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Miserable from TKR: What can I do to get better?
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Nov 26, 2022 | Replies (88)Comment receiving replies
Someone recommended a pool, but a pool is NOT going to help you flex your leg after a total knee replacement. Someone (the physical therapist) has to push your leg straight down, then manually bend your knee in order to get flexion in your knee. Taking some Tylenol before your PT session helps, but you really just have to clench your teeth and push thru it. By about week (4), you should be well on your way to having not such excruciating pain. I'm surprised you've had in home PT for such a long time. The Visiting Nurse Assoc. physical therapist, who worked on flexing my knee, came EVERY DAY (including Saturday & Sunday), but I'm told this is unusual. She discharged me when I could get in and out of a car. There's light at the end of the tunnel! Just be patient. When a PT is not working on your knee, do the exercises yourself, every day and several times a day if you can stand it.
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@labbadia1 I don’t want to come across as ornery, but while pool exercises may not do much for the flex or straightening of the knee, it does help with everything else. And no, my PT guy may have GENTLY pushed on my knee, or bent it, but never with any kind of force, causing pain. The heel slides, towel-roll push-downs etc. will get results all by themselves. A stationary bike helps with the knee bend as well. I ended up with about 135 degrees of flex after 12 weeks, and - finally - with zero extension after about. 5 months. I’m sure JK will echo the caution regarding overly enthusiastic therapists who force the issue.
My knee replacement came 11 months after a knee repair surgery, torn meniscus, loose cartilage floating under and around the knee cap, with disappointing results. Not sure if that had anything to do with my slow progress of getting the leg perfectly straight. The last 3 degrees took forever!