MUA 7 months post TKR still struggling to walk

KatieK

new member
Joined
Aug 7, 2021
Messages
10
Age
60
Country
United States United States
Gender
Female
Hi there,
My first TKR of the left knee was Oct. 28, 2020. It went so well that at the 2 week checkup I scheduled my Right knee for Jan. 28th, 2021. Typical PT sessions, 3x a week, I developed scar tissue in the left knee so when I went in for the 2nd surgery, they manipulated the left and I had instant relief/flexion improved.

However, my Right knee has been a completely different experience. Same PT schedule, never missed a beat, I exercised at home, would spin on my Peloton, etc. Scar tissue developed and at 9 weeks went in for MUA. My leg was so swollen and the quad muscle felt extremely soar and stretched out. But the surgeon and the PT folks said you need to keep coming to PT so the scar tissue doesn't come back. My quad muscle has not been the same, I was on the walker for 4 months, finally moved to a cane, but still now at 7 months, not comfortable walking outside without someone else holding my hand. Quad tremors when I walk and if I don't walk precisely "heel/toe" the muscle feels like it spasms. I have now officially stopped all PT sessions, I never gave the leg a break, after PT it would swell (I iced, elevated etc.). I am getting an MRI this week, and I see my surgeon as well who frankly has been impossible to schedule an appt with as they only want to see you at the 1 year mark and would continually say "you need to trust the joint", you can do it. or "everyone heals differently, you can't compare your left leg with the right leg"

Based on reading threads in this forum I am hoping the leg just needs to rest and get a break from all the PT and the inflammation. I was doing single leg presses, wall squats, leg extension machine with 10-15 lb weights, you name it. Has anyone had a similar experience? I will report back once the MRI results are in and what my surgeon is suggesting.

Thanks in advance for comments, wish I knew of this forum 7 months ago!
 
:welome:
We have had members with a similar experience, too much too soon for their knees. Sets back their recovery as you have found.
I am hoping the leg just needs to rest and get a break from all the PT and the inflammation.

We suggest you slow down and let your knee heal. Lots of rest, ice, elevation, and medication if needed.
Quad tremors when I walk and if I don't walk precisely "heel/toe" the muscle feels like it spasms.
Only walk distances you can maintain a heel to toe gait, use an assistive device to promote a normal gait, cane, crutches, or walker.
If you have swelling, find a lymphatic specialist, can be PT, OT, or a massage therapist, all of them should have advanced training in lymphatic therapy.

Good luck, let us know how the MRI goes,
Chris
 
Here is your copy of the Knee Recovery Guidelines, the articles are short and will not take long to read.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:
rest
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

6. Access these pages on the website


The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds


We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.
 
Please post your MUA surgery date, a moderator will add it to your signature for you. Having the exact date will help us properly advise you. Thanks!
 
My MUA was 3/31/21.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
:welome:
We have had members with a similar experience, too much too soon for their knees. Sets back their recovery as you have found.
I am hoping the leg just needs to rest and get a break from all the PT and the inflammation.

We suggest you slow down and let your knee heal. Lots of rest, ice, elevation, and medication if needed.
Quad tremors when I walk and if I don't walk precisely "heel/toe" the muscle feels like it spasms.
Only walk distances you can maintain a heel to toe gait, use an assistive device to promote a normal gait, cane, crutches, or walker.
If you have swelling, find a lymphatic specialist, can be PT, OT, or a massage therapist, all of them should have advanced training in lymphatic therapy.

Good luck, let us know how the MRI goes,
Chris
There are days I want to go back to the walker as it can be exhausting both physically and mentally with the cane - but I feel like a failure and stick with the cane.
 
Since using a cane is exhausting both physically and mentally, perhaps you should go back to the walker where you can focus on walking properly, and allow that quad to heal.
Going back to a walker is not a sign of failure.
It is a sign of courage to realize that you need more support for your leg than a cane provides.
 
