I'm 55 and just had a left tkr. I wouldn't wish this on my enemy and will be extra careful to avoid having a premature revision. This is the most painful, debilitating and miserable surgery ever. I'm am now 3 weeks post op and discovered a key to instantaneous decrease in pain, the bike. Although excruciatingly painful, home PT has gotten me to 117 degrees of flexion. There is no easy way out, you have to allow them to push u and u push yourself safely. I decided to drive myself to the gym and begin the recliner bike, wow! Although you must warm up, I've done it 2 days In a row safely and slowly, and did 15 minutes working my way up to level 12. The difference is day and night. While there is stiffness and discomfort, I'm it taking Oxycodone except at bedtime.
Foster, welcome to the club. It is a difficult journey. I'm 22 months post op from a bilateral (I chose to do them at the same time so that I could bypass being laid up a second time). But the difference in mobility from before my TKRs is unbelievable. And while I remember being miserable, that's not what I think of today. I'm glad I went through it the way I did. Thanks for sharing for others about your experience with the recliner bike.
-Mo
I must admit that what your saying is the truth. I'm now into my sixth week and the pain from trying to get to 120° is the worst I've been thru other than after surgery when the nerve block wore off. That was the worst of it all but this bending is something I've got to get past me. I see my doctor again next week and it's my goal and my psychical therapist goal to make sure I'm at the point I'm supposed to be.
Right after surgery I had a setback because of a severe reaction to something that I had been given while in the hospital.
That was miserable but about a week and a half later it finally went away. Still I was put back with my therapy and I'm playing catch-up.
Not sure it slowed the process down but everyone else seems to think it did.
Still today I'm about to go thru more bending because my therapist is about to show up.
God bless everyone for the the comments posted on this web site.
It's helped me understand more about a TKR the I ever did before.
Kenny Clayton
Foster,
Great advice - thanks! I'm going to make an effort to ride my stationary bike after my 6 weeks post bilateral TKRs. Curious - why are you not taking Oxycodone before bedtime? Sleep has been my biggest challenge. I wake up every 2 hours!! Getting a full nights sleep has been the biggest challenge! What do you do for sleep!
Ann
Hello fostersmith61,
I am 56 had a reocurrence of knee issue that I had few years ago that lasted almost a year then had few years of no problems, walked normal with no pain then only 4 months ago got hit with knee issue all over again.. very similiar what I had few years ago other than some nervousness in glute running down leg which I guess is causing pulling on my knee with jabbs & other painful feeling surrounding the knee & have to use a walker now being my leg feels weak as though no strength in it, tightness across the knee, even lost muscle tone in quads as well but I have been walking on it much & tried therapy but very tough it is... I been told by ortho that it is most likely my sciatica that is causing much of my problems, ortho doc has referred me out to pain management next week to see what they can do for me it has been very frustrating & stressful to say the least having nervousness in leg that I can't control....
I never had any surgery on my knee but told me he thinks I may have to have my back fused on couple of discs but he does't recommend it do to the dangers of back surgery. I hope & pray that things will get better for you... take care & God bless.
Hi Anne
That's a typo
I'm ONLY taking 2-5 mg oxy with extra strength Tylenol 1 hr before bed time. I know I am only a single case study which means nothing scientifically, BUT, I'm astounded at the difference. I should also say I do LIGHT flexion and extension excercises with weights-3 set of 15. I also try balancing on my post op knee. This is my own physical therapy regimen which also allows me to get back to weight lifting. I still k ow my knee wa operated on and it feels tight BUT NO ACTUAL BONEor tissue pain. It's no fun, but I'm not going to deal with narcs more than necessary or adhesions or manipulation under anesthesia.
Foster - omg you sound just like me! However miraculously at 5 weeks and one day I woke up and my knee Didn't hurt! I think the first 4 weeks were the worst weeks of my life - this surgery is AWFUL!
