Think i need to phone my physio :-(

JuliaHod12
JuliaHod12 Member Posts: 456
edited 11. Aug 2012, 07:02 in Living with Arthritis archive
Morning all

its now almost 3 weeks since i had my TKR

I had my clips out on Tuesday and saw physio.........all was fine, excellent bend and some work to do on extension.........

however here's the problem...........i was advised to go down to 1 stick indoors, keep to 2 outdoors and fit in more walking outdoors........well the problems started when i went down to 1 stick.........Wednesday was fine, but

Since Thursday I have had a very sharp continuing pain down the outside of my operated leg (at shin level) and this is preventing me putting weight on the leg :-( its just about bearable if i keep my leg straight when walking!
i fear i have done some damage ...............

Comments

  • Helenbothknees
    Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Julia, I'm far from being an expert, but please don't panic yet. Having had both knees done, I have no 'good' leg, and I keep getting different sorts of pain in different areas in each leg. I have a similar pain to you in my right leg, as it happens; I've had it for a couple of days.

    I tend to think mine are nothing serious, having been warned by the doctor prior to surgery that this sort of thing could happen. I usually just try to rest the affected leg a little, and things improve. However, yours may be worse, and it may be different, and I DO think talking to your physio would be a good idea (and let me know what she says, in case I'm wrong about mine).

    I just want to reiterate what I said at the beginning - don't panic yet.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I would use two sticks indoors for the time being, don't walk too much over the next couple of days, sit or lie as comfortably as possible and just rest that new joint. Healing can be a long process and it's very easy to upset or disturb newly-knitting tissues so rest, ring the physio as soon as you can and let us know what she says. Take care. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • pegleg
    pegleg Member Posts: 139
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello :D , I had my TKR 3 weeks ago too and I was told by my physio to walk with no crutches at all ( this was within a week of having it done !!!) , I am no where near being able to walk with nothing but went down to one round the house , I do get lots of weird pains , pins and needles ect mainly in my shin but if your worried then yes give your physio a call . Get lots of rest and ice the knee as much as you can , maybe youv'e just overdone it , I know when I do because it lets me know ! :o , good luck xxx :D
  • Helenbothknees
    Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Julia, I just had a thought....

    As I said, I'm getting pains in the same place, and have been for a few days. I'm pretty certain mine are from the muscle, not the joint. They also relate timewise to my starting to come downstairs without crutches - okayed by my physio. But whereas my left leg is quite happy with this, the right leg struggles. Do you have stairs? Could it be something similar? Stairs are hard on underused muscles, and that is what we have.

    Yes, rest, ice and talk to your physio. But please don't forget to do your exercises too! I sometimes think people here emphasise the rest aspect too much, and I had it imprinted on me by the docs way before the op that you HAVE to keep doing the exercises, in bed if necessary, no matter how you feel. There's a difference between overdoing exercising the knee, which causes it to swell up, and overusing the muscles, which causes pain in other places. And our muscles need to learn how to work again after not being used.
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Rest is an important aspect of recovery, I had three major operations within eighteen months and I know from experience that rest is vital. Exercise yes, walk a little yes, eat well yes, keep hydrated yes, go to physio yes but remember to give the cut muscles, dipslaced tendons and ripped tissue time to recover too. That's why rest is important. Overdoing things just leads to swelling and thus delays and impairs healing. Everyone's limits are different and finding the right balance of all the variables is very personal. One thing I did find was that recovery in the summer is a damn sight easier than recovery in the winter, I think the longer and sunnier days have a great part to play in recuperation. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • Helenbothknees
    Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    DD, that makes perfect sense! Especially, for me, the bit about recovery in summer. I think I'd have had a lot more trouble doing all this in cold weather; I'm so, so grateful to have got that NHS cancellation.
  • elainebadknee
    elainebadknee Bots Posts: 3,703
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Julia

    This must be worrying you hun, get on the phone to the physio and see what they say...It may or may not be the norm thing after moving from two to one crutches....If the bend was good then that's good isnt it?
    Think what Helen says below may put your mind at ease a bit, it makes sense what she is saying but good luck in getting your own peace of mind too...

    Hugs

    Elainex