Since using a cane is exhausting both physically and mentally, perhaps you should go back to the walker where you can focus on walking properly, and allow that quad to heal.
Going back to a walker is not a sign of failure.
It is a sign of courage to realize that you need more support for your leg than a cane provides.
Yes, thank you. I am thinking of buying a rolling walker so I can get some independence back as well. Right now my husband or adult children have to assist me outside the house.
 
Katie, that doesn’t sound right, still being in so much pain. I’m no expert, but I am 5 months out from bilateral, and it would seem to me that your knee just has never been given a chance to heal and settle down.
Remember being a kid and picking scabs off grazes? Just when they were nearly healed, we made them bleed again and probably ended up with a worse scar,
I started back at the gym five weeks ago. Did hamstring curls and extensions on the machines, with 11lbs, only 30 reps, and was really sore for a few days. Discovered it was the weighted extensions that had done it. Only just started those again, very gingerly. Deep squats make me sore if I do one too many, and consequently haven’t even considered the leg press. I now know just how much I can do without without upsetting my knees, and have made a lot of progress. Can’t imagine how things would have been if I’d started all those when you did.
 
Katie, that doesn’t sound right, still being in so much pain. I’m no expert, but I am 5 months out from bilateral, and it would seem to me that your knee just has never been given a chance to heal and settle down.
Remember being a kid and picking scabs off grazes? Just when they were nearly healed, we made them bleed again and probably ended up with a worse scar,
I started back at the gym five weeks ago. Did hamstring curls and extensions on the machines, with 11lbs, only 30 reps, and was really sore for a few days. Discovered it was the weighted extensions that had done it. Only just started those again, very gingerly. Deep squats make me sore if I do one too many, and consequently haven’t even considered the leg press. I now know just how much I can do without without upsetting my knees, and have made a lot of progress. Can’t imagine how things would have been if I’d started all those when you did.
I am just realizing how wrong it was to allow the PT sessions to continue. The inflammation has been a constant with little time to recover. Their mantra has always been “no pain no gain”. I have left there crying > 50% of the time. When I showed up to my 8 week appt with the surgeon and was still on the walker he said “ this is not good for my reputation”. I was left thinking I am not trying hard enough. He questioned if I was doing all the PT work as well as at home. I see him this Tuesday and hope to have the rolling walker by then to show up with it. I have a competitive nature, very active before all this - swimming, biking etc.
 
I really feel for you, under all that pressure to perform, so much that it had you in tears and pain. You tried so hard to do what you were told was right by people that you should be able to trust. Let’s hope that things will start to improve soon for you .
 
So sorry for what you’re going through. i am almost 9 weeks out from Bilateral TKR, and at two weeks, I switched from my hospital issued 2wheel walker to a Drive 4-wheeler which gave me greater mobility and range. It even has a seat and brakes, if you need to sit. I have since “graduated” to walking sticks, but I still use it for trips to the bathroom from bed, when I’m stiff and groggy. But that 4-wheeler was one of the best decisions I made.
 
Just left surgeon. He is ordering an MRI of knee and quad. ( I am cancelling my first appt). He is also sending me to a neurologist- might be a nerve issue (compressed nerve) from lower back.He agrees the PT at this point is not a benefit. But swimming and Peloton are fine as it may help promote / stimulate the nerves. X-ray shows the hardware is in tact and looks great. In his experience typically at 7 months with problems walking it’s a nerve issue but the neurologist will be the judge of that. I was happy with him and the time he spent with me.
 
Glad you had a good visit with your OS, and he was responsive to your symptoms.
Keep us posted about your MRI, and your neurologist visit.
 
Just had my Neurologist exam today. He did an EMG “ Electromyography”. Good news- no nerve damage/disease and no muscle damage. In fact he said, and I quote : “you have the muscle strength of a 16 year old”. Based on this result , in his experience - my body needs more time to heal and adapt to the new knee. Keep up with the PT that works like swimming, spin bike and try to keep the inflammation to a minimum. He has no concerns. Next up is the MRI on Monday evening. My question: are there any John Sarno believers out there and his TMS theory? I am wondering if TMS is part of my problem.
 
