MUA 1 year this month on TKR

[volLady]

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.

I am so confused with this mess after MUA.OS stated that he wants me to bend knee 3 times daily, ice and rest. Whatever he done during the MUA has got me so sore in the thigh area on the inner side of knee, like a tendon or muscle. The back of my leg cramps and hurt since the MUA.it didn't do this until he done this MUA. I don't know why he wants to see me this week,Tuesday. Checking to see what my ROM is I guess. Guess he thinks I can do 130 since he done Sitwell I got news for him...I can't right now... I am so fed up with this surgery...sorry. for the rant ladies....

 

[volLady]

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.

then why do PT push you to the limit after surgery? Do they, doctors,PT people not know what kind of pain we are in, much less be depressed worried over their quota of ROM. Do they not understand that people are slower in healing but are trying their best?

 

[Layla]

You realize that you can do whatever you choose at this point as far as your recovery goes, but what is your body telling you to do? Do more, push harder, no pain, no gain? Or is it begging for TLC through rest to heal from the trauma it's endured? Did your surgeon or PT ever recover from TKR? Do they feel your pain? They've convinced you that their way is the right way through the success they've seen in some, or in what they've been taught. The stories found here of real people recovering from TKR's should account for something also. I don't know about you, but I know who I'd look to for advice and it wouldn't be a PT that's caused me pain, or a surgeon that pushed MUA at such an early date. In the end, the choice is yours, to let the healing begin, or prolong the agony.
@volLady

 

[JusticeRider]

I totally relate to your frustration, volLady. Imagine all the stress and pain and tears we’d be saved if the docs and pt’s didn’t push us, shame us, and threaten us. If I ever have to do this again (and I probably will), I’m going to tune out all that noise and let my knee take whatever time it needs from the beginning. I only wish I’d found BoneSmart sooner.

I think surgeons are good at surgery but not so good at after care. I think PT’s are good at injury rehab but not so good at TKA recovery. They both seem to view our bodies as machines. Only you know your body and what makes it feel better or worse.

Unlike our surgeons who see us maybe 2 or 3 times post op, BoneSmart has seen thousands of patients like us go through EVERY stage of joint replacement recovery. Patients from all over the world from every background. Like Layla said, they hear real people’s stories, challenges, fears, and successes. They read our sometimes DAILY updates. They see over and over what works and what doesn’t.

That’s why I chose to go with their advice rather than my surgeon’s or pt’s. I stopped going to those appointments and stopped obsessing over ROM, and it has saved me months of mental and physical pain. I know it is so confusing when you get such conflicting advice, but what you’ve been doing isn’t working, so maybe try the gentle way instead.

 

[sistersinhim]

then why do PT push you to the limit after surgery? Do they, doctors,PT people not know what kind of pain we are in, much less be depressed worried over their quota of ROM. Do they not understand that people are slower in healing but are trying their best?

The PTs that are properly trained in joint replacement rehab know that the gentle, non-pushing therapy is best for a joint replacement. Many OSs also know that the gentle approach is better. I was blessed to have a surgeon that never pushed PT. He gave me a prescription for it, which I threw away and never went. When I went for my 3 return checkups, all he was interested in was to see what my knee would do and never measured. He never even asked about PT! Of course, he knew I was a single lady that had to take care of myself and obviously trusted that I would not be just laying around all the time.

Because of birth defects, I had to have 12 knee surgeries, so I've had lots of knee recovery experience. I knew from that experience that I did not need formal PT after my TKR, and neither do many others if they do their own daily activities and do not just sit around all day and night. My knee recovered just fine all on its own with only my daily activities. I didn't have the terrible swelling or agonizing pain that so many have after taking formal PT. I knew the Bonesmart way worked before Bonesmart was even thought of. My surgeries started in the early 80s and I never went to PT even back then. I just didn't see the need for it. Bonesmart was formed around 2004. By then I had already had 6 knee surgeries and rehabbed the Bonesmart way!

