aye, i was a Leazes end boy, but to be honest with bad knees...and getting older! i now prefer the sitting option. im in the east stand now

Schoust, I was struggling to get 90 at the same stage, if you have a lot of swelling & bruising then no amount of effort is going to get you more degrees until the swelling has subsided. All I can say it keep at it and it will come.
Chris

At the start of week three of my physical therapy began an exercise in which while sitting was put on a device where I placed my foot in a stirrup and then used a hydraulic pump to gradually move the stirrup back toward my body which would flex the knee.  The routine was to pump my foot back (increase the flex) until I could go no farther.....then hold for five minutes.  Then repeat the process again.  Interestingly.....when I got to the point that I could go no farther....after a couple of minutes was able to gradually pump more flex to the knee.  Over the course of my physical therapy I  substantially improved my flex.  Did it hurt....hell yeah it hurt!!!  After the ten minutes I would be drenched in sweat and did nothing  but flexi my knee!!  But I believe it was an extremely key exercise for me.

After complettion of this knee flex exercise I would then ride a bike for 20-30 minutes, then an elliptical trainer for 5-10 minutes, and then a stair master for 5 minutes.  I firmly believe the forced flex and the motion exercise were the key factors in my successful therapy.

If you have the hydraulic knee flex device available at your physical therapy highly recommend the exercise.


Steve

Ralph....are you getting electrical stimulation after physical therapy???  After every session I received ice and stimulation for 15 minutes.  The stimulation is to minimze swelling and to help generate natural pain killers.  I know that I had some swelling and quite a bit of pain later in the day after physical therapy sessions....but gradually improved.

Work hard and ice!!!!

Ralph:

That's the right attitude! You're right that it's early...and that you shouldn't compare. The kind of surgery you had is hardly related to the "average" patient whose knee wears out over time  . Keep up the good work. You still have a long road ahead of you, but you'll get there.

Janet

Hi Georgie
Doing all this work to get a good bend is the pits--but so worth it.
You are real smart to keep trying for more extension and ROM. Hopefully you have read the articles here on KG about knee rehab explaining exercises you can do to help you obtain your goals. (try knee rehab or knee extension in the search engine)  Also on utube there are some good videos. PM MRW or Martin for some great hints on extension. He helped me alot and is still on the boards. Nice guy. Read some of the diaries--if you havent--you will pick up some hints.
There are those who recover quickly from a tkr=and then there are those who come along slower. From what I have experienced and seen on the boards, some keys to recovery --

 education--the more you know the more you may control your end results
 determination--you will have some down times-but you have to jump back in the game.
 realization--everyone is different in their outcome
 work--work and more work
 patience--this is a turtle and the hare game
 love --yourself--pat yourself on the back for each little victory -- ease up on yourself when things are tough==ask for help when you need it
 laugh--even if you are  hysterical because it hurts so bad====my tkr buddies and I had some serious good times

Stay on the boards and strengthen ties with others. They will help get you through some tough times. I really benifited from relationships formed here during my recovery.

This is a great time to find out what your really made of
Take Care Work Hard
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