Day 12 Post-Op Progress
Hey fellow TKR survivors! I’m day 12 post-op 45F. Wondering where others were as far as flexing goes in day 12 and what your activity levels were? I don’t know if I’m doing enough or not enough and wanted to see what others were doing at this stage. I’m on the CPM 6 hours per day (2hrs 3x), I do my muscle exercises 3x per day, sometimes more if I think of it but honestly I’m doing good to get the 3 in. In between, I’m icing (have ice machine on 30 minute timer) and elevating. Every time I need to get up for a bathroom break (every couple of hours or so), I’m taking a few laps around the house with my walker and sometimes sitting normally in a chair and working on flexion - not the most comfortable thing to do but do it as long as I can. I’ve had lots of help but trying to start doing more things for myself.
Having said all of this, my PT said I won’t make my surgeons 3 week post-op goal of 120-130 degrees. Currently the CPM is at 90 (going up 5 degrees each day) and sitting in a chair with my foot flat on the floor I could probably get to close to 85-90 degrees. What is holding me back is inflammation and swelling. In the morning it feels fairly loose but by afternoon/evening it feels locked back up and I can barely get 30 degrees out of it sometimes. It’s quite frustrating and I always feel so defeated after PT leaves. And a little scared for my follow-up next Tuesday.
Am I just being a little sissy and not doing enough? Because that’s the way my PT makes me feel. But I feel if I do too much, it will set me back.
I appreciate this community, it has been so helpful!