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If you’re considering knee replacement surgery, you might be wondering about your activity level after surgery.
- What will you be able to do after TKR?
- Will you be able to do all the same activities you could do before surgery?
- Will the activities you enjoy be painful?
I don’t know your specific situation. Each person will be different.
- Some people will have two knee replacements while others will only have one.
- Some people will be battling other health issues as well that may affect their recovery.
- Some people will be young TKR patients and bounce back quickly while others, like me, will be seniors.
I hope my experience and activity level pre and post knee replacement surgery provides you with the insight you need to better understand your situation
Overview
I was active before my knee replacement surgery. Unfortunately, the activities that I could participate in caused me a great deal of pain (read about why I decided to have
I could push through the pain but I’d always have swelling after the activity. I usually took an ibuprofen type pill before any prolonged exercise and then I would know that I would have to ice my knee and take another pill after exercise
All that has changed now that I’m 8 months post surgery. Things are good!
Exercise Routine
Pre-TKR
Before my TKR
I was able to use the stationary bike and the elliptical machines. Leg machines were painful and always made a crunching sound in my knee (due to lost cartilage in
Post-TKR
I now visit my fitness
I am
Swimming
Pre-TKR
After many years of pain in my
Other strokes especially the backstroke caused a great deal of pain in my knee when kicking so my workouts were limited to the breaststroke and the freestyle. I only pushed off the wall with my good leg after each lap because if I used the right leg it was painful
Post-TKR
Now I’m able to swim using multiple strokes and I can push off with both legs. I can use fins in the pool and I can do flutter kicks both on my stomach and on my back holding on to the edge of the pool or when using a kickboard (here is my detailed swim routine after surgery).
Bicycling
Pre-TKR
Bicycling was not something I did a lot prior to having knee problems. When I was in my twenties I would ride my bike around town occasionally instead of taking the car
Post-TKR
Now I’m able to ride several miles 3 to 4 times a week and my range of motion allows me to pedal from the get-go. I occasionally take rides from 10 to 20 miles
Pickle-ball
Pre-TKR
I began playing pickle-ball in my early 60’s. Until my TKR I had a noticeable limp when I approached the net and I was very limited moving to my right side
If I
Post-TKR
I now can play 5 games of pickle-ball in a row without any swelling. I no longer limp during the game and I can now cover more of the court than I ever could
Pickle-ball is the only activity that I am involved in that requires quick reactions and reflexes. Unlike golf, where your mind wanders, pickle-ball keeps you concentrated on the game and allows you to forget all the things that are on your mind
Golf
Pre-TKR
I am an occasional golfer and prefer to play nine holes versus 18. I use a pull-cart and prefer to walk the short course
Post-TKR
Now I walk and play a 12 hole course near my house once or twice a month pain-free
Hiking
Pre-TKR
I didn’t begin hiking on a regular basis until I was in my forties. I joined a hiking club that hikes 5 to 10 miles twice a week
I enjoyed hiking and getting outdoors but in my sixties I avoided the longer hikes and only did the five-mile hikes.
Post-TKR
Now, I can hike 5 to 10 miles without pain or swelling. The nice thing about hiking is that you can hike alone or with a group and you can choose the distance and terrain that you want to hike on
Yoga
I just started a 30-day Yoga program with my wife. I can tell that I’m stretching and strengthening places on my body (joints) that I haven’t stretched in a long time.
This is a first for me and I will write an article after my 30-day trial.
Conclusion
In this article, I have mentioned some of the activities that I can do
I have mentioned the activities that I enjoy but you can look forward to being pain-free, with no swelling and limping when you participate in your favorite activities. If your surgery and recovery goes smoothly you should be active in 3-4 months.
I hope this article has encouraged you. After knee replacement surgery and your recovery, I hope you can enjoy everyday activities and other physical activity with minimal or no pain.