hello everyone,
anyone else having difficulty straightening their Leg?
About 3 years ago, I had a knee scope done and afterwards could never straighten my leg better than 20 degrees. After my knee replacement 8 wks ago, it has definitely improved (physio says about 6 degrees now) but Getting the crazy thing to straighten all the way seems to be much harder than getting it to bend again.
OFG, if your reading this, I have been doing your suggestion. Lying on the bed stomach down with legs over the bed is a great exercise. Hardest part is getting up!
Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem and been able to straighten the leg again to 0 degrees?
Five weeks, and still not able to straighten the leg. I was kidding myself by doing exercises on the bed . . they looked pretty straight . . but then I tried on a table, aand it was immediately clear how bent the operated leg really is! Exercising, but it just doesn't seem to go down . . . think it's going to be a very long job!
Hi Peter. I got to the point with my first TKR where I couldn't get my foot flat on the floor, so had a manipulation under general. I am now at 21 weeks with my other knee and that seems to be heading the same way.
Seeing my consultant at the beginning of March, so interested to see what he thinks.
Patsy
So far I would definitely agree. My knee is bending again. I mean, its still hard work as well, but thats improving all the time. Straightening seems to be a bit different. Wonder if different muscles need to be targeted
Were you able to straighten yout leg before your knee surgery? And did the manipulation help straighten your leg after the first TKR?
peter 8 wks 4 days
It takes a very long time! My first knee became straight at about 3 months and this one is still about 5 degrees at 14 weeks. My aqua physio includes walking in chest deep water on tip toes and then on heels with feet flexed. Then tiptoes toes pointed out and in; then on heels with toes in and out. Doing this forward and backward eventually also doing the grapevine (one foot crossing in front then one foot crossing in back - basketball and football drill) is also a good one. I also place a float under the ankle with the leg straight and my back to the wall in chest deep water and hold it for a few seconds, then press it down into the water while straight for slow reps increasing until I can do it 30 times. I intersperse this exercise with the float (noodle is what we call them in Canada) under the arch of the foot while I bend and straighten the leg and noodle under the ankle with bent leg behind your body and extending it to straight and bending it as far as it goes. Do not arch your back! I work up to 100 reps in sets of 10, then 20, then 30 as I improve. I learned these from a physiotherapist working at the knee and hip rehab pool in the hospital. They work! I went to 2 sessions and then took my new exercises to the pool and continued on my own. I do this 5 days a week at 8 am and find that my days are just getting better and better.
I just got your response at the same time I was sending you one. This one answers the question. Some of the exercises you mention I am also doing During my pool physio but not to the extent you are. How do you get access to a pool every day? You must belong to a gym or YMCA maybe?
I have a membership at the YWCA. It is the best 42 bucks I spend every month. I pay less than 2 dollars a visit. What can you do for 2 dollars other than have a Tim's?? Lol
I have access to many pool and dry land classes every day and a gym as well. And today, after a long hiatus, my husband has started swimming again. Yay! I hope we get back into our routine again. He coaches me with the weights so I might even start lifting again now that my knees can handle more. We will see what a month in Mexico with access to a weight room, bicycles and an ocean to swim and snorkel in does for my final recovery and his reintroduction to fitness. I can't wait!
Hi Peter
yes, I think that my knees flattened properly befor the TKRs. I could've squat down for many years before and had chronic pain when on my feet for about an hour and then excruciating to bend. After TKR the knees straightened fine, but gradually couldn't get them so flat (my job involves sitting all day).
After MUA I could straighten very well and that's when my recovery really began. My first knee goes really flat now.
I always felt like I must have looked like a beached whale floppy around when I tried to go from laying on my stomach to getting over on my back to a sitting position. A month ago I was @ 3 and tuesday this week, @ 1. I went from 105 -110 in the same period. Blood work las week showed the inlammation markers had gone up by 25% since late December. I go in Monday so they can take a turkey baster sized needle and suck some fluid out my knee. This all a result of the fall I took late Oct and the subsequent pain that came on 3 weeks later
You have sure had your share of trouble with the ops but it also sounds like your heading towards good recovery as well. Hows your pain level these days OFG? Hope thats also improving for you.
I got home from a walk today and found out that my insurance had cut me off. Ouch! And a bit of panic. I called them and was told all I needed to do was to send in a physicians update and they would extend it. I said, fair enough and 5 min later they called back and said I dont have to send in anything. They automatically approved me until Mar 15. As long as I'm back to work Mar 16 all is well. I Have some work to do but feel that should be reasonable time.
Pain level varies. I had 3 great days in a row from Sat-mon, then went to therapy Tues and wed on back in misery. I think it is a combination of the fluid building, weather change and being pushed harder in therapy. I'm having an extended bout of prostate problems and finally saw my urologist Wednesday. He said my primary care doc had me on the wrong stuff so he changed meds. Wants me to give therapy a bit of a rest for a few days so I don't aggravate things. You get older and you seem to become a recepticall for pills. This winter hasn't been a good one for either my wife nor me but we've sure been elevated to the "A" list at the pharmacy. More brutal cold and snow coming over the weekend
I used to belong to the YMCA but switched to another Gym because of the hours. The Gym I joined was 24/7 but had no pool. Right now I'm not at a Gym at all but need to search out another one. Will wait till Im back at work though (Mar 16).