I have been spending a lot of time in the pool exercising and at my last PT I was 135 flex and 0 on straightening and I'm not quite 6 weeks yet. I also quit the meds and am taking Advil twice a day now. I'm 69 so if I can feel better at my age - this too should happen for you! Hang in there I do believe there is a light at the end of this nightmare!
Wow good for you Barbara5947
I still elevate and use ice machine to drive swelling away. It's 3 weeks 1 day, fingers crossed and gym once day, increasing duration and intensity slowly.
My best to you
Foster
Hang in - you will turn the corner soon. I do my exercises twice a day and have pt 3 times a week, ice and elevate. I'm working on stairs now. Hopefully you will wake up week 5 with no pain. Keep reading and posting - it helps!
Hey Barb
Right thanks, always ice machine and elevation when not boating or cleaning up the kitchen or walking. I live on the sofa with my Aircast ice machine. Thank you!
Voltaren Gel. RX only in the US. Absolutely the BEST topical anti-inflammatory on the planet.
Hint: A lot of people complain about a tingling sensitivity when the knee rubs on clothing or sheets. Two things:
1. Wrap it loosely (comfortably) with an ACE bandage.
2. Get a "knee sleeve", some are infused with copper. Slide it on.
Both will protect the knee from rubbing against things.
Hi I'm going into wks 10 post of left knee and 8 weeks post op right knee and I agree the pain at first was ridiculous and I questioned whether I made the right decision to do the surgeries but I was bone on bone so I needed to. I'm finally starting to get relief and feeling a bit better. I've been able to walk 1/4 mile daily 1x sometimes 2x per day. I take muscle relaxers usually 3x per day and percocet now only @ night and ibuprofen with muscle relaxer during the day. I can say now I am very happy I did it but I still get very tired. At 3 wks post op it's still very early for u. Good luck with recovery
Yes Voltarin is great stuff; will use once wound is completely healed in 10 days
Well that's great news. I'm young and In shape that's the ONLY reason plus I push myself. The concept of taking oxy for 3 months is unappealing plus I start a job the 2nd Of October which is incentivizing me to be sure I'm ready to go. Night is still a killer. I'm finding the leg immobilizer actually helps me sleep better as it quiets twitching muscles and avoids me inadvertently laying sideways and tweaking my leg at the joint laterally (ouch!) they cut the tendon which also was quit sore for 2 weeks.
Thank you Mo! Very promising to hear you're doing so well. I plan on "puppy guarding" this new implant to avoid a revision anytime soon.
You're absolutely right can't believe they didn't have you on bike sooner ! I had both knees done June/Sept 2014 . There is also a Continuous Passive Motion machine that you do in bed immediately after surgery. All about getting the muscle and tissue moving again before you grow a bunch of scar tissue. 117 degrees is great and yes that is a painful part of physical therapy. Continuing therapy, recliner bike, stationary bike, swimming, walking are all part of your ongoing recovery. Are you in outpatient physical therapy? Very important to continue pushing yourself to do more. Dave
Thanks Dave!
No, I have only home therapy now. Insurance is the issue (short answer). TRICARE believes I should drive 1 hour each way 3x a week to get out patient PT at the nearest military facility (BS!) I've been working on my own PT program at the gym using LOW weight strengthening excercises (flexion and extension)in addition to balance and bicycle work.
There is no reason you can't do the physical therapy yourself especially if you have a gym. Might be worth the drive a few times at least to put together a good workout program for you. I'll give you some input on exercises for knees if you want. I did about a year and a half of it 3 times a week. It's just having some kind of structured scheduled to get you to do it. I was fortunate to have insurance that covered a lot of therapy and it was after work right on the way home. It really doesn't take a lot of time or even that difficult of a workout to make a big difference. Dave
I only got through by God's grace and taking the pain meds on schedule, I am 62 and 9 weeks out and I agree TKR is no fun. Not my first surgery either. You sound like a real trooper I know you are going to do fine, at about 8 weeks you will really feel the difference, much less swelling and pain. I just have soreness but nothing is like the pre-surgery arthritis pain that was horrible, waiting on my hip surgery on September 20th ( same leg) I just have terrible arthritis in both joints