TKR Coming along<<

[Elad1002]

So. If I stop going to therapy and choose to rehab on my own, which would consist of recumbent exercise bike. Leg raises, heel slides, gentle stretches, walking, then would that be enough? I dont want to rupture a tendon. I am at 0/110..I understand from reading the articles on this site that you can get to 120 without pushing it and the window of opportunity doesn't necessarily close at 12 weeks.

 

[sistersinhim]

There is no window of opportunity. ROM can improve over the years. One of our members, Bertschb, kept a record of his ROM process. He agreed for us to post it for those of you that are afraid you're stuck. The key is to have patience! Bertschb says:

I'm 12 months out from my surgery and have some advice based on my experience:
1- Stop going to PT (all it will do is make your knee swell and reduce ROM)
2- Don't worry about your ROM
3- Be patient - VERY patient!!!

Here is my ROM history (more or less):
1 month - 60 degrees
2 months - 80 degrees
3 months - 85 degrees
4 months - 90 degrees
5 months - 90 degrees
6 months - 110 degrees
7 months - 120 degrees
8 months - 125 degrees
9 months - 130 degrees
10 months - 135 degrees
11 months - 140 degrees
12 months - 140 degrees

I spent waaaaay too much time worrying about ROM. I thought I'd be riding my bike a couple months after surgery but it took SIX months! Looking back on my surgery, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have wasted my time with PT and I wouldn't have worried about ROM.

This is what another one of our members wrote about the slow development of her ROM. (Thank you, @Campervan ) As you can see, her flexion continued to improve for a long time.

"I had a slow recovery. Here's my flex measurements at various points:
92 - 8 weeks post op
105 - 10 weeks
107 - 5 months
110 - 6 months
112 - 7 months
116 - 9 months
119 - 11 months
118 - 1 yr
120 - 1yr 2 months
125 - 1 yr 8 months
128 – 6 years "

 

[Breadman]

Hi @Elad1002. I had BTKR almost 2 weeks before you. Yes this site is great. The people here are wonderful. At first I always wanted to know my ROM. But then I wondered why am I worried. My knees are bending fine. I measure my progress on what activities I couldn't do before that I can do know. The first two goals I acomplished were cooking on the BBQ and riding the stationary bike. I hadn't been able to ride the bike in 2018. The last couple of days I have been able to walk down the stairs (14) properly. Think of what you would like to do again and make those your goals.

 

[Elad1002]

Sounds about right. Do you go to PT?Thank you .

 

[Breadman]

I go to PT once every two weeks, basically to get some new exercises. I do my various exercises at home on my own and at my own pace. Through out the day I will do a couple at a time standing, sitting, laying down, where ever. I have learned over years to do the rehab on my own is the best for me. Might not be the same for all. So far so good for me.

 

[Elad1002]

Thanks for sharing that. I agree with this approach because then you dont feel under pressure to get them all done at once. I think it's healthier not to push too hard, not trying to win a gold medal, just want to be functional!

 

[Larryhg3]

@Elad1002 there are many people on this site who have achieved wonderful recoveries without PT. You can absolutely do that. For me it is also about achieving functionality. I found with my first knee once I was discharged from PT my progress continued quite well. There was not the pressure of getting a number on every visit. There is DEFINITELY not a window of opportunity to improve ROM. Whichever route you choose to take for your well being this community will be here to support you.

 

[sistersinhim]

I have learned over years to do the rehab on my own is the best for me.

That's what I have done after all my 11 knee surgeries! I was doing it the Bonesmart way since the 1980s! That was long before I knew that there was a Bonesmart! What a God-send this site is!

 

[Elad1002]

So how do you reccomend treating tendonitis ? Is there a video on this site regarding tendonitis? I'm sorry, other than writing the notes that my job requires of me on my work computer, I'm just not that high tech. Even if its "easy".

 

[Pumpkin]

Here is a video about Tendinitis - an explanation .
You can also try Ice Massage, YouTube will have how to videos.

 

[Elad1002]

I found a good video on Ice massage via Youtube for my patella tendonitis. Another video explained that knee tendonitis doesnt begin in the knee...it is the result of excess swelling in the thigh...so very interesting. So again, what this forum has been saying all along once again is validated. Ice, rest and elevate. Pain is the body's response to swelling...when the swelling reduces, so should the pain. Thank you Bonesmart.

 

[Jockette]

At 1 week post op I had excruciating shoulder pain due grasping the PT table very tightly as my “therapist” slowly pushed my knee to an excruciating pain level.

I had X-rays of my shoulder several days later and they diagnosed it as acute tendinitis. My PA told me to just rest it.

Incidentally, the shoulder pain was a 10 and the Dilaudid I was taking didn’t touch it. I now have trouble trusting physical therapists.

 

[donnag1108]

Wow @Jockette what an awful experience. Things need to change in the world of PT for sure. This surgery is hard enough without any added pain.

 

[Jockette]

Things will change for me, I won’t be going to PT next time.

 

[Elad1002]

Today I decreased my number of PT visits to 2 per week and next week I am reducing to 1. I have to be strategic here because my doctor tracks my progress through PT. I have refused to let them push my leg and will only do exercises that I am not finding painful. They will release me at 120/0. I am.presenly 110/0. I hope I can.make some gains with all the resting and icing. I made an appointment with OS regarding the tendonitis.

 

[Elad1002]

Just curious if anyone has needed dental work post surgery. Unfortunately my doctor didnt require dental clearance prior to surgery and I had missed my last cleaning. I have a sensitive tooth and am nervous about having it checked out. His protocol is to premed before any dental work. I will further check this out with him before proceeding. I am 6 weeks po.

 

[Mutti3]

I had a cleaning exactly 6 weeks post operative. Also had a crown work done at 6 1/2 weeks. My OS requires antibiotic before dental work. I did fine! Talk to your OS.

 

[Mom2Lucy]

My OS requires that antibiotics be given by the dentist if I have dental work,for as much as a year post op.The OS gave me a letter that had to be put into my dental chart.

 

[Jaycey]

@Elad1002 Once again I merged a thread to your existing recovery thread. Please keep all your updates and questions regarding recovery on this thread so that we have your history in one place. Do not start another thread.

If you would like your thread title changed just ask.

Regarding dental work every surgeon is different on this. Many are no longer recommending antibiotics before dental procedures. Check with both your dentist and surgeon. 6 weeks out should be fine for a routine cleaning.

 

[Elad1002]

I am so sorry about starting a new thread...I need to spend some time figuring out how to post without starting a new thread. I feel if I reply to the last persons post that I am replying to them personally when actually I am starting a new topic. I understand the dental protocol is different for different doctors. The dentist said that they will follow whatever guidelines my surgeon recommends.