TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT DONE 12/15/03

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I AM 50, SURGERY DONE 12/15/03 AND I WAS A VERY ACTIVE WOMEN. I HAD A RIGHT TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMNT DONE GOING FOR P.T. AND I AM SO DOWN. I CANNOT SLEEP AT NIGHT AS I CANNOT GET COMFORTABLE, THE PAIN IS BAD. MY KNEE WILL NOT BEND. IT BENDS A LITTLE BIT. MY THERAPIST TOLD ME THAT HE THINKS I HAVE SCAR TISSUE, AND THIS IS BOTHERING ME SO MUCH. PRIOR TO THE SURGERY I SPEED WALKED DID EVERYTHING. I HAVE A 14 YEAR OLD BOY TO RAISE, I AM A SINGLE MOM AND I FEEL THAT I DID THE WORST THING I COULD EVER DO. WILL MY KNEE EVER BEND? WILL I BE AABLE TO WALK WITHOUT A CANE? WILL I LIVE A NORMAL LIFE? PLEASE HELP, I AM SO DOWN ABOUT THIS. I NVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THIS BAD. I CANNOT DO A THINK DURING THE DAY. I GO FROM CHAIR TO CHAIR TO COUCH BACK TO CHAIR. I TRY TO DO MY EXERCISES WHEN I AM NOT A P.T. BUT THE KNEE WILL NOT BEND. PLS GIVE ME SOME SUGGESTIONS.

-- LYNN CARROLL (LBISUMMER@AOL.COM), January 16, 2004

Answers

I am a 63 year old male. I had a total knee replacement on 23 March, 2003. I experienced discomfort while trying to sleep and relied on a mild sleeping pill and several pillows to put between my legs. Also, am taking Viox. Experienced lots of pain at Physical Theropy (aka pain and torture) as the attendants bent my leg.

I was totally unaware of the rehab involved, but in May I was able to walk 18 holes on the golf course and by late August, I felt much stronger on the golf course.

For my scar, I used a cream fortified with Vitamin E and rubbed this into the area around the knee. My scar is barely noticeable now.

I now do 20 to 40 minutes of cardio on an eliptical machine 5 days a week and do leg strength training 3 time per week for 30 minutes per session. I started this in May and have continued on to this day and plan to continue on for the rest of my life.

I plan o going out to Telluride Co. for a 10 day ski trip in 2 weeks. So, yes you WILL be able to walk without pain and resume your activities. My biggest problem withthe knee now are the pat-down searches I must endure each time I fly!

Good luck

-- Spike Hasler (haslerw@attglobal.net), February 06, 2004.


Iam a 59 year old male who had both knees replaced on 11/5/03. I initially had problems sleeping, but the use of pillows to support my legs when sleeping on my side helped. Sleeping on my back also helped. I took tylenol extra strength for pain. I massage the scars with an oil containing vitamin E and they are healing nicely. I was driving after only 3 weeks and returned to work after 3 months. Thereapy and strength training both before and after surgery were a great help to me. I still have some pain, especially after working out, but it is diminishing as time goes by and my quads get stronger. I have full extension in both legs and flexion is at 125- 130 degrees depending on who measures it. A pain less procedure - No Way !!! Worthwhile - Absolutely !!! Stay with the therapy and the pain will decrease as time goes on. Good luck !!!

-- Paul McNaughton (ppmcn45@comcast.net), February 09, 2004.

i had a left knee replacement on dec. 10 when i am sitting at home i slide my foot back and forward and it helps still sore but better

-- bertie p. (bertpinka@aol.com), February 10, 2004.

Hang in there. The recovery takes time. I had the surgery one year ago and I thought the same thing you are thinking . It does get better. I would use heat before therapy and ice after. Also,scar tissue is not allowing your knee to bend, my therapist was able to break thru the scar tissue but it was painful. After that it sure was easier to bend. I slept in a recliner at night for about 2 months.

-- Barb Canovi (TonBar75@aol.com), February 15, 2004.

I had my left knee done on 12/8/03, being 43 I thought I would have a quick recovery. I was wrong. I had 70 degree's of bend after 5 weeks and had to go back in the hospital for what is called a manipulation. ( I was put to sleep and the DR. bent my knee to break up the scar tissue.) with in 2 weeks I was at 120 degree's. It is still painful and I still have trouble sleeping @ night. I have been told it could take up to a year to fully recover. If I had known it was going to be this bad I would have never done it. But since I had it done I find the best exercise to do to help it bend is the exercise bike I got for X-mas, it hurts when I ride but I have not lost any of the bend in my knee since the manipulation.

-- kevin murphy (mu5m@aol.com), March 23, 2004.


Hi, I had one knee done in 03 and the second done in June of 04. Hopefully by now you are better. Massage the scar, go to WATER THERAPY, and most of all do the exercises. I did not have water therapy with the first replacement and I will tell everyone to do that now. You become more stable, flexible...quicker. Especially quad sets and straight leg. One thing that I do now just to help with the initial stiffness is take 1/2 of a hydrocodone in the morning. I teach 4 year olds so moving is a must. After the first knee replacement I was basically back to a more than normal life in about 6 months. More active than I had been in 4 years. The secret or trick is do the exercises. I allow an extra hour in the morning to make things work and when I don't have it I pay for it the rest of the day or at least until I can get to a bike and stretch. It is great to stand up straight and basically not be in pain. It is a good feeling.

-- Shirl Ohlhausen (sod722@aol.com), September 24, 2004.

I forgot--I am 52.

-- Shirley Ohlhausen (sod722@aol.com), September 24, 2004.

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