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← Return to total knee replacement
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What a difference 2 weeks can make! Pain much less now. Perhaps too much pre-holiday cooking, cleaning, shopping, baking and decorating. Had even started to creep into my hip on the same side. Calmed down now.
Questions: does the crunchy feeling and sound in the knee ever lessen? I know it’s here to stay, but hoping that when some joint fluid regenerates it might become better? With a BMI of 21 there’s no padding on the outside, and obviously nothing lubricating on the inside yet.
Also: how intense and how long do average TKR patients (no complications with scar tissue etc.) keep up their exercise routine? I have exercise fatigue. After arthro surgery October 2017 I kept up exercising for almost 8 months with no improvement. After 2018 September TKR PT told me at discharge that as long as I keep the major muscles strong (squats, lunges, bridges, step-ups, and do heel slides and quad sets), he leaves it up to me what I want to work on. Current routine is 15 minutes of back and knee exercises, followed by either a very brisk 30 minute walk, or, alternately, another 10 to 15 minutes of knee exercises in a pool, ending with a quarter mile swim. Most days another mini exercise session mid afternoon. Some days adding 15 minutes on recumbent bike or treadmill. Weather permitting, 1 1/2 hours of fairly strenous yard work 3 days/week in addition.
Compared to many posts on this and related sites I seem to be on the very low end. However, I definitely have at least 130 degree flexion and generally function pretty well. I did notice that the work is not done when I lugged a 2 gallon pump sprayer upslope over uneven ground to spray weeds, but that’s not something I’d do every day anyway.
Replies to "What a difference 2 weeks can make! Pain much less now. Perhaps too much pre-holiday cooking,..."
@ellerbracke - My ortho surgeon told me in advance that many people have that crunchy noise and that it diminishes but may not go away completely. Thankfully, I didn't have it. But I think you could expect some diminishment. As to exercise, after 12 weeks, I was back to my normal routine of exercise. It think you can back off. You are doing great. Also, congratulations on your 130 degree flexion. You are a rockstar! Is the pain still in you hip some? Every now in then when I overtire myself, I have some hip discomfort. I personally believe it's because I shift my body to ease the pressure on my knee and therefore stress the hip. Good luck!
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@ellerbracke Wonderful that the pain is getting to be less. I never had a crunchy feeling or sound so I can't answer that.
I would think with 130 flex you could back off a bit now as long as you are still exercising your knee doing something. You sound like you are really are exercising a lot. I thought I was doing well with about an hour and a half a day generally. Your doctor is obviously pleased with your progress if he said at this point to do what you want, I would accept that.
JK