Hi TKRers I had my op at the beginning of July 2016 on my left knee and although I was shocked by the pain after the op, I dutifully did all my Physio even though I am not a great lover of exercise, being 60 and overweight and lazy but I was determined to get a good result. At the end of my 8 week sessions my Physiotherapist said I had great bend and extention and I was free from all sticks or crutches so the docter signed me off to go back to my part time job, this was the end of September. I felt so pleased with myself and everyone said how well I looked as I had managed to loose about a stone as well. But, since I have been back to work I have found that my recovery seems to have gone backwards. I only work 3 days in an office but it is a busy one where i am up and down all day seeing clients and going out on visits. My walking is fine and I have come to terms with all the clicking and popping that goes on in my knee. But any incline or walking up steps or getting up and down from sitting is still very painful and it gets worse by the end of the day. I am still on paracetamol 4 times a day. Can anyone give me any advice as to what I can do? Will strengthening the muscle in my thigh help? What about getting an exercise bike? Or am I just being a whimp and it's something that will improve over time? Any advice gratefully received
Hi Janice
I don't think your being a whimp I'm 6 weeks post op and just played 9 holes of golf I'm not quite 58 , I've put my progress down 2 my exercise bike I do 20 mins Everyday on min resistance, it's also good 4 burning calories 🚴🚴😀😀💃🏼
Keep going
Rob x
Thanks Rob looks like I'll be trawling eBay for a cheap exercise bike. Well done on your progress x
Hi janice. Let me say I had similar discomfort until 7 months post op. Your days of being overweight and underactive should be over as we, with knee replacements need to be active so our muscles and tendons recover from the trauma. Pool walking, bike riding, chair yoga and stretches will deliver great outcomes. Believe me, there is a light but you need to do the work! X
Hi. I'm 8 1/2 weeks out and am out cutting firewood for out beautiful cold northern Minnesota winters. I can go about 3 or 4 hours before I've had enough, with knee getting stiff. I have the clicking too, which bothers me a little, but am told that will go away eventually. This recovery is not lineal. You have good days and bad day stretches. My main gripe is my sore lower back, which has been persistent lately. Of course cutting firewood doesn't help. Yes I think strengthening your thigh muscles will help. At PT I lift weights already with my new knee to get my quad muscles back. Really helps. Riding bike is really good too. I am overweight too and I know it doesn't help the situation. Hope this helps.
Please read the Exercise section...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
The clicking and popping can last 12-18 months...or never go away. Who knows.
It just takes longer for us older ones. I'm of the opinion that your endurance will increase as your knee heals completely, which takes up to a year.
Hi Janice, I'm 10 weeks PO TKR I had 2 knees done, yes getting up and down from a chair is painful, I find sitting or standing for any period of time painful and I have to move, the pain at night brings tears to my eyes, I have an excersize bike and do 10mins per day plus other excersizes, I find if I miss a day I feel less pain the next day though, but they say "no pain no gain" I'm sick of hearing that I must say. No-one warned me of the recovery period being so long and painful
Thank you that gives me hope x
Hi Janice, You got a good start with your 8 weeks of physical therapy, didn't they give you an exercise routine? I had both knees done about 2 years ago, now I couldn't really walk by the time I had surgery so a lot of muscle to rebuild, but I spent over a year in physical therapy rebuilding leg strength and coordination. You're not done just because you can bend your knee. The exercise bike is a great source of exercise, keeps your knee bending too. Don't overdo it. Even 5-10 minutes a day makes a big difference. And I'm still not running up and down the stairs! I had RTHR about 3 months ago, kinda slowed me down on my exercise. Anyway you need to continue some kind of exercise. By the way I'm 64 and still working 6 days a week.
