I was thinking about this yesterday. They send you home a day or two after the op, on crutches, telling you to move the crutches first, and then the operated foot up to the crutch level and then the other one. Fine. But I had to ask roughly when to go on to two sticks (was told three weeks approximately) but actually found I could go on at about two weeks, and then on to one very shortly after. BUT there was no instructions on gait when walking on crutches etc. OR at what point to start a normal stride rather than operated leg up to crutches and then the other one up to that. What did others do? A few days after I came home I started lengthening stride so I was gradually walking more normally by the time I went on to two sticks, and also making sure I wasn't leaning forward, but when you don't get to see a physio, this is rather left to the patient to think about! Nothing was mentioned in exercise sheets or anything about going from walking up to crutch/stick level and then increasing it to normal gait.
A lot is left to us I'm afraid. First session after discharge told to lengthen stride which would stretch leg out straight and bend will follow. I wonder if any of the physios have personal knowledge - either of a family member or themselves - because all info given verbally and written is what should be doing at set weeks. However when get a patient where not going to this schedule all you are told is it takes time, everyone is different or, in my case - not sure what bend surgeon wants let's wait now unil you see him but keep doing the exercises. Also told moving from crutches to sticks to none was up to me - not confidence building when you are not sure if doing things right, wrong or if will make things worse!
I know a lot is down to us doing our exercises but whilst I have nothing but praise for the hospital and nursing staff I do feel let down by the physio support. This ring if you a query is not really helpful when you are struggling. However my GP has been brilliant - sometimes you just need someone to reassure you that you are on the right track. I am now 10 weeks post op and some days take 3 days backwards steps. Trying to stay positive is a big thing with TKR recovery.
It's really difficult Joanne. You were given much more info than I was, by the sound of it, but yes, because people vary so much then the week by week suggestions can be wildy out of sync with actual recovery, and the lack of information on what to do when that I experienced can leave you fumbling through. BUT, from what I've heard on here, there can also be physios forcing things and causing a lot of pain, so I wouldn't really want that either. I THINK because the hospital I went to offers less in physio support after the op, the waiting list is less too - it's all swings and roundabouts, but I'd recommend this group to anyone having a TKR because there is always someone having similar problems to someone else on here, so to talk to someone with the experience makes all the difference. When I go in for my next TKR then I'm going to take a few pieces of paper with the url of this group with me and pass them on to others in my ward LOL! It's the best thing anyone can do for another TKR'er I think:-)))) But you made me think that deciding to lenthen that stride in early days was probably the best thing I could have done! I'm wondering if that made all the difference to help me get that bend so much faster! As my husband is saying right now - it's all a bit of a lucky dip! I'm just thinking - the hospital I went to is very keen to know if there is anything that could help people that they don't do, and I might just write some of this stuff out, so perhaps less are left fumbling through.....
Chris, I was fortunate. I was started on walker for about 1 1/2 weeks, then cane for a week, then nothing all per my PT which I started week after surgery. I was going to PT 2x a week. I'm thinking pretty aggressive with the walking!!?? Still going to PT 1x a week and I'm 9 weeks post bilateral knees. In the beginning I thought they were nuts with that program but it worked! I'm in US. Are you in UK? Looks like we do things a little different. Have a good weekend.
WOW! YES - VERY different Elzie!!!!!! The physio I had at hospital seemed to have a 'gently gently' approach and go on encouragement rather than pushing. In hospital we had the walker on the day of the op, but then crutches the next day to go home with (they kept me in a second night because my salt levels were low though) and then I actually asked roughly when to go on to two sticks and was told three weeks, but that was about it. In the end I did things as I felt I was capable of but so glad I thought about lengthening stride while still on crutches, in those early days. They wouldn't do bilateral here but going from how my recovery has gone, I think I could have managed well, but it is what it is. Just can't wait for the other one to be done now, and this is five weeks after the other LOL! The sticks and crutches all seem a long time ago now. In fact my husband saw the crutches in the car yesterday (ready to go back to the hospital) and said he'd forgotten about those days LOL! I'm guessing they had you on the walker for longer because of it being bilateral, but even so, they still took you off sticks very quickly! Pretty amazing!
Thanks Chris! I'm far from amazing! It was my PT girl who did it. Knowing me, I would have stayed in my bed eating chocolates, watching tv and popping pain medication!!😳😳
Loads of laughter here - I certainly went for the cake big time because I was determined to make the best of the experience LOL! On a diet now LOL! But I'm guessing you were very lucky to have such a brilliant PT! They seem to vary hugely!!!!
Chris, are you not scheduled to see a physical therapist and only doing exercises at home? Exercises are very important to get your mobility back! I started out with a walker for a few weeks and then went to a cane. Gradually I had enough confidence to use nothing in the house but a cane outdoors. I am 10 weeks post op TKR and am walking with no limp and without a cane. The physical therapist always stressed "heal toe" when walking to give you a normal stride. Good luck to you with your recovery. This is a great forum to reach out to others in the same boat!
No, with the hospital I went to they send you home with a sheet of exercises and tell you to go back six weeks later to be signed off and they expect you to be walking without a limp. So I did as I was told and it's been hugely successful for me - I used the crutches for a couple of weeks and then went on to two sticks and very quickly - a few days later, one stick and then dumped that indoors first and then outside a few days later. I did get a huge amount of advice from on here though! I'm five weeks and two days post op now and the sticks are a thing of the past, I'm walking as 'normally' as possible keeping in mind the other knee is desperately needing doing, and the bend is about as good as it gets at this stage - varying between 118 and 120, so it's all worked well for me. I've been very lucky though and had virtually no pain and not been kept awake at nights because of the operated knee, apart from one night (but the other knee has kept me awake!). But - the lack of more precise information has left me feeling as though I'm fumbling through at times:-)