Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 No, they don't have to. In the mis, or quad sparing surgery no tendons are cut at all. Jeff ________________________________ From: karla wilson <sassiepa2222@...> Joint Replacement Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 12:11:04 PM Subject: I found out.... Do tendons always get cut in tkr? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Hi Dash: I am exactly 10 wks. today, still in pain but not worse than a 3 unless I do something stupid. Knee is very stiff in AM, or after I have been sitting for an hour. I try to walk 10-15 min. per hour, just circling the living room etc. I am on 2 Tramadol every 6 hours, with 800 mg. Motrin along with that. Seems to help. I massage the damn thing every chance I get (hard to eat a grapefruit and massage at the same time) and that feels good too. I feel that the incision scar gets tight, so I goober it up regularly with shea butter cream or whatever moisturizing lotion falls to hand. Keep working it. I am told by another lady in my p/t (who is a month earlier than us) that it WILL get better. She claims, " almost normal " and way better than before the op. ////Adrienne =============================================================== dash wrote: > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought > the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, > not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut > though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ > weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it > more mobile. Anyone? dash > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Hi Dash I am 3 1/2 months out of TKR - I am still stiff and swollen. I have good ROM - @ 122. My doctor told me stiffness and swelling generally lasts 6 months to 1 year...... Dorie Madsen I found out.... that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Dash, I understand what you are saying about not being for sissies, but consider that the pain from having knees bad enough to require the surgery isn't either, and the pain from the surgery will eventually go away while avoiding the surgery will lead to worsening pain. The other thing I can tell you is that compared to many other surgeries knee replacement is one of the easiest to recover from. As far as stiffness I had some as long as 10 weeks out but with continued exercise it will get better. Good luck, Jeff ________________________________ From: dash <dash4@...> Joint Replacement Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 12:07:47 PM Subject: I found out.... that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Hi, you must have had surgery then about the same time I did......October 14th? Or can't I count? I have been massaging that scar all the time, but still it feels stiff and sometimes I have trouble walking because it feels so stiff. The therapist says it is the nature of the beast. I have about 100+ range, not certain anymore of what it is, but at least 100. Not the best but my doc is ecstatic that it got that good. I don't take anything more than two aspirins now twice daily to keep blood thin and inflammation down. I am also trying to do the walking about the house.... and going to therapy twice a week, but now doing it all on my own. Thanks.......for the input. I feel better knowing that I am not the only one with that awful feeling of stiffness. dash Re: I found out.... Hi Dash: I am exactly 10 wks. today, still in pain but not worse than a 3 unless I do something stupid. Knee is very stiff in AM, or after I have been sitting for an hour. I try to walk 10-15 min. per hour, just circling the living room etc. I am on 2 Tramadol every 6 hours, with 800 mg. Motrin along with that. Seems to help. I massage the damn thing every chance I get (hard to eat a grapefruit and massage at the same time) and that feels good too. I feel that the incision scar gets tight, so I goober it up regularly with shea butter cream or whatever moisturizing lotion falls to hand. Keep working it. I am told by another lady in my p/t (who is a month earlier than us) that it WILL get better. She claims, " almost normal " and way better than before the op. ////Adrienne =============================================================== dash wrote: > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought > the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, > not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut > though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ > weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it > more mobile. Anyone? dash > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Hi, Thanks for the info. I kinda freak sometimes not knowing what to expect. NO one told me that the knee would be stiff AFTER surgery. I thought it would work great... unrealistic expectations, but I knew no better. My friend had two of them and she dances around like it was nothing two weeks after surgery and I thought that would be me too......ha ha.... You have great ROM...... and 6 months to a year....hmmm ok well I won't freak anymore anyway. Thanks.....dash I found out.... that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Hi Dash, I still have stiffness, and pain too. I had my first knee done on March 19 and the second on September 1, both of 2009. I can do tons of things ‹ including normal activities, stationary bikes, elliptical, walking at a decent pace, and using weight machines. But I still have trouble with