Hi..this is my first time on here. I had a TKR two weeks ago and saw my physio 6 days ago and surgeon 4 days ago and they both said I need to do more more more physio. I have to do 10-20 minutes every hour or so! I am in so much pain when I do them. I am struggling to straighten my leg and my bend is about 80%. They couldn't understand why I was using crutches after a week (I should be using a stick!) They have frightened me into thinking I won't get better if I don't exercise as they say. I am quite young to have had this op, is this why they are harsh with me? Can anybody recommend some bending exercises that are not as painful. Thank you
Well I don't see anything wrong with using the crutches until you feel more confident and have a better bend. From all the posts on here it seems obvious that if you are in pain you can't exercise properly, therefore it is vital that you get good pain meds sorted out. It is you surgeons responsibility to have done this in the first place. Also, where I live they don't let you out of hospital until you have a 90 bend so don't be so hard on yourself. You are also possibly feeling the depression that most of us went through the first few weeks which is normal but doesn't help. I don't think age has much to do with it. We are all different and you will get there.
Wow they are being harsh....I'm just over 6 weeks post op and still only have 88% bend
although I've been down to one crutch for weeks no one has mentioned I should be using a stick
i still can't straighten my knee properly but exercising every hour would kill me ....I do mine 3 or 4 times a day ...but everyone is different and if you're only young that must be the reason why they're pushing you
good luck
If you have a bed or table high enough off the floor so that your feet at not touching the floor sit down as close to the edge as possible so you won't fall off. Hook your bad leg with your good leg and gently pull back as far as you can till the pain is evident but not unbearable. Hold for a count of 10. Repeat 10 times, rest and repeat 2 more sets of ten. You are in charge and will know when you've done all you cans handle. You will feel the stretch and give every time you pull. Take a pain pill an hour before and ice all the way around the knee. If you have a bike instead of peddling like you would for cardio, set it so when you are at the top of the rotation you can just push and hold at the top of the stretch. Hold to a count of 15, repeat 10 times, rest. Do this for 20 mins. as a warm up before you do the the 1st excercise I outlined. Both of these keep you in complete control of the pressure yet pushing those damaged and swollen ligaments and tendons. Keep us advised and I'm sure everyone on here will become your biggest boosters and supporters. You are going through what we all have but when its you, the challenge seems overwhelming. Good luck and God bless.
Hi Shanders, poor you having had your op only 2weeks ago, I think they are being a little harsh on you. To expect you to excersise that much is beyond a joke, you are actually going through the worst phase of the op. it is so painful and traumatic of course you are afraid we all are. When I was is bad pain I stopped for a couple of days and then started again when I felt more able. I am now 10weeks and can walk and do my normal things again. Almost all patients still have to use crutches after weeks and I was urged by my pysio to keep on with the crutches whilst I felt I needed them. There are probably people on the foram who can advise you on that better than I .i just want to offer you support at this very difficult time, and we all seem to have different rates of healing. I am 82 and live alone I have found it so difficult to deal with pain and stress of it all. You will get there and when the pain subsides a little the excersises won't be so hard on your body. Best of luck from Tucks.
Hi,
I'm afraid most exercises are a struggle at your stage probably due to swelling as much as anything.
Have you been advised to use a cryocuff to ice the knee? For the first six weeks my husband did this for me every two hours for 20 minutes. It is so soothing and reduces swelling.
Adequate pain relief is vital otherwise you will naturally hold back from exercising.
I am pretty tired of surgeons being harsh. They just deal with the mechanics. Dealing with what comes after is another matter altogether. It is SO difficult, both physically and mentally.
