OT: Total Knee Replacement on Friday 9/11

[Conndog]

I don’t think I had a limp- main issue for me was loss of bend, but at initial eval they measured and sure enough, I was 8 degrees off from straight leg. Now at PT, they are having me work both on increasing bend & increasing extension to correct it to being straight. The exercises do hurt esp. the forced bending, but I know to keep going.

 

[Bama fan]

My knee replacement surgery is set for October 29th. I have the Boston Celtics team doctor performing the surgery so I think I’m in good hands. Some great advice from everyone though. Thank you!

Good luck to you.

 

[ctkaiser]

Yes, I've actually had 2 recently, first one failed after 5 years and they had to do a revision. I did use one for my initial surgery, but my Doctor did not have me use a CPM after my 2nd surgery. He said new evidence came out that they are not really beneficial and virtually nobody was using them anymore. He said the modern approach is much more aggressive, they want you walking(assisted with crutches/walker) in a couple of days. I am not going to lie to you, it stinks the first couple of days, but after that it gets easier and easier. Being able to get around without any pain is amazing. My only advice to you is to really get after your PT, the more you put in the quicker you will recover! I wish you the best of luck!

My wife had one done Friday. Same thing no machine. Walker, cane already doing stairs the day after surgery. PT visits 3 times a week and exercise twice a day when no PT visit. No machine ever mentioned.

 

[Conndog]

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.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Thanks for the update! Sounds like a lot of work, but it will be worthwhile.

 

[Zinethar]

I'm not trying to be your PT or doctor but have a suggestion for you to try from my long years of coaching. Use the opposite muscle to help your movement. When working on straightening the leg bend it against resistance. For example lay on your stomach and have someone resist you (not stop you but make it harder) while you bend the knee. You will be surprised how much it will help when then straightening it. Visa versa for increasing the amount of the bend. Make it difficult to straighten. Use your own opposite muscle groups to help. Much less pain and much more gain. I've used this principle a lot. Never force in the direction you wish to go. resist the opposite.

 

[soxfan23]

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.

The achiness mostly goes away with time, but I still can tell you when we are going to get a storm based on aches in my knee. Try getting a neoprene sleeve for your knee, they work very well for me. They provide some support, they provide compression which keeps swelling down, and they also provide warmth and keep your knee pretty loose. They are quite inexpensive and you should be able to find one easily.

 

[Conndog]

Dont like that lineup at all.

Of course, we have this one:

I'm not trying to be your PT or doctor but have a suggestion for you to try from my long years of coaching. Use the opposite muscle to help your movement. When working on straightening the leg bend it against resistance.

That is newest PT exercise- I use a rubber stretch band, tie it to door knob or something else to anchor it, then lie on my stomach and bend leg up at knee with resistance. In same way, I’ll sit in chair with heel in stretch band and bend knee away from door with resistance. Thanks for feedback; it’s more reason to comply

 

[Magy Cannon]

Conndog, walking backwards will help with straightening your knee completely. Be careful. Make sure you have a clear path behind you. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Good luck and get well soon.

 

[Zinethar]

Our trainers often had them use those bands. They work. The old time stretching caused as much damage as it did positive things. People often over stretched muscles with force causing tears or made the muscle relax too much so that it pulled easily during normal workout or events. Good luck - now nothing but inprovement remains.

 

[Carnac]

The BONEYARD has got to be the place!!! Where else can you go and get up to the minute news, notes and opinions about all things WCBB, and physical therapy advise about post surgery knee replacements too?
Continue to heal and get well conndog. It sounds like the worst is behind you.

 

[Sky ball]

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.

Here is a great Ice bag solution. Get a few bottles of Karo syrup and dump 2-3 in a gallon freezer bag. Put the freezer bag inside another so no drippage at all. Freeze...use on knee. Pliable so contours area really well.

 

[Bama fan]

Here is a great Ice bag solution. Get a few bottles of Karo syrup and dump 2-3 in a gallon freezer bag. Put the freezer bag inside another so no drippage at all. Freeze...use on knee. Pliable so contours area really well.

And when you are done you can make peanut brittle for the holidays. Great idea.

 

[Ouremblem]

How have you been sleeping? I had my left knee done in late February and sleeping was rough. My right knee is now hurting and I’m trying to put replacing it off until next February. Hope you’re doing well. PT was rough.

 

[CL82]

And when you are done you can make peanut brittle for the holidays. Great idea.

Really, would you want Skyball's "knee brittle"?

 

[Conndog]

Really, would you want Skyball's "knee brittle"?

I have some pain that wakes me in the night if I don't take pre-sleep Tylenol and Ibuprofen (just one of each). Also am using a cream, Voltaren, on my knee. It'll be 8 weeks come Friday since surgery- I'm back to work (working from home), which has cut into exercise time. I'd like to devote more on-my-own exercise time two or three times a day. Overall, it's going okay but I need to push it more I think, at least PT person seems happy with progress. Getting swelling down too would be great- maybe more icing will help. Tried a couple of home made ice packs- hated the isopropyl alcohol & water especially the smell- the corn syrup idea is interesting, but the cheap bag of peas is the bees knees for me.

 

[Sky ball]

I have some pain that wakes me in the night if I don't take pre-sleep Tylenol and Ibuprofen (just one of each). Also am using a cream, Voltaren, on my knee. It'll be 8 weeks come Friday since surgery- I'm back to work (working from home), which has cut into exercise time. I'd like to devote more on-my-own exercise time two or three times a day. Overall, it's going okay but I need to push it more I think, at least PT person seems happy with progress. Getting swelling down too would be great- maybe more icing will help. Tried a couple of home made ice packs- hated the isopropyl alcohol & water especially the smell- the corn syrup idea is interesting, but the cheap bag of peas is the bees knees for me.

Try the karo syrup cold pack. Works great. Nurse at hospital suggested in my pre-op orientation last fall for my 2 knee surgeries. Make two. keep flat in freezer.

 

[temery]

There's not much I can contribute to the conversation, as I have no experience with this procedure, so here's my best wishes for a speedy recovery @Conndog.

Has anyone ever conducted a survey of the average age of a Boneyarder? We do seem to be a bit ...unh geriatric.

 

[dogged1]

View attachment 60755

Ha! Finally made it into the top group. Wa-hoo, and happy dance like Snoopy. Looking down on you guys in the lower echelons.
Oh, wait a minute, oh shoot, got it wrong again.