One Week Since TKR

Bones, joints and muscles
1

My husband had a TKP one week ago and he is worried that whilst sitting on the floor doing exercises he can't lift his leg and he is not a person to give up as he has a lot of will power but is this anything to worry about I think still early but would appreciate if this is normal thanks

 

2

What I remember and the best way to describe it is that your whole leg is a dead weight. No matter how I tried initially I even said to the leg MOVE.  It will I promise you get easier but no quick fix.  If it doesn't get in touch with GP or physio,  it's early days,   Talk car.  Jackie 

3

I am 12 weeks from my TKR. The exercise are critical to recovery. For the firtst two weeks I could not lift my leg. I had my wife support my ankle helping me to raise my leg enabling me to complete the exercise. Then after two weeks I was able to raise my leg a few degrees and then progressively increased until I could support my leg raising it. Perseverance and optimism, it will come, believe me. The exercises are hell in the early weeks but life improves. Good luck.

4

Hi mick20638

Im 5 wks PO TKR and couldn't lift my left leg from a floor flat position until around 3 weeks PO. One week is too early to expect a lift. Suggest doing all the bending/straightening he can do, and try a flat lift every couple of days until it become a little easier. I'm sure he will do better in the weeks ahead. Patience and gentleness on himself is best. Good wishes for a good recovery.

5

What I found really helpful was using a crepe bandage as a bit of a "sling" for my foot to help leverage my leg.  Helped with bending exercises (you could add a bit of pull to get extra bend when you thought you had bent as far as you could), and for lifting my leg (which as jackie rightfully says feels like a dead weight for a while). Fold a bandage (or any strip of cloth) in half length wise and tie a loop just big enough to poot your foot through.  Holding an end of the banadage in each hand, pull towards you as you try to lift the straigtened leg or when you are at your maximum bend, to give it some extra help. 

6

One week If it was one month Id be worried. He should concestrate on strengthening the quad muscles above the knee. Regular exercise consists of simply pulling up/tightening the muscles. I didne lift my leg until a week.

You say he was sitting on the floor! im 13 months post op and if I got down on the floor Id never get up. Tell him to keep on with physios exercises and it will come before long he will feel the benefits of the TKR

 

7

I couldnt lift my leg at fi rst it took about 3 weeks

8

I found that I could start lifting right away if I just gave my leg some assistance with the crook of my cane. Works like the bandage strap someone was mentioning. As days went by I had to pull on the cane less and less until at about 10 days when I was strong enough to stop using it.

On the floor! Really?! He should try using a couch or bed to make it easier.

9

I was longer than a week but I didn't use any aids. It's when the quad muscles strengthen that it can lift the weight. You're doing we'll. On the floor!  I'd be still there, ha ha. Have him do it lying in the bed. It's an exciting time when you can lift your foot. Don't be hard n yourself. Rest is very important for the wounds to heal. Good luck, you'll be there before you know it. 

10

As everyone else has said, these are the early weeks. At 8 wks post TKR I remember my leg being dead weight and could not move it without help.

It does get easier, at different rates for all of us.

It is vitally important to keep up with the exercises. I was told that straightening the leg flat was more important than the degree of the bend for the first weeks.

On the floor? As others have said, I would still be there, unable to get myself up! lol

Best of luck to hubby.

11

Such early days...most of us couldn't lift our foot off the floor or bed one week in.

I've just had my knee opened up again, a year on, and I'm back in that position.

steady is the answer.

12

hi mick its not unusual ,we have all been there best way to get that leg going is to use a dressing gown belt around the foot and lift it with both hands ,at first you will be lifting it off the floor but keep at it and as your leg gets stronger you can relax the hold on the belt bit by bit till you can do it all by yourself ,my guess it wont take long its just that your muscles are shot because of the op ,but dont worry it will improve and i applaud you for motivation it will see you through !!! what im amazed at is how is he getting down on the floor to do these excersises so soon after the op ,i myself did them on the bed 

13

Hi Like others have said my leg didn't move, it was frustrating as the other lady in my room who was 20 yrs older could lift hers the next day. I had to put my good leg under the dead leg to pull it about so that I could get out of bed. It moved when I was stood up. As others have said I couldn't get on the floor and used the bed or couch. Good luck. This forum is so helpful so get hubby to read other posts. It's a great help.

14

Thanks a lot  that's what I told him but since I wrote this for him he really pushes his exercises and he has lifted it odd times thanks again 

15

Thanks a lot Richard like I told him early days as I am sending these messages as he doesn't use them x

16

Thanks a lot Margaret x

17

Thanks a lot Al x

18

Well he was on the floor with the exercises he was given by his physio but   He is so strong minded and motivated always has been but thanks for the info Ann 

19

Thanks Dorothy x

20

Thanks Deborah but he always have liked it the hard way strong minded I think that alone will get him there thanks again for your comments x