It's been a while, now 6 weeks since total knee replacement, here is an update. I have good flexion which last PT was measured at 128 degrees, but it takes some loosening to get it there (exercise bike primarily). In the morning and throughout the day, my knee is still tight, it loosens up when exercising especially with bike. I bought a bike trainer and put my road bike in it- back wheel connects and converts it to stationary bike), and this helps. I see physical therapist sometimes once a week and sometimes twice a week depending on what she thinks & it is super helpful. I had her write out daily exercise instructions for me to do at home so I won't forget any.
My extension (straightening leg) is getting better but still needs work- it is under 5 degrees from normal now. PT has me doing two things mainly to help with this- 1) pushing knee backwards while standing by tightening quad and moving backward a bit & holding it back for a few second, doing this in sets of 10 once an hour or throughout the day, and 2) when lying on couch (say watching tv) have the leg raised above me & knee unsupported- maybe cross other leg on it or place a heavy book on it- as much as possible.
I still have considerable swelling in knee and this is limiting flexion. Keeping leg elevated when resting helps, so too does icing, and massaging knee & thigh to push fluid out while leg is raised is helpful. I wish more emphasis was communicated by doctor about icing- how to do it properly, what to use, how often, etc.
Pain has not been a problem except in last couple of weeks, especially as I take less & less PRN ibuprofen and tylenol (all I'm using for pain), but I sometimes do wake in middle of night with knee aching some & then take the PRN stuff. I have a pain relief cream Voltaren that I rub on knee area also which seems to help- it's an over-the-counter arthritis pain cream.
Another thing I use that helps is an inclined board- at PT, they have one at 15 degree angle, and I made one up at home (just rested one edge of a 2'x1' surplus board on a fireplace log). PT wants me to stand on the board for several minutes a couple of times a day to work ankle, which somehow is helping with extension too- I try to rock my knee backward while on it.
Of course, the flexion/bending exercises I do help with that & are painful. Once loosened up a bit, I just bend my knee as much as I can and hold it for at least a minute. Then I relax leg & bend it even more & again hold for a minute or two. I just keep pushing farther the bend & hold for what I can.
After the exercises are done, I have to remember to ice knee again. I bought a knee ice wrap with beads, but I think a good old bag of green peas works as well and is cheap.
Good luck to anyone else with ongoing or upcoming surgery. I'm glad I had it done and it will only get better! I was able to take 6 weeks off from work but now am back, but since our work has us working from home now, it makes it better.
