dovemck
member
AustraliaI thought the description you hear about swelling at be apropos - the garden hose full of water won't bend. My knee looks like it's getting smaller but of course there's still swelling and inside, I know. The feeling I get when I try to bend is more like wet sand in a tube. Not firm, but solid. The surrounding muscles tend to become rock hard in a cramp when I try very hard. I can't stand to stay in the flexed position more than a 10 - 15 seconds so some of those interesting strapped in/rigged up physio exercises wind up being uncomfortable and unproductive. I've been on a plateau for two weeks, 70 - 75 degrees BUT perhaps because I've been so diligent about elevating, my knee is often bent and my extension has gone from 0 to 10 before warm up and 5 when I'm trying.
I saw my surgeon yesterday and I could tell by his face that he was skeptical. Apparently there was already a large amount of scar tissue/old adhesions in my knee when he opened it - left overs from the original surgery, osteoarthritis and the odd way I've been using my leg. He had further concerns because it was a long surgery and many tissues, muscles etc had to be moved and disturbed to get the prosthesis balanced. He had written in my case notes less than 24 hours after surgery that he was concerned this was going to be an MUA case.
I've read lots of information here on the bonesmart site as well as journal articles concerning mobilization & ROM and had come to the conclusion that my experience did seem somewhat different to many other people. My sensations seem different, the pain levels different so I started researching MUAs.
My surgeon made it clear that the formation of adhesions was 'NO WAY MY FAULT, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING I DID OR DIDN'T DO', which was a change from the bullhockey I was getting at inpatient p/t where the threat was often used that if I didn't work enough I would need an MUA.
I was also told it was my choice whether or not to have one and that even if I did opt for one, it didn't have to be right away. If he has to perform one, he prefers it to be no later than 12 weeks - I'm only at 6 weeks, that it could be done even later but in his opinion the results tend not to be as good and he would probably refer me to someone else at that point.
I opted for sooner rather than later and so at about the 8 week mark, Sept 24th, I will be checking back in to hospital for two nights for an MUA, unless I somehow manage to get to 90 degrees before then.
I just want to point out that I came to this decision on my own accord. I would have brought it up with the surgeon had he not mentioned it first. I read, researched and considered my physical condition and past medical history - how my body generally reacts to injury and training, my long-term goals and how the procedure will be handled by my 'team'. So, now I prepare myself for round 2 - the MUA wars.
I saw my surgeon yesterday and I could tell by his face that he was skeptical. Apparently there was already a large amount of scar tissue/old adhesions in my knee when he opened it - left overs from the original surgery, osteoarthritis and the odd way I've been using my leg. He had further concerns because it was a long surgery and many tissues, muscles etc had to be moved and disturbed to get the prosthesis balanced. He had written in my case notes less than 24 hours after surgery that he was concerned this was going to be an MUA case.
I've read lots of information here on the bonesmart site as well as journal articles concerning mobilization & ROM and had come to the conclusion that my experience did seem somewhat different to many other people. My sensations seem different, the pain levels different so I started researching MUAs.
My surgeon made it clear that the formation of adhesions was 'NO WAY MY FAULT, IT WAS NOT SOMETHING I DID OR DIDN'T DO', which was a change from the bullhockey I was getting at inpatient p/t where the threat was often used that if I didn't work enough I would need an MUA.
I was also told it was my choice whether or not to have one and that even if I did opt for one, it didn't have to be right away. If he has to perform one, he prefers it to be no later than 12 weeks - I'm only at 6 weeks, that it could be done even later but in his opinion the results tend not to be as good and he would probably refer me to someone else at that point.
I opted for sooner rather than later and so at about the 8 week mark, Sept 24th, I will be checking back in to hospital for two nights for an MUA, unless I somehow manage to get to 90 degrees before then.
I just want to point out that I came to this decision on my own accord. I would have brought it up with the surgeon had he not mentioned it first. I read, researched and considered my physical condition and past medical history - how my body generally reacts to injury and training, my long-term goals and how the procedure will be handled by my 'team'. So, now I prepare myself for round 2 - the MUA wars.
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yours were. 
so there's plenty more work to come, but that would mean I'm moving closer towards training - further away from the healing. 
Happy Halloween!
