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Struggling to walk without a cane after TKR

Posted by clmickley @clmickley, Feb 16 3:19pm

I'm about 8 weeks out from a TKR on my right knee. A little back story, I'm on the "young" end of the spectrum for a knee replacement. But I've had knee problems since before I was a teenager and was diagnosed with arthritis in my knees when I was 15. So I've had decades of not trusting my knees.

I didn't get a chance to start physical therapy until a week after surgery because it was around the holidays. I've healed really well and my pain is mostly muscular now (usually after intense PT sessions). I've for the most part have been sleeping well. My ROM is good. They stopped measuring weeks ago when it was 117 (I was 120 pre surgery). I've been using a recumbent bike with RPMs between 50-60. And I can drive.

Where I'm struggling is with walking. I used my walker up until 2 weeks ago. I tried multiples times prior to switching to a cane but I would always get these spasms (which didn't hurt but really freaked me out).

My PT wants me to walk without a cane because pretty much everyone around me agrees (surgeon, husband, PT, massage therapist), my struggle to walk is in my head. Which might very well be true. I guess my struggle is that above and around my knee feels numb and I don't feel like I have control completely over its movement.

I'm supposed to be starting my PT session today with a timed 100ft walk (with out a cane). I did this at my last session and the thought of it is making me cry.

Any suggestions for getting over a psychological block?

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celia16 | @celia16 | Feb 16 11:55pm

Your recovery sounds amazing. I’m afraid I don’t have any experience on this. I was scheduled for surgery due to a torn meniscus, but have decided to avoid it if possible. So far, so good. When I had more pain with the knee, I was rather skittish on it. But since I began working out, it’s been much stronger and less painful.

Is it possible to practice walking in water? That could help with balance and confidence.

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Feb 17 6:01am

Learning to trust the new knee post surgery was definitely a thing for me although I never used a walker or cane. My block has to do with stairs. One day I saw something that alarmed me out the window...I flew down the stairs. Didn't have time to think. So no time for doubting thoughts!

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SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Feb 17 11:59pm

@clmickley I understand. I’ve had both my knees replaced.
You are doing great! Your knee won’t fail you. You can trust it to hold you up.
If I were you, I might put the cane down, walk across the room, turn around and go back to where you left it. You will not have a problem and your confidence will come back.

Best of luck!

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clmickley | @clmickley | Mar 30 1:34am

I wanted to thank everyone for their words of encouragement and support.

I’m happy to report that I am walking without the cane and functioning at my pre surgery levels.

Im not going to lie, mentally it got worse before it got better. I had to see my primary care doctor about starting anxiety meds. That helped a lot with the constant dread about my progress with PT.

As for actually walking, ultimately, I wound asking my PT, if for no other reason than a placebo, could I wear a brace. Once I started wearing it, I could walk. I don’t think it was entirely placebo. I think the compression helped. And I still don’t know how to articulate it but I felt there was a weakness, near where I had the spasms, that the brace helped support ‘.

I hope this is helpful to anyone else who might be struggling with something similiar.

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1 reply
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Mar 30 7:28am
In reply to @clmickley "I wanted to thank everyone for their words of encouragement and support. I’m happy to report..." + (show)
@clmickley

I wanted to thank everyone for their words of encouragement and support.

I’m happy to report that I am walking without the cane and functioning at my pre surgery levels.

Im not going to lie, mentally it got worse before it got better. I had to see my primary care doctor about starting anxiety meds. That helped a lot with the constant dread about my progress with PT.

As for actually walking, ultimately, I wound asking my PT, if for no other reason than a placebo, could I wear a brace. Once I started wearing it, I could walk. I don’t think it was entirely placebo. I think the compression helped. And I still don’t know how to articulate it but I felt there was a weakness, near where I had the spasms, that the brace helped support ‘.

I hope this is helpful to anyone else who might be struggling with something similiar.

Jump to this post

I'm very happy for you. Our mind can sometimes be our biggest obstacle.

I also think having to wait one week to start PT set you back. I've been fortunate and had both knees replaced in 2022. I'm 69 y/o now and feel great. I started PT the day of the surgery with the "hallway walk" and kept it up every day after. It doesn't take long for scar tissue to begin to form and it will form without movement.

It's amazing that you achieved such a great ROM in 8 weeks! I hope you have nothing but good days ahead of you.

All the best! Joe

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