anyone opt out of MUA and regret it?

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blondie42550

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I have to make a decision NOW! My left knee doesn't bend as well as the right. I haven't had it measured in about a month, but when my surgeon "eyeball" measured it he said I was only at 90° left and 95° on the right. Haven't had therapy for about a month. It will be 6 months on the 26th for my BTKR. I can go up stairs much better than I can go down. Going up is pretty close to being normal and on my "good" days you would hardly know I had any issues. When I go down, I AM able to go right then left and not one step at a time, but the tightness across the knee cap area is what holds me back. Sometimes I can go down the stairs with little effort, other times I struggle. I cannot ride a regular bike outside but I can pedal my stationary bike, which I do every morning for at lease 10 minutes. I am wondering if it is just "MY" bike that is the problem, maybe I need a different bike? I do feel like they are gradually improving, and who's to say they won't continue with out MUA????? I worry most about the risk of femur breakage and prosthesis loosening. I am SO much better than before, I just don't want to make a decision to not have the procedure done and then regret it later after it is too late. Most of what I have read indicates when a MUA is done, the people have less ROM than I do and I understand they will continue to improve for up to a year or more.

Here are results from a recent study which relates BMI with successful:

https://www.hss.edu/newsroom_obesity-limits-motion-lengthens-recovery.asp

So does this mean as I loose weight, It will help to increase my ROM?
After weighing my options, I think the pluses of not having it done outweigh the minuses or risks I take for having it done.
Therefore I am asking, is there anyone who chose NOT to have the MUA and ended up regretting it?
It is time to stop rambling...I will appreciate any advise I can get from my fellow TKR's and you to Josephine!
Happy Cinco De Mayo!
 
Interesting report. I am overweight and have only 92 ROM, being considered for MUA too. My husband met someone on his busines travels, who after 2 years is going in for MUA after his TKR. So there doesn't seem to be a limit on time. Afriend of mine only had 90 ROM until she was 9 months, then it started getting better, She is at about 115-120 now. I just want enough to get up and down stairs and up off the floor.
 
As to the femur breakage, on a different thread Josephine addressed it and said that the occurence of that happening in this procedure is minimal. As far as weight & ROM, logically and basic engineering, the bigger the thigh and possibly calf, the sooner the bend runs out of room to continue bending. My thighs aren't small either but my ROM is over 105/110. I imagine if I lost weight, I could bend more. But with recipes like Patti's potatoes and Jo's cake I'll probably keep my ROM where it's at. lol
 
I just want to add, that I really think PT before surgery makes a huge difference. Even just a few weeks worth. Couple times a week and a little at home on the off days. That is what I did and I have had good stretch and 100+ ROM from the beginning. The PT in the hospital was pushing me to 125 sitting in the chair the morning after surgery. I'm sure there was a few factors that have contributed to my good recovery, but preparing my legs , tendons and muscles before as much as possible where a big part, and because of my weight, probably even more important.
 
Hi Blondie, I have been thinking about the same basic thing except I'm more concerned with extension. My leg has not been straight for many years now and 7 months after tkr, it's still not straight. I've not been able to stand on this leg for any length of time and I'm still finding that I don't stand on this leg and it's the good leg now. It's not the knee pain bothering me. Have you ever tried to stand for any length of time on a leg that is partially bent? It's hard.

My other knee is being replaced in June and I'm going to talk to my surgeon about a manipulation to straighten the first one while I'm under. Karen
 
Karen....I SO know what you're talking about....I had to walk with my right knee bent ever so slightly for a year before my surgery. It's HORRIBLE!!! It makes you hurt ALL over...especially in the neck and back.

I say GO for the manipulation (you too Blondie)...do NOT come this far and stop.
 
I'm with Patti on this one. You have endured a great deal not to have as much progress as you would like. While you are still recovering seems like the best time so as not to stretch out the time to fully recover. I would go for it now and get it over with. You'll want to do all you can this summer and the better your ROM, the better you can do that. God be with you as you make this important decision. Blessings!

Skeet
 
Hi Blondie, I have been thinking about the same basic thing except I'm more concerned with extension. My leg has not been straight for many years now and 7 months after tkr, it's still not straight. I've not been able to stand on this leg for any length of time and I'm still finding that I don't stand on this leg and it's the good leg now. It's not the knee pain bothering me. Have you ever tried to stand for any length of time on a leg that is partially bent? It's hard.

My other knee is being replaced in June and I'm going to talk to my surgeon about a manipulation to straighten the first one while I'm under. Karen

Karen....I've not been able to get my TKR knee completely straight either. What is your number for extension?
 
I think you are worrying unnecessarily, blondie. An orthopeadic surgeon knows bones. He knows what's safe and what isn't and that is his skill. I have seen dozens, probably scores (can't remember!) f mua's done over the years and NEVER seen one cause a fracture. No, not even one! And truth to tell, it's pretty darned hard to break bones with bare hands - especially the knee ends of the femur and tibia.

