I had my TKR 5 weeks ago I'm doing really well according to the physical therapist I can bend at 104 degree. Seems like the last week I have really been getting better quick as far as physical therapy goes but at home i get up to do housework and im only up 20 minutes before swelling and tightness set in and i have to sit and ice this is so frustrating. I'm trying to wean off pain meds and im doing good but I still need like 4 a day and I'm on my last bottle from the surgeon my dr does not give each out pain meds. I do have an apt for a pain clinic but not for 19 days. Hopefully I can hang in there. I'm reading people's posts on here about how much they are doing after 5 weeks. I used to walk 3 miles a day I want to walk but I can't. 20 minutes 30 tops and I am done. I still have trouble sleeping but usually only if I had a busy day.
Rule #1: Do not measure your progress by anyone else's. Everybody recovers at their own rate. Period.
Rule #2: See Rule #1...as many times as you need to let it really sink in.
Rule #3: If it swells, you did too much...pushed it futher than you should have. Back off; ice. Try using a pedometer or FitBit. Know your limit and increase gradually. I did 8,000 steps one day and paid dearly for the mistake.
For more hints and tips, check out...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
Slow down......this is a marathon, not a sprint. You are trying to do to much to soon. Tami e pain meds
An hour before exercise then ice, elevate, drink plenty of water as dehydration is one of the greatest causes of secondary pain or pain that seems to come in for little or no reason. Sounds to me as if you have been reading too many publications and information pieces that 6 weeks is up and you are back to normal. That may be the 1 in a 1000 cases but that isn't normal. Just quit doing so many of the things you thought you would be doing. Walk some, very slowly and properly....rushing just wears you out. Housework can wait till you get your strength back as you don't even have the anaesthesia out if you body yet. What the Dr's and therapist want you to believe is just garbage. They are writing that stuff and have never been through it themselves. No one wants anyone to become a helpless invalid and sit around being waited on hand and foot but those that run this race know you have to have more common sense than a printed pamphlet. Friends and family can be great allies but they can also be the biggest pains in the butt you'll ever run into. All these stories about the fast healing and unbelievable feats of post up the patients are just that, fabrications. Just remember, this is a process....and you can't avoid going through it. Spend your time being you and not worrying about keeping up with someone else. If your Dr. Won't handle your pain meds in your best interest.....ask to visit someone else. It just isn't ethical to see someone in pain suffer because of these Dr's that don't fare. Good luck.....you sound like someone that iscwaybahead of the game and you'll be fine, given time.
I know about that kind of frustration. For some reason the knee doesn't want weight on it for too long a time. I weeded out half my strawberry patch and it took way too long. Now the knee won't bend like it did. I've iced it, but it must need alot more off time. Seems to act up way more than necessary. All I can think to do is keep doing those quad sets so the muscles get stronger.
I think you're going way too fast. I know how you want to get back to your regular life again. Sitting on the couch is boring! But you need to slow down and rest and ice ice ice! They won't give you any more pain meds so try not to make it hurt so much you need them. I did go to my Primary doctor and he gave me a months worth of Tramadol. It's a really mild pain killer compared to hydrocodone or oxy. Seems like the surgeon just wants to move on to the next patient and be done with you. I injured my knee after my regular 4 mile walk. Bam! Excruciating about 2 hours afterwards. Went to the ER the pain was so bad. Told it was a torn meniscus. MRI confirmed it. Had to wait a month for surgery. That was in June. And I'm just now starting to walk without crutches. Whole summer ruined and I've lost about 8 pounds. Down to 105 and I'm 5'7"! It's just been a nightmare. The pain was unbearable and I just sat on the couch crying and taking pain pills and icing the knee. I'm gonna try some yoga poses in a day or so. So definitely better. I feel your pain. I think you have to resign yourself to the fact it's a slow process to recover. Prayers and hugs.
