Im hoping to start back next week. Its 8 weeks since total right knee replacement. Walking with a stick,still get pain and stiffness and still on painkillers. Going to start on stationary bike and walking in pool. But hope in a few weeks to do punchbag{no twisting though} and maybe even try cross trainer,weights though these last 2 are things i havent done before. Any tips/advice from gym goers/knee patients? Also how far have people walked at 8 weeks? How much benefit is it and can it harm the new knee?
Hi John
I'm 7 weeks after TKR op.
Still have a lot of pain and do not function well without painkillers, Not sleeping well still.
Walk 29 minutes twice a day without any aids. Do a lot of stretch exercises. Introduced the bike and weights (on ankle) but had to pull back as just too painful. My advice would be to take it very easy when introducing anything new. Ice and stretch as often as you can. Good luck.
Sorry that should say 20 minutes not 29!
Thanks Ann. I realised I have posted a similar thread about a month ago. Lets just say this is updating it. But thanks for your advice,gonna take it one small step at a time.
Taking far longer than I would have thought.
i know everyone is different and I would have considered myself quite it beforehand. Can't wait to get back to some normality though!
Also Ann I dont even try doing without painkillers. If I forget I know about it. Also wake up regularly all times of night. Seems we are at the same stage and Id say both on target. Early days.
Godsake!
That should say 'fit'!!!
Its the drugs!
Sense of humour intact though. Yes,Im the same. Pretty fit for 66. Doing circuit training just over a year ago,but it was finding my knee problem despite taking it easy. All the best Ann.
Bonjour John !
Félicitations pour votre opération du genou et votre attitude positive !
J’ai trouvé que travailler sur l’équilibre a été très utile pour moi lorsque j’ai pratiqué la marche à la maison sans déambulateur, puis sans canne.
J’espère pouvoir reprendre mes 3 à 5 miles de marche chaque jour, que j’adorais avant que tous mes problèmes de genoux ne commencent il y a environ cinq ans. C’est mon objectif pour le printemps.
Pratiquer la marche avec les jambes droites aide beaucoup. J’ai découvert que j’avais besoin de réapprendre à marcher correctement, car j’avais compensé pendant si longtemps avant l’opération.
Le vélo et la piscine sont tous deux d’excellents choix, à mon avis. Soyez attentif à la douleur et arrêtez toute activité ou exercice si vous ressentez de la douleur. Mon physiothérapeute était très catégorique à ce sujet !
La raideur va et vient. Cela dépend beaucoup de si vous êtes resté assis trop longtemps ou si le temps change. Le climat joue un grand rôle dans la douleur de l’arthrite !
Je suis à sept mois de la première opération et à trois mois de la seconde. Ma marche consiste actuellement à faire des courses avec des pauses selon les besoins. J’ai repris le travail dans mon jardin après plusieurs semaines. Mon jardin m’a aidé à me motiver à sortir et à m’activer ! J’ai pratiqué tout : monter dans la voiture, monter et descendre les escaliers, utiliser un petit chariot roulant dans mon sous-sol pour sortir les décorations de Noël.
Mon meilleur conseil est d’essayer les choses que vous voulez faire et d’évaluer attentivement comment elles vous font vous sentir.
Vous allez adorer pouvoir faire des choses avec beaucoup moins de douleur !
Je vous souhaite le meilleur alors que vous gagnez en force et en confiance chaque jour !
At six weeks I was walking two kilometres a day (I'm lazy by nagture) and the surgeon said it was too much, and to cut down, as it wasn't giving the muscles a chance to heal . . .I'm sure it can't harm the new knee, but it may stress the muscles and nerves which have been beaten about during the operation.
Hi John, you and I are TKR twins! I am at exactly the same place as you with exactly the same problems and plans! I have ordered a static bike, plan to start exercising and walking in the pool this week and manage about 30 mins daily as a slow amble . . . . . . But I am surrounded by hills. I struggle to walk down stair and hills, however, my physio is not too concerned. He is aware that I want to ski in 8 weeks ( reduced to the baby slopes for this year though) and has given me exercises to help achieve this.
Behind the knee stiffness is uncomfortable, but I have reduced my pain killer mainly to night only, so maybe I should increase them again. There seems to be some good advice here, so hopefully we will be ok, all I'd say is lay off the weights unless your physio says it's ok.
Hi Cheryl
Thanks for your post. Some great interesting stuff there. Good point about the weather. I think I have noticed a change since the last couple of days of cold weather. You seem to be doing marvellously,especially considering you had 2 knees done. Again,thanks ever so much.
Thanks Marinarvelo
I think the most Ive done is about half/three quarter miles. Obviously Ill want to do more when the weather improves.
Hi Twinny,I mean Tricia.
30 minutes would be great. Im going to have to make the effort. I start Thursday,going with a mate of mine in the first instance. Yes,I will lay off weights as you advise,its just that I cant do the cardio that I would normally. Never been much of a weights man. Hope you manage the skiing Tricia. Not done it since the Army,but rememnber it being great fun. Thanks.
John, are you still seeing your physio?
What do they advise and if not can you ask to be referred back to them or did they give you a number to call if any problems arose.
I am based in the UK so it may be different if you are outside the UK.
keep on keeping on Twinny!!!!!
I was in a no pain no gain frame of mind!
Thought the more I did the quicker I would get back to normal.
Did myself no favours, if anything set myself back. Thanks to all the comments from the guys here I pulled back in the last few days and its much better.
First thing in the morning is a nightmare still though!
Yes Tricia still seeing her. She is excellent. I am in Westfield so I get a fair bit back. Saw her on Thursday and she said I would only have 2 or 3 more visits then she would discharge me as didnt want me to spend my money. However although I dont have any more than a few twinges in my left leg I may go on a fortnightly basis for that until my allotted money runs out. She advises pool,bike and cross trainer although that would be new to me and im not sure myself. Surprisingly she also said i could use punchbag when i asked but I will wait until I am not using stick for a while before considering that.
No Tricia UK also.
Thanks.
I think the problem is most of the physios are fit and relatively fit and not gone through knee surgery themselves. And despite them saying no pain no gain,as my mother used to say nobody can put themselves in anybody elses mind and body.
Cheers Ann.
I meant fit and relatively young. Must be on the same drugs.
Oui, je suis très reconnaissant d'avoir évité les complications lors de mes deux opérations !
Restez positif, cela aide vraiment à faire circuler les endorphines dans tout votre système. Les endorphines réduisent la douleur ou du moins réduisent les sensations qui poussent à se concentrer sur la douleur plutôt que sur les progrès.
Vous allez très bien faire !