going down stairs and getting up and down from low chairs and am not pressing as much weight on the leg press as before surgery .. I¹m working on strengthening my quads and more general stretching to help with this. But friends/family who have had this done say it just takes a long time. My sister, my heroine in this area and others, had both knees done 4 years ago. She says it was a year to 18 months before everything was back to normal. I¹m giving my first knee a break because it did such a fabulous job of rehabbing while the other was unable to carry the load until it too was replaced. As long as I¹m making progress I feel fine about things. I get frustrated because my progress was so fast at first and now it¹s slower. I think that¹s fine though ‹ forward trajectory is all I¹m really concerned about. I¹ve left off going to acupuncture due to holiday interruption but plan to get back to that as it was very helpful with both stiffness and pain. What do you do to get your knee more mobile when it stiffens up? Best, Jackie On 1/6/10 9:07 AM, " dash " <dash4@...> wrote: > > > > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the > whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the > time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think > that is where a lot of my problem is. > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks > out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. > Anyone? dash > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 No. My leg was so bad that the doctor could not get the knee cap to where it had to be, without cutting the tendon. However, the bad expectations he had of my knee didn't happen. It turned out much better than he expected. I was in pretty horrible shape, could not stand straight and could barely walk with the knee caving in towards the inside before surgery. He also told me that it would hurt me for 6 months. Well it does some, but not all the time, he also told me that it would bulge and be red and hot, but he was amazed that it healed nice and flat and clean......so all in all even with the tendon cut, I have been lucky. I also have much more feeling in my knee than he expected. The short answer is NO not with all knees. dash I found out.... Do tendons always get cut in tkr? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Hi, well I move it back and forth and I also stretch it and I try and walk, but it really likes to be stiff. I also rub the heck out of it... I don't know what else to do. Sometimes I still ice it.... Doc says I don' t need my other knee done for a few years now. I don't know.........maybe getting them both done at close intervals would be best..... do tons of therapy and get it done. I am 67 and this is hard. I have 15 steps to do several times daily, up and down, and am working on doing them " normally " . However not much is normal yet. I guess my biggest problem is with the expectations I had and my husband had. We thought from what everyone told us, it was going to be a breeze. NOT!!!!!!!! Thanks for you answer and others too that answered. Makes me feel pretty " normal " even though we are all different. At least I have an idea now that it really does take time and I am right in the middle of that and am " normal " . Thanks everyone......dash Re: I found out.... Hi Dash, I still have stiffness, and pain too. I had my first knee done on March 19 and the second on September 1, both of 2009. I can do tons of things < including normal activities, stationary bikes, elliptical, walking at a decent pace, and using weight machines. But I still have trouble with going down stairs and getting up and down from low chairs and am not pressing as much weight on the leg press as before surgery .. I¹m working on strengthening my quads and more general stretching to help with this. But friends/family who have had this done say it just takes a long time. My sister, my heroine in this area and others, had both knees done 4 years ago. She says it was a year to 18 months before everything was back to normal. I¹m giving my first knee a break because it did such a fabulous job of rehabbing while the other was unable to carry the load until it too was replaced. As long as I¹m making progress I feel fine about things. I get frustrated because my progress was so fast at first and now it¹s slower. I think that¹s fine though < forward trajectory is all I¹m really concerned about. I¹ve left off going to acupuncture due to holiday interruption but plan to get back to that as it was very helpful with both stiffness and pain. What do you do to get your knee more mobile when it stiffens up? Best, Jackie On 1/6/10 9:07 AM, " dash " <dash4@...> wrote: > > > > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the > whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the > time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think > that is where a lot of my problem is. > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks > out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. > Anyone? dash > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Thanks Jeff. Yes, I have heard that there are other much more painful surgeries. This was my basically first surgery. I did have a foot I walked on for 6 long years, that I broke in a car accident fixed in 1999. I had to have bone grafting and staples put in that foot. I just don't remember much pain at all with it, and that is the ONLY surgery I have ever had. So this was a great surprise because no one warned me of the pain. I as I said, am a wuss, I have decided. I don't handle pain as well as I thought. I did break my sternum in two when I hit the steering wheel in the car accident, and also damaged my shoulder, plus the broken foot that they didn't find. The recovery from all that was long and hard, but nothing so traumatic as this knee thing. BUT then I had all kinds of troubles after surgery in the hospital, really unrelated to the surgery, just bad care, until I was moved to the second hospital where it was like heaven compared. I will never consider surgery as being something easy to recover from after what I all went though........ but you are right, before surgery it was also awful. I was pretty much immobile and it was also awful, so all in all when this is done, I will be very glad.... good to hear from everyone..... here and thank everyone. dash I found out.... that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Hi Dash, We tend to forget pain after a while so hopefully you will with this also as time goes by. Just keep working hard and this will all seem like a distant memory soon I'm sure. It's always going to be worse if you had all those complications before hand and it's too bad that no one prepared you for the aftermath. Take care, Jeff ________________________________ From: dash <dash4@...> Joint Replacement Sent: Wed, January 6, 2010 12:48:51 PM Subject: Re: I found out.... Thanks Jeff. Yes, I have heard that there are other much more painful surgeries. This was my basically first surgery. I did have a foot I walked on for 6 long years, that I broke in a car accident fixed in 1999. I had to have bone grafting and staples put in that foot. I just don't remember much pain at all with it, and that is the ONLY surgery I have ever had. So this was a great surprise because no one warned me of the pain. I as I said, am a wuss, I have decided. I don't handle pain as well as I thought. I did break my sternum in two when I hit the steering wheel in the car accident, and also damaged my shoulder, plus the broken foot that they didn't find. The recovery from all that was long and hard, but nothing so traumatic as this knee thing. BUT then I had all kinds of troubles after surgery in the hospital, really unrelated to the surgery, just bad care, until I was moved to the second hospital where it was like heaven compared. I will never consider surgery as being something easy to recover from after what I all went though........ but you are right, before surgery it was also awful. I was pretty much immobile and it was also awful, so all in all when this is done, I will be very glad.... good to hear from everyone..... here and thank everyone. dash I found out.... that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 dash, I am in my eighth week out of surgery on my left leg. I finished PT last week. I don't have a lot of stiffness but I did a LOT of ice and elevating. I have a bed that elevates my feet and am lucky about that. But if I didn't have, I would pile the pillows up above as far as I could and lay for 20-30 min., because I think that is what helped me. I do sometimes have a bit of stiffness when I am on my feet a lot and as soon as that happens, I go to ice and elevate. My PT said that is all drainage that needs to get sent back toward the heart and keeping my feet up would help that happen. I would always do it at night and sometimes I would even do it once during the day. My experience. Donna R Re: I found out.... Hi, Thanks for the info. I kinda freak sometimes not knowing what to expect. NO one told me that the knee would be stiff AFTER surgery. I thought it would work great... unrealistic expectations, but I knew no better. My friend had two of them and she dances around like it was nothing two weeks after surgery and I thought that would be me too......ha ha.... You have great ROM...... and 6 months to a year....hmmm ok well I won't freak anymore anyway. Thanks.....dash I found out.... that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 PS. Dash, I didn't have a tendon cut I don't think! Donna R I found out.... that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Dash, I am with you. TKR was the most challenging thing I've ever faced. If you are a wuss, so am I.And I remember asking, more than once, the same question you are asking now. My knees continued to swell and get stiff months beyond my surgery, first regularly then sporadically. My brother's have not. Even during the three years since surgery, I've had a couple mystery days when the knees just ballooned up and didn't want to work. At about 12 weeks, I had what I call the " aha moment. " I strode into the office instead of just walking. My work mates noticed the change right away. And I knew I had passed a milestone. I think everyone has their aha moment. At ten weeks, yours may be just around the corner. As we say over and over, everyone's experience is unique. But no one ever said they didn't recover. Even though some may have medical problems that makes even the definition of recovery unique to each person. My knee replacements carried my hips for a few years, but my knees are again sore -- complaining along with painful tendons -- about carrying the load of the hips. I'm looking forward to getting my tires balanced, as I think of it. So most parts of my body are doing what they should. Warm regards, Donna > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 I too seem to have quite a bit of stiffness. (4 weeks post -op). I have mentioned this once before that my ROM went from 92 to 99 then back to 92, weeks 1, 2, 3 respectively. I read others having such stellar numbers and am a little concerned that I will never get that far. The doctor said to me pre-op that whatever your ROM is prior to surgery it won't be more than that after the surgery. I don't quite understand why that is. Do you all agree with that comment? Re: I found out.... Hi Dash: I am exactly 10 wks. today, still in pain but not worse than a 3 unless I do something stupid. Knee is very stiff in AM, or after I have been sitting for an hour. I try to walk 10-15 min. per hour, just circling the living room etc. I am on 2 Tramadol every 6 hours, with 800 mg. Motrin along with that. Seems to help. I massage the damn thing every chance I get (hard to eat a grapefruit and massage at the same time) and that feels good too. I feel that the incision scar gets tight, so I goober it up regularly with shea butter cream or whatever moisturizing lotion falls to hand. Keep working it. I am told by another lady in my p/t (who is a month earlier than us) that it WILL get better. She claims, " almost normal " and way better than before the op. ////Adrienne =============================================================== dash wrote: > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought > the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, > not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut > though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ > weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it > more mobile. Anyone? dash > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 , THis can't be right or why would the PT keep measuring. They could just measure before you have surgery and you would be done. I think my range is better than it was before surgery. At least I think so. Donna R Re: I found out.... I too seem to have quite a bit of stiffness. (4 weeks post -op). I have mentioned this once before that my ROM went from 92 to 99 then back to 92, weeks 1, 2, 3 respectively. I read others having such stellar numbers and am a little concerned that I will never get that far. The doctor said to me pre-op that whatever your ROM is prior to surgery it won't be more than that after the surgery. I don't quite understand why that is. Do you all agree with that comment? Re: I found out.... Hi Dash: I am exactly 10 wks. today, still in pain but not worse than a 3 unless I do something stupid. Knee is very stiff in AM, or after I have been sitting for an hour. I try to walk 10-15 min. per hour, just circling the living room etc. I am on 2 Tramadol every 6 hours, with 800 mg. Motrin along with that. Seems to help. I massage the damn thing every chance I get (hard to eat a grapefruit and massage at the same time) and that feels good too. I feel that the incision scar gets tight, so I goober it up regularly with shea butter cream or whatever moisturizing lotion falls to hand. Keep working it. I am told by another lady in my p/t (who is a month earlier than us) that it WILL get better. She claims, " almost normal " and way better than before the op. ////Adrienne =============================================================== dash wrote: > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought > the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, > not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut > though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ > weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it > more mobile. Anyone? dash > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Donna, i go to PT today so I will ask them to explain ang get back to you. Re: I found out.... Hi Dash: I am exactly 10 wks. today, still in pain but not worse than a 3 unless I do something stupid. Knee is very stiff in AM, or after I have been sitting for an hour. I try to walk 10-15 min. per hour, just circling the living room etc. I am on 2 Tramadol every 6 hours, with 800 mg. Motrin along with that. Seems to help. I massage the damn thing every chance I get (hard to eat a grapefruit and massage at the same time) and that feels good too. I feel that the incision scar gets tight, so I goober it up regularly with shea butter cream or whatever moisturizing lotion falls to hand. Keep working it. I am told by another lady in my p/t (who is a month earlier than us) that it WILL get better. She claims, " almost normal " and way better than before the op. ////Adrienne =============================================================== dash wrote: > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought > the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, > not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut > though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ > weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it > more mobile. Anyone? dash > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 My PT measured every time I had a session post surgery, which I think is pretty standard. I think that¹s the measurements was talking about. Jackie On 1/6/10 11:30 PM, " Kohn " <katiekohn@...