MUA 1 year this month on TKR

[volLady]

4 days since MUA and very sore and stiff. I have so much pain in my quad, calf,and thigh muscles right now. Still swollen but I cannot get the bend like he did during MUA. I told my OS why is my knee still swollen and feels warm all the time. His response was, you are still healing inside. Why do doctors push the ROM so quick? His answer was...scar tissue. I just feel like I am going to be one of those that will reach their ROM more slowly due to the swelling and stiffness. Maybe I will never be right. Before surgery and even before my knees were so bad I never had a good bend. So I have decided I am going to do my best in healing on my own and take my time than trying to compare myself with everyone else. I have cried, screamed,and so depressed because I push myself and still feel like I have not accomplished anything. I am at 7 wks now and now I wonder if I did the right choice. He doesn't want me to go to PT anymore because he said I could do it at home now. Doing it 3 times daily. I pedal on my bike and do bending. Today I just feel like I am not just going anywhere at this stage......god bless to all ....sorry for my rant

 

[JusticeRider]

Today I just feel like I am not just going anywhere at this stage......god bless to all ....sorry for my rant

@volLady , please don’t feel bad for ranting. You have every right to be upset, and this is just the right place to come and talk about it. I hear the pain in your words and I am so sorry things are so hard right now. Please feel free to vent all you want, we are here to listen and support you.

Before surgery and even before my knees were so bad I never had a good bend. So I have decided I am going to do my best in healing on my own and take my time than trying to compare myself with everyone else.

I was the same, very limited bend for two years leading up to surgery, and some even further back. That can absolutely make it take longer to get bend back after surgery. All those muscles and tendons and soft tissue have shortened and tightened and can take a while to stretch back out. None of this is your fault. You are doing your best, volLady.

One more thing: please allow yourself to rest. You have tried so hard. Your mental health will benefit and your poor inflamed knee will benefit too. And while you’re resting, come here and talk to us. We understand, I promise

 

[Jaycey]

I am at 7 wks now and now I wonder if I did the right choice.

Very sorry you are going through this. But I need to tell you that you are not 7 weeks out now. Basically you start all over again post MUA.

Doing PT 3 times per day plus peddling is getting you no where. That knee is angry. It needs a bit of TLC - not forcing.

The choice is yours. But since you are not seeing the results as you force this knee, how about trying the slow and steady approach?

 

[sistersinhim]

I am at 7 wks now

No, your starting time is now February 21, 2023. When you have a MUA it starts your recovery all over again. You should treat your knee like the newborn baby it is. All the damage from the MUA has to be recovered from before you can get back to where you were.

He doesn't want me to go to PT anymore because he said I could do it at home now. Doing it 3 times daily. I pedal on my bike and do bending. Today I just feel like I am not just going anywhere at this stage......god bless to all ....sorry for my rant

Rant all you want. This is the place to do it. We understand the pain, swelling, and frustration you are going through. If you try and push now, you will just keep your knee inflamed causing more pain and swelling. Now is the time to do nothing but your gentle walks when you do your daily activities. No bikes, exercises, or pushing. But, lots of ice and elevating. I pray that your knee calms down. God bless you, too.

 

[Jamie]

@volLady …. I’m so glad you decided to stay with us for support during your recovery. Please know you are not alone in this and your BoneSmart family is happy to be your sounding board, no matter whether you’re venting or celebrating a milestone reached (they will come, honest!)

Your surgeon was right about the fact that your knee is still healing. During the MUA, the anesthetic ensures all your muscles are lax, so he forcibly bends your knee every which way to break up any adhesions that might have formed. Everyone swells and hurts afterwards and your knee starts the healing process inside all over again. This aggressive bending is necessary if a person actually does have adhesions that are limiting movement. Many surgeons boast a little about the amount of flex they get during the procedure, but in reality very few patients are able to duplicate that ROM for quite a while afterwards because of the inflammation and swelling resulting from the trauma of the procedure itself.

The pain, warmth, and swelling you’re feeling is all very normal after an MUA and you must treat your knee gently to reduce the inflammation. No “working“ to get ROM. Just gentle bends and stretches every couple of hours only to the point of mild discomfort. Also do some walking around the house for 5-10 minutes every few hours. Don’t spend excessive amounts of time sitting up in a chair with your foot on the floor. Elevate and ice your leg (toes above the nose) for a majority of your day. Ice your knee at night while you sleep. Ice, in addition to helping with the swelling, is excellent for pain relief. If you’re hurting, take something for the pain. Two Extra Strength Tylenol every 6 hours on a schedule works for many people. You can also add in an NSAID such as Aleve, if you are able to take them.

Please go back over your thread and reread the links for recovery that were provided. They will be your guidelines as to what to expect in your recovery and when. They are just a guide, though, and everyone’s recovery is unique. Listen to your body and when it lets you know you’re doing too much (pain, swelling), scale things back for a few days and try again. I believe you have the right mindset when you say that you’re just going to let your body heal on its own schedule. This is exactly what you should do. Healing cannot be “worked on” or hurried. Your new knee may be in perfect alignment, but all the surrounding soft tissues are not and they must slowly readjust to your new normal.