 

[beachy]

No, most docs don't have a clue what this recovery is like. Unless they've gone through it.
It's now time for you to be your own advocate. Again.....it sounds like a broken record, but so true....ice almost constantly, elevate almost constantly, rest. And read the progression chart about what you should and shouldn't be doing. Especially 5 days post op. Otherwise you're in for a very long, painful recovery.
Hang in there!

 

[volLady]

No, most docs don't have a clue what this recovery is like. Unless they've gone through it.
It's now time for you to be your own advocate. Again.....it sounds like a broken record, but so true....ice almost constantly, elevate almost constantly, rest. And read the progression chart about what you should and shouldn't be doing. Especially 5 days post op. Otherwise you're in for a very long, painful recovery.
Hang in there!

How is your surgery doing?

 

[volLady]

then why do PT push you to the limit after surgery? Do they, doctors,PT people not know what kind of pain we are in, much less be depressed worried over their quota of ROM. Do they not understand that people are slower in healing but are trying their best?

The PTs that are properly trained in joint replacement rehab know that the gentle, non-pushing therapy is best for a joint replacement. Many OSs also know that the gentle approach is better. I was blessed to have a surgeon that never pushed PT. He gave me a prescription for it, which I threw away and never went. When I went for my 3 return checkups, all he was interested in was to see what my knee would do and never measured. He never even asked about PT! Of course, he knew I was a single lady that had to take care of myself and obviously trusted that I would not be just laying around all the time.

Because of birth defects, I had to have 12 knee surgeries, so I've had lots of knee recovery experience. I knew from that experience that I did not need formal PT after my TKR, and neither do many others if they do their own daily activities and do not just sit around all day and night. My knee recovered just fine all on its own with only my daily activities. I didn't have the terrible swelling or agonizing pain that so many have after taking formal PT. I knew the Bonesmart way worked before Bonesmart was even thought of. My surgeries started in the early 80s and I never went to PT even back then. I just didn't see the need for it. Bonesmart was formed around 2004. By then I had already had 6 knee surgeries and rehabbed the Bonesmart way!

I bought one of those measuring devices that measures your ROM. It was at 92.3 ... I can't imagine what my surgeon will say tomorrow......

 

[sistersinhim]

Cancel your appointment and you won't have to worry about it. I don't understand why you would want to put yourself through all that worry. It's your knee, your recovery and you are his boss, not the other way around. You are also the boss of PT. You are paying them and they are your employees!

92 degrees is great for all the swelling you have! The way you talked I thought it was much worse than that. You are really doing well and don't let anyone tell you that you aren't!

 

[beachy]

My recovery is right on schedule, thanks for asking. If you want to hear all about it I'll be totally honest with you. Here goes.....

This is my second tkr. Once you've gone through it with Bonesmart, you have an idea what to do and not do. I've had 4 PT sessions. I told them beforehand that I would not tolerate aggressive PT. No forcibly pushing or bending my knee. If they didn't agree I would go elsewhere. And I started close to 4 weeks post op.
I'm not sure if I will continue. I can do the exercises on my own and still attain good ROM.
That's how I did it for first recovery, too. My ROM came back by taking short walks, ADLs, some exercising.
That's why I said you have to be your own advocate. You know how your knee feels, not your doc or pt's.
My knee swells, feels tight like a vice grip at times. THAT'S NORMAL for 6 1/2 weeks. Its telling me to ice and elevate. And this can continue for quite awhile. However, the severity gradually decreases.
At 6 1/2 weeks post op I'm SLOWLY feeling better. I don't expect to be on my feet more than 20-30 min. Then I swell.

Please heed what the staff are telling you.
If you have questions about my recovery feel free to ask. Just remember that it's my recovery and the way I chose to do it. Everyone is different.

