spoke to soon yesterday regarding the pain, last night was by far my worse felt like agony most of the night, it didn't matter what when or how I couldn't get painfree
never mind onwards and upwards ive exercised this morning but I'm struggling with the knee bends, does anyone have experience of this, it would be nice to hear it
regards Derek
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DEREK2210
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Hi it doesn't get any easier, I've got torn ligaments in my left ankle on top off my RA and OA but I try still to do as much as I can to keep mobile , I go swimming a lot and am just back from Aqua aerobics which has helped my joints no end
I Had my knee done Derek but was in hospitl for 5 days. I think you just need to push through that pain and keep trying, it is so painful. i am having my other knee done this year at some point. If the pain gets so bad give the hospital a ring. You must keep moving due to DVT. Hope it gets a wee bit better today. What meds are you on for pain. x
I mentioned before, last year I had total knee replacements on both knees at the same time. For the first week, it was tiny movements, elevation and ice and definitely staying on top of the pain with medication.
It was a very hard process and although I know I did well, making a speedier recovery than anticipated, to say it was really painful, would be an understatement! If the time was one of the worst as had to sleep on back and literally couldn't move. As my neck and the bottom of my spine has fused, I couldn't sleep which made the whole process somewhat more difficult.
It is such early days for you derek, please don't expect too much. Do your physio diligently but don't push to excess. The bends will come - for the first week, mine barely moved. Over the next two weeks or so, you will see progress and the bends will become easier.
You've been through a lot this week, be kind to yourself and just breathe.
Don't rush it! Just remember what trauma your knee has been through - if you had been in a car accident with that sort of trauma you would be resting it not 'training' on it!
Your knee will also be extremely swollen from the assault it has had and have you ever tried to bend a swollen joint - it won't as IT IS SWOLLEN!
I have had my knee replaced twice and the first time was push push push got to bend and the second time round took it easy rest rest rest elevation elevation elevation (toes ABOVE your nose - yes that high up) I set up a 'pit' on my sofa with lots of cushions and had at least 2 hours resting for ever 30 mins up.
By elevating it and not doing lots of workouts on it your knee will appreciate it, recover from the trauma and the swelling will reduce.
I kept moving my feet and ankles and did buttock clenches x 30 every 20 mins to reduce the rush of DVT
It is painful and you will be exhausted for a few weeks - again your kne has had trauma you and it need to recover.
One exercise I did a couple of weeks after was sitting on a dining room chair with my foot rested on the kids skateboard and just GENTLY and slowly rocked it for a few minutes and never forced it.
I hope that helps - be kind to yourself keep taking the pain killers regularly (don't wait until in pain) Rest and elevate!
Sometimes gentle regular movement is as useful as pushing too much. If you create too much swelling it cannot bend. I had a hairline fracture where the top part was joined and could not weight bear for 6 weeks and exercises were not forced to start and things for me worked out ok. Watch how your ankle is when you have your leg elevated. You might want to ask physio for a couple of hip exercises also cos of not moving properly for a while before op and now resting. Farm
Hi. Derek, I've just had a full knee replacement too, 5 weeks ago and like you have had the same problem. I got very down with it all in week 3, felt that I would never get there. I've only just got the 90 degree bend this week. My foot, and all my leg was swollen, so impossible to get that bend until now, although saying that, it's still an effort. I seemed to improve when I slowed it down a bit. I did rest completely on the bed for an hour in the morning and an hour in the after noon. Straight after exercising I always iced it with a large pack of peas in a pillowcase for 20 minutes, plus raising my leg above my nose regularly and especially over night. I'm still having the pain killers that the hospital gave me, plus the oramorph as and when, but always at bedtime. I'm starting physio this week and hoping that I progress even more before I see the consultant. If I can, I will be able to get the other knee done. So, be kind to yourself Derek, take the pain medication and do what you can. You'll get there. Barb x
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