It's just about eight weeks since my total knee replacement. I still don't sleep very well at night though it is better. My problem is the scar tissue I can bend my knee to chest about 95° which I think is pretty good since the nerve block put me a week behind as i could not do the exercises well. I go to pool therapy twice a week which hurts like crazy but is working. I use my recumbent 10 minutes a day twice a day. Just started making it around. Every time I start out a day I feel like I'm starting all over again with scar tissue. If I watch a movie and get up it's like starting all over again. Ripping tearing stretching it all hurts but I guess we have to keep doing it when will this end? I don't want to have the manipulation where they put you asleep in bend your knee!!! I'm not even 60 thought I'd have more energy to do these exercises more strength or stamina and better pain tolerance but I've seen people older than me doing better than me. Very frustrating!
Is it swollen? Are you icing and elevating above your heart? Are you in UK?
Patience. I started going to a PT office 3-4 weeks after surgery and was measured at -14 / +84. It took 10 weeks from there @ 2X/week plus the continuing home exercises to get to -1 / +123. There are advances, setbacks and plateaus...I got stuck at -4 for weeks...yes, frustrating. Give it time...do the work.
Thought you'd have more strength? Fantasyland. Your quad, glues and core are atrophied...dead...and it will take a long time to get that strength back. Here's a whole discussion on Post-PT exercising. The whole thing can take up to a year....be prepared...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/post-tkr-exercising-565527
Sleeping tips...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/trouble-sleeping-post-tkr--539591
Everything you're saying is very normal. The problem is that you're expecting too much and getting down on yourself. Don't do that. Very counterproductive. Everyone is different and your experience will be very personal. Some people have DNA that doesn't produce much scar tissue and sail right through this; others have the opposite. Some people can withstand a ton of pain, no problem; others can't. No one can predict how much you will go through or how long it will take...so expect NOTHING...just stay focused and do the work.
I'm 18-months post-op at 0 / +133. It's worth it. Click on my name or picture and then "See All Discussions". I have posted a lot more on the Forum. Have fun...
Jessica, decidí no someterme a la manipulación debido a las cicatrices. Encontré un fisioterapeuta maravilloso (especializado en masajes de tejido profundo) y él mismo se sometió a una TKR el año pasado. Entiende exactamente de lo que hablo. ¡Me está ayudando! Mi flexión está bien, pero mi pierna está 10 grados por debajo de la alineación. Él cree que puedo recuperarla. Estoy a unas 16 semanas de mi TKR. Todavía tengo algunas noches que no son buenas. Hago aeróbicos acuáticos 3 veces por semana, fisioterapia 2 veces por semana, un ejercicio específico del fisioterapeuta 4 veces al día, máquinas 2 veces por semana y camino todo lo que puedo. Me estoy dando al menos un año para recuperarme. Si he aprendido algo en este foro es que cada uno es único... especialmente cuando se trata de la curación. Ningún amigo ni el cirujano me hablaron sobre no dormir durante semanas, la depresión o el tiempo que toma sanar. Sé paciente contigo misma y honra tus "sentimientos" sobre qué hacer. ¡Mis mejores deseos para una buena decisión! Tengo 72 años.
Hola Jessica,
¡Soy solo 5 semanas postoperatoria y sé exactamente cómo te sientes! La recuperación de una artroplastia total de rodilla es como escalar una duna de arena... sube 3 pies, baja 2... pero tiene que hacerse. Por favor, asegúrate de leer la respuesta de Chico Marx, ya que nadie lo dice mejor. Afortunadamente, encontré este foro solo 1 semana después de la operación y la mayoría de mis preguntas han sido respondidas.
¡Anímate y sabe que todo esto requerirá paciencia y mucho trabajo duro! No me gusta despertarme cada día enfrentándome a tanto dolor, frustración, trabajo y agotamiento, pero tengo una elección... o hago lo que tengo que hacer para superar esto o me rindo... parece que realmente no tengo elección, porque no soy una persona que se rinda y tú tampoco.
Muchas bendiciones y haznos saber cómo te va.
Cherry💐
Yo era muy parecido a ti y a las aproximadamente 10 semanas tuve la manipulación. Fue lo mejor que pude haber hecho. El dolor mejoró mucho y mi ROM comenzó a mejorar dramáticamente. Obviamente, el tejido cicatricial me estaba frenando. Yo también tenía miedo de la manipulación, pero estaba tan frustrado y cuando mi médico dijo que quería hacerlo, acepté. ¡Mucha suerte para ti!
