PKR - is this normal and should I be doing anything else...

Bones, joints and muscles
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Morning all

I'm now 6 days post PKR and not sure if I'm making progress or not ? Just wondering what other people's experiences are. I'm 49 and needed this surgery to deal with the pain in my knee due to osteoarthritis. The op went well, stayed overnight and came home. I'm trying to do something different each day - getting up getting dressed having a shower, but each day is the same at the moment. I'm exhausted doing all of the above even going to the loo is like climbing a mountain. Should I be doing more? Someone mentioned putting a baking tray under my bad foot to move back and forth is this simething to do now? - I start physio in a weeks time but do I need to be doing more now. Pain wise is awful but sheer grit is making me get up and "do" still on pain relief - agin is this everyone else's experience - all leg is quite numb is the sensation likely to return.

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Sounds about norm. As you say, just achieving "the norm" is exhausting at this stage but hang in there, it does get better. The suggestion of a baking tray is a good one-I found a plastic shopping bag worked as well but either will help the foot slide back and forth. This exercise can be done while watching tv-start off with just a few and slowly build up, sliding the foot as far back as is comfortable, hold for a few seconds then repeat. Start with just a few and slowly build up-Your body will tell you what you are capable of. Are you doing daily leg stretches and lifts? If not perhaps you could add these to your daily routine. The main thing is to listen to your body. Everyone is different, especially when it comes to pain relief. Good luck with the journey.

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I agree with sue all the way. I had my pkr 3rd January. I was not allowed to shower for 2weeks though. You are doing really well. Do the leg straighteners exercises, going up stairs with the good leg down with the bad.It is all down to exercise. Still doing mine now. You will have good days and bad but worth it in the long run. Take care. X

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Thank you sur

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Thank you Susan, had a visitor round this morning - literally exhausted after they left - fell asleep for 2 hours, which is unheard of, they have put a really heavy duty plaster over the wound area which while wouldn't (and I couldn't anyway do a bath) it's fine for a shower, it's so nice to be able to have that bit of independence, although I do make sure someone's with me. I think I just genuinely thought it wouldn't hurt as much as it does or be as stiff as it is. I will defiantly carry on with the exercises though thank you

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Oh bless you. You will have the stiffness for quite a while, mine is still stiff but not like at the beginning. Get a good rest when you can. No way i could have got in a bath.i have to have my other knee done but I am going to wait. At the beginning i said i would not have it done after feeling so frustrated with the first one. BUT I WILL NOW.it's a challenge but you will get there. Xx

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It sounds normal! Rest..Did they tell you to do any exercises? Gentle heel slides good.

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I'm going to give you the advice my doctor gave me.

1. First six weeks work on bending your knee with heel slides.

2. First six weeks rest, rest, more rest you've gone through a brutal surgery and rest will heal your body.

3. After six weeks start with walking and exercises given be pt.

He was adamant about rest. You're six days out. You need to take care of your body. Seems like your putting pressure on yourself of not doing enough. Stop, slow down and heal😄

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If you still have a normal pulse and blood pressure and hurt like hell you are making progress. There are no real guidelines for judging until they take the stitches/staples out and get a birds eye view of the meds they have made of your leg. For now, get on a schedule for pain meds and kiss your ice pack like its your closest friend and lover....because it is and will be for the next part of your life. Dint panic if you don't seem to be moving along rapidly. This is a process we all have to go through. As Chico and others will tell yo, rehabbing isn't a liberal thing, it's more like an erratic EKG line. You'll be up and down, sometimes almost simutaniousoly. TKR's are the most educational thing you can go through. It will teach you patience even if you can't spell the word. Stay with this forum and you will get advice anytime you wish. There are always folks from many countries/times zones that have been through the same thing you are asking about. Sorry you had to have this at such a young age but that just gives you that many more years to talk about the scar. Good luck....you'll be fine

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That should have been "lineal" not liberal. Rest and hydration are two allies. Don't be afraid to call on both of them frequently. Now lets define rest.....that means sleep. Whenever and however you can get it.

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Thank you so much this is definitely the sort of advice I needed. I will stick with this forum as it's nice that other people have been and still are going through this. Just to confirm sitting in bed at the moment post morphine with my ice pack in place.

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Thank you Duckfan - message received "will rest"

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Hi Jenny

Leg raises in bed but I think I read on this site to use a baking sheet to slide the operated leg back and forth which I thought was genius! I'm also using my dressing gown cord to lift my leg in and out of bed for the loo etc..top tip for anyone else who experiences this issue - I have 4 cats and whilst I can close my door it was making me feel like an outcast so I checked online and couldn't see anything to use to protect it from them jumping on it - after much 3 a.m waking and thinking (sleep pattern up the swan by at mo) I discovered my plastic laundry basket was robust enough to do the job and I can still freely move under it.