 

[volLady]

My first post op appt is next Thurs. I'm prepared that he will give me some push back on ROM. I've only been to PT twice. I know I'm at 90 + on flex. I don't really care what doc says LOL. I know ROM continues long past the initial recovery. And I will tell him not to bend or push my knee. Or else. LOL

Your appt is going to be great! Please let us know how it goes!

I will

 

[beachy]

@volLady
I think that post was before your MUA.
Are you feeling any better today?

 

[volLady]

update......saw OS today. Said everything looks good and keep bending the knee, either exercise or ADL.Whatever is best for me. OS did tell me it takes time to recover from this surgery and some recovers quicker than others. Some form scar tissue and some doesn't. Told me not to worry about my ROM,that it might take awhile to get there. Done a little shopping after and it felt so good to be outside in 80 degree weather here in Tennessee. My knee is the size of a watermelon...lol... but ID care!.... Thank you all for listening to my rants this week....hugs to all!

 

[sistersinhim]

Now, that is really good news. It sounds like he agrees with us and to let your knee heal on its own timeframe. He even said ADL are OK! I think you'll find that your knee will be much happier with doing just those and not stressing your knee and emotions with all those exercises! Yay! Get ice on your watermelon and elevate that thing for the next few weeks until that watermelon becomes an apple!

 

[volLady]

Now, that is really good news. It sounds like he agrees with us and to let your knee heal on its own timeframe. He even said ADL are OK! I think you'll find that your knee will be much happier with doing just those and not stressing your knee and emotions with all those exercises! Yay! Get ice on your watermelon and elevate that thing for the next few weeks until that watermelon becomes an apple!

I hope it looks like an apple tomorrow. lol.....I need my other knee fixed but I might wait this fall, depends on how I am doing with this one. I love to garden, make salsa from my tomatoes, and seeing after my flowers so it really depends. I still can't walk alone unless I have my cane but OS doesn't care cause he knows my other knee is very unstable at times.I can be walking and all of a sudden it will buckle under me and I almost fall. It is bone on bone. At times I can hear the crunch sounds I have to watch what I do. Right now I am icing. Sure hope I sleep good tonight after doing some walking in Lowes and Sams Wholesale today. It felt so good just to get out and see other people than beside my husband all the time...lol...He is retired and I am a retired nurse. I left nursing when I was 52 so I could babysit our 1st grand baby,never regretted it either..... hugs to you and to all that has helped me...GOD BLESS!

 

[sistersinhim]

sure hope I sleep good tonight after doing some walking in Lowes and Sams Wholesale today.

You probably shouldn't have been doing this, too, after your already busy day. So wonder it looked like a watermelon. Ice all night, if you need to. As long as you have a cloth between your leg and the ice pack, you can ice 24/7. I almost did for the first 6 weeks or so.

 

[CricketHip]

@volLady I'm sorry you are worrying so and that you still have so much swelling. Please go back through your thread here, to post #34 and read my post on Lymphatic Drainage.
It isn't difficult to do and if you do it at least 2 times daily, you might move some of that inflammation/swelling.

 

[Layla]

I sense your relief after the reassurance you received from your surgeon. I hope you feel more relaxed and will be comfortable resting, icing and elevating for awhile. Glad you're feeling more at peace with it all.
Hope you have a good night!
@volLady

 

[volLady]

I sense your relief after the reassurance you received from your surgeon. I hope you feel more relaxed and will be comfortable resting, icing and elevating for awhile. Glad you're feeling more at peace with it all.
Hope you have a good night!
@volLady

thank you so much!

 

[volLady]

sure hope I sleep good tonight after doing some walking in Lowes and Sams Wholesale today.

You probably shouldn't have been doing this, too, after your already busy day. So wonder it looked like a watermelon. Ice all night, if you need to. As long as you have a cloth between your leg and the ice pack, you can ice 24/7. I almost did for the first 6 weeks or so.

not much swelling right now but some stiffness......I will take it easy tomorrow....