TKA - Knee Flexion question, what is normal at 5 weeks post-op?

March 4, 2008

Hi, I am new to this group, very happy to find this as a resource for

info and encouragement. I had my Left TKA on Jan. 30. Aside from

them forgetting to give me the nerve block, (a long long story I

won't go into here), I think my recovery is progressing fairly

normally. I was in the hospital for 6 days, then a rehab place for

four days, then home where I have had PT three times a week, this is

the last week for that. (total of 12 home PT visits.) I will also

start next week with outpatient PT twice a week, for as long as my

insurance will pay for!

I am just wondering if my progress is " normal " or behind the norm, I

am currently at almost 0 degrees when straight, and about 100-105

degrees bent. But not having anything to compare to, I would love the

leg to bend more, and since I have about 130-135 degrees or more on

my right leg, the difference causes me to limp and favor the left

leg. I am walking with a cane most of the time, short distances

without, still using the walker sometimes when out places, just

because it seems safer.

I would love to know if there are exercise suggestions for flexion

besides the normal stuff PT does. I have been using a CPM, but for

the last week it is at it's maximum adjustment, and no longer seems

to challenge my leg or stretch/increase the flexion, so I am

wondering if it is worthwile to keep using it.

Thank you in advance for having such an awesome group, I think it is

going to be a big help to me to hear from others who are going

through or have gone through the same process. I need to do the

right knee at sometime in the future, so what I learn now will make

that next surgery and recovery easier to cope with. Thanks again!

Debbie

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