Hello any similar problems with tkr i had it done almost 12 months ago still painful and cannot bend past 90 deg but have noticed when standing that the leg that had the op the foot points further out than the other is this muscle weakness or a problem doc says everythings ok any comment thanks
Thinks it's just flexing the muscles when you can n physio...hard slog at times...hang in there.
I know how you feel. Have had same. I have to be very concious f how I walk as it effects the other side. I had my tkr sept 2013.
Alan, if by doc you mean surgeon.....well yes..I feel that they check the implant and if it is good...they say all is OK. That is their job...in their mind. Maybe see your GP or a physical therapist and get another opinion.
have you ever been pain free?? Did you do physical therapy before? Did you do muscle strengthing exercises??
pam
Hi Alan I'm about 18 months post TKR and have similar problems. Not actual pain but discomfort. My bend is a little better than yours but it's a little off totally straight compared to the other one. Though doc says it's straight. There's definitely a difference..I also think it's slightly longer than the other leg... Surgeon says it's perfect. End of job!
I noticed that if I walk relaxed, the foot turns inwards so I have to concentrate on straightening the action
I guess in a perfect world we would all be able to afford constant physio and recovery would be quicker and better.
It doesn't help that I tripped yesterday with great acrobatic style and landed on both knees.
Seems to have survived it OK though sore of course lol
Here's hoping we continue to improve.
Hi pam it seems when i tell surgeon my problems with knee they say muscle weakness is the cause i have done my exersizes it seems more painfull the more time that passes
Hi carol you had the op in 2013 and you are still having problem with it is it pain free im back to iceing it at the end of the day i still need to have the other leg done and im dreading it in fact im not sure if ill go with it with what the other leg is like
Alan, you say u have done your exercises ...past tense. Not being harsh, but are you doing muscle strengthing exercises now? I was told to do my exercises for at least 6 - 8 months. It does take a full year for the muscles and bones to heal. Not saying this is he issue. If it is getting worse, maybe you should get a second opinion.
pam
Make a conscious effort to point your foot in the other direction and work on your quad muscles, that in turn might help the big tendon that runs from thigh to mid calf. Even if you seem to have a weakness there, you will be able to see a difference in muscle tone and hopefully a foot that points in the right direction
Had TKR on 13th February- I was semi- ok for a while but now I've suddenly taken a downturn and am finding it difficult to even walk - I seem to have lost my balance.
I had an X Ray last week and the surgeon said it looks fine but he wants to do a blood test which he can't while I'm on antibiotics (for knee swelling)
What does he want to test in my blood I wonder??
I find the whole thing has been an absolute nightmare.
I know I was having difficulty walking pre op but my general health was good - nowI feel so low in myself - pain in my lower back constantly tired. I'm fed up of all the medication- I really didn't think it would be like this.
Some days can be really bad as pain is depressing when things go wrong.hang in there Mary you will get loads support n laughs on here.Not on yr own!
I know but i feel quite down about it all.
I expected to be well by now.
I know how you feel.... my TKR has gone wrong n needs revision surgery on Wednesday this week.!.....so the thought of all the pain n discomfort all over again fill me with dread but trying to stay positive x you must too xx
If you have lost your sense of balance, could it be anything to do with your inner ear? You might have a slight infection there without knowing and that could affect your balance, or vertigo.
They test your blood for simply everything, so please don't worry. I have one done every 3 months (because I have been on pain killers for a long time). Sometimes you have to fast, sometimes not, depending on what he wants to look for. Look on it as peace of mind.
The stage you are in... depression... at this stage seems normal, speak to your doctor, he/she can prescribe anti-depressants; you don't have to be on them for very long (they are fairly quick to kick in, so in reality, if you are a strong minded person, take them for a month or two, then stop), but you will feel more able to cope.
The pain in your lower back could be caused by the way you are now walking. Before the operation you most probably favoured your bad leg, if it was both, then you would have walked with a side to side gait. Now that you have a new knee you are having to learn to walk properly again, something you haven't done for years. No extra medication is really needed so long as you take the meds for your knees on a regular basis. Sitting (for arguments sake) on the floor, stretch forward to touch your toes and stay like that for a little while, with your toes pointing towards your head (that will also stretch your calf muscles and a little behind your thighs. Sit straight in a chair, pull in your tummy muscles until you think they are going to touch your spine and bend forward, you should feel the muscles in your bad stretch, hold for as long as you like, just remeber not to hold your breeath. Also massage is good though can be a little painful if done properly as it frees the sciatic nerve which is being pinched. It's not long term pain, but painful nonetheless and something you really don't need right now. If you are in the UK ask your doctor to send you to the nearest hydropool (you can sometimes have it on prescription, but it is also not expensive), the warm water and the physios there will teach you movements that you can do on dry land when you are able. Alternatively go to your local swimming pool (though to my mind the cold water is too cold) gyms sometimes have a warm pool if they do things like water aerobics, all you need to do is float and do gentle exercises that free up your knots ease your back and also give you the ability to exercise without pain, if they have a jacuzzi, all the better, sit in it and relax, they are normally wide enough for you to stretch your legs, so do your flexing exercises there. Buy some essential oils, even charity shops sell good ones these days, so they don't have to be fashionably expensive, add a minute drop to your face cream and dab it under your nose (I do the tip of my nose), spritz lavender on your pillow and bed at night. Buy a wheatie (filled with wheat and sometimes a little lavender that you can pop in the microwave for a few minutes (no more than 4). I have heard those filled with cherry pits are even better, though they do seem scarce). You dont always need to put it on your knees, but it helps and unlike the proverbial hot water bottle, does not go clammy when cold. If you are still weak legged and thewheat bag is of a fair size, you can use it as a weight by popping it on your foot and lifting your leg straight.
Tiredness, pain, depression are all part and parcel of the recovery process, it will go, but you do have to consciously change the way you feel. Please take your painkillers on time as this will alleviate one of the problems, take sleeping meds, speak to your doctor, they sometimes prescribe amytripline alongside whatever you are taking; it just helps relax you a bit before bedtime and at some point you can stop taking and rely solely on the sleeping pill until the pain goes.
The swelling is also normal and the antibiotics are a just in case. You are vulnerable when you have an opertaion like this. All sorts of debris (& germs, though unlikely) get into your blood stream and your body has to work overtime to absorb them. If you can bear it, massage your whole knee area, it's easier if you do it as you know your own pain level.
What you have had done is a major operation, something not to be laughed at, and for some reason it affects some people more than others. You are not alone, but are in the minority. As the warmer months approach, venture outside as much as you can, but keep your knee warm as you will feel even the slightest chill in the knee areaTry not to walk stiff legged.
Soon you will see your new knee as a new lease of life, it just needs running in a bit (remember years ago if you bought a new car, you couldn't drive it fast for a certain about of time/miles because it needed "running in". That is your knee.
It may be painful for a while (or, god forbid, a long time, but always remember, your knee is stable, it will not break and you should be able to do a lot more than you used to)
There is a light at the end of the tunnel, what you are experiencing is not unusual. Don't think of it as a nightmare, think of it as a very early misty morning and the best is yet to come.
Hope you start feeling better soon.