MUA 1 Week post op

[Raffs]

Post as often as you like. Many of us post lots of times every day. Others less often. Whatever you want is just fine!

 

[Josephine]

Oh post here - PM's hide critical information from everybody else. Defeats the objective of the forum.
And some people (like me!) post about 100 times a day! I take it you haven't found the Games Room yet then?

 

[Slainte]

Yes. Keep posting. We all learn from your experience, and also love to give advice!

 

[kneeper]

I did some heel slides and other exercises but not many in a day. That laying face down and hanging your leg off doesn't require weights at this stage and imho stresses the leg too much.
Don't just be a complete lump, but more is not better with activity/exercise, especially in the first month or so.

If I haven't mentioned it in your thread before, most of my pain was in the form of stiffness & pain meds helped it.

 

[Braunzie]

@KameronSteele - just now reading your thread.. My surgery was just a day before yours, not sure how I've missed you up to this point! I will chime in with everyone else - post as much as you'd like and / or when the "spirit moves you". That can be if you have a question, if you have hit a milestone, or if you're experiencing a bit of the blues, or you're just down right frustrated!! It's nice to share! We've all run the gambit of those emotions. It's a great place to feel camaraderie with people who completely understand the feelings and emotions you're experiencing. That is mental therapy in and of itself, which I know I need on a regular basis..

 

[KameronSteele]

@Braunzie, yeah I don't know how we missed each other either! I read your thread and I am absolutely speechless! Your ROM is just incredible! I have to wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Could you answer some questions for me when you have a moment?
1) did you ever have the stiffness/ tight band feeling that many describe? If so, when did that go away?
2) it seems you started PT right outta the chute. If so, did you ever have to force, tug, or pull your knee in to get it bent?
3) last week I was at approximately 90 while still pulling and tugging, but felt like my knee was gonna pop/ explode etc.so decided to medicate more often and lay off all exercises, which I haven't done any for 4 days. Now I'm estimating my ROM 25-30. Down considerably from the previous week. It seems to be getting less and less. It is still very very stiff, hard and warm to touch but bc of my meds it doesn't bother me as much. I'm using the tramadol/Tylenol sched floating around here on BS. But make no mistake THIS SUCKER WILL NOT BEND..AT ALL!
4) I'm still on 2 crutches and very unsteady. I'm not happy ab that. Before surgery my OS said he wasn't gonna order PT for me bc I was such a go getter he didn't think I would need it. Should I request it? And even if I did..this knee AINT BENDING so what would be the point?
5) I'm icing several times a day (1 hr each session) w/ proper elevation per the pic.
6) I'm very worried

I'd love feedback from anyone. Thank you.

 

[KameronSteele]

I did some heel slides and other exercises but not many in a day. That laying face down and hanging your leg off doesn't require weights at this stage and imho stresses the leg too much.
Don't just be a complete lump, but more is not better with activity/exercise, especially in the first month or so.

If I haven't mentioned it in your thread before, most of my pain was in the form of stiffness & pain meds helped it.

@kneeper, did the meds actually help with allowing it to bend or you just didn't care that it was stiff bc you had pain meds on board? Lol.

And those prone hangs are excruciating so I don't do them. I sit and push my quad down but that's not exactly fun either!

 

[SarahJane]

Please, please, please get your OS to prescribe PT for you. I do think it'd be helpful for you to have someone who can provide support and guidance and, above all, reassurance that this is a months long recovery process, not a 100 meter dash to an arbitrary finish line.

Go to the physical therapist

ONLY IF
REALLY, TRULY, I CANNOT SAY THIS ENOUGH
ONLY IF

the physical therapist subscribes to the Bonesmart mantras. What you DO NOT NEED is a physical therapist who approaches this as singlemindedly and unforgivingly as you were at the beginning. I only skimmed your thread (late at night here), but I was thinking what in blazes possessed you to do those weighted exercises so early in your recovery. You basically had your bones sawed off just like an amputee on a Civil War battlefield and a hunk of metal and plastic placed between them. The soft tissue needs to heal. Too strenuous work will only trigger more swelling and impaired ROM.

I'm sorry if I am coming across harshly. I'm coming from a place of concern and caring.

I iced about 23/7 for the first several weeks. I had a protective cloth, towel, etc., between my skin and the ice pack. But this was essential to my pain relief as well as to reducing the swelling and inflammation. Some people have said that the cyrocuff ice machines aren't cold enough for them, believe it or not. If you're still having issues you might want to try switching between ice packs and the machine for a while.

I'm not a medical professional and want to make it clear I am only sharing my experience with you. I do really hope you get a few PT visits, though. The therapists are able to spend more time with you than you get in an OS visit, and could give you some valuable feedback based on their observation and experience. You might benefit from someone demonstrating how to do the few (I hope) exercises they suggest, and observing how you're doing them, to make sure you're doing them correctly.

