Had another person today give his unsolicited opinion that he was amazed that I am still using a crutch 10 weeks post-op TKR. I can limp around at the house and some at work, but if I go any distance - walking without the crutch really fatigues my leg and causes increased pain. I am walking more and more without the crutch, but my therapist said until I could walk fairly normally - I should still mostly use the crutch. I still feel like I have a tight sleeve around my thigh from about the knee to mid-thigh. ? What say you? I am doing okay?
How many knee replacements did this person have???? As it has been said on this site many times, you knee will heal when it heals and it is different for every person and every knee.
I am 9 months post TKR and I got fed up with people who never had their knee replacement tell me things like "Oh, someone at work was back doing marathons a month after there knee replacement!!!" I called BS on that one. Or my friend was back playing tennis after 2 months!!! REALLY??? Ok, good for them...but that wasn't me.
I think you are doing great...there was NO WAY at 10 weeks I could of gone back to work (I am retired so I didn't have to thankfully). Hang in there and just ignore all those unsolicited opinions.
Hi Alimarie,
I am with you girl on this....this person who said this to you today, did he have a TKR??? I bet not....it sickens me when people who don't know what they are talking about think it's ok to throw out these remarks, why can't these people just ask how you are after your major operation (((*(where your knee was sawed off and had a prosthesis drilled in, )))why do they think it's ok to make you feel bad by these stupid reparks.....I'm still struggling every day since I had mine done 3 months ago, but I'm ready with my answer if anybody thinks it's ok to put me down, 10 weeks is early days girl, I don't feel any better than I did before I got it done, so I'm going by other remarks I read on this foram that it may take 12 months before I feel better...I'm on your side Alimarie, 💖💝❣
Well said Mat we r all different and if someone is bragging that they did this or did that at that stage well that was them if it’s true we are all individuals and each one of us is different we all heal at different stages
Alimarie if you need your crutch use it get your confidence to a level that you feel comfortable with then start using a walking stick stay positive keep strong and do what your body tells you x
Oh mat, your so right, I just said more or less the same as you to Alimarie, I try to ignore these people.....the stories about walking with no crutches and running after 2 weeks 🙄😡etc....but it's not easy as their stupid comments sets you thinking about them even though you don't want to for that day at least....I say power to us for carrying out this gruelling operation and remain to do the best we can....good on you all and well done , hugs to all 👏
Yes Rosemary some people talk an absolute load of rubbish if they had a TNR they would not be doing things in 6/8 or 10 weeks they are just bragging or they have just been very very lucky to be able to do the things that they loved we all now know it takes at least 12 months for your knee to settle down for you to feel that you can get on with life the way that you want to we had ours done on the same day I have good days and I have bad days the pain today has been unbearable I now realise that I can’t drive too far because that makes it hurt all the more i’m glad I’m not in the pain that I was in before the operation but the pain I get now I just wish it would go lots of burning which I hate but I know that is the nerves knitting back together again I do lots of massage on the day when it feels hot and burning just hoping it make some difference but the most thing I miss is going to sleep at night and not keep waking up every hour to get out of bed to get my knee moving to get back in so that I can lie in a different position I’ve tried pillows but I could not get on with them The other problem I have is that I need my left knee doing but the thought of having that done at the moment is out of the question so I’m trying to keep that on hold until I know my right knee will then be able to support my left knee my Dr said give it another couple of mth and if I’m still struggling he will refer me to see a different surgeon because I discharge myself from the one that did the operation I have said from day one that I did not think my knee was right so it’s just a matter of time and wait-and-see we have to be strong and keep positive but it does not help when stupid people make stupid remarks
Well said all. I’m just coming up to 5 months post rtkr. Some days I feel fine and then other days Ive got pain. Everyone is different and recover differently ... good luck xxx
Sounds like your doing great hey I am still using my cane after 11 months I am not comfortable walking long distance without it . It's all about what your knee is telling you and how you feel EVERYONE HEALS DIFFERENT AliMarie do what's best for you no matter what other people say God Bless
You will recover when you recover, everyone is different. Many people recover in a few weeks, BUT ONLY ON FANTASY ISLAND. Watch the op on youtube and you will realise haw serious your surgery was and why it can take quite a while to recover. I was off work 6 months with each knee, that was nearly 20 years for the first and 18½ for the other. No problems since.
Everyone is different! I do know that the tape and around my thigh riding the bike helps me just a thought period I think you need to do what’s best for you and not worry about what anybody else says! Good luck with your healing and this too will come to an end
We are all different I've still got to use a walking stick for long walks everyone is different people saying o my tkr is fine when it's all healing inside you are doing great mat.xx
Well said rosemary some people think they know all about tkr when they not had it done. I still get stiffness and I had mine done 31st Jan this year n still get some pain.xx
First, you know that everyone's different...that there is no "normal" on an individual level. The tightness (a "band-like" feeling) may persist up to a year or more as it decreases gradually...almost imperceptibly. One day, you wake up and it's gone. Getting rid of any walking aids is also very individual but getting your ROM to 0 / +120 plus starting the muscle rebuild both help a great deal. The musculature supporting the knee needs to be exercised so as to return to its pre-op state. That takes a lot of months . The biggest thing to do is to STAY SAFE! Start weaning yourself off the aids as you get stronger but make sure you're OK with that. With the muscle rebuild comes strength and balance. You will know when it's time to discard the aid.
I had mine done on Jan 31 also, got second opinion yesterday an this surgeon said I should NOT be hurting an stiff like I am, so he's going to do arthoscopic surgery for arthofibrosis, which is scar tissue, and he took blood to check for infection. He listened to to me , but he never talked bad about my original surgeon. Maybe finally, I will get something done to take this pain away. Good luck to you.
Do what you want to do, when you want to do it. Nobody's damn business......
Chico - Thank you much for your reassurance! I know I never thought I’d be using a crutch this long, but here I am. Still working consistently on strengthening and range.
Thanks Martha! Every time someone says something like this, it makes me question myself.
Thanks Lorri! I ride my exercise bike 15-25 minutes twice a day. And I’m doing all my exercises.
Thanks David!
Thank you Michele! I do know lots of people who have seemed to recover more quickly, but I’m doing everything I’ve been asked to do, and I’m working full time.