Hi all.I've had my TKR - 7 weeks ago now. I know it's possibly an individual thing but has anybody any idea as to how long before the affected leg is straight.
The bend in my new knee is now at110 degrees and my Consultant is happy with the progress but I forgot to ask about the leg straightening fully.
I'll be grateful for any replies. 😊
Hi, I had TKR last Aug, and was told that getting it straight was important in the very early days. So I worked hard at that ( ouch!) As you've got 110 bend, you're probably pretty straight too...it sounds like you're being good and doing all the exercises.My new knee has been up a 1000 foot hill and, recently, on a bike. It does ache a bit if I do too much, but nothing major and soooo much better than my old knee. I'm a tad older than you.
Keep on keeping on, it's worth it.
Thankyou for the positive reply. I was getting a bit worried because I was really not in a good place after the op, other health issues flared up. I tried hard during that time to exercise but I'm 2 weeks behind with regular, full on exercising.Trying my best to catch up.
Finally feeling like I'm getting somewhere. 😊
You'll get there! It's a bit of a slog ( I have a 2 year old hip replacement and that was way easier to recover from) and it's good to know you feel you're getting somewhere.Give us a progress report in a while!
👍
I was an orthopaedic nurse for many years. It’s usually the straightening of the knee which is the first priority, then the bend. Hopefully you are never using pillows or towels under the knee, as that will make it more difficult. It sounds as though it’s not as bad as you see it, otherwise the surgeon would have been concerned. Worst case scenario is that you would need your knee manipulating, to free up any adhesions. It’s important to get straight, otherwise you could end up with a permanent limp,
I agree with you. The reason I put the post is because my Surgeon and Physio were more interested in the bend in my knee and not how straight I can get it.As you mentioned, if the knee doesn't straighten enough, I will have a limp and I'm trying so hard to avoid that.
I'm not using anything under my knee unless it's advised with the exercises.
Do you have any idea how long it takes post op for adhesions?
My concern is that, due to post op health issues, although I did exercise as best as I could when I was unwell. I feel I lost 2 weeks of continuous exercise.
Thankyou for you support. 🤗
I’m surprised by your surgeon and physios priorities. It is well known the bend will come, even if you struggle in the early days due to swelling. The straightening is the usual priority. It sounds like your doing everything correctly, just using a towel under knee for the exercises. Is your knee still swollen, as obviously that can hinder getting it straight. Adhesions can occur fairly early, but sometimes it’s still possible to break the adhesions through exercise. When resting, try and keep it on a footstool, with knee not supported, to help tease it straight. Use ice if needed to get the swelling down.
My knee is still swollen and bruised. I do put my leg on a stool to raise and rest the knee. I also do straightening exercises when it's raised.I will leave a gap between my chair and the stool so that my knee can 'float' anx hopefully gravity will help. Should I try a bit of weight on the knee to help press it down?
Ice pack is already available, wouldn't be without it haha.
No I wouldn’t try forcing it with weight, just gravity as you say. You’ll get there 🤗
Thankyou 😊
2weeks post op
recovery from total knee replacement
R Arthritis “footgo” 
A painful leg
