Hi, I am an energetic 52 year old woman that had knee reolacement 91/2 weeks ago , I cant seem to get past a 94-98 % on my bend there feels like a restriction behind my knee.. I am getting very discouraged when my doc says I should be at 120..I have been sick 2wks out of the 91/2 weeks , but feel like I'm trying all I can with physical thry, and exercises at home is anyone else in the same boat?
Me! I'm at exactly 12 weeks. I manage 108 on a CPM machine, but fall just short of 90 on a measured bend. My restriction feeling is across the knee itself. It' feels like someone is tugging on an elastic band! I too have been ill, so the physio says there will be a delayed recovery. I think we get "brain washed" re the expected bend - there are folk on here that have really encouraged me as they say they "got there" at 16, 17 or 18 weeks. There is hope then!!
Hi Linda... have you been to see physio.. or are you doing it all yourself?.. I am 55 and for some reason wasn't given any follow up physio... I went privately for physio... only 2 sessions... but well worth it... I also used an exercise bike.. A bit sore at first but really improves your flexibility... good luck.. Mary..
My guess.....90-95% go through this feeling of being stuck in place. As many have stated, there is so much soft tissue damage done during this proceedure that docs don't talk about. Nerves, ligaments, tendons, muscles and normal blood flow have been messed up. Most of us had an irregular walk or limp that has to be corrected naturally as you heal. Then of course, the bones themselves. You have been through a brutal physical and mental attack and it will take some time to recover. Keep up with the pain meds exercises, ice and elevation. Get plenty of rest, hydration and nutrition. Everything has to fall into place piece by piece. We are all different, therefore rehad differently. Be patient and listen to your body. Stay tuned to this forum. Everyones been through it and understands your dilemma and will be your biggest cheerleaders. One other little tip....don't give too much credence to those that haven't been through it, they may mean well but have no idea what you've been through and what is happening to you now.
hi linda ... i am about 16 weeks and had the flu for a week. all of a sudden i am back on medication and my knee feels heavy and stiff. so really, being sick has a huge impact, even further down the road.
having said that, my bend at 12 weeks was not good. i ended up having it bent under anesthesia as it was like a concrete wall. since then i have gone from strength to strength and have just today been signed off by my surgeon until september, my 1 year anniversary.
he measured a 120 bend which is ok but he reckons if i stay at it i can squeeze some more bend out of it. so i will try but honestly, 120 is perfectly ok for me. still, as my confidence grows, so may my bend.
i would give yourself some more time. for sure see a physio, try new exercises and make sure you are pain free. if the physio tells you there is no "give" in the bend, perhaps your surgeon will offer what i had. but i would give it another 4 weeks. don't lose hope, just set yourself a new goal and don't listen to the surgeon. what do they know ??!!
It doesn't sound too bad to me...I don't know if you are in the UK or not. Slowly and gently seems to do it best. Have you tried the exercise using the bottom stair for your foot on the affected leg and leaning into it flexing your knee. For a long time that was the only flexion exercise that didn't put strain on my back .
Now I am doing straight leg raising with weights and have found that this has improved my flexion strangely...also the sitting to standing exercise, no hands, and vice versa...all these things seem to help with knee flexion without you knowing. I'm just trying to increase the flexion and strength so that I can come downstairs leg over leg without feeling as though I need a parachute. It's beginning to work.
But always. slowly slowly, gently gently.
I'm at 12 weeks. I was at 90 within a couple days, 105 in a week but have only gained to 116 since then. I, too, feel the stretch across the knee, but not behind. I have been religious about the home exercises and, until this last week (working 10 hours a day at a gift show), PT twice a week. I start back tomorrow and hoping I've gained a little ground. I was told I couldn't expect much more from a knee replacement that 120-125 and, if I never get to 120, I can function fine at 115+. I'm still lacking a few degrees in straightening my leg and this, I'm told, is most crucial in maintaining a proper gait.
You are exactly the same length as time as me re your TKR, but appear to be making better ground re your 116 (oh, how I'd love that at this moment!). It's me that has the tight stretching feeling across the front of the knee (& no doubt plenty of others), but on the other hand, my straight measure has been "0" for a few weeks now - thank heavens for small mercys!! My physio told me to pretend I was Prince Phillip, hands behind my back, legs just slightly apart & bend forward, keeping the legs straight, going lower & staying there for longer each day - I'll swear that helped!
Thanks for the tip! I'll try that. I'm anxious to get back to physio tomorrow to see where I am
I am at 10 weeks and can't get past about a 95 degree bend although the physio has forced it to 105. My surgeon has decided to do a manipulation under anesthetic on Feb 6th. I think there are adhesions in there that I just can't break by stretching them. They get very painful after I stretch and are located on the medial side of my knee. Sometimes I find them when I am massaging my knee and it is very painful. The physio has been pushing for manipulation. He can't get any more flexion without torturing me, and although he does it, I don't think he enjoys it. Anyway all physio is off now until after the manipulation. There have been some positive posts here about bending after manipulation so I'm just marking time now until Feb 6th arrives.
Thank you all for your imput, I have been to a Physical therypist,3 times a week..it helps with how it feels but we cant get it to move past the 94-98 bend, Everyone that I've talked to around here says its the best thing they've done for themselves, cant wait to get to that point.
