Can someone explain MUA to me?

[beth1954]

I think I know basically what it is, but I'm interested in knowing more....
Beth

 

[Josephine]

You can find a good treatise here MUA (manipulation under anaesthetic) and adhesions

But if there are any extra questions, just shout!

 

[FrogFeathers]

The only difference in my MUA from the "normal way" is that my doctor chose to keep me overnight for "pain management" and to make sure I could use the CPM machine (he didn't require one after surgery). I understand most people go home the same day.

But, all the other- taken in, put under general anesthesia, recovery room... all the same.

The only "bad" thing was there was no room for me on the ortho floor and I was on the "surgical" floor and none of the nurses knew exactly what to do with me or the CPM machine. We had to wait for an ortho nurse to come down and show us all what to do. :hehe:

 

[Texas]

Hey Beth I have one they put you under anesthesia and bend your leg and break up the scar tissue I was bending 68 i had so much then went up to 90 and on from there....it was so much easier to bend Im happy I did it i was sore just sore for about 2-3- days nothing like the TKR then it was fine.................)

 

[beth1954]

Still sounds bad. I'm a big sissy.
Went to PT yesterday, and she did that thing where they use a plastic device to run back and forth over the scar to help break up the scar tissue........I hate that, but if it works I'll be glad. They don't seem to be overly concerned about it.

 

[tom67]

Hi Beth, Hope your doing well and your recovery is going smoothly! Best wishes Tom

 

[beth1954]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for asking Tom, I guess I'm doing OK. I have to realize that it's a slow process. I go back to work on Monday and I'm scared to death. I have a sit-down job, but I'll be taking multiple short walks around the building so that my knee doesn't get too stiff.

You know I was talking about the "devices" they use to rub over the incision to help break up the scar tissue? Apparently she did it too hard. I have a massive bruise on my leg. Kind of off to the left of the scar. I wondered why she was rubbing it there because it's about 3 inches away from my scar. I guess she got carried away. I couldn't believe it! The bruise is probably about 4" x 4".......an irregular shape of course. It's horrible!! I was reading my posts.....I can't believe I didn't say anything about this yesterday!:rant:

Today I'm going to make sure my doctor sees it. I have had an intern working with me, which I don't like very well. When I start to work, I'll be going in later in the afternoon and I'll end up with someone else.........I hope that's better.

 

[Josephine]

Eeek!

 

[Linda2]

My PT has been great at breaking up adhesions as they try to form. That's the main reason I am continuing to go. Some PT's don't do it, but the ones who know how to do it correctly are great. If it was just exercises, I could (and do) do those at home.

 

[abunnybabe]

Linda, what exactly do they do TO YOU at PT. I went to PT for 6 weeks after my arthroscopy and was only examined by the actual therapist the fisrt time there. All of the other days I did the exercises the PT aide toll/showed me. After a few weeks I had to ask for more to do as it was getting too easy. Another woman there had bilat TKR's and she was doing just the same exercises that I was doing, she never had her ROM measured either, except for the 1st day. This is why I am looking into finding anew PT local.

 

[Linda2]

I am shown how to do the exercises and I do some when I am there. Much of the time, however, is with the therapist hands-on. She really digs in to the tight places and loosens them up. She began working around the incision area a couple weeks after surgery, breaking up scar tissue and making sure each level (skin, fascia, muscles and so on) was moving as it should. I truly believe that is why (along with actually dong the work that I am assigned) I have achieved really good ROM. She (and her assistant that I sometimes see when she's gone) are really hands on kinds of people. I am also watched carefully to make sure I am not compensating by making the "wrong" muscles do the assignment. Those of us who have had injuries are really experts at compensating, and that can be really harmful long term.

 

[beth1954]

I had PT today and ended up crying on the table. The intern that works on me got carried away. MY ROM is about 110. She wants it to be better. In a hurry. She took ahold of my leg and beared down with her body weight until it felt like my heel hit the back of my thigh. I screamed out in pain and then just cried. The "licensed" PT came over and kind of covered up for her. I was so mad. She said that therapy just has to hurt. I KNOW THAT, but that was ridiculous.

Also, when she rubs over my incision, she starts out ok, and then gets rougher and rougher. Today he stopped for a minute to ask the physical therapist about something. He was showing her something, and it felt so much better when he did it. He told her it's not so much the actual pressure you put on it, but the technique.......I told him that she presses much harder than that.

Next week because of schedule conflicts, I am going to have someone else (a physical therapist, not an intern). I hope she had better techniques and works with he a little bit better.

I don't think anything in my life has ever hurt that bad!

 

[Josephine]

Have you registered your complaint yet, cotton?

 

[Oldie]

I am just shocked by the things some therapists do. My PT is like Linda's, he is all hands-on massage and gentle streches or bends. Never hurts me, just very gently. but firmly works on the tissues and around the incision breaking up any scar tissue. He does not use any machines, just shows me the exercises to do at home, his favorite is with a large exercise ball, putting your heels on it and straightning and streching your legs,, really works the extension, and then pulling the ball in with your feet to your butt, really works the bend. I am at 6 wks, and have a great ROM and have never hurt from PT.

 

[beth1954]

No, I have not registered a complaint. After the Physical Therapist came over and kind of stuck up for her.......I didn't know what to do. He is the owner of the facility. I hope the new therapist is much better.

The rest of the evening all I could do was ice it off and on, take pain pills, etc. I had gotten up to about 110 ROM and I'll bet last night it was only around 70 or so because it hurt too bad to bend my knee even a little.

So Jo, tell me how you think I should complain? A visit with the owner? A letter? I hate to do things like that, but she almost crippled me. The fact is that she is an intern, and still learning how to do things. I don't think a REAL Physical Therapist would have done that. I could be wrong.

If the new one is as rough, I will ask for someone else or go elsewhere. I just hate all this because my home physical therapist was just the opposite of this one.

 

[Josephine]

Well, if you don't feel like doing it, that's up to you. But I would write a letter of complaint to the owner. After all, as with any business, their clients are their bread and butter. And I doubt you're the only one who has been treated this way.

 

[beth1954]

I have written up the complaint and will probably have my mom drop it off Monday. I'm supposed to have an appt Monday, but I'm not going in. I am limping, can barely bend it and my quad hurts half way up my thigh. I feel like I've been set back at least 3 weeks. I am in pain and then a bit nauseous because of the pain.

 

[Texas]

I dont blame you at all that was so uncalled for....Please try to rest this weekend and dont go back you do have other options..............(

 

[beth1954]

Thanks everyone. I told the doctor in the complaint that I won't be in Monday but I will be there Wednesday to work with the other therapist. If we can't work something out on how I am treated, I'll have to go somewhere else.

I have been so miserable this weekend and in so much pain.

 

[tom67]

AWW BETH, I'm sorry you so miserable, do have any pain med's? Does Icing help
any? Why do some of these places hire such Moron's? In cases like this and
there are many that go unreported, There need's to be more oversight! Seem's to
be not enough attention to the patients Individual needs. Not to the financial
bottom line! Please take care, I pray your pain eases and you can rest
comfotably soon. Best Wishes Beth, Tom:cnsl: