Guest guest Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 How stiff was your knee the first week after surgery? Mine is very and the pain when doing at home exercises in in the top area of where it is (was ) stapled. Feels like I am ripping a seem out under the skin. How much walking did you do on your first week out? Guess I am trying to find out if I am up to par or below the average.And I can not stand to sit for any length of time in a chair with my leg up. Down for a spell isn't too bad though it makes me swell. I sit in a day bed with my leg out straight some times elevated, but most of the time straight. pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 At 06:05 PM 6/24/2007, Pam wrote: > I sit in a day bed with my leg out straight some times >elevated, but most of the time straight. >pam I'm probably missing something, but doesn't elevating your leg violate the 90 degree rule? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2007 Report Share Posted June 24, 2007 Hi Pam; My leg was very stiff in the same area and still at times feels like I am going to rip something if I push and try to get it to flex back further than it wants to go. My PT told me to walk for purpose. Because of the possiblity of blood clots I walked around the house about every couple of hours. At least one or two laps. (Kitchen, living room and family room are all downstairs). As time went by and as the therapist gave me more exercises I would walk more, since the therapist was coming to my home for 2 weeks I really didn't go out except to church on Sunday. I didn't sit or stand much either at first. I left the sofa bed out so I could lay my leg out and had ice on it every four hours. It's good to have your leg our straight, also good to elevate it for swelling. Sounds to me like you are on par! Lynn Joint Replacement , " pam " <againmine41@...> wrote: > > How stiff was your knee the first week after surgery? Mine is very and > the pain when doing at home exercises in in the top area of where it > is (was ) stapled. Feels like I am ripping a seem out under the skin. > How much walking did you do on your first week out? > Guess I am trying to find out if I am up to par or below the > average.And I can not stand to sit for any length of time in a chair > with my leg up. Down for a spell isn't too bad though it makes me > swell. I sit in a day bed with my leg out straight some times > elevated, but most of the time straight. > pam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 I am having the same issues and I am five weeks out today! Any comments on this one from some of you who are further along? thanks Judy stiffness, walking,etc How stiff was your knee the first week after surgery? Mine is very andthe pain when doing at home exercises in in the top area of where itis (was ) stapled. Feels like I am ripping a seem out under the skin.How much walking did you do on your first week out?Guess I am trying to find out if I am up to par or below theaverage.And I can not stand to sit for any length of time in a chairwith my leg up. Down for a spell isn't too bad though it makes meswell. I sit in a day bed with my leg out straight some timeselevated, but most of the time straight.pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 I read Pam's message last night and now yours this morning. Around the end of last week, someone posted that they hurt and cry every morning....Suddenly, the light is coming on. I THINK that the pain is from the stiffness that follows inactivity. NOW........if that is the case......how to manage this pain.....After waking up this a.m., I tried to do some passive exercises while in bed. I don't know if it helped or not. Finally, I bit the bullet and started walking. I just sat down at the computer to look for encouraging messages, but will get up and make some circuts of the house again, the return to computer and repeat this process, until either my leg feels better or worse! Anyone else have any ideas? Thanks Nan > I am having the same issues and I am five weeks out today! > Any comments on this one from some of you who are further along? > > thanks > > Judy > > > How stiff was your knee the first week after surgery? > Mine is very and > the pain when doing at home exercises in in the top area > of where it > is (was ) stapled. Feels like I am ripping a seem out > under the skin. > How much walking did you do on your first week out? > Guess I am trying to find out if I am up to par or below the > average.And I can not stand to sit for any length of time > in a chair > with my leg up. Down for a spell isn't too bad though it > makes me > swell. I sit in a day bed with my leg out straight some times > elevated, but most of the time straight. > pam > > > > Talley - talleyllama@...Bright Stars Llamas / FiberAntics Fiber & Fiber ArtAward Winning Llamas / Fiber / and Fiber Art / ClassesWhiteland, INCheck out www.hhfiberfest.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 I didn't get my staples out until the two-week point so it's a little hard to compare because I was still being careful and having "staple pain" at your point. I used a walker the first two weeks plus one day. I was stiff and walked slowly with the walker but go a little better each day. Then I switched to a cane at 15 days and only use that for less than a week because once I was going to PT, it wasn't necessary and made me walk with the wrong gait. I just spent most my time those first two weeks reclining on the couch. I would only sit to eat meals. -----Original Message-----From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ]On Behalf Of pamSent: Sunday, June 24, 2007 5:05 PMJoint Replacement Subject: stiffness, walking,etc How stiff was your knee the first week after surgery? Mine is very andthe pain when doing at home exercises in in the top area of where itis (was ) stapled. Feels like I am ripping a seem out under the skin.How much walking did you do on your first week out?Guess I am trying to find out if I am up to par or below theaverage.And I can not stand to sit for any length of time in a chairwith my leg up. Down for a spell isn't too bad though it makes meswell. I sit in a day bed with my leg out straight some timeselevated, but most of the time straight.pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 Elevating your leg is recommended for hip and knee surgeries because it helps alleviate swelling -- anytime one has surgery in the extremities, swelling is going to be an issue because circulation is compromised.The 90 degree rule is for hip replacements using the posterior approach (no such restriction for the anterior approach). Elevating one's leg on a pillow does not put it at more than a 90 degree angle. That restriction is violated when one bends below the waist -- i.e. a 90 degree angle is a "corner" of a square -- if you bend below your waist the angle becomes smaller than 90 degrees and there is a risk of dislocation. It would be impossible to elevate one's leg while reclining to that extent -- especially after hip surgery.On Jun 24, 2007, at 3:47 PM, Terry wrote:At 06:05 PM 6/24/2007, Pam wrote:> I sit in a day bed with my leg out straight some times>elevated, but most of the time straight.>pamI'm probably missing something, but doesn't elevating your leg violate the 90 degree rule? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 Hi Terry, Let me clarify. When you elavate your leg you must have something under your knee so that it is extended but elavated. Or at least that is what I was told to do. I used to put a pillow under just my knee to sleep but was told that is a no no. Have a Great Day! Lynn > > > I sit in a day bed with my leg out straight some times > >elevated, but most of the time straight. > >pam > > I'm probably missing something, but doesn't elevating your leg violate the > 90 degree rule? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 Keep trying to bend it as much as you can.....when you sit at the computer, try to bend it back as far as you can and leave it there for a while....the more you bend, the bettter it will feel! (TKR 8/06)See what's free at AOL.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2007 Report Share Posted June 25, 2007 I still have stiffness at 6 and 7 months out. I had one knee done in November, one in December. I am 61, was more overweight then (have disposed of over 30 pound). I was also coming out of a wheel chair and a cane around the house. Sure I am better, but I will always have pain associated with a failed back surgery and think my knees will always linger. Though they are much better than before, at least I can now walk and have become a viable partner again. During my initial problems my great husband did so much. Sherry Megabucks Ranch www.MegabucksRanch.com ~ a dog that lives outside has an address ~ a dog that lives inside has a home On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 05:50:04 -0600, you wrote: >I am having the same issues and I am five weeks out today! Any comments on this one from some of you who are further along? > >thanks > >Judy > stiffness, walking,etc > > > How stiff was your knee the first week after surgery? Mine is very and > the pain when doing at home exercises in in the top area of where it > is (was ) stapled. Feels like I am ripping a seem out under the skin. > How much walking did you do on your first week out? > Guess I am trying to find out if I am up to par or below the > average.And I can not stand to sit for any length of time in a chair > with my leg up. Down for a spell isn't too bad though it makes me > swell. I sit in a day bed with my leg out straight some times > elevated, but most of the time straight. > pam > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2007 Report Share Posted June 27, 2007 Pam ( & ), My first week after surgery, I was so stiff that I, too, cried and basically stumped around with the walker trying to keep my leg as straight as possible. My home PT was not happy with me for that. Everyone here told me that things would loosen up better after the 2nd week, and they were right. The PT is crucial to getting that joint to loosen up. I'm ten weeks out and still have stiffness and some pain. If I sit too long with the computer, sewing, etc., I must rise slowly and then the knee will loosen up. Now that I can sleep on my side and tummy, I still have some discomfort if the knee and the leg aren't in line (flat). My ortho doc told me this is because the muscles haven't returned to their former strength around the knee " capsule " . I only have 7 PT visits left, and so I know I'll have to keep on with the exercises on my own. Robin in NWFlorida --- " pam " wrote: > > How stiff was your knee the first week after surgery? Mine is very and > the pain when doing at home exercises in in the top area of where it > is (was ) stapled. Feels like I am ripping a seem out under the skin. > How much walking did you do on your first week out? > Guess I am trying to find out if I am up to par or below the > average.And I can not stand to sit for any length of time in a chair > with my leg up. Down for a spell isn't too bad though it makes me > swell. I sit in a day bed with my leg out straight some times > elevated, but most of the time straight. > pam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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