MUA 11 Months Ouch

[skigirl]

GMan, first some procedural things. If you click on your name on the top right hand side of the page, you will see "Signature" in the number two slot. Just click on that and put in the date of your knee replacement. That helps all of us as we can see when you had your surgery. We write the dates out: April 10, 2009 so that there is no confusion between the European and the US system of recording dates.

Second, I am going to give you the post op reading list. There are several articles which discuss rom and the time is takes sometimes to get a decent number. I hope it answers some of your questions.

First are the mantras ....
- rest, elevate, ice and take your pain meds by the clock
- if it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physiotherapist - to do it to you
- if your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again
- if you won't die if it's not done, don't do it
- never stand when you can sit, never sit when you can lie down, never stay awake when you can go to sleep!

Next is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) thread.

And then the articles in order of importance .
Group A
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Progression of activity for TKRs

Group B
How Long Does Healing Take ......
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevating your leg to control swelling and pain
Using ice

Group C
Knee Replacement - Where Am I in Recovery?
So What Is It Going to Take? The Five “P’s” of Knee Recovery
Work “Smarter” and not “Harder”
About recovering a knee - from one who knows!
Some suggestions for home physio (PT) and activity progress
Myth busting: The "window of opportunity"

Group D
MUA (manipulation under anaesthetic) and adhesions
It's never too late to get more ROM!
It's Worth the Wait for ROM
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds
Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

 

[Josephine]

I merged your threads as per this request One thread for your recovery please?

 

[Josephine]

@gman33 are you actually reading our posts because you don't seem to be answering them at all. More thna one person has asked you questions in order to be able to try and help you but you're not responding. If you want our help this has to be a conversation rather than just a place for you to blog.

Now you've had your recovery articles twice - have you read them yet? Because the 'stiff knee' is addressed in one of the articles.

 

[gman33]

I have been reading all the posts and I thank everyone for thier input.

 

[kneeper]

Let us know how things go with the surgeon.

 

[gman33]

I will let you know what he says I know he will not be happy but tough this is my knee and time will heal.

 

[gman33]

Saw the surgeon today now on anti inflammatory knee not being able to gain any more rom stuck at 70 for past 11 days. Xrays look great next step mua. Not sure if this is the right thing to do. Been going to pt 3x week just can not get past 70 without extreme pain. Still icing after working out looking for some advice please.

 

[DogLoverx3]

Hopefully the anti-inflammatories will help. I know there is a big debate about their benefit post TKR, but they have helped me. Give them a couple days, take it easy and hopefully they will help. Be sure to keep us posted!

 

[gman33]

I plan on taking it easy for a few days maybe justsome walking in heated pool. Thanks

 

[skigirl]

I agree---give the anti inflammatories a chance by decreasing your physical activity as well. Then, you will know for sure where the problem lies.

 

[gman33]

Hi
I am looking for advice about MUA. My knee has stalled at 73 after 8 weeks. Saw the OS Monday and told me I would need an MUA but I am not sure that this will help me. I go to pt 3x week and can not get past 73? Is getting a MUA the right thing to do or is there another answer.

 

[Tykey]

Hi, not going to PT three times a week might help. But that depends on what you do when you are there, plus what activities you do at home.
VERY often, low ROM is caused by swelling, which is aggravated by doing too much too soon. On here we are great advocates of the gentle approach to recovery, because trying too hard has a negative impact.
Could you clarify what you are doing both at home and PT.
Remember 8 weeks is still a short time, both for recovery AND for MUA. If overdoing it is the issue, then an MUA is the LAST thing you need!!

 

[gman33]

I am going to pt only 2x a week she does a lot of massaging and bending . At home I do some stretching as well as bending on a exercise ball. I go to a heated pool 3x a week as well. I do ice my knee after I am done .

 

[NuNe4Me]

I think you are doing way too much too soon. Your body has just been through a very traumatic surgery. Ignore those ROM numbers for now. You need to: rest, ice, and ELEVATE.

Go to the BoneSmarties' Library (look at the top of the web page) and look at topics of interest.

Soon, a BoneSmartie expert will swoop in here and give a lot of material to read.

Patience. I have been through multiple surgeries and this one is one of the toughest. It takes about a year to recover from a traumatic surgery such as this one.

My OS doesn't believe in using MUAs this soon.

 

[gman33]

Thank you I am thinking of cutting back on whst I am doing.

 

[Tykey]

Thank you I am thinking of cutting back on whst I am doing.

I'm sure you will soon see an improvement over the next couple of weeks if you just get on with your life, but just pottering about the house and garden, but fit in a few short sessions of knee bends (But NO forcing it).
Many friends on here improve rapidly by being gentle at your stage.
3 months is an awkward time, you think you are well enough to go for it, but you're not (yet). 6 months is normally the time when significant improvement stops.
Anyway, your current approach isn't working, so why flog a dead horse. 8 weeks is too soon for an MUA, so you've nothing to lose

 

[Mutley]

Hi!
Just to add that I had an MUA just short of 9 weeks post op. I was told that to get the best outcome it needed to be done sooner rather than later...how I wished I'd waited a little while longer
ROM was 'stuck' at 80 & I was desperate to see an improvement. The outcome was the surgeon could only manage to get it to 120 due to previous surgeries, scarring etc. I am now 14 months post op, ROM is 110 and the issues I suffered following the MUA have only just started to settle down. Give the knee time to recover from the original surgery before putting it through anymore trauma. Once it's settled down you can then make an informed decision as to whether an MUA is now right for you & your knee! Wishing you all the best for your continued recovery x

 

[skigirl]

I think that I would be frustrated too---but, I just wonder if they are pushing and shoving your poor knee in pt? I think I would take a week off and just rest the knee, elevate and ice. give it a proper test---only up to go to the bathroom and for meals. No pt at all----or very gentle bending if you feel you must go.

At the end of a week or so how does the knee feel? Is there any improvement? I know that I tried this at one point and I was amazed at the improvement in my knee.

 

[maryo52]

I agree with all of the above responses and would summarize it this way: work on getting the inflammation and swelling down as much as possible. Then see what your ROM is. You can negotiate to have MUA at 12 weeks if you're still shy of 90 degrees. PT 3x a week is the norm here in the US, but then I don't know what this PT consists of or what you're doing at home. Some knees are more stubborn than others and need to be finessed. Do as little as possible. Stretches only -- such as 3 slow slow gentle (gentle!) bends every couple of hours that you hold for 60 seconds -- will encourage ROM as you try to settle down the knee.

 

[Josephine]

First I have some questions to ask you:

1. what are your pain levels right now? (remember the 1-10 scale: 1 = no pain and 10 = the worst you can imagine. And don't compare this with the bone-on-bone pain you had before surgery!

)

2. what pain medications have you been prescribed, how much are you taking (in mg please) and how often?

3. how often are you icing your knee and for how long?

4. are you elevating your leg, how often and for how long?

5. what is your activity level? What do you do in the way of housework, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc., and

6. what kind of PT/exercises are you doing? How much and how often? (and detailed details would be appreciated, please! reps, sets and session and all that)