Jessica,
¡No te desanimes! ¡Todos somos diferentes!
Tengo 10 meses de post LTKR y también experimenté el tejido cicatricial. No duró mucho, pero en ese momento fue inquietante.
Usé aceite de coco en mi rodilla y la masajeé diariamente. Ayudó a reducir la sensibilidad y ayudó con la cicatriz externa. Creo que cuanto más movimiento al principio, menos tejido cicatricial. También me ayudó a sentirme más cómoda tocando y golpeando mi rodilla. ¡Cuídate y sé amable contigo misma!
Hi Jenny
I'm in Pennsylvania
I had slowed down on ice. And that was wrong I see. The ice can actually keep that scar tissue down. Thanks for the reminder.
Praying for U.K. I have a friend that lives there too.
Thank you so much! This forum helps me to remember I'm not alone! My PT said the same thing. She could tell I was depressed and did a range check. I'm at 90 relaxed and 105 pushed. It hurts so much but I am a fan of the ice again. Will keep pushing thru and will check out what you have shared!! Thanks for responding!!!
Thank you.
Probably simple swelling. That is the most likely cause. Scar tissue formation is a normal process not something to battle agsinst. As long as you keep things moving, keep doing heel slides, and work on reducing swelling by also ensuring you have adequate rest it normally improves. Blessings
Thanks Judith. I feel better knowing others understand. I am working on patience and trying to understand my emotions. Crying every night feels weird but I suppose it's a release
I'm grateful to those who understand. I will keep on trucking it will pass and it helps to understand it takes time!
Thanks Cherry! I feel all of that as well. Thanks for your encouraging words! I'm so glad I found this forum!!! Your sand dune example is so right on!!!!
Thanks Terry! Glad you are better!
Thanks Tammy!!! I just started the massaging and it does seem to help!!!! ❤️
105 when pushed is great. Try not to be anxious about it. Mine was about the same at 7 weeks post op, and my physio had no worries and felt it was very good. Swelling is the most likely restriction...so make sure you rest it as well and don't be tempted to rush it. My range of motion took a big step up at around 10 to 12 weeks which directly corresponded with a marked reduction in swelling. It continued to improve even after four months. It will happen.
May be different in USA in terms of expectations, but no one even mentioned scar tissue to me! Has someone said something which makes you think you are forming it at an unusual rate? And how can they tell what is scar tissue and what is just swelling? Have you been told you have adhesions?
Sounds like you are doing great...be nice to yourself and blessings to you for a good recovery!
Jenny I have that noise or feeling in my leg as little pulls tears. Pt said it's scar tissue. I keep working through it. She is careful to not have me hurt myself. I am careful too. Just stared 10 minutes am and pm very slowly on my recombent that loosens me up. Make my day a little better! Thanks for the encouragement. Good luck to you too!!!
Querida Jessica,
No mencioné que yo también tuve muchas noches de llanto y no hay nada malo en eso. Como solía decir mi abuela, 'mejor fuera que dentro'... Creo que podrías relacionarlo con un montón de cosas, pero siempre funcionó para llorar. Jajaja. Supongo que un poco de humor ayuda mucho.
Mantengamos el contacto,
Cherry💋
☺Ah, I see! Sounds like you have a nice physio! Glad to hear it! Makes so much difference!
I am now over six months post op. It really has been worth it. Lij e having a new lease of life. 😊
You may like to go to my profile by clicking on the image next to my name. I kept a journal of my own knee replacement journey, and I have been told by several people they found it helpful to read, or skim through. It was written to convey the need for patience, something our culture in the western world is not really geared up to! It has a lot of useful suggestions and information. Writing it gave me a project to focus on!
Everyone's experience is different and we cope with things in different ways. I found reading about others experience of TKR very helpful and this forum is a good way to get a sense of being part of a group of peoplec who really do understand because they have been through it!
I also found it helpful to jot down little steps of progress and improvement after the surgery, because it is so easy to not appreciate the improvements which are made. Keeping a journal is a good idea. You can the look back on the experience and the progress you make, and appreciate what a massive and hugh acheivement it is!
Do nice things! Look on it maybe as a kind of spiritual retreat also? !
Thanks Jenny you are so right!!!