I joined a gym today .....................

SteveBurns

Yes I joined a gym this afternoon after wondering if I should, I haven't had any one recommend this to me so I was apprehensive.

I still have pain in the knee after almost eight weeks post op and the bend is not getting any further than 105 degrees.

I compared the council gyms with a private one and took the decision to go with the private one - initials TF, very local and with exercise suite, squash courts, exercise studios and pools. All much better than the council but more to pay.

I'm so glad I joined as the equipment is really good for the knee, lots of machines which you sit at and bend the leg, as gentle as you like. Even exercise bikes to sit on and simply swing the leg back and forth.

After the exercises there was the lovely warm pool for a nice relaxing swim - haven't swum since the op but found I can do front crawl, backstroke and even a little breaststroke.

After that it was into the hydro pool with lots of bubbles in even warmer water, more like a hot bath.

I was in the gym for about 2 hours and found it brilliant, may go again tomorrow (if there are not too many aches and pains :? )

All in all I would recommend it to everyone who has had the TKR because the necessary Physio is not as available as it needs to be for us so we have to take it upon ourselves to attempt to get right back to normal. The exercise regime we have is a bit tedious and repetitive whereas the gym equipment is so varied.

applerose

Sounds great. Is there someone who can keep an eye on what you're doing because you'll have to be careful not to overdo it. Every day will probably be too much. Hope you enjoy it.

loovechocolate

Glad you joined the club, gently gently , Had my op privately and am a member of a gym with the same name as the hospital, did you have a session with the on-site physio or at least the fitness trainers before you jumped on the machines, only ask as my physio has told me under no circumstances can I every use some of the machines or ever do the breast stroke again as that leg action is not good for a new knee. I have hydro therapy 2x per week the exercises we do are walking and running up and down the pool with knees as high as possible holding the side and squats, thighs together and bend the operated leg behind, basically all the stuff you do at home do it in the pool.
Enjoy the gym but please be careful you’re still so early in the recovery process , you don’t want to do some damage and put your recovery back. I am 16 weeks and my physio and consultant only advise me to do the bike in the gym along with hydro therapy and gentle swimming along with water aerobics only doing what I can

SteveBurns

Thanks for your concern, i don't wish to sound like a smart thingy but I have been a gym member before and know the machines, I will have a session with a person trainer on Monday who will explain more.

My Physio has promoted me to the higher group and they use bikes, but there is a long waiting list. I am in pain when I bend the knee so I know when to stop.

Breaststroke is my stroke and it did hurt before the op and I know it may not be the best thing to do so I will take care. I feel good about going to the gym so that alone is good for me.

My legs are a little tired at present, understandably, but the knee is bending more, I'll know tomorrow if its right or wrong.

Cheers.

elnafinn

All the very best at the gym, Steve. You sound a sensible kind of guy and I am sure you will know if you are overdoing it .... if you are .. as we are all different. My surgeon told me that I would get a max knee bend of 90 degrees so I was overjoyed to tell him that I had well exceeded that range. I had knee pain, both times for a number of months but flexibility was good. The pain does go, mine did eventually. For me it was about 9 months before my knee(s) and I were the best of friends.

Elna x

applerose

You don't sound as if you're being smart at all Steve. Some people think right, join the gym then throw themselves in to it without knowing what they're doing and end up injured. You are not one of those people. You do know what you are doing. Glad your knee is bending a little already.

loovechocolate

SteveBurns wrote:

Thanks for your concern, i don't wish to sound like a smart thingy but I have been a gym member before and know the machines, I will have a session with a person trainer on Monday who will explain more.

My Physio has promoted me to the higher group and they use bikes, but there is a long waiting list. I am in pain when I bend the knee so I know when to stop.

Breaststroke is my stroke and it did hurt before the op and I know it may not be the best thing to do so I will take care. I feel good about going to the gym so that alone is good for me.

My legs are a little tired at present, understandably, but the knee is bending more, I'll know tomorrow if its right or wrong.

Cheers.