I just looked up the "TMS" method.
If it's what I found, I definitely believe it's something I could have as well. I will not go into detail but I was terribly abused as a child, so much so that I would wake in the night with back pain so severe I could not catch my breath. I have scoliosis so I'm sure that has something to do with it as well but reading that theory makes perfect sense. I have chronic back pain (bulging discs, etc) as well. Any kind of alternate stimulation to redirect those impulses would be welcomed by me!!
 
I have just been catching up with this. Totally feel for you and think, as well, maybe too much pushing for your body to handle? I am only 10 weeks but early on followed advice to keep pushing, go down to one crutch, lots of bike, exercise. My body rebelled! My operated knee started bucking and my good one hurt and I was just shaky all over. It's now been 3 weeks of lots of rest and the buckling is better. But now am left with crazy anxiety. Afraid to tackle our front step, increases when I go outside. I have strength issuein my quads as well, had xrays etc and all seems fine. But now I am back on two crutches and struggle to walk. Largely housebound, and my kids and husband do everything too. Wish I had slowed down earlier as was better on step/crutches at 3 wks! I have found small repetition helps, up and down hall, outside (bumshuffling to get there!) Up and down porch. This is easier than it was. Anxiety is hard to overcome, have looked at all sorts of options, breathing, meditation, cbd, sukie baxter on YouTube resetting vagus nerve. Has helped though not cured- I would be interested in other ideas. And just giving myself a break and saying so stay inside today it's ok. I have disc degeneration in my back and pinches sciatic nerve, stretching has helped. Wishing you well
 
Saw the doctor today to get a read on the MRI —my issue is continued fluid in the joint and muscle. No more spin bike. Walk with the walker 90% of time. Dont even try and use cane unless I have to. Don’t do anything that will aggravate the joint. Because of the fluid - that is why my quad muscle is stiff. I also have atrophy on inside of the knee and above. Gave me exercises to gain the strength. Keep with the pool regime of walking forward and backward but no swimming laps and kicking. He said it’s going to take at least another 3 months to heal. It is likely The PT was too aggressive and we need to reverse that and get back on course. No straining or pushing.
 
I have just been catching up with this. Totally feel for you and think, as well, maybe too much pushing for your body to handle? I am only 10 weeks but early on followed advice to keep pushing, go down to one crutch, lots of bike, exercise. My body rebelled! My operated knee started bucking and my good one hurt and I was just shaky all over. It's now been 3 weeks of lots of rest and the buckling is better. But now am left with crazy anxiety. Afraid to tackle our front step, increases when I go outside. I have strength issuein my quads as well, had xrays etc and all seems fine. But now I am back on two crutches and struggle to walk. Largely housebound, and my kids and husband do everything too. Wish I had slowed down earlier as was better on step/crutches at 3 wks! I have found small repetition helps, up and down hall, outside (bumshuffling to get there!) Up and down porch. This is easier than it was. Anxiety is hard to overcome, have looked at all sorts of options, breathing, meditation, cbd, sukie baxter on YouTube resetting vagus nerve. Has helped though not cured- I would be interested in other ideas. And just giving myself a break and saying so stay inside today it's ok. I have disc degeneration in my back and pinches sciatic nerve, stretching has helped. Wishing you well
I can relate to your anxiety. Mine increases when I use the cane, disappears when using the walker. I purchased a 3 wheel walker on Amazon and it’s great when going outside.
I also tried yin yoga, I can't do all the poses but modify. This one was very good: https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...a3192702a835c5f03cc81f8407b8de30&action=click
 
What a shame you had to learn that doing too much too soon can have awful setbacks in this recovery. Many of the up-to-date PTs don't stress that we have to do aggressive, painful exercises. Also, many surgeons are also agreeing with the Bonesmart way of recovering.

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 wanted was to see what my knee would do. Never one question about PT! Of course, he knew I was a single lady that had to take care of myself, so obviously he trusted that I would not be just laying around all the time.

After 12 knee surgeries, I know that I do not need PT, and neither does anyone else if they do their own daily activities. 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 either. 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!
 

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
65,179
Messages
1,597,054
BoneSmarties
39,363
Latest member
HikerWalker
Recent bookmarks
0
Back
Top Bottom