I have come to the conclusion that the ''big'' bend is not all it is cracked up to be. I left hospital with almost 110, I can now at nearly 8 weeks bend my leg completely back so I guess that is 130% and I have had 0 on the straight leg from almost day one. BUT, I still can't do many of the things others can do with far less bend or straightness. I still can't walk properly up stairs, I can do a few and then it hurts, and no way can I even think of doing downstairs properly, having already had one disasterous fall! I can walk the dogs and shop without any discomfort, which is heaven, but try as I may, I can't get rid of the limp, and the limp and one foot climbing stairs is damaging my hips! Lots of things have greatly improved, I remember struggling to get in and out of the car, now I jump in and drive off. I can sleep on either side - bliss and I don't take any pain medication, so I think these things just come with time. If you are generally improving with a 90 degree bend, know you are doing well, to achieve some super bend but not to be able to do the day to day things is much worse.
We are all so different! I am 6 and a half weeks and so wish I didn't still need the painkillers and could sleep on my side in bed!
On the other hand I complained to the physio that I could not come downstairs leg over leg and she said that was because my thigh muscles are weak as I have sufficient bend to do it. So I have to lift weights...straight leg raising with 500g on your foot sitting on a chair....this has resulted in being able to do the stairs some of the time but lots of increased pains in the leg and knee.
Can't win..
Generally though things do seem to improve slowly almost without one noticing, but sometimes with a backward step for a couple of days.
Roll on the comfortable sleep.
Well I went back to the docs, and their going in for the manipulation under anestheics, not thrilled but I really want to be able to get up and down off the floor without it being a circus act..Reading all the comments helps me relax alittle to know I'm not the only one a bit frustrated..I wanted to get the TKR so I can play and run after my two small grandchildren...and to be young enough to bounce back and be active.who knew !! Good luck to all of you out htere.
Ruthie, have you tried sleeping on your side with the operated leg flat on the mattress, you may need a leg lifter or band to support your leg as you do so. It is quite easy to achieve and bliss when you do. I can now sleep on either side, but it has taken much longer to get to the point where I can sleep on the side with the operated leg on the top side, and I do need a pillow to support it. The first time I turned onto my side with operated leg on the upper side, I was in agony, and couldn't get back over. I was completely stuck, and if I had not been in such pain it would have been funny. the second time was even worse, because I must have flipped over in my sleep, and then the pain awoke me, and again I couldn't get back and didn't have my leg lifter to help. It took me nearly an hourof tiny moves and much yelling, but three weeks on it's a doddle. Nothing I did to make it happen, just healed enough I suppose.
I'm at 7 weeks for 2 total knee replacements- just now my right knee is 115, and my left knee is at120. I'm 52 as well, first 2/3 weeks were a total nightmare having had both done at same time- especially for the physio,however things are quite good now- flexibility is good I don't use sticks or crutches,I can get up and down stairs. I do still get the odd tweak(my right knee is a bit stiff and am currently getting a shooting pain at the side ofy knee), I think this is just part and parcel of the recovery - just when you think all is well a wee niggle comes along to bite you on the bum!! I still have trouble sleeping at night and although I'm taking pregabalin for the pins and needles around the wound it can still be quite uncomfortable. Don't get to hung up on flex No's and what other people are achieving , concentrate on your own recovery. Hope this helps. Cris.
Glad to say that, after a week of not going to PT but maintaining home exercises, I went from 115/116 to 120 degree bend and -11 to -8 extension. Just over 12 weeks and seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Wishing all of you the best.
Is there still room in the boat? I'm a 54 yr old female, 5 weeks out on my right knee replacement, 6 weeks out on my left. My physical therapist can get me to 100 on the left and 98 on the right with force. No progress this week. Still waiting to turn the corner. I thought I had a stomach flu last week but decided it was nausea and stomach upset due to medicine. The last few days I've gone with Tylenol only, my stomach is still off. My challenge is not that my knee hurts, but everything below it seems to. I'm having terrible pain in my shins and ankles. I'm not sleeping through the night, getting 30 minutes here and there. I've lost ten pounds now, and have no appetite.
I'm discouraged, but my pt is not. He mentioned there may be a need to manipulate the knee under anesthesia to get it past 100, but that's a few weeks off and not unusual. It basically a pt session without the immediate pain because I wouldn't be awake for it. I spoke with the orthopedic's office today, they are putting me back on flexerol for muscle spasms and suggested I return to using Vicodin a half hour before PT, then Tylenol for rest of day. If I can feel better, with fewer leg/ankle spasms and a better night's sleep, I'm hoping I can improve my home therapy program, which in turn will help my outpatient physical therapy, and lessen the frustration.
The....what you are going through is the norm for 95% of us. Turning the corner on tkr is not a well defined act by any means. One day you are out of pain, making the bends and getting straight....... The next day all hell breaks loose and you have taken 2 steps back, including the pain levels. Seems to be just the nature of the beast and in your case, beasts. From conversations with people who have had both done, the healing is as different between their own knees as it would be between two different people. I am going through my 4th rehab on my left knee in 12 years and this one, a result of a fall, is more frustrating than the others even though there was no surgery involved. Just stay with the program: pain meds, excercise, ice, elevation, fluids, nutrition and rest. The healing will continue even though it may take longer than the docs want. The big thing to remember, surgeons and therapists link at everything through the eyes of training and text books not through the eyes of someone who has has their let cut off and reattached. Let your body and brain be your guide. Good luck. BTW, stay with this group. They will give you more non judgemental encouragement and motivation than all the medical people
Thank you! Today is one of the backward ones. I needed to hear everything you said. The sleepless nights lead to rough days, like today. I'm definitely sticking with group, reading the stories have helped immensely. Thank you for helping turn around my day.