> wrote: > > > > > > Donna, i go to PT today so I will ask them to explain ang get back to you. > > Re: I found out.... > > Hi Dash: > I am exactly 10 wks. today, still in pain but not worse than a 3 unless > I do something stupid. Knee is very stiff in AM, or after I have been > sitting for an hour. I try to walk 10-15 min. per hour, just circling > the living room etc. I am on 2 Tramadol every 6 hours, with 800 mg. > Motrin along with that. Seems to help. I massage the damn thing every > chance I get (hard to eat a grapefruit and massage at the same time) and > that feels good too. I feel that the incision scar gets tight, so I > goober it up regularly with shea butter cream or whatever moisturizing > lotion falls to hand. Keep working it. I am told by another lady in my > p/t (who is a month earlier than us) that it WILL get better. She > claims, " almost normal " and way better than before the op. ////Adrienne > > =============================================================== > > dash wrote: >> > >> > >> > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought >> > the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, >> > not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut >> > though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. >> > >> > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ >> > weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it >> > more mobile. Anyone? dash >> > >> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Hm MY ROM was really bad before surgery. Now it is better. I think that it depends on how your leg is before surgery, what the whole thing looks like. Again, I don't think that can be generalized. dash Re: I found out.... Hi Dash: I am exactly 10 wks. today, still in pain but not worse than a 3 unless I do something stupid. Knee is very stiff in AM, or after I have been sitting for an hour. I try to walk 10-15 min. per hour, just circling the living room etc. I am on 2 Tramadol every 6 hours, with 800 mg. Motrin along with that. Seems to help. I massage the damn thing every chance I get (hard to eat a grapefruit and massage at the same time) and that feels good too. I feel that the incision scar gets tight, so I goober it up regularly with shea butter cream or whatever moisturizing lotion falls to hand. Keep working it. I am told by another lady in my p/t (who is a month earlier than us) that it WILL get better. She claims, " almost normal " and way better than before the op. ////Adrienne =============================================================== dash wrote: > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought > the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, > not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut > though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ > weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it > more mobile. Anyone? dash > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Donna, thank you so much for this e-mail. I have been feeling like quite a " wuss " . Recovery is much slower than I expected, and pain comes and goes rudely and unexpected as well. Some days are better and then it feels ........well almost like it did weeks ago. I have noticed that the weather has made a bit of a difference too, in how it feels. I have also been sick with a nasty sinus infection since before surgery. They thought I was cleared up, but the doctor now thinks I have had this since before my surgery. All complicates things..... I guess. So far so good. Infection stays in my head and I am on antibiotics. Thanks again for your email. dash Re: I found out.... Dash, I am with you. TKR was the most challenging thing I've ever faced. If you are a wuss, so am I.And I remember asking, more than once, the same question you are asking now. My knees continued to swell and get stiff months beyond my surgery, first regularly then sporadically. My brother's have not. Even during the three years since surgery, I've had a couple mystery days when the knees just ballooned up and didn't want to work. At about 12 weeks, I had what I call the " aha moment. " I strode into the office instead of just walking. My work mates noticed the change right away. And I knew I had passed a milestone. I think everyone has their aha moment. At ten weeks, yours may be just around the corner. As we say over and over, everyone's experience is unique. But no one ever said they didn't recover. Even though some may have medical problems that makes even the definition of recovery unique to each person. My knee replacements carried my hips for a few years, but my knees are again sore -- complaining along with painful tendons -- about carrying the load of the hips. I'm looking forward to getting my tires balanced, as I think of it. So most parts of my body are doing what they should. Warm regards, Donna > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Dash, you are so welcome. Yes, the weather makes a difference. Sometimes I think it is the changes in the barometer and not necessarily the temps. But that is not a scientific observation but a gut feeling. I'm in SW Pennsylvania, where it has snowed every day for a week. I'm inn- and dog-sitting for a friend's B & B and have been down with a cold and roasting in front of the fireplaces night and day. (I'm starting to think I have a sinus infection too...what a pain that must be during recovery). I am feeling less pain, think I have adjusted to the snow and cold. But a storm is predicted today. It will be interesting to see if the change affects me. Keep up with the antibiotics. Infection is risky during recovery. I had to take antibioticss before every dental appointment for two years after surgery. Repeat after me: " I am NOT a wuss. " :-) When I was plagued with doubts, I came running to the group. Ten weeks post-op is still early, early, early in