I recall at about 3 weeks in, I overdid the exercises and caused some internal bleeding. Fluid built up and the pain was unbelievable.
Went to emergency and they drained my knee. Afterwards things returned to a much more manageable level again. More great days are coming for you OFG. hang in there.
Heard about the snow. It's major cold here. -30 with the wind chill
Makes me want to wear a parka to bed just thinking about it. haha
Happy Family Day! How you doing with those exercises Mary?
As simple as they are, I believe they have been quite worthwile as balance has definitely improved.
There's still a long road ahead but things are improving all the time.
Am doing 20 min on the bike now at 60 to 65 rpms. Would like to get to 30 mins by end of week.
Straightening the leg seems to be much harder and that probably due to the condition it was in
Before the surgery. It was a scope that left me with the extension problem about 3 years ago.
Long story.
Have a great day with the family!
Peter 9 weeks. WOW… Where did the time go?
Happy Family Day to all!
Hi Peter,
I was just musing that in the past few days I have begun to "just" use my knee without thinking about it at all. We had to shovel snow three times on Saturday due to the huge snowstorm and I didn't think about my knee once while I was shovelling. I just did it. Even when I slid a bit on my operated leg and landed on my rear, my first thought was "wow, I almost caught myself and stopped the fall", not "OMG that f'ing hurts my knee!" Lol
I haven't been doing too many structured church pew sessions but whenever I stand I am trying to stand evenly on both legs (without locking my knees) and lean a bit. Then I put my weight mostly on the operated knee for a bit and then on the other one. And repeat it many times. It is getting easier and I have to focus less. I was at a stand up reception on Saturday and I did this for about 2 hours and then walked down 3 flights of stairs about 5 blocks to my car. I was tired and it was swollen, but I was not in pain. Yay! I am up to 35 minutes at 80-83 rpm on the bike and I could easily envision doing a kayak trip now (though the ice is probably 3 feet thick north of La Ronge where we go). That is my story today!
Mary
15 weeks in 2 days
Thats really great Mary, glad to hear you doing so well.
Your knee must be bending pretty good to get in that kayak.
I love my kayak but on 3 feet of ice! haha
Before the surgery I used to belong to a gym that had unexpectedly closed. Long story short, they messaged me and said they are now under new ownership and will reopen tomorrow. Old members can return
with no upfront fees, no commitment and 1 dollar /day.
If the fine print agrees, I will belong to a gym again this week and see if can't this old tired frame back in shape for kayak season!
Have a Great Day
Get ye to thee gym, man! Ha ha. That is good news. Enjoy those extra endorphins!! And kayak season will be upon you about the right time. Yes the bend is pretty good. My physio will measure it on Wednesday and I will report. I expect she will sign off on my recovery and I will be off to the races -er.... Mexico! 9 more sleeps. Yay
Btw Peter, you are so far ahead of my recovery at 9 weeks it is amazing! Keep up the awesome effort. You will be forgetting about your knee and just living your life in no time. Believe it!
I have this issue too. About 5 days ago I measured the back of my knee from the wall and it was three inches away. My foot and glutes touch the wall for this test. My baseboard is 3/8" thick.
This morning, I am 1/2" only from the wall! What I did last night held and my knee feels better today. The improvement feels real this time since there is actually functional change. Before I was half crippled.
So what I started doing was some stretching. Why I believe it is more effetive this time for me is because I am stronger where I need to be. Besides contracture, I also believe I hvae some lower crossed "syndrome" issue going on. I think this is why the gains are holding.
So I am basically stretching the hamstrings and all inner thigh, back of knee.
One big stretch is having someone grab your ankle and put pressure above your knee and straighten your leg while lying supine. Do a few sets of 30 seconds or more- you judge what a proper stretch is- and not too little or too hard.
Another one that helped but is painful is lying prone on the bed and letting your lower leg dangle. I did this for one hour last night (thankfully we have internet to occupy us) moving my pressure points around because you cannot hold that stretch for too long without pain. At times I had to move around because of pain, other times I could feel some tension release! Walking afterward was a challenge and my knee gave a little once. This morning is much better. Stretch inner, middle and outer hammies doing this. Move your quad position too- different pressure points are good for that. Oldfatguy suggested this also with doing sets. I decided since I have been a wreck to go more extreme- sets would not be long enough for me.
The last one is lying supine with your ankle elevated, with heat and minor pressure above your knee. This one helped slightly and only mildy effective.
Of course check with your doctor first. I do not know what is going on with your knee! I plan to continue this every day now until I can entend/flop my knee back like a fish out of water. Good luck.