I am my ltkr on 12.12.17. Apart from the initial post operative pain all went well and I was discharged after three days. I am now managing around the house with no crutches and using one for further distances. Pain is manageable with codeine and nefopam, icing and elevation. I have been doing my exercises and have my first physio in three days. I’m just wondering where is should be by now in terms of bend etc? Think I am 90% but I can’t do a full revolution on static bike. I can walk upstairs normally but not downstairs. Still swollen above the knee. Scar healing really well. Any hints or advice gratefully received.
Your knee bend is fine and will improve as the swelling subsides and the staples are taken out,don’t expect to get a full rotation on a bike at this stage sounds way to early to expect that.Your doing so well but take it easy push to hard and you will take a knock back as for walking round take care don’t get over confident your knee is still in the very early stages of recovery.But by the sounds of it your doing marvellously.
Hi loulou. I took many weeks to be able to do reverse revolutions. They are a little easier to accomplish than forward ones ,for me. I believe this was at the 12 week stage. A little and often of all you can manage. If you can concentrate on resting as much as you can and doing the physio exercises without fail. Your recovery sounds remarkable. Stay healthy and fit. x
Loulou, you are doing GREAT. I am in US and started Physio day of surgery. Just keep doing exercises, ice, elevate and be sure to rest for one hour, lying down 2x per day. Coming down step will be issue for a while...I came down backwards for approx 3weeks.....your muscles are still healing and down being harder is normal. I was not put on a bike till 5weeks post surgery. Swelling will continue and pops up for months. Just listen to you body and do what you are comfortable doing. One home exercise that helped me a lot to be able to do steps was....placing plastic solo cups on floor and stepping over them going forward and side to side.
keep up the good work.
Pam
There is no where you should be at any stage, there is no graph for recovery. Everyone recovers at a different rate, don't compare your progress with others. You are doing very well for just over 2 weeks post op. There may be ups and downs during recovery it takes time, as long as it takes. It's a journey not a race. Plenty of exercise, but don't over do it, ice and elevation. Take your medication to control pain much easier to exercise if not in pain. You will get there in the end.
One of the firm rules of recovery....don't try and gauge your progress against others and vice versa. We are all so different that the stages of healing vary. One person is slow getting to your stage and another picks up speed after six weeks while another is still struggling at 13. Just be careful not to get carried away and overdo it because setbacks are the most difficult to overcome. Healing isn't lineal, its two steps forward and one back and suddenly you'll find yourself not going anywhere. Scroll through toll you find the writings of Chico Marx. He has written the bible of recovery. I've be ER n through 5 complete rehab and none were the same. You are ahead of the curve, be patient and steady. Don't think beating up on yourself will get you done faster because it may only slow you down as an end result.
i bought eucalyptus oil and lemon oil suppose to help with pain and swelling .ive been using it for about 5 days now.today i have a really itchy rash have any of you had this issue.i also gad what i thought was an infection .it was oozing i got worried i ueezed it and someting long
came out.i went to the dr it turned out it was a suture coming out from under the skin .has this ever happened to anyone here.
Yes I had a really sore bit at the top of my scar. Was worried it was infected but dr didn’t seem worried. It had a small strand of the nylon suture thread sticking out which I gradually managed to Tug on and there was a knot which they obviously make to hold the first stitch. It hadn’t dissolved like the rest of the stitches so I just trimmed it off and it was fine after that. Paula
Hi, thank you for all of your comments - very helpful and positive. I feel some days are better than others. Sometimes I sleep well and have enough energy to follow a good routine and other days I’m really tired and nothing goes right. I guess I was worried that the physio would think I wasn’t getting on well enough but as you say, I can’t force it and need to remember it is very early days and a long road ahead. Thanks again and good luck to you all.
Wow you're doing great! I am at 8 weeks, had a set back with synthetic joint implant of large toe in same leg and lost my balance Dec 16 and fell and broke my ribs. Be careful!
You are doing really well Loulou. Please do not go by how other people are at the same stage! They are them & you are you!
It isn't a race to get to full recovery, you get there when you get there! As Chico always says be more Zen!!
As long as you are doing all your exercises & icing & elevating, resting etc, what stage you are at is of no consequence! As long as your physio is happy with your progress & you are progressing what others are doing is no matter.
Try to find Chico's The Bell Curve thread from earlier this year. He explains it much better than I.
You are an individual, never measure yourself against others it's a pointless exercise that will send you crazy!
Be the best YOU you can, that's all any of us can ever do.
You are doing really really well. Remember that! Keep it up. 👍
Happy New Year
Marilyn
XX
Sounds like you are doing very well,,!
Don't worry about bend...early days!
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 has a lot of useful suggestions and information.
Sounds the same way mine went. I'm in PT and that has helped. I couldnt do a fill rotation until 6 weeks. I'm at 11 weeks and can also walk up stairs but not down. Everyone says it takes time, and that is so. Exercise is most important. So is ice after.