We are all different good luck, I am in the slow lane everything in moderation for me and I know I am lucky having my op private and going to private physio and not having to wait in line for bikes etc, I have been on the bike now for weeks and having hydro since week 2 so I may not understand sorry didn't mean to offend just trried to help

Helenbothknees

Steve, I'll be interested to hear how this goes; please keep posting. I'm considering it for the future, except...I hate gyms! I spent a long time in them years ago and even did aweight training instructor's course, but I'm happier exercising at home if I can manage to do enough.

Also, there's a YouTube video somewhere from a physio, warning about the dangers of going to the gym too early after a TKR; I read it weeks ago, and I don't remember the details, but it might be worth looking at what he says.

I've compromised - I bought an extremely cheap and basic cycling machine, just a tiny little thing with pedals, and you sit in a chair and use it; it's good for now but will probably not be enough for later on. I just figure if you listen to your body you can't go too far wrong. Please let us know how it all goes....

tkachev

I've never had a TKR but had considerable knee pain at times. When refered to physio and asked to use an excersise bike I was apprehensive at first, wondering how someone in such pain could benefit, but found it really freed the knee up and didn't hurt at all. I think it is really important to keep using our bodies however tempting it is to curl up and rest.

Don't overdo it at first though Steve. Just do a little at first and increase the excersises slowly.

Elizabeth

marrianne

Hi Steve ,enjoy your gym it sounds lovely ,be careful with the breast stroke though aparently not so good for healing knees ,I joined a gym just before tkr so only mannaged 3 sessions ,they have very kindly extented my membership through to next year with no extra charge ,its very basic but friendly and some gym equipment a nice warm pool ,a sauna /solerium looking forward to say week 6 when the scar is better to they dont have a jacussi s/p but I have jets in my own bath so hopefully I will be able to sit in the bath soon hope you continue to get fit I dont really care to much about the bend it was awful before the operation so all in all I feel happy and hope all the new knees and everyone else are feeling ok to .Marrianne

SteveBurns

My knee was stiff and sore when I woke up this morning but then I realised I'd overslept and overdue my meds.

Once taken the knee feels much better and walking without the stick is quite free of pain now.

I might go to the gym this afternoon and do the same again

woodbon

Hi
I went to the gym on referral from my GP. This was the first time I'd had any problems, so I was anxious to get fit enough to go back to work.
It is a council sports centre with pool etc. With the GP referral I had 12 sessions (I think) going twice a week and followed a plan worked out with the trainer, who stopped me doing too much or too little! I was shocked by how unfit I was at the begining, but by the end of the 6 weeks my fitness level had increased a lot and the pains in my hip and back got less as I got stronger. The muscles take over the work and help the joints they told me, but do take proper advice, as what helps one person is totally wrong for someone else.
I carried on by paying but, had to give up when I had carpell tunnell surgery and my hands out of action.
I hope you find it a help and things improve. Do take a trainers advice. It is easy to overdo things, and that can stop you going.
Love Suexxxx

kathbee

I dont think about joing a gym of any kind these days.
Used to go every morning before work when I was fit and healthy thinking on the lines I will keep fit and well for a long long time.
Lo and behold I became attached to someone called 'Arthur Itis' also known as RA and OA. so that was the end of my gym days.

Last night I found in my cupboard a sort of elastic stretchy thingy, its supposed to be a tummy trimmer. Two of the parts go on the feet and the other two on the hands. Then you work it yourself and do leg lifts etc. Actually my knee felt brilliant after using it for about 5 mins so am going to try build up the time in the next few days. ( 5 weeks since TKR op)

Hope the gym goes well Steve, the warm water I would love as I havent had a bath for 15 years, yep, I guess you can smell me from here. Its showers only but a jacuzzi would feel wonderful
on my joints.

Take care all
Kath

julie47

Good Luck with the gym steve I hope it helps

Just don't over do things

Love Juliepf x

SteveBurns

I went again this afternoon and did the same as yesterday, tried the bike but can't get a full rotation, almost there backwards but only half way forwards. I'll keep at it and celebrate when I can get fully around.