the game. Now I know that, but then I worried. It is natural to start comparing your progress with someone else's who had a surgery date close to your own. Being back here has unclogged my memory a bit. I remember now somethig one person wrote that really helped me:No matter how much progress differs among patients early on, barring complications, all are at the same place after one year. I held onto that on days I regressed. Warm regards, Donna > > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 , I have never heard that observation. It seems odd...isn't our range of motion impacted by the injury and that's why we have surgery? I can understand that some are, naturally or through training, more flexible than others and that will should help in recovery. Might be a good question for your physical therapist. I don't even remember having my ROM measured before surgery. Do you? Are you having severe pain in any one area? I did behind one knee. That turned out to be scar tissue, which my therapist dealt with. Another man from this group who had surgery the same week I did was recovering beautifully, racing past me (yep, I was comparing -- the no-no). Then his numbers dropped and stayed there. He also had scar tissue, and by the time they identified it, he had to go back to the hospital to break it up. Though they say it is not a big deal. He felt better immediately, returning to his PT program and complete recovery. Wish I had more to offer, but I only have my own experience. I do have to wonder why you regressed and are now stuck. Are you getting regular and consistent therapy? If I had reached a number and regressed, I'd be grilling the doc and PT. Warm regards, Donna > > > > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought > > the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, > > not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut > > though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ > > weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it > > more mobile. Anyone? dash > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 This is odd. I too have a sinus infection. I used my neti pot and it cleaned the system right out and I feel so much relief. Re: I found out.... Dash, you are so welcome. Yes, the weather makes a difference. Sometimes I think it is the changes in the barometer and not necessarily the temps. But that is not a scientific observation but a gut feeling. I'm in SW Pennsylvania, where it has snowed every day for a week. I'm inn- and dog-sitting for a friend's B & B and have been down with a cold and roasting in front of the fireplaces night and day. (I'm starting to think I have a sinus infection too...what a pain that must be during recovery). I am feeling less pain, think I have adjusted to the snow and cold. But a storm is predicted today. It will be interesting to see if the change affects me. Keep up with the antibiotics. Infection is risky during recovery. I had to take antibioticss before every dental appointment for two years after surgery. Repeat after me: " I am NOT a wuss. " :-) When I was plagued with doubts, I came running to the group. Ten weeks post-op is still early, early, early in the game. Now I know that, but then I worried. It is natural to start comparing your progress with someone else's who had a surgery date close to your own. Being back here has unclogged my memory a bit. I remember now somethig one person wrote that really helped me:No matter how much progress differs among patients early on, barring complications, all are at the same place after one year. I held onto that on days I regressed. Warm regards, Donna > > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it more mobile. Anyone? dash > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Hey Donna, I just got back from PT and since last week I have progressed from ROM 92 to 102 today. I was so happy. I asked about why I had regressed last week and he gave a number of reasons from over exertion, to the weather, to swelling. I asked what would be a realistic goal for me in terms of ROM and he said that they are pleased with anything from 105-115. I told him that some people in this forum have had as high as 135 and he said that was not common at all. I did not get measured before my surgery ( or at least I don't know my numbers). I started PT the day after my surgery in the hospital and then began outpatient PT the day after I got home from the hospital (day 4). I never went to rehab although I understand that many people go there before going home. My doctor told me that I would be walking from the gurney to my hospital bed after recovery and that is exactly what I did with someone on each arm. 4 hours later I had to get up and walk across the room because the sheets needed to be changed. I used the walker. It was a bit of a blur, but I do remember doing it. Isn't it astounding how we all have such different experiences. As far as pain in one specific area, I had what I thought was sciatica , but now I think it was due to standing or sitting in one place for too long. I had to keep moving to keep the pain at bay. Be well, Re: I found out.... , I have never heard that observation. It seems odd...isn't our range of motion impacted by the injury and that's why we have surgery? I can understand that some are, naturally or through training, more flexible than others and that will should help in recovery. Might be a good question for your physical therapist. I don't even remember having