Lynn 17.5 weeks post op
Hi, I agree with everyone else, I think your surgeon is being very harsh. I did basic exercises about 6 to 8 times a day in the first few weeks but also used crutches. There was no pressure on me to stop using them in those early weeks. Getting your pain under control and using ice for swelling are also key as others have said. I expect you've been given it but I found the easiest exercise to help with bend was to slide foot back and fore on a piece of paper while sitting on a chair. You can do this as often as you like while sitting down. Good luck and hope everyone's comments have reassured you that it will get better. Don't think age has much to do with it by the way. Jen
hi, thank you for your reply. Nobody ever told me it would be so painful or I would feel 'down' about it so it has come as a bit of a shock. They said I could go home after two nights but I chose to stay another (I have a five year old son and didn't want him to see me in so much pain) I will keep trying and not expect too much after such a short time....
hi, thank you for replying. I am trying to use one stick around the house (not ventured out walking yet). I understand what the physio is saying and why but the reason I had my knee done was the pain and I couldn't do exercise - he's like a little action man - I'm not! Everybody I spoke to prior the op said it would hurt but I would soon get over it - not one of them said how much or how useless and lethargic I would feel so I expected to be much further forward than I am. Patience is what I need!.
it is certainly hard for you looking after a little one. I had enough justl ooking afte rmyself. As I was told by my physio and the medical staff this is a major operation and to expext mental as well as physical trauma. To be honest I don't think your pre or post op information has been the best so you mustn't feel that you are at fault. Where do you live?
thank you very much for taking the time to explain the exercises to me. I will certainly give the first one a go but I don't have a bike. I am glad I have found this website and yes I'm sure you will all become very important to me in my daily struggle so I will keep you posted. I know I have made a lot of progress since the op but I think I was just shocked at the surgeon and physios attitude towards me as they made me feel as if I had made no progress or effort at all and I had. ...
Yes Shanders it is extremely painful and unsettling. I don't know how you can be a Mum to a 5 yr old with this op. you need strong meds for many a week yet. With my first knee I couldn't understand how I was supposed to bend eith at first because of the pain and then my GP prescribed Lyrica for nerve trauma, not needing to be damage just trauma. It made all the difference. We have had many a discussion about Lyrica and the need for good pain meds. But yes it is a long painful road and quite something to put up with. Insist that the docs sort out your pain. Good luck.
Oh Tucks, how can I complain when you have had to deal with it all on your own. I have a fantastic partner who has taken over all the household duties without a moan, and he thinks I am doing marvellous to be moving about as well as I am. I think I will cancel next weeks physio and see how I am in a couple of weeks (that will take the pressure off me a bit) you are an inspiration and I wish you continued health and success...
hi Lynn, thanks for your reply. Yes I have a cryocuff but have not been using it as often as you did. Maybe I need to do that. Pain relief is such a hard thing to get right. I also suffer from a herniated disc in my lower back so this does hamper my exercising as the last thing I want is my back to go again! My leg is still swollen but physio said after a week if I had been doing my exercises properly it shouldn't have been. I think I will just forget about him and the surgeon for a week or two and try not be so harsh on myself, I am walking with a stick, not far and with a limp but I'm walking!
hi, thank you for replying. I am trying to use one stick around the house (not ventured out walking yet). I understand what the physio is saying and why but the reason I had my knee done was the pain and I couldn't do exercise - he's like a little action man - I'm not! Everybody I spoke to prior the op said it would hurt but I would soon get over it - not one of them said how much or how useless and lethargic I would feel so I expected to be much further forward than I am. Patience is what I need!.
West Yorkshire. I had it done at Spire Hospital Elland. Yes I think you could be right the info I got was not as comprehensive as it should've been, again maybe this is because of my age and they thought I would recover a lot faster!
hi Gloria, yes it's a challenge especially now he is on holiday! I have a fabulous partner and family and friends support so that really helps. Next time I go to the Drs I will ask about Lyrica. I am on Tramadol but have been for nearly five years because of my back so maybe my body is a bit resistant to them now! Thank you for replying...
hi Jen, thanks for your reply. Yes I've been given that exercise but have been doing it in the kitchen and sat on toilet, I never thought about putting a piece of paper down at least I could be watching TV whilst I'm doing it.
thanks for the tip. When physio asked why I wasn't using sticks I said it was because I had crutches at home and I refused to pay for some sticks to use for a few weeks (Bupa don't cover these!!!) my mums friend happened to have two so she has leant me them!
With all due respect, your physio is talking complete rubbish.
Let him have this op and see what he says then. You are so early on in recovery. It takes a very long time.
Lynn 17.5 weeks post op
A plastic carrier bag also works well!