I'm a bit disappointed I haven't had any physio as yet, my op was over 5 weeks ago. When I see my consultant on 6th Jan I'm worried he will shout at me.
I am walking around my bungalow unaided now but if I go outside to the car as a passenger I use crutches.
I don't even know what bend I have. I am able to sit at a table however it's very painful for quite a while after.
I've also replaced my dressing a couple of times as I have two scabs that are quite sore. The main reason I have kept my knee covered is that I have a dog and I'm frightened of her catching the scabs off.
I know how you feel... I had no physio until I went privately at 8 weeks ... I am 17 weeks now... still need crutches outside... hobble a bit in house and stairs ... not as bad as I was... but it's taking longer than I expected. .. I use a balance ball and an exercise bike most days. ..
Wow I started PT the day after surgery, have had PT 3 times a week since going home. Invaluable. My initial bandage that was waterproof was removed by home physical therapists on Day 7. The current bandage is removed twice a day, cleaned with Betadyne and recovered. I think you are doing remarkably well not having had the PT help that is so important. Are you looking up exercises online and doing those? Best of luck to you.
Hi christine, we had our surgery very close together, and should be at about the same stage. I had physio (3 sessions) while in hospital, and one when I went to have the clips out at 18 days. I was given a very comprehensive book with marked exercises to follow, which I find excellent and as good as going out to a physio. Were you given any diagrames to follow? As for the bend and extension measurements, I don't think they are that important. I left hospital with 0 extension and 110% bend , and yes I can draw my leg back to tuck under my chair, can do my leg raises, but I still can't stand in front of a stair and raise my foot onto the next stair, and I still have a slight limp. I haven't used crutches or any sticks since I have been home, but I returned to crutches when out because they help to improve my walking pattern. I can sleep on my side with the operated leg flat on the mattress, but Oh dear, twice now I have in semi sleep, turned onto my left side so the bad leg is on top, and what a pickle I got into. I was in agony, and floundered like a beached wale with a harpoon in it, last time it took me best part of an hour to get onto my back with wrenching pain in my knee, and needless to say a bad day to follow! If it would be helpful I could photocopy my exercises and email them to you, or alternatively, if you have an ipad, iphone, ipod or android smart phone or tablet, you can download the Care conect pocket physio from the apts store, which has a lot of the same exercises on it. Let me know if you want the email version. If you do you will need an exercise ball (plastic football) we were sent home with them, as all the exercises involve the ball.
That would be great liz, I haven't got no exercises as the nurse took my booklet away.
I can lift my leg when lay down, but there's no way I could sit on my foot. I would die in agony.
I will try message you with my email address, Thankyou
Christine TKR 5 weeks 1 day
I'm 6 weeks post op and have had no physio since I left hospital on day three, but I was aware that as I was deemed to be doing well with my physio in hospital I was just to follow the excercise sheet I was given and my progress will be checked next week when I see my consultant and the physio.
Were you given an exercise plan?
Re re your wound, if you have any concerns I would see your practice nurse or GP
good of luck with your recovery
oh my goodness, christine. i feel really sorry for you. if i had received so little after op care, i would have been a wreck and gone into full blown depression. i have no idea how you cope.
first of all, the bandage / scar needs to be checked by your gp. my waterproof plaster came off after 3 weeks (removed by doc) and i was then instructed to start massaging it with scar cream as soon as all the scabs had dropped off. by week 4 or 5 i guess. no exercises and no physio?
honestly, i gasped in shock. this is a MUST. if you do not exercise the scarring inside can get very very tight, making it impossible to bend even if you wanted to. so every little bit helps to keep the elasticity of the muscles, ligaments etc. going. to help you do these, your medication must be adjusted.
are you sure you haven't - like mary - fallen through the NHS cracks? it simply cannot be that you should get such incredibly poor post operation care. i would raise merry hell.
Hi Christine
I cannot believe you have had no physio! I had physio from day 2 and a set of exercises to follow which I have been trying at home as best I can. I am 18 days in from my op now. I have physio appointments to book when the holiday season is over. My bending is not brilliant and I have only just started to lift my leg a little but I still practice every day. The pain is horrible but I keep adjusting my meds to cope with it. Some days are better than others. I definitely think that you should call your gp about physio as you need assessing as to how well you are moving.
