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Uncemented knee replacement recovery

Posted by jped @jped, Apr 19 5:54am

70 y.o. male, I’m now 9 weeks post TKR R knee with Smith & Nephew Legion Conceloc PCL retaining cementless prosthesis. First 4 weeks went more or less as usual, but improvement has been very slow since then; I still get pain and stiffness when I try to push exercising beyond 30 minutes or do new weight bearing exercise like using elliptical (with no resistance - prior to surgery could do 40 minutes “hills” level 5). I could walk a little over a mile at 4 weeks with mild pain but walking is still at about the same level - I start limping after a mile or so, can’t seem to increase the distance. Am I just impatient or is this in the normal spectrum for cementless TKRs? ROM 2-118 degrees for the last 3 weeks (120 if I really push it with lots of pain).

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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Apr 20 7:40am

I would be a little more patient with recovery. Exercise is absolutely crucial and if you are getting a ROM near 120 that's very good. I would hold off on strenuous stuff like elliptical or spinning for a year. In the meantime, keep doing all of the exercises the Dr and PT recommend. For motion, I just pedaled on a recumbent bike at the gym for 30 mins/day for most of the first year.

It's been two years, and now I'm doing 5 spin classes a week and hitting it pretty hard. So 9 weeks is still pretty early. But getting to 120 ROM in 9 weeks is commendable.

As for cement, surgeons won't use cement if your bone is healthy. The existing bone will actually grow into the ends of the prostheses over time, far better than glue. So it's a good thing cement wasn't needed!

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jped | @jped | Apr 29 1:38pm
In reply to @heyjoe415 "I would be a little more patient with recovery. Exercise is absolutely crucial and if you..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

I would be a little more patient with recovery. Exercise is absolutely crucial and if you are getting a ROM near 120 that's very good. I would hold off on strenuous stuff like elliptical or spinning for a year. In the meantime, keep doing all of the exercises the Dr and PT recommend. For motion, I just pedaled on a recumbent bike at the gym for 30 mins/day for most of the first year.

It's been two years, and now I'm doing 5 spin classes a week and hitting it pretty hard. So 9 weeks is still pretty early. But getting to 120 ROM in 9 weeks is commendable.

As for cement, surgeons won't use cement if your bone is healthy. The existing bone will actually grow into the ends of the prostheses over time, far better than glue. So it's a good thing cement wasn't needed!

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Thanks, @heyjoe415!

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