Hi Gwen! Congrats getting thru the first 4 weeks of this brutal surgery. At 5 weeks I started having less pain and I switched to Advil - my doc said I could take 4 or 800 mg every six hours- it seems to work for me although I only take 400mg once or twice a day now. I'm 8 weeks now and I've got 130 and -5 degrees on straightening. I swear getting in the pool helped me. I'm continuing with pt for another week after this because I still don't have the strength I want to go up and down stairs. My therapist said that will come but it takes a long time. I own a company so I went back to work part time at 5 weeks but could only stay an hour or two - I was still wiped out - at 6 weeks I was able to stay 4 hours - now I'm up to 6 hours- it's unbelievable how much this surgery takes out of you. So hang in there Gwen take it slow and you'll be dancing around in no time!
5 weeks! Surely you've been told it takes up to a year before you are getting near to full potential? A classic tale of trying to run before you can walk! As others have said, slow down, take it easy, You are way ahead of where most people are after 5 weeks anyway.
Regarding flexion (degrees)...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/zero-degrees--517809
This takes time and work...don't rush it...
Gwen - 5 weeks and you're moaning at lack of progress - what you trying to do - win a sprint race of some sort. Far to much far too soon.
Hey, you've been butchered, make no mistake and you're trying to be normal. Sorry, it ain't gonna happen !
Remember this - a PT is only good for the work of a PT - a PT isn't really qualified to judge on your progress - your body is. And if you are in the amount of pain that makes you talk about a pain clinic .... wow! Clearly, your body is saying - 'enough is enough' !
I had 8 weeks of PT prior to sugery (all at my own expense) to build up the strength of my leg which would be butchered. After surgery I had a range of exercises (at least 10 different exercises) to do up to 5 times a day - after the dressing was removed my PT again at my own expense worked on strengthening my knee AND worked on the surgical scar line to minimise/prevent scar tissue forming inside the knee. At this time I was still on maximum dose of CoCodomol (thats the only pain relief I can take 'cos I'm on Warfarin for life) and I was still on 2 crutches till 8 weeks. In addition to the exercises I went out walking on crutches gradually, so gradually increasing the distance until at 8 weeks Consultant said - off crutches, you can drive again and he gave me the OK to return to work driving buses at 11 weeks.
I have made every step a winner - no turning back, no repeating what I've already put myself through, no problems at all and now at 10 months post op I'm normal.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
John
Every single time I reply to you I get to the end of my message and it gets wiped.
so this is a test, it's very annoying
Wow Gwen .. 5 wks and your already walking 20-30mins and have a ROM of 104% ... I did have some issues but all the same I was on crutches for over 2mths and didn't go on my first walk until after that and started at 5mins and gradually built up.
However I never saw a physio until nearly 6mths post op and that was due to getting excrutiating pain in my hip which ended up being a bursitis .. which I caused by over exercising without realising as I had no guidance .. I'm now nearly 11mths post op and are still paying for it! My knee is still severely swollen and full of fluid as have just had an ultrasound .. so please listen to everyone don't rush it listen to your knee and nothing else!
I have learnt the hard way but I'll definately be ready when my other knee is done! And at 5 wks you shouldn't be having 'busy' days!
Remember to take it easy and listen to your knee .. and this journey takes up to 12-18+ mths to heal from properly just depending on the knee! And how come your dr can't prescribe pain meds? I was on oxycontin and endone for the first 3mths used to have to go weekly to the drs to get them.
What's annoying?
Sounds like very sensible information to me.
had my tkr on 24th August.
can only just get to bathroom, swelling stoping me thinking about the exercises.
my body not ready for it, also getting dizzy periods
Glad you're listening to your body Alison .. we all want the unrealistic and be fine in 6wks but hey when you're looking at 12-18mths you know you have a long journey ahead of you. And only you and your surgeon know whats best!
Hi Gwen, slow down girl! I'm 12 weeks post op and never imagined how hard this op would be! I can't at the moment say I'm pleased that I've had it done but hope that at some point in my lifetime I will! I've been on holiday last two weeks and my physio says Ive done too much walking which is why it's tightened up and stiff again. I've got to rest it again and take it easy. I begin an eight week knee rehabilitation course in the gym next Monday so am hoping for some progress with that. When I finished in hydrotherapy three weeks ago my bend was 80. I have realised this is a slow slow process and more importantly everybody heals differently. There is no time limit. Please take it easy Gwen. I wish you well. Rest! xx
Thank you so much. I just feel so useless however my bend was 108 at physical therapy yesterday so I'm doing something right.