? Crickey......something else to worry about.
Thank goodness for this forum - it keeps me sane.......just lol!!
Hi pam
iv had tkr now nearly 7 weeks post op.
Cant really comment on your op , but would say when feeling weepy take time out, don't try so hard, yes it takes over your life, but give yourself a break it won't hurt to miss a part of the day excersising if you feel it is getting on top of you. I found massaging before getting up and last thing at night around the knee beneficial and if waking in the night some excercises on the bed.
i also suffered for 3 weeks waking up with little and ring finger numb which I had to massage back to life and this seem to go after the crutches went !!
Never a truer word than " give it time". I am a very impatient person, but this week I have seen scar improvement and swelling going down which seemed to happen overnight, so chin up, your time will come, but your muscles need to repair to move forward after so long.
sue x
Hi Pam,
I'm almost 16 weeks post TKR and I'm well and truly back in the weepy state. I won't bore you with all the details on mine but I am currently waiting for further surgery to straighten my leg. Consultant told me it was urgent and had to be done within 12 weeks. His secretary told me he has a waiting list of 5 months so I've had a few days of feeling like my world was ending (maybe a bit dramatic but I didn't expect to be going through all of this following surgery).
I've pulled myself together a bit today and made a private physio appointment for tomorrow to see if they can give me some help in the mean time (NHS physio told me they couldn't help until I have further surgery but to make sure I carry on with exercises to prevent further damage).
I'm also constructing an email to the hospital to ask for my case to be looked into further.
Anyway sorry to go on....I was told that my muscles were too weak so I had to concentrate on exercises to strengthen. I cannot get a full revolution on the exercise bike so I use the pedals where I sit on a chair to warm up the leg. I then do the normal bends and stretches to try to improve my bend. I use ankle weights to do some gentle lifts. I also spent a few pounds on Amazon on a massage ball (basically ball encased in plastic). This rolls over the muscles and works so well.
I was experiencing the pins and needles sensations along with almost arthritic pain in my hands and shoulders. I was told this was from the over use they were getting with the massaging and use of crutches. I've found that by using the massage ball my pain has decreased. I still have to use two crutches when I leave the house to help me walk taller but I can manage around the house without them so that's also really helped me.
With the massaging and small weights, I can really feel the strength coming back in my muscles. I would really recommend both.
Good luck Pam. I hope things start to improve.
Kath x
I'm at 21 weeks, and yesterday we went for a long walk to look at the flower carpets on the roads in Tenerife where I live. . and I can honestly say that was the first day I walked without thinking about my knee, without a stick and actually felt as if the knee were mine, not some alien taking over my life. it is a long, hard job to get to this stage. some arrive quicker than others, but 11 weeks is still quite early days, especially considering how long you were walking with a knee support. . . I also had problems with the hands because of using crutches . my physiootherapist said I was putting too much weight on the hands, and not to worry about the weight on the knee. . and after that it did seem to improve. it was difficult to teach the knee to bend after so long walking with a straight knee . . .Progression is really strange. . sometimes I went weeks with no improvement, and then suddenly the bend would improve from one day to the next. . .and then back again to pain and swelling. It isn't an easy progression getting better all the time. . .unfortunately, patience is the answer! and don't be too hard on yourself!
Oh thank you all for your replies, you've no idea how much you've brightened my day! No, it's not dramatic to think your world is ending......you seriously do believe your life before surgery may not return and then you wonder how you'll face the future if the pain doesn't go away, what a vicious circle!
Am going to purchase a massage ball, I've already got the weights, so will just persevere and wait for results. Maybe I'm impatient.......but then again I'm a woman.......so of course I'm impatient!
I've been off work since 24 March so daytime TV as so far been the elections (aaargh) , Chelsea flower show (wonderful, and our aim is to go next year), and now it's likely to include Wimbledon has well (again wonderful, hoping to go next year ........just to watch, don't think I'll qualify (a) with dodgy knees and (b) I'm 56!
Thanks to all of you for lifting my spirits!
Xx
i know how you feel going through extra surgery is very disheartning i too bought on amazon i got muscle mauler its a roller for muscles it helps like you because you start hauling yourself up in bed and getting up from chairs i got pain in shoulders and arms but it has eased with excersise with it massaging away pain im also finding straightening difficult