I'm so glad you posted this,
my experience is so similar to yours! I m 65 had my op in May and also did exceptionally well at the beginning despite being averse to exercise generally lol I have restarted my stretches using the stairs to flex and that has helped...finding the time and space for an exercise bike is problematic as is the fact that my right knee needs replacement surgery.....so I will just persevere with all other exercises I guess. It does take for ever to recover from this op! But so worth it...good luck
Hi dave. I also had both my knees replaced. What kind of exercise did the PT give you for coordination? I often feel "unbalanced" when I walk long distances. Tks for any advice.
Maybe i gave the wrong impression, I am active, as i said my part time job is a very busy one and on the days i am off go for long walks
and do all the usual housework stuff. I was just expecting the pain on going up and down stairs and getting up and down to be diminishing by now
Thanks Michael, an exercise bike is definately on my early Christmas list
Thank you Chico, although this is scary reading it certainly gave me prospective. I think that because TKR surgery is now so common the attitude is that it is a simple and easy operation which it ain't.
Hi Suki it's good to hear other people's experiences. I constantly feel guilty that i should be doing more exercise but I get so knackered from the pain by the end of the day, the thought of doing more and being in more pain puts me off. But i think an exercise bike might be the answer, I just hope it doesn't end up as a clothes hanger!! I have to have my other knee done as i have arthritis in both, my pre op for the other knee is on Tuesday so I need to get my 'good' knee stronger. Thank you for your encouragement
Thank you Dave what an inspiration you are, certainly puts things into perspective for me . I am going to quit moaning and get on me bike!
I've had my hip replaced, four vertebrae fused, two shoulder sopes, four knee scopes and the TKR (plus assorted other crap). The knee is by far the worst and no one prepares you for it. Even if you knew all this stuff beforehand, you're still not prepared. It takes a toll mentally and physically...that's why ya gotta stay strong. No other way.
Hi Janice
You are no wimp. I had left TKR mid July and fully expected to be up and running and back at work within 2 months. I am 59. I saw the consultant today who reassures me that everyone is different, he did say my progress was slow but he is not worried! I am worried of course as right now it feels like I will never be normal again. I can bend the left knee 95 degrees. Difficulty with walking far and struggling with walking downstairs, walking upstairs is not very graceful but I can manage it. It does help reading the comments on here as it is true everyone is different and you do feel you are not quite so alone.
I go to the pool x3 week and do walking and bending in the water. Stairs and flexing every day. I have an exercise bike but at the moment I cannot get that left knee/leg to go all the way round. I shall keep trying and am sure at some point it will go. Am due back to work and partly dreading it as still get so tired but the other part of me thinks maybe getting back to a normal routine will help my recovery and improvement. Who knows, I guess I just have to try and see what happens. Don't give up thats the most important thing. We will get there in the end, have to believe that!
Hi Lynn, sorry I didn't see your post until now. Be happy to share some PT Exercises with you or anyone who's
interested.
Always started with 5-10 minutes on sit down type bike, got the knees bending and warmed up a little. Then 5-10 minutes walking on treadmill, concentrating on the heel to toe.
Next what he called sidesteps. With an elastic band around your ankles. Just what it sounds like, you walk sideways stretching the strap with each step. Go about 10-15 feet and then back, 3-5 times. Hope that makes sense
Next squats moving sideways same as the side steps. Graduated to doing that with 10 lb. Medicine Ball.
Assorted step ups onto 6" stool, later with 12" stool.
Here's a tough one, called lunges. One leg forward and one back pad on floor under back knee, bend front knee til back knee touches pad. Always did this with a wood pole in one hand for balance. 10-15 reps, twice with each leg. I hope this makes sense.
Had a device called a bosu ball. Half round ball about 18" diameter kinda soft, look up bosu ball. This is specifically for balance. You balance on it on one foot. Used the pole again for balance. Tried for 1 minute, took some practice to get there.
Squats with a big rubber ball behind your back against a wall.
Then stretching on PT Table, DMS - deep muscle stimulation, hand held vibrating machine like little jack hammer!
There were a few others but that was standard 3 times a week workout, Always ended with 15 minutes ice. Took 1 1/2 - 2 hours.