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Hi Susan

I agree with you with the first one there is a touch of the unknown about it on th flip side you will be a pro now - I must admit I am self employed and have only booked 2 weeks from my customers...yep think that's not going to work !

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I forgot about the ice so I'm adding

Rest-ice-elevate.

I'm going into four months and I've rejoined life. Weeding the garden, doing what I used to do. It's slow and tedious but I can see light.

With that said I'm 70, not 49. You may be up and going much sooner. Some of us are whippets some are bulldogs. All different and please-please-please don't compare yourself to others. I remember reading that someone's Bend was at 120 at 6 weeks, and they were off pain mess and sailing through. I burst into tears, happy for them but wondering what I'd done wrong. Well it turns out we are ALL different.

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I'm guessing you are in the UK? In the US we are pushed hard from day 1 (as in 4 hours post op) to start physical therapy. I'm sure there is some variation but this was my experience.

Day of surgery: Begin PT in bed. Ankle/calf pumps every hour, Quad sets, heel slides, leg raises with assistance. Catheter removed in the early evening then assisted to the toilet with walker. Was encouraged to get out of bed (with walker and assistance) and sit up in a chair. Also walked down the hall.

2nd day: Two rounds of physical therapy, including going up and down a small set of stairs, getting in and out of bath tub using tub chair, getting in and out of a mock car, more walking the halls, more exercises and stretches. Checking gait and proper use of walker.

3rd day: Only one PT session before being discharged. Same therapy as day 2.

2nd day at home: Start in home physical therapy which lasted 2 weeks. 3 pages of exercises to do in bed, sitting up in chair and standing, to be repeated three times a day. Ankle/calf pumps done every hour. The rest are all 10 reps. Lying down: Quad sets, hamstring tightening, heel slides, terminal knee extension, straight leg raises. Sitting in chair: Active knee flexion, passive knee flexion, terminal knee extension and passive knee extension. Standing (in front of counter or sink): Mini squats, heel/toe raises, marching in place, and stance positions.

ROM measurements taken every day and encouraged to get to 90 and 0 within 4 weeks.

Outpatient PT began exactly 2 weeks after surgery. I'm in that stage right now, 3 weeks post op. So far outpatient has consisted of 10 minutes on elyptical, balance exercises using balance beam and BAPS board, checking gait using cane (stopped using walker). Encouraged to take walks outside, gradually increasing distance.

I had no idea this physical therapy regimine was not considered typical until I started reading this forum about 5 days ago. As you might expect, I've been in moderate to severe pain, my knee and both feet and ankles are swollen. My knee is extremely stiff in the morning and later at night. I'm doing as much research as I can, and it seems both methods have similar outcomes. But my therapy definitely causes unnecessary pain, and my doc has informed me he will not be filling any more pain pill prescriptions.

Yep, that's the "American way'. 🤕

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Thank you Duckfan

Well I can confirm that there have been lots of tears from the 49 year old to! I managed to get myself dressed yesterday but then realised I was so exhausted I didn't have the energy to get downstairs - a simple task that I have so taken for granted became literally impossible and at that moment could not see a light at he end of the tunnel. Not being able to lift my own leg to get back into bed was another major teary session - this forum is an incredibly positive and supportive tool and it's making me feel better and not so alone already. Thank you all

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Crikey terise

Yes that does sound like a tough regime. To be honest I have been driving something similar and asking to do more so like you my pt started quickly and I had done stairs and how to walk with crutches before I left the hospital (I was in for one night) I don't know if that's everybody else's experience - I have pt booked for next Monday back at the hospital who provided the op. Tried to book nhs pt but they were full for 6 weeks! So went back to the original hospital - it certainly sounds as though you get thorough care in the USA

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Rest, ice,elevate yes. But do a little each hour to start getting joint mobility. So flex extend your feet, like on n off gas, 20 x for one exercise. Next hour, try to contract your knee into the bed/chair-easier w a small towel under ankle 10x. Foot slides sit on edge of chair, foot flat on something like cookie dheet etc, dlide bavk n foryh bringing ur heel as far under you as u can wo screaming (lol). Next hour, while sitting or laying down, try to lift ur whole leg off chair or bed,these are for ur quads 10x. Next hour put ur ankle on a chair with u sitting and let the weigth of leg just hang there for 5min.this gets ur leg to straighten

There are a ton of exercises but these r basics that will get u going. See 5hrs went by... lol

Good luck. Ad ur stamina increases you can mix match. Dont overdo. Resist urge to tackle all at once!

There are

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Love the laundry basket idea,😀