Also, read the posts that people made for you as you were considering your MUA. Whether you should or should not have had it is not important now. You will go forward from the trauma of the procedure and healing will take place. It’s important to listen to your fellow BoneSmarties, many who have been exactly where you are right now and survived. You will too. We’ll always be here to hear how you’re doing and address any concerns you may have. Hang in there!!!

 

[Cinders2023]

@volLady, when I read your post this morning I just sat and cried. Every word could have been written by me. My surgery was the day before yours. I have an appointment with my OS march 15, where I expect him to tell me I will need the MUA. At my 2 week and 6 week visit two different PAs told me I was headed for an MUA. A week ago I could bend 90, but after 3 days of pushing myself I am sore and stiff and probably not even bending past 80 today. I cancelled my PT today. I have been trying to take it easy since Monday just doing household chores in between resting with ice and elevation. The PA wanted me to go to PT 3x a week until I return, but I could only manage one time this week and spent the rest of the week miserable. Be easy on yourself, there are people here that understand what you are going through. They are here to root for you and support you on your journey.

 

[volLady]

thank you all for helping me. I just wish I could get past 90 on my ROM. I am suppose to see the surgeon again this coming Tuesday and I really dread what he will say and do. lov to all

 

[sistersinhim]

You will get to 90 degrees and even more than that, but not until the swelling goes down. You are only 3 days out from your procedure and will only be a week out on Tuesday. If I were you, I'd cancel my OS appointment. That will give you more time to heal and have less swelling before seeing him. Just call and tell them you need a few weeks to heal before getting out and riding in a car.

 

[volLady]

You will get to 90 degrees and even more than that, but not until the swelling goes down. You are only 3 days out from your surgery and will only be a week out on Tuesday. If I were you, I'd cancel my OS appointment. That will give you more time to heal and have less swelling before seeing him. Just call and tell them you need a few weeks to heal before getting out and riding in a car.

cannot sleep tonight. my leg and muscles are so sore that I can barely put weight on my knee. since the MUA my quad, thigh, and back of knee feels like it goes into spasms. if I had mt time over with I don't think I would of had knee surgery in the first place. My knee is so swollen,hot and stiff that I don't know what else to do now. I use my pedal bike, stretches and heel pulls and seems like I am not getting nowhere with the.I have pain on the inner side of the kneecap when I pull back to get more ROM and it hurts so bad that I almost scream. He said he got my knee to 130 then why can't I do it to now? I just don't understand why it want bend more.....God Bless......so depressed, and I feel so that my husband doesn't understand it either.

 

[EalingGran]

If the surgeon got your knee to 130 then it must just be swelling and pain that are limiting your movements. I would just rest/ ice and elevate with some really gentle heel slides or even just swinging your leg a little when seated.
I don't think even quite prolonged rest can harm your knee - so long as you keep up some gentle movements.
I was on pretty much bed rest for 5 days last week in hospital for an unrelated condition and I didn't lose any ROM and my residual pain and swelling disappeared.

 

[sistersinhim]

I use my pedal bike, stretches and heel pulls and seems like I am not getting nowhere with the.I have pain on the inner side of the kneecap when I pull back to get more ROM and it hurts so bad that I almost scream.

Stop all of this. You are only keeping your knee inflamed. Inflammation causes swelling, you can't bend a swollen knee.

He said he got my knee to 130 then why can't I do it to now? I just don't understand why it want bend more.

He got it to 130, but that was forced much further than your knee was ready to be forced to bend. Now, you have all this swelling because of that forced bend. Think about a water hose that is full of water with the nozzle closed up so none of the water will come out. Try to roll or fold it up. You can't because the water is in the way. Your knee is the same way. Your knee is full of fluid, and that is what causes all that swelling and pain. Get that 'water' out and your knee will start to bend. How do you get it out? You stop all that exercising, you rest it and ice and elevate it. Your body will begin to flush out all the fluid that is causing your knee to hurt and not bend. Once the fluid is flushed out through your kidneys, then your knee will start to bend better. It is IMPOSSIBLE to bend a swollen knee well because the fluid is in the way. Stop all that exercising and it will improve the bend in a few weeks.

If you read back on the posts before you had the MUA and read that we warned you that this would probably happen. We have seen this over and over again through the years. Our experience tells us that your knee will not get better until you stop all your exercising and just use your knee normally during the day. Our knees know how to recover themselves without all that extra exercising. God knew what He was doing when He created our bodies!

 

[Layla]

You, and only you, VolLady, can give your tired, aching body the TLC it deserves. Try to shut out all of the noise and take care of yourself in ways that are healing, not through unnecessary procedures, unnecessary PT and all else you've been engaging in that is hindering your progress.

I have cried, screamed, and so depressed because I push myself and still feel like I have not accomplished anything.

Please stop pushing yourself. This is heartbreaking.

