Week 3 post TKR
Good morning! I am looking for folks to share their experience of the third week post-TKR. The first two weeks were very hard but I feel like I've turned a corner in week 3. Flexion is 113 and extension is 0. Still using pain meds on a regular schedule. PT is getting less excruciating, sleeping positions easier, etc. I'm now pretty much on the cane only, using the walker only to get me out of the shower. Does this sound right to others? Are you about in the same place? Mostly I'm interested in if you are still using the meds. I still need them!
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128 degrees of flexion at week 2 is outstanding! Good for you. If Tylenol isn't working and NSAIDs are out and you can't tolerate Celebrex, the oxygen will work but is overkill. You can ice more but that's just hard to do, don't know why. Just be careful with oxy, please. Congrats on a great recovery!
Joe
I am 3-1/2 weeks post op. Pain is definitely decreasing, am mostly just taking acetaminophen occasionally a Tramadol. My intestines don’t like the narcotics. Walking relatively slowly without a cane. Still sleeping on a wedge to elevate my legs and wearing compression hose during the day and frequently icing to try and control swelling. ROM 0-123 during PT after stretching and mobilization but more like 115-118 on my own at home. Can pedal an exercise bike, backwards first then forward with no resistance. But, after I sit in one position for >20 minutes feel so stiff and have to March in place so I don’t peg leg walk. Counting the days until I can get in the water and take advantage of the gravity free environment and let the water work it’s magic.
I think so much influences rate of progress: physical conditioning and any movement contractions prior to surgery, whether your patella needed to be resurfaced, correction of a varus or valgus deformity. and pain tolerance in general. Listen to your body, your PT and surgeon and hope your rehab goes well.