You're right to keep an eye on the temperature. Hopefully it'll go down as you spend the vast majority of your time icing, elevating, resting, and not forcing your knee to do anything. If it continues, you might want to let your OS' office know about it. How does your incision look? Is it becoming more red, tender, looking like there might be some puss underneath the skin, etc.? If so, definitely check with your OS office. Best to make sure you're not courting an infection.

Here's hoping the recovery path gets much easier for you. Please let us know how you're doing.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

3) last week I was at approximately 90 while still pulling and tugging, but felt like my knee was gonna pop/ explode etc.so decided to medicate more often and lay off all exercises, which I haven't done any for 4 days. Now I'm estimating my ROM 25-30. Down considerably from the previous week. It seems to be getting less and less. It is still very very stiff, hard and warm to touch but bc of my meds it doesn't bother me as much....
5) I'm icing several times a day (1 hr each session) w/ proper elevation per the pic.
6) I'm very worried

I'd love feedback from anyone. Thank you.

It's only a month out. Please don't worry, at least not yet. It may take more than 4 days for the recovery from exercise (if you've been overdoing it) to kick in. And as it's very stiff (that means it's swollen inside) and warm it's clearly been aggravated somehow. When you take painkillers, do you then do things that you otherwise wouldn't? Please don't!

Doing VERY LITTLE is correct when the knee is swollen and tight. Very gentle stretching exercises only, NO exercise that puts any force through the knee, no pain.

 

[CATSMUM]

Roy's absolutely right about doing very little exercise when you're knee is stiff. Your knee will ease up in its own time. You're still in the early stages of recovery. I'm just over 10 weeks out and it was a good 6 weeks or so before my ROM began to show signs of improvement.
You must ice, rest, elevate and take you meds.

 

[Braunzie]

Hi @KameronSteele - I'll be more than happy to answer your questions..

1) I've always had the tight band feeling / stiffness and it hasn't gone away yet. UGH!! Can't wait for the day that it does!!!
2) Yes, I started PT right away, and the number of exercises they gave me were way too many, causing a lot of pain and frustration. Checked in here and got the advice to reduce the times of day I was doing them, and that really helped. No one (except for last week with a new therapist) ever tugged or pushed. I hate pain and also, with the guidance found in this site, know that should never be allowed. It is counter productive.
3) The first 4 weeks, I probably spent 80-90% of my time elevating and icing.. Pretty much whenever I was not up doing exercises. Also, took pain meds BY THE CLOCK. Even now, when I get up and start walking, my knee is very stiff and takes a while to "remember" how not to be AS STIFF. It is still swollen and still warm to the touch when compared to my other knee. I only gave up narcotics about a week ago, but will take one if Ibuprofen and Tylenol are not cutting it.. which was only once in the middle of the night after my physical terrorist attack..
4) I'm still on one crutch mostly around the house, two crutches when I go outside. I'm just barely starting to be able to try to walk unaided around the house, mostly in the kitchen / dining room / bedroom areas where I'm not far from being able to find something to steady myself. How I would LOVE to be able to move freely with confidence without help!! (Patience is a virtue, so I'm told!! ) I agree with @SarahJane that it might be beneficial for you to have a PT who can guide you and give you reassurance, but ONLY if they are not on their own agenda and prescribe to the Bonesmart manta..
5) You might want to try icing and elevating for more extended periods of time until your swelling goes down. Have you been back to your OS for a follow up? Curious to know what kind of feedback you have gotten from him/her? I'm no expert, but you might try JUST doing gentle heel slides a couple times a day to get back into the exercises.. Hopefully by more icing / elevating, the swelling will go down and your knee will be more cooperative.
6) I can completely understand being worried.. I worry with where I am in the process.. As others have said, it's still very early in our recovery.. Right now, it sounds like you just need to back up a bit, ice, elevate, take your pain meds as necessary and begin slowly to try to move your knee. And talk to your doctor about your condition and see if he would now refer you to a PT to help you.. gently..

Hope that helps.. Hang in there!!!

 

[Josephine]

I'm estimating my ROM 25-30. Down considerably from the previous week. It seems to be getting less and less. It is still very very stiff, hard and warm to touch but bc of my meds it doesn't bother me as much. I'm using the tramadol/Tylenol sched floating around here on BS. But make no mistake THIS SUCKER WILL NOT BEND..AT ALL!

So how do you know your ROM is down to 25? Have you been trying it out? Is it swollen at all?

I did advise you that this is not going to change in a few days. You've hammered it so much, it's grossly swollen and now you need to let that undo itself which is going to take 2-3 weeks more at least. Be strong and don't lose faith. It will improve. Just stop trying to make it do so now!

However, if you choose not to follow this line and go back to doing your exercises, it is your choice.