The machines that bend my knee are very good as they apply some force, but I do control it.

I'm a bit stiff now, expected I suppose but the bend is still improving - I think

I didn't do breaststroke - listening to you lot making some sense but the hot bubbly pool was great

I fell off the rower, its very low down and I don't stand up too well from a low seat, just fell onto the carpet, no problem as no one saw me

barbara12

Good Luck with the gym Steve, I am sure you know what is right for you, building up the muscles will certainly help the new knee.

applerose

Sounds as if it's going well. So no-one got a picture of you falling off the rower for us to see. I can only stand up from being on all fours so I would probably do the same.

elnafinn

Just a thought Steve, can the exercise bike tension at the gym be reduced for you to begin with or would that not make any difference at the moment for you.

The physio changed the tension for me when I first went on the bike after a TKR. The bike I have at home can also be made harder or less work on the knees when pedalling.

Elna x

SteveBurns

Its not the tension but the rotation of the pedals around that I can't do. I sit on the bike and move the pedals back and forth and try to get further each time. I have the seat as high as it will go as well.

Backwards with the new knee I get further than forwards, strange that

SteveBurns

Hi all, the gym is OK and I'm enjoying it.

Had my induction Monday - a nice young lad whose dad had a new knee last year, so he understands about our plight.

Mainly upper body exercises using the weight machines but using the rower as well. That's good as it allows a gently knee bend under my control.

I can't use the bikes with pedals but the hand cycle is good for cardio.

Swimming is a problem as I like breaststroke but can't do it now, tried a leg float today and that worked well. (The float goes between the legs and you just use the arms to swim).

Nice in the hydro pool, just like a hot bath and so relaxing with all those bubbles

I'd recommend it to everyone.

Physio tomorrow and she will probably tell me off for going to the gym :? I'll let you know what she says

Helenbothknees

Steve, what about breaststroke with butterfly legs? Just a thought from a keen ex-swimmer.....

marrianne

Steve ,Its allways easier to back pedal , like going up stairs easier than down guess its the way our joints work ,glad your still enjoying the gym and got some help with setting the equipment , Do you still use that rowing machine though ? I dont like them like physio therapist cause a lot of pain ..good luck when you see them again I think they should be pleased with you ,wonder if we do incredibly well without them they get disgruntled or something mine were ok but they only came 4 times good luck as always Marrianne ..............Oh Hi Helen ,hope your enjoying the driving

applerose

Glad you're enjoying the gym. Hope you don't get told off.

loovechocolate

So glad you have had an induction now I was really worried for you my consultant keeps telling me small steps under guidance is the real fast lane, not sure why why your man said no bike though, they set the seat real high for me and I have to stretch to rotate the pendals but hey ho they must have a reason, also my physio suggested water areobics just do what I can have you thought of that for the pool. I bought a small pedal thing for at home only cheap from Amazon £30 but it's good whilst watching tv or like now whilst on the pc.

Good luck

SteveBurns

This could be good news - I'm not sure yet?

I had physio today and talked about the gym.

I have been recommended to try everything, just in small doses and with small weights. Bike as well to see if I get get all the way around.

Try the various swimming strokes but if it hurts don't do it. Breast stroke not recommended!

Walking in the warm pool will be good for me.

As far as the physio is concerned I am fully healed, the scar is fine and all I need now is exercise to increase the bend, (105 degrees today), to build up the muscles and to get fit.

I need exercise to improve my left leg as there will no doubt be a TKR next year.

I will attend one more session next week and that will be it until the higher knee group call for me (very long waiting list).

So the gym is obviously a good thing, get there if you can

Helenbothknees

Steve, I asked my physio today about breast stroke. She said the basic problem is twisting, which our knees aren't designed to do, but that it's OK to do a little - she recommended alternating a few lengths of breast stroke with a few lengths of crawl or similar. But she didn't outlaw it completely, unless you found that it was painful. Just thought you'd like to know.