I find that I can be nice and loose and pretty flexible, but then I sit awhile to rest.
After resting even for just ten minutes or so, I go to get up, and my flexibility and looseness I felt just a few minutes before is replaced with legs that feel VERY HEAVY and TIGHT and STIFF!
It is as though someone comes and fills my legs with CONCRETE!
I get up, move around a bit, stand and/or stretch a bit and I am OK.
What I want to know is WHY CAN'T I MAINTAIN LOOSENESS AND FLEXIBILITY longer? What is it about inactivity and just resting (even for brief periods) that causes stiffness and that heavy feeling to creep in so quickly?
Do any of you feel this?
This is true for both of my legs...my SURGICAL one (TKR 6/26/15) and my soon-to-be SURGICAL KNEE (10/9/15).
I have Osteoarthritis.
I am 64.
I have the same thing - looking forward to other replies.
I'm the same and I'm 58 and have osteoarthritis. Since my TKR in March my other knee is getting worse too! Oh the joy of it all. Looking forward to the replies x
Same here. Very depressing.
Jean
I had TKR over a year ago and still get stiffness when I get up after sitting. It is improving though and doesn't last so long so, hopefully, yours will get better too. Unfortunately, that's probably not the case for your unoperated knee. I can remember that stiffness too and it reminds me I was right to get the op done! Good luck with your next op.
How long did the operation take?
Was it very painful afterwards. I am a coward.
The operation didn't last long - to be honest, I've forgotten how long exactly! I had a spinal and not a general anaesthetic which was great. I was sedated so totally unaware of what was happening but had none of the after effects of a general anaesthetic.
I won't pretend it wasn't painful afterwards (not immediately as the spinal meant I didn't feel anything for a few hours) but it was manageable with pain relief. It is a long, hard and sometimes very frustrating recovery process but, for me, it has been worth it. If you stay on this site you will get a lot of information, help and encouragement. Good luck!
Jen x
It's all normal, Cheryl...nothing to worry about.
Same here and I'm the same age! I'm 4 months post-TKR. First thing in the morning I'm like a 90 year-old man shuffling around then after 3 or 4 minutes I'm fine. To be honest, I feel better when I'm out and about walking than when sitting around at home and things are loose and flexible. Thing is, you can't be doing exercises all the time. The new knee is never going to be the same as an original knee. I have range of movement issues and I need to decide how they affect my daily life and if I can live with it, which I think I can. Stiffness is part of the deal but is also manageable. Good luck!
Why did you have a spinal?
Jean
Good to know that improvements come with time. I want to be able to MOVE like I used to and STOP being the one always lagging behind!
Arthritis really hit hard and fast for me about four years ago, and my life has changed so drastically. I am very glad with my decision to have the surgeries because it truly was my only choice if I wanted a CHANCE to get my life back.
With our oldest and his wife delivering our first grandchild who will be arriving ANY DAY NOW and our youngest son getting married next year, I wanted to really be able to enjoy these momentous occasions without EXCRUCIATING pain clouding every part of the events.
Thank you for the encouragement!
Hi Cheryl - I am exactly the same even after 7 months post tkr. Very frustrating because the job I do means I'm sitting for long periods so when I get up to walk its very stiff and tight until I start walking. I can walk for miles and the knee is fine it's when u don't it's a problem. Not sure what the answer is unfortunately but it does seem that it's the norm as most others have it as well!
I too had spinal anesthetic. Was told it made recovery easier than general. Was worried at first but would definitely do it again if I had to.
I sure do know what you mean about feeling 90 years old! It is embarrassing getting up from the table at the restaurant after sitting awhile at dinner, too. I have to stretch before standing and then stand awhile until all my parts feel stable enough TO start walking!
A few minutes later I feel VERY DIFFERENT and can walk fairly normally.
My SURGICAL leg seems to recover decent movement WAY BEFORE my other one, so MAYBE after my recovery of my SECOND KNEE I will achieve more fluid movement and not LOOK and FEEL so aged!
Wishing you continued success with fluid movement and less and less stiffness each day!
Yes, we WILL succeed!
I sure do know what you mean about the difficulty getting moving after sitting! I have discovered that I FIDGET a lot more than other people...like I am TRYING to keep things moving even when I am sitting and RELAXING...just so that I am more ready to start walking when the time comes!
That's the embarrassing thing in restaurants, etc, isn't it. You have to steel yourself to actually stand up...and then let it ratchet down before you actually dare to set off. And you feel that everyone is staring.
Today is a year since my second TKR and I'm currently worse than before the operation. Not long now till the 25th, so just hope that he can finally remove any obstructions and get it straight.
So sorry to hear that you are feeling worse now a year later following your operation!
Have you been told why things did not seem to go as expected?
Apparently excess scar tissue...but you have to wait until nearer the year to get it addressed. Knee being opened up again on the 25th. An x-Ray earlier in the year showed that the knee itself is OK.
Do they just open the incision site to work on SKIN or do they have to go way inside? Is this what they call "revision"?
I know different procedures have been mentioned here on this site.
Yes, they open the incision site and delve about inside, cutting away excess tissue, changing the spacers and washing it out.
it's not a revision...that's when you have the whole knee taken out and replaced again (I believe).
Whew! Sounds pretty involved either way! I hope all goes well for you on the 25th and that afterwards you will feel much better!