MUA Festina lente -Hastening slowly

[sistersinhim]

You are only 6 weeks and you ARE improving! That's the best thing. I was slow to get my bend, too, but I didn't care because I could still do the things I needed to do. My extension is still not where it used to be. I was -10 and I could lock my knee. Now, I can't. But, I am slowly improving there, too and am not sweating it! You are obsessed with your ROM. It's only stressing you out and making you try hard at pushing your knee to do what it's not ready to do. It's on it's own time table. How does your OS know you have arthrofibrosis? From the studying I've done about it, it says that the time to form is 3-4 months and it's very rare to ever have it form. Why not wait until your knee is 4 months old and then make the decision to whether or not to have the MUA. After all, your ROM is improving. You're just not happy with the speed it is doing it! If you can read @Suz thread. She went through the same thing you are.

 

[mcmars]

I forgot to mention the way I got motion when it was so hard to do the hell slides during the first month was with a "theraball". I bought one from my PT and laid on my back on floor or in bed and used the huge ball as a way to get my swollen tight knee to go through range of motion by resting my calves or heels on the ball and then pulling the bal and my legs towards me. The ball takes away friction like you get doing normal hell slides and also uses gravity to help with swelling as you go thru ROM. I think this would really help you! Then ice packs...

 

[Spex10]

Thanks Mcmars. Sorry to say but its been years since I could get down on to the floor! I have fused vertebrae in my lower spine and and generally very stiff. I had really been improving in flexibility earlier this year due to Aquafit classes. Unfortunately, they exacerbated my knees as we were basically jumping under water for an hour at a time and I had been very enthusiastic at it!! I hope to return to the classes but will be in as deep water as possible and will probably wear a float or similar so no jumping.

 

[Celle]

Thanks, @mcmars , but we are advising Spex10 to stop all exercises for a while, until his overworked tissues have had time to calm down and his swelling to go down.

 

[Spex10]

I'm a lady!! Well, of sorts

 

[cslasor]

I think the reason why PTs measure so much is that it's one way they can prove to the insurance companies that their ministrations are effective. So, they obsess about the numbers. Consequently, they natter and nag, telling you that you need to increase ROM quickly - which is completely the wrong way to go about rehab.

I have to agree with this. I really liked my PT because he was gentle and really helped my knee and was encouraging. But at 6 weeks I hit 120 flexion and he released me the next day and said I didn't need to come back. I felt rejected, like once he hit the magic number he had met his employer's goal and was ready to move on to another patient. I still had problems walking and going up/down steps and would've liked more time with him but I felt so bad at being "kicked out" that I refused to ask him to keep seeing me. I'm tempted to get a different PT when I do the other knee in a few months, although I did like how he did the rehab. I will think about that for a while.....

 

[Spex10]

That would be fine by me. I can't imagine getting to 120 in my wildest dreams.
My PTs are not paid on results. They aren't using ROM as performance indicators. They are PTs not friends though.

 

[Celle]

I'm a lady!! Well, of sorts

I'm so sorry I got that wrong. I do apologise!

 

[Spex10]

That's OK Celle. Nice cats in your pic btw!

 

[Celle]

Thanks, Spex. They're my furry "babies", my constant companions. There is only 6 weeks' difference in their ages and they grew up together. They sleep cuddled up together like that at night.

 

[ACDCJen]

@Spex10

I always loved getting PT exercises (years prior, before my TKRs) and they would say to get on the floor. Puh-lease!! I haven't been able to get on the floor since I was 12!!! I also avoided sitting in really low things, and anything where I had to squat. I wonder if the non-pained people know what it's like to have to avoid that kind of stuff!!!
Jen

 

[Spex10]

Just saw the VG physio. She said there was nothing more they could do for me. My knee has actually lost even more bend. Looks like MUA inevitable. She told me to take it easy but try to maintain mobility in a gentle way. January looking very depressing.

 

[Celle]

It's a good thing that your PT has dismissed you. We've been advising you to stop physical therapy anyway. Give yourself some time, without exercises, when you devote yourself to resting, icing and elevating your knee, and just walk around the house a bit.

If that doesn't work, then try the MUA. When do you see your surgeon again?

 

[Spex10]

I wouldn't say she's dismissed me. She was very nice and honest and said that she couldn't see how else the arthrofibrosis could be helped. My appt with the surgeon is on 6th Jan. Not long. However, I'll try to rest. Have a spa session one day. Looking forward to some time in a warm pool.

 

[KarriB]

Dismissed just means you're done with PT. When they've done all they can for us, we're dismissed from their service.

 

[Celle]

Enjoy the spa pool, as long as your incision is completely healed, with no open areas or scabs. If it's not, you could risk introducing infection.

 

[Spex10]

I just thought that 'dismissed' had rather negative connotations - sounds like I'd been sacked for misbehaviour!

 

[little red canoe]

I just thought that 'dismissed' had rather negative connotations - sounds like I'd been sacked for misbehaviour!

Oh no.. you haven't done anything wrong.. Its just a term for end of service.

Have you read in the library here the articles on MUA? They might help calm the uncertainty.

 

[Spex10]

Hi, I have read the articles and also found some more. There was a 2015 study which indicated favourable outcomes for MUA. I'll just have to travel hopefully.

 

[Celle]

If you decide to have the MUA - and it should be your choice, not anyone else's - do be aware that your knee will be re-injured. Forcing your knee to bend will cause some soft tissue damage which will take a while to repair.

Don't be persuaded to work your knee hard with lots of exercises afterwards. It will need time and gentle treatment, so it can recover.