Good luck!
Christine, I really don't think many people can sit on their foot, even without TKR! It's certainly not a goal I have set myself!! I want to walk well, hop in and out of the car, run up the stairs, and bend down on my good knee. sensible and hopefully acheivable goals ... I hope! If you don't already have one, google leg lifter, or betterlife leg lifter. I was given one to work with in hospital and to bring home. This contraption, like a stiff lead with a collar on the end has been my best friend from the day I had the operation. I have acheived SO much with this gadget, it is truly brilliant! I would recommend everyone who is even slightly struggling to get one, it will help you and also help you obtain lifts you will be delighted with. They also do them on ebay for about £8.
Hi Liz
If anyone else has anything I could try to get a bend when lay down please message me
Also if any one has a contraption like I used in the hospital that works like a bike bending the knee but when lay down please let me know where to buy one, hire one or borrow one as I've had no physio for 5 weeks
christine TKR 5 weeks 2 days
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To me with a pet. I would leave it covered. And bless your heart. Why would they not let us have pt. and as far as bend bless us heart to. Try this when sitting at table put good leg under augury leg see if that eases up. Good luck. Xxx
I have given you the link for the leg lifters, and if you private message me I will send you copies of the exercises I was given.
hi christine -- i have one at home, my surgeon prescribed it for me. you can use it sitting on your sofa at a 45 degree angle or sitting / lying on the floor / bed. i sit on the sofa watching the box. and love it. go and look up (cannot give you the link) camoped in the uk and i am sure if you call them, they will tell you where you can rent one. i love it, even took it in the car to my mum's to celebrate christmas. i find it very therapeutical.
omg , do you still have stitches in ,or has some one checked it , i had pt while in hospital and had a plaster on when i left on day 4 ,as for pt i had to go once a week , untill they were happy with the progress then i just kept ot up at home , you sound like you have done pt as your walking unaided at home , i dont think your consultant will shout its not your fault that you havnt had pt , it should have been set up when you left the hospital , good luck
Hi Debbie
I had my stitches out on day 14. The nurse left 1 dressing so had to buy my own.
I'm walking unaided round my bungalow now but use crutches outside. We went out for a meal with friends on boxing day and I walked with crutches some 200 yards when it had been snowing (near Liverpool)
I suffered badly the next day with swelling and pain. Had to get back on the oromorph.
I'm seeing my surgeon next week I'm worried as I can't bend my knee much when lay down, yet I can sit on a chair for a while?
Christine TKR 5 weeks 6 days
happy new year everyone
Tip for walking upstairs and down. I walk sideways. Hope this helps you
I too am six weeks post op and seeing my surgeon next Thursday when hopefully he can reassure me that the fact that I cannot bend or straighten my knee too well yet is perfectly normal. Its so frustrating as I keep trying but my knee feels as though it will explode if I try to push it to bend more than 90 degrees. So many people say they were fully mobile after only four weeks but I guess everyone is different. Its good to find a site like this where you can read what others are experiencing. Hope you make good progress over the coming weeks.
Hello all
my biggest problem right now is the difficulty I have bending my knee. I can totally relate to the feeling that my knee would explode if i pushed it any further! Nonetheless i keep trying but every day it appears to have gone back to square one. It is a relief to know that others are experiencing similar problems to yourself because between leaving hospital and the 6 week check is a bit of no man's land where i am not really sure what should be happening.
Hi I am 4 weeks 5 days, and saw my surgeon yesterday. I have 110 bend and he says I am doing very well, but he wants a much bigger bend. I was laying on the couch and he bent my leg up and then pushed on it 
ouch!! He did say I can stop wearing the stockings, and I CAN DRIVE AGAIN 
Seeing him again in 6 weeks and he wants the limp to have gone by then!!
congrats, liz! that is a very impressive result. and the exercises will feel even better without the damned stockings, that's for sure. 6 weeks is an all time record for having to wear them but at least there is absolutely -0 possibility of you having a blood clot!