Connect
← Return to I'm six weeks out from tkr, I'm only at 90 to 95
Discussion
I'm six weeks out from tkr, I'm only at 90 to 95
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Nov 3, 2018 | Replies (6)Comment receiving replies
@cgbi Sleep would have been a problem for me without medication. That was really the only time I did take any medications.
My doctor has a great track record, but his philosophy is quite different than typical. He does not believe in icing for the first six weeks. It does bring the swelling down a bit, but it also prevents the healing blood from getting to the site, delaying healing. He is also opposed to rigorous PT.
After my second TKR, I had more pain than after the first one but it suddenly lifted, almost overnight, and then I was able to walk all over the place! My TKR was on October 25, 2017. I was walking all over NYC on December 8th. I was really upset a week or so before that because we were going to NYC for my daughter's wedding reception and I thought I wouldn't be able to be on my feet much but I was amazingly fine.
My flex is still not what I would like. I saw my ortho last week and he said he can do a small outpatient procedure that will give me better flex so I think I will do that after the first of the year.
So, stay positive, and hopefully your recovery will be as good as mine was.
JK
Replies to "@cgbi Sleep would have been a problem for me without medication. That was really the only..."
I am surprised by this approach of not icing, and not really pushing PT initially. Perhaps a worthwhile option. Hosever, part of the reason to apply ice frequently, at least in the first 3 weeks or so, was to minimize pain. I wonder how one would compensate for that .... more pain meds?
Connect
To cbgi: I agree with 2 previous posts that even 1 week at your stage can make a huge difference. I’m 7 weeks out, and super lucky. Low pain levels, still wake up once or twice a night with twinges, but ok. Perhaps 2 Aleve/week if it gets rough. I would concentrate first on getting some sleep - that to me was more debilitating than anything else. Flex may take a while, depends on many variables. I was made to do pre-tkr exercises 3 weeks prior to surgery, and I believe that the muscle tone-up helped with quicker improvement afterwards. And for me it was more productive to do fewer heel slides, but hold them for at least 5 seconds in the bent position. Other than that, I hope that your recovery speeds up from here on out!