View yourself as injured, because you are injured from the controlled trauma of your TKR and now the MUA. Try something different, because what you're doing has not been beneficial to the healing process and it's sad that you keep struggling physically and mentally as you continue to do the same thing, with the same result. Time to switch gears and try something new. Rest, ice, elevation, gentle stretches, easy walks and engaging in the activities of daily living. What do you have to lose?

There is no need to dread what the surgeon will say. It appears many tried to caution you from following his recommendation of a MUA at this early date. I am sure the decision was difficult because we choose and trust that our surgeon has our best interest in mind. However, what works for one, does not work for all as evidenced through the accounts on this forum. You do not have to take your surgeon's opinion as your only option. This is your body, your recovery, yours alone. Be bold and decide that you will allow your body to heal through gentle movement and activity that feels healing, not in ways that result in more pain.
Wishes for your comfort and s-l-o-w, but steady progress toward perfect healing.
@volLady

 

[volLady]

thank you all for the kind words. I really appreciate it. I will keep you all posted.

 

[Pumpkin]

Doing it 3 times daily. I pedal on my bike and do bending. Today I just feel like I am not just going anywhere at this stage

Probably because you are doing way too much for your poor swollen knee, give your knee a break, let the swelling go down and your ROM will slowly emerge.

 

[beachy]

volLady
We are 1 week apart in our tkr recovery. I know the fears you were having about your ROM. Its difficult when your doc is stressing MUA. But, we have to understand that most of our docs have not had tkr. Can't blame you for listening to your doc's advice about the MUA

Now you have to realize that you have to start the healing process over again. And that starts with rest, ice, elevation. And pain meds.
You will not get a bend or flex when you are so swollen. This is reality.
Doc got your flex to 130 because you were under anesthesia or nerve block.
He forcibly manipulated the new knee. Thats going to affect your whole leg in terms of pain.

Icing the knee (for hours) and keeping it elevated takes some patience, but helps so much with the pain and swelling.
Sending you hugs. You can do this.

 

[Jamie]

I’m sending you hugs as well. I know it’s difficult to stay positive when you’re worried and in a lot of pain, but you must give your knee some time.…not just a few days, but many weeks to recover from all this. Your surgeon was able to move your knee, so that motion is there just waiting for you. Your job is to ice, elevate, rest, take pain meds when needed and allow your body to stop swelling. Once you get that PAIN-SWELLING cycle started, it can be very difficult to get it turned off. The only thing that works is to stop exercising, stop pushing yourself to the point of serious pain, and let your system calm down. Your knee is not going to freeze at this ROM level. But you are going to greatly delay your return to normal by continuing to push.

Spouses frequently don’t “get it” with joint replacements. So your hubby is normal in that regard. Most people think of the recovery as something akin to having a sprain or overworked muscles where you can ”work through the pain.” That’s not the case with joint replacements. I can promise you that the harder you work and the more you worry, the longer this will continue. Please give yourself permission to be kind to your body for the next month. You won’t regret it. Promise!

 

[volLady]

still some soreness on the inner side of the knee up mid ways to the thigh. don't know if it is a tendon or not but very sore. I have a question though. I ordered a peddler bike which I like and have been using it. today I went 30 minutes on it but took my time. Anyway, does this bike help with my ROM any? I know it is a dumb question to ask but will it help with my ROM since I had a MUA 6 days ago. I know one thing whatever he did the back of my knee and calf area is so sore that I had to go back on my walker to stabilize my gait more.I guess I learned my lesson with the MUA. No more surgeries for me.....

 

[JusticeRider]

today I went 30 minutes on it but took my time. Anyway, does this bike help with my ROM any? I know it is a dumb question to ask but will it help with my ROM since I had a MUA 6 days ago.

volLady, yes a stationary bike can help with ROM. But probably not if you use it for 30 minutes straight just 6 days after a MUA.

That really sounds like too much too soon on your twice traumatized knee. If anything it’s probably hurting your ROM instead, due to swelling.

I don’t think you’re going to see any real progress with your ROM until you can find a way to stop working that knee so hard and rest.

 

[Layla]

Anyway, does this bike help with my ROM any? I know it is a dumb question to ask but will it help with my ROM since I had a MUA 6 days ago.

You really need to rest, ice and elevate, volLady, to allow for the swelling to dissipate and the pain to ease. Do you feel you can do this for a couple weeks?

Walks around the house, activities of daily living and LOTS of rest, ICE and ELEVATION. This is the type of care you need to give yourself right now if you want to heal and move forward. Please give it a try.

 

[sistersinhim]

I ordered a peddler bike which I like and have been using it. today I went 30 minutes on it but took my time. Anyway, does this bike help with my ROM any?

No, 30 minutes of this will not help your ROM in these early days after your MUA. If anything it's going to keep your knee inflamed, swollen, and painful and probably hurting your ROM. 5 minutes would be more than enough. Better yet, wait a few more weeks before doing even that. The only thing your knee needs is to rest, ice, and elevate, along with doing just your gentle daily activities until the swelling and pain go away. Your knee is extremely traumatized from your TKR and even more so now after your MUA and needs to be treated like the newborn baby that it is.