My turn for a TKR.

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Comments

  • Helenbothknees
    Helenbothknees Member Posts: 487
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Everyone's different. Four weeks after a bilateral TKR, I drove around our private car park, changed gear and manoeuvred a lot, and did a real foot-stamping emergency stop, with no problems at all. I didn't actually drive on a public road till eight weeks after the op, because I just wasn't sure if I'd be legal. But I could have done, and round here, in a rural area, the traffic is never that bad anyway. After eight weeks I was delighted to get back in the car and drive as though I'd never been away from it.....except....I couldn't manage really long drives due to lack of stamina, which was a problem for me for a few months, despite it never having been mentioned as a possibility. I've talked to a few people since who've found that to be an issue after major surgery.

    Moral...listen to your own body! Advice on here is all very well, but it comes from another person's experience, not your own. It's how YOUR knee and whole body feels that counts.
  • barry2013
    barry2013 Member Posts: 151
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    We have an auto so I don't have any problems, truth is I don't really like driving, so being driven suits be down to the ground. Had a physio app today, was a lovely journey through the wolds lots of snowdrops to see, lifted my spirits no end.
    Physio said things were going well although she wants me to knee more so I can straighten it out. Jim has to massage leg while it's elevated with baby oil and then rub arnica cream into areas where the brusing is coming through.
    It must be hard for folk who live on their own to cope with life after a TKR. Jim's doing pretty good with things, just has to get timings better with cooking, meat seems to get done before spuds, veg. learning how to use iron washing m/c etc.
    I can slowly do more now which feels good.
  • babytiger
    babytiger Member Posts: 360
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    How did your physio go today Barry?
  • chookgate
    chookgate Member Posts: 146
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    barry2013 wrote:
    .
    Physio said things were going well although she wants me to knee more so I can straighten it out.

    Getting my leg straight was a big issue for me - even 6 weeks post the first TKR the physio said my leg was still 1 degree off being straight. It's perfect now though! Because I'd gone for so long unable to straighten the leg the muscles and tendons were all tight, the physio recommended a heat pack for 10 minutes behind the knee before exercises, then the usual icing of the front after exercises. This did help a lot. Also in a couple of weeks (or likely sooner) your physio may recommend, if your leg isn't yet straight, putting pressure above and possibly below the joint (not on the joint) when doing the straightening exercise with your ankle elevated (get a soft football sized ball).
  • barry2013
    barry2013 Member Posts: 151
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    chookgate wrote:
    barry2013 wrote:
    .
    Physio said things were going well although she wants me to knee more so I can straighten it out.

    Getting my leg straight was a big issue for me - even 6 weeks post the first TKR the physio said my leg was still 1 degree off being straight. It's perfect now though! Because I'd gone for so long unable to straighten the leg the muscles and tendons were all tight, the physio recommended a heat pack for 10 minutes behind the knee before exercises, then the usual icing of the front after exercises. This did help a lot. Also in a couple of weeks (or likely sooner) your physio may recommend, if your leg isn't yet straight, putting pressure above and possibly below the joint (not on the joint) when doing the straightening exercise with your ankle elevated (get a soft football sized ball).

    My physio gave me a couple of extra exercises to do, laying on my back Jim holds my leg raised into his shoulder and guides it back as far as it will go pushing it back as far as I can stand, then I push it back into his shoulder with him acting as a brake, the other one is laying on my front then lifting my knee back as far as it will go lowering it down then hooking over good leg and trying to push it down further.
    Barry.
  • elainebadknee
    elainebadknee Bots Posts: 3,703
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Barry

    Bio-Oil and you can get cheaper at certain home bargain shops or german supermarkets for massaging into the scar too...Mine which is 16 weeks looks really good....

    Elainexx
    barry2013 wrote:
    We have an auto so I don't have any problems, truth is I don't really like driving, so being driven suits be down to the ground. Had a physio app today, was a lovely journey through the wolds lots of snowdrops to see, lifted my spirits no end.
    Physio said things were going well although she wants me to knee more so I can straighten it out. Jim has to massage leg while it's elevated with baby oil and then rub arnica cream into areas where the brusing is coming through.
    It must be hard for folk who live on their own to cope with life after a TKR. Jim's doing pretty good with things, just has to get timings better with cooking, meat seems to get done before spuds, veg. learning how to use iron washing m/c etc.
    I can slowly do more now which feels good.
  • babytiger
    babytiger Member Posts: 360
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Barry E45 cream is another good cream to rub into your scar, few of us were talking about in hospital.I used it last time round and it really helped
  • chookgate
    chookgate Member Posts: 146
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    My 6 month scar has almost gone to invisible, and the 12 week one is looking pretty good - been using bio oil at the recommendation of the physio since as soon as the scabs went. If you go for it, don't get it in a supermarket, you can get it online from a well known seller of kindle books, and some online pharmacies at half the price.

    Probably anything that moisturises and is good for skin would work as well though.

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