Knee weakness: My knees are unwilling to work after sitting?

Hmm, I think I am going to resort to one of my favorite suggestions. There should be some exercises you can do without increasing pain. The best place to go for help is a physical therapist who specializes in working with individual rehab. Not just "formula " PT. With one arthritic knee, one prosthetic knee and age related aches and pains, you need your gait, posture and shoes evaluated. Then a full assessment, followed by exercises tailored to you. That may include walking on a cushioned track or treadmill, water walking and exercises, bicycling, regular, 3 wheeled or stationary. Plus stretching and light weights. Also potentially different shoes or orthotic inserts, injections in the bad knee, massage...
Being of Medicare age, PT to keep you safe can be covered when ordered.
I spent a good part of 2020 seeing a pain management PT, getting my life back. Now I do maintenance stretching daily. And on days when I can't walk on land, I water walk. I also have a group of friends who swear by chair yoga to get them moving each morning.
Sue

Hello, Sue | @sueinmn |

Thanks so much for responding to my post! I was especially struck by the expression you used: "formula" PT. I add been going to a local PT clinic toward the end of 2021. The chief reason I had been going was what I'm told is "borderline" cervical myelopathy. Why I had gone to see a neurosurgeon was my wobbly gait. He examined me thoroughly but didn't think surgery was called for; instead, he advised PT. I'd been doing the PT until I reached the end of my Medicare referral. I was about to apply for another extension, by the neurosurgeon suggested I wait until I see him next (in mid-March). Your message, though, has me wondering if the therapist I've been seeing is the right kind for me. It's been frustrating, with flat feet (I do wear orthotics), problem knees, and a touch of arthritis in my hip, finding a single clinician who's able to advise based on the totality of my symptoms. I suspect the most well-meaning look only that the body-part related to their specialty. I've longed to find some sort of "holistic" clinician, but one who's accepted by my insurance. For example, it's time for me to get a new pair of orthotics, but my pediatrist––skilled as she is––may be at a loss in fitting me for new orthotics to take into account my knees and hip. I'm looking for someone who's able to consider the whole me and prescribed accordingly. From what you say, it sounds like you had a similar experience.

Ray (@ray666)

My personal "magic bullet" was a pain management specialist to whom I was referred by my primary - one whose philosophy is managing through motion, as much as you can handle, only then supplemented by medication.

I cannot take NSAIDS or gabapentin, and opioids are an absolute last resort. Through trial and error, we found a combination of duloxetine & topical NSAID (2.5% peroxicam gel) added to stretching and motion (walk, bike, water exercise, stretching) plus MFR (myofascial release) by the PT to keep me going. I call my PT a magician as well, because he can walk down the hall behind me, and identify my bad spots of the day to work on. I generally see him once or twice a month for maintenance, more often if I have a flare. My policy covers 50 visits a year, and I generally use them up.

Depending on where you live, some "healthy feet" type shoe stores have the best pedorthists around. I get my current orthotics "off the shelf" at one in MN, better than the ones my podiatrist made. But I don't need a lift on mine to even the legs any more.

Sue