my ROM measured before surgery. Do you? Are you having severe pain in any one area? I did behind one knee. That turned out to be scar tissue, which my therapist dealt with. Another man from this group who had surgery the same week I did was recovering beautifully, racing past me (yep, I was comparing -- the no-no). Then his numbers dropped and stayed there. He also had scar tissue, and by the time they identified it, he had to go back to the hospital to break it up. Though they say it is not a big deal. He felt better immediately, returning to his PT program and complete recovery. Wish I had more to offer, but I only have my own experience. I do have to wonder why you regressed and are now stuck. Are you getting regular and consistent therapy? If I had reached a number and regressed, I'd be grilling the doc and PT. Warm regards, Donna > > > > > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought > > the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, > > not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut > > though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. > > > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ > > weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it > > more mobile. Anyone? dash > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Congratulations, ! That¹s a big jump. I didn¹t get measured before surgery either and never thought about that. I agree that moving is so important to keep the circulation going, and it always helps when I remember to do that. I¹ve been sitting way too long at my computer this am and I know better! I had a great walk with a friend yesterday. We went 2.75 miles and averaged 3.13 miles per hour. I love the Runkeeper application on my iPhone : ) It helps me to keep going and to keep up a good pace. Walking with a friend who is into it is really helpful for me. I tend to dilly dally, and maybe to decide I¹m done before I need to be because I get bored. I¹m hoping more walking will help get that left leg straightened and strengthened. So good to hear your good news!!!!!! Peace, Jackie, getting up from the computer now! On 1/7/10 1:18 PM, " Kohn " <katiekohn@...> wrote: > > > > > > Hey Donna, I just got back from PT and since last week I have progressed from > ROM 92 to 102 today. I was so happy. I asked about why I had regressed last > week and he gave a number of reasons from over exertion, to the weather, to > swelling. I asked what would be a realistic goal for me in terms of ROM and he > said that they are pleased with anything from 105-115. I told him that some > people in this forum have had as high as 135 and he said that was not common > at all. I did not get measured before my surgery ( or at least I don't know my > numbers). I started PT the day after my surgery in the hospital and then began > outpatient PT the day after I got home from the hospital (day 4). I never went > to rehab although I understand that many people go there before going home. My > doctor told me that I would be walking from the gurney to my hospital bed > after recovery and that is exactly what I did with someone on each arm. 4 > hours later I had to get up and walk across the room because the sheets needed > to be changed. I used the walker. It was a bit of a blur, but I do remember > doing it. Isn't it astounding how we all have such different experiences. > > As far as pain in one specific area, I had what I thought was sciatica , but > now I think it was due to standing or sitting in one place for too long. I had > to keep moving to keep the pain at bay. > Be well, > > Re: I found out.... > > , > > I have never heard that observation. It seems odd...isn't our range of motion > impacted by the injury and that's why we have surgery? I can understand that > some are, naturally or through training, more flexible than others and that > will should help in recovery. Might be a good question for your physical > therapist. I don't even remember having my ROM measured before surgery. Do > you? > > Are you having severe pain in any one area? I did behind one knee. That turned > out to be scar tissue, which my therapist dealt with. Another man from this > group who had surgery the same week I did was recovering beautifully, racing > past me (yep, I was comparing -- the no-no). Then his numbers dropped and > stayed there. He also had scar tissue, and by the time they identified it, he > had to go back to the hospital to break it up. Though they say it is not a big > deal. He felt better immediately, returning to his PT program and complete > recovery. > > Wish I had more to offer, but I only have my own experience. I do have to > wonder why you regressed and are now stuck. Are you getting regular and > consistent therapy? If I had reached a number and regressed, I'd be grilling > the doc and PT. > > Warm regards, > > Donna > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > that knee replacement is not for sissies, and I am a wuss. I thought >>> > > the whole thing was pretty awful and I am still in pain, (at times, >>> > > not all the time) about 10+ weeks out of surgery. I had a tendon cut >>> > > though and think that is where a lot of my problem is. >>> > > >>> > > I am wondering if people have stiffness in the knee for as long as 10+ >>> > > weeks out? Mine gets stiff and I have to really work at it to get it >>> > > more mobile. Anyone? dash >>> > > >>> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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