As for loosening - who ever told you that was a possibility? Because it isn't! The movements used in an mua are the kind that press the prostheses into/onto the bone and would be most unlikely to result in loosening.

I think if the surgeon thinks it necessary then you should take his advice. It is his skill after all.
 
I called my orthopedist’s office today for a couple of reasons and one being the possibility of manipulation. Jamie, I've not been measured since February but I would say it's safe to say it can't be better then 15-20. He is going to do the manipulation at the same time they replace the other knee. I have a leg length discrepancy of a little over an inch; 30 mm, I believe. This is primarily from the compound fracture I had that shortened the tibia and then you add in the fact that I can't straighten the leg...well you see my point.

The leg length over the years has paid the price to my body and this is part of the reason my knees are wasted in my 40s. I also have only about 1/3 of my cartilage left in my ankle, and arthritis in the foot from all this. (hip too, but that’s from another of my car accident injuries)

The latest addition to my pains is when my SI joint started acting up, big time, after my tkr last fall. The pain I experienced was worse then the knee replacement and the cause, according to my neurosurgeon, is the leg length. The surgery just set it off. While I spoke with my orthopedist about short term fixes, like wearing about an inch of heal lift in my shoe or getting some “special” shoes…I forgot to ask about the long term…how are you going to fix my height? I would really like to be 3-4 inches taller but no deal there! Technology just ain’t there …That’s what I REALLY want for Christmas besides a whole new body that doesn’t hurt!

He will only be able to take off a very few millimeters from my knee without causing problems that I don’t need. I’m hoping between that and maybe getting the other leg straightened out a little, I might be able to put a little less lift in my shoe until I decide my hip has totally bitten the dust. They can take more off the hip end and maybe completely straighten me out then.

Back to the back… I have to say that my back is what really scares me the most about my upcoming surgery but I need to go forward and get this done or I will never move in the right direction to get myself balanced out. My Neurosurgeon is sending me back to PT now to help strengthen the back in preparation of the surgery. I got the cortisone shot a few weeks back and that helped for about a week.

Blondie, I say go for it. You will always have doubt if you don’t have the manipulation and look what Jo said. There shouldn’t be a concern about possible breakage. I didn’t mean to still anything from your post.

Now that I’ve written a book! Did you follow all that?
 
1jt@ - sounds like you have a plan... That's half the battle, it is coming to a decision. I'm happy for you with your forward direction. That all sounds so stiff. You know what I mean right? Yeah!
Blondie, continue looking forward!
 
I was scheduled for an appointment yesterday and I canceled it. Funny thing, this past week I have felt better than ever. More flex, less tightness, easier to go up and down stairs, just all over better. I have thought this must be a magical, pivotal 6 month mark where you notice more than the slight changes that have been occurring since surgery. We even had a cold front come through and I didn't feel a thing! I haven't take a pain pill for weeks. I can walk farther and faster than I have in ages. It is suddenly easy to get in and out of the car. I can get up from the floor with ease! I lowered my seat on the stationery bike and it is getting to where it doesn't hurt so much that I feel I will be able to lower it again soon. I go shopping and I park in the parking lot far away from the handicap zone because I want the exercise. I go up and down my stairs over and over, and I do so, just because I can!! I am constantly improving, but, I think if I felt like I was at a "stand still" I would have been more likely to have the MUA.I really do not think I will regret not having it done, I just wondered if anyone else might have had to make the same decision and felt like the choice they made was a mistake. Well I am off to the Super Walmart to fulfill my desire to walk! Thanks for all the comments,luv y'all!
Lynne
 
Good for you Lynne, hope you didn't buy out Walmart.
 
Oh the joys of theraputic shopping. Good for the knnes, good for the economy, Bad for the budget. Isn't it such a joy to move again Lynne? Congrats!
 
Way to go, Lynne! Only you know what is right for you.....I always think it's best to go with your gut feelings about these major decisions. You have to be right in your mind before proceeding. That said, it is a good thing to get input from many sources in order to make your decisions....you did things just right it appears to me. Wishing you continued success!!!
 
[Bonesmart.org] anyone opt out of MUA and regret it?
[Bonesmart.org] anyone opt out of MUA and regret it?
[Bonesmart.org] anyone opt out of MUA and regret it?
[Bonesmart.org] anyone opt out of MUA and regret it?
 
Hey how 'bout this?

I went "recreational shopping" today--- and actually found myself fretting walking behind some young people who were "strolling"at the outlet mall--- so I waited for a wide spot and PASSED THEM! They were walking flat out too slow for this recovering KR lady. Had on my new shorts and walking shoes, walking up and down a few stairs and around those slow-pokes.

Feeling good today-- I'll take it!
 
Wow, Beach.....I can't wait for THAT to happen to me. We did a little cleaning in the garage today and I was fine with it. But I still wake up feeling and thinking about my knee every morning. And sometimes I still have to ice it for swelling at night. Rats! At 10 weeks I was hoping to be further along in recovery.
 
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