 

[Josephine]

Go to the physical therapist

ONLY IF
REALLY, TRULY, I CANNOT SAY THIS ENOUGH
ONLY IF

the physical therapist subscribes to the Bonesmart mantras.

@SarahJane I likes your style, girl!

 

[kneeper]

@kneeper, did the meds actually help with allowing it to bend or you just didn't care that it was stiff bc you had pain meds on board? Lol.

Oh, it's not like it won't be stiff with limited bending; but it won't be that achy stiffness that's so uncomfortable. Bend takes time.

 

[KameronSteele]

@Roy Gardiner , no definitely not. I take meds, then sit, ice and elevate.

@Braunzie, How did/do you exercise if its so tight? Assuming your band feeling is like mine..ridiculously tight.
It seems maybe I did the same thing as you..overdid it in the beginning. The only difference being a PT overdid yours and I overdid my own.
So if youre still stiff and swollen (as I am) maybe Im just being a pansy and need to push it more? Im really confused..we both are stiff and swollen, you have ROM and I don't. Can you take a pic of your knee for me if its not too much trouble? Maybe our definitions of swollen are different.
only been back to OS at 2 week post op..
Im icing more, and started back today with prone hangs ( as its harder to straighten since ive laid off exercises) and 10 gentle heel slides sitting on bed with foot on floor. not sure how to reply answering multiple quotes. hopefully you can read this.

So how do you know your ROM is down to 25? Have you been trying it out? Is it swollen at all?.

well I know 90 is sitting on a bed and foot completely straight down. 1/2 that would be 45 and im not even close to that. so I estimate 25-30 based on knowing what 90 is.

 

[KameronSteele]

I did advise you that this is not going to change in a few days. You've hammered it so much, it's grossly swollen and now you need to let that undo itself which is going to take 2-3 weeks more at least. Be strong and don't lose faith. It will improve. Just stop trying to make it do so now!

However, if you choose not to follow this line and go back to doing your exercises, it is your choice.

you did advise me and it's me remembering your advice that Im having a hard time with. and no on the exercises...just gentle stretching if my knee says its ok. what is your take on Braunzie and me both hammering our knees yet she has outstanding ROM and, well..you know where I am. Can swollen knees respond THAT differently?

 

[kneeper]

Yes, different people, different knees. Even people who have had two knees done find each knee different in recovery.

 

[Braunzie]

@KameronSteele , Remember, I corrected my "overdoing" exercises pretty early on and I've been very careful not to since then. And indeed, the stiffness is relative, but I just wanted to clarify that even with my ROM, there is still stiffness and definitely a tight band feeling - likely not the degree of stiffness you are experiencing. While I can tell I am still swollen, that too, is relative.. and I am much less swollen than I was earlier on. While it's good to see what others are doing, we need to be careful not to compare ourselves to others, because everyone has different factors, different knees, etc.. Even one person will have different stories with two different knees.

Please DON'T push your knee more!!!! I think you need to take it easy and relax a bit about ROM. (And there is no drop dead time-frame in which you need to meet a specific ROM measurement - hopefully you've read the related article in the forum?) I've been thinking a lot lately that there is a heck of a lot more to recovery than ROM. It is a single indicator among many potential factors. I've seen folks post here that they are walking unassisted at the same time frame as I when I'm not. I've also seen people who can go up and down stairs without using the "two step", at the same time frame as I when I can't. Yes, I may be a bit jealous and wish I could do those things, but what I have learned - with the help of this forum - is that my knee has a mind of its own, and I need to listen. It is the master and I am the slave, so to speak. What other people's knees are "allowing" them to do is something I have absolutely no control over.

I would continue to do gentle slides, but I think I read somewhere here that the prone hangs (which is where you lie on your stomach on the bed and let your legs hang off the bed?) are a bit hard on the knees. Maybe someone can chime in and confirm? To stretch for extension, I have been putting a rolled towel under my ankle and relaxing my leg to let it stretch. Some folks have made some good suggestions how to stretch when sitting in a chair or standing at the kitchen sink.

Ice, elevate, and rest a LOT! That will probably help more than anything you can do right now. Hope this helps..

 

[Roy Gardiner]

maybe Im just being a pansy and need to push it more?

No, please don't.

prone hangs ( as its harder to straighten since ive laid off exercises) and 10 gentle heel slides sitting on bed with foot on floor.

Heel slides are good. There are other ways of doing extension stretches, please check my exercises thread from my signature, below.

 

[KarriB]

@KameronSteele it's going to take a few days to get your swelling down before you can begin to gently work on ROM again. I imagine you have a very angry knee.
As far as extension, I couldn't even think about laying on my stomach for months, so when I wasn't elevating I put my foot on the ottoman and let my knee bridge between the chair and ottoman. It was the only thing I did for extension which is better than my natural knee.