TKR Flexion Range extremely low
- Thread starter Diesellily
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United Kingdom
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Diesellily
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Just returned from Physio. Had a nice lady who listened to me and didn't push me. Lots of pain from CPM and being thrown around in the back of the car. ROM is at 28 degrees which is less than last week 
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Diesellily
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Yes and pain. Elevated and iced as soon as I got home.
If you want ROM -- of course you do! -- you are going to have to put a stop to any activity at all that brings on this terrible swelling. You can squeak by fine with two sessions of gentle stretching a day. Consider that at least in the short run. It's 2 steps forward, 1 step back -- NOT 1 step forward, 2 steps back!!
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Diesellily
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I really want ROM and the right approach which I don't seem to be doing at the moment. These stretches. I've looked up in the library section but can't find out how to do them. Any info would help!
Are you doing heel slides? That was my ever popular one. Lie down and with your foot flat on the bed, slowly bring your foot toward your butt as far as you can (without major pain). Hold for a count of 20?--whatever you can manage. Repeat several times.
I can only tell you what I did. I got a big exercise ball and sat on it. I'd plant my TKR on the floor and would s-l-o-w-l-y rock forward until I had a stretch and I would hold that stretch. If it hurt I backed off a dite. I'd do 10 of these 2-3 times a day. Other people have other favorite ways of stretching. The point is to go about it very slowly and gently. I'd ice afterward. You are at 18 days, right? So most of what you do now is healing. Healing happens with rest.
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Diesellily
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Stretch as in bend? I have one of these balls I will look for the pump. Thank you to everyone for advice given. I will find my way x
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Diesellily
member
Ok 3 weeks post op. The heartbreaking (sarcastic) view is Jeans have to wait until the swelling goes down and have to except that shapeless trackie bottoms and Asda Smartprice Frozen veg are my new best friends. How do I cope at next weeks student meeting (also sarcastic) wearing cheap nasty trousers???? Fact comfort is paramount! Live with it!
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Diesellily
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Does anyone know where I can rent a CPM machine? Nothing is working despite how much PT I do
grumpyj
junior member
when I was 3 weeks after a partial knee replacement I was very down now I am just over 5 weeks and have been doing physio with a guy at darenth valley weekly and my knee is doing great walking without sticks driving my car leg straighten almost, pain not to bad have cut down on meds sitting hear now with op knee bent under dinning table as normal with no pain thinking of returning to work in 4 weeks that will be 10 weeks after op on reduced hour and see mr moftah surgeon on 25th all looking good for me so it will get better also I cut right back on physio at home just once or twice a day worked for me
Hi Diesellily. Please don't worry too much.
. I can't do heel slides lying on my back and I'm not great at doing them sitting down either. My rom has gone backwards slightly and my knee feels very, very stiff at the moment. It's still healing so I'm not worrying. I'm walking a little more each day. I shall look at driving next week.
I'd love more rom as I'm no where near being able to peddle. Your rom will come too I'm sure. Slow and steady - it's early days yet.
. I can't do heel slides lying on my back and I'm not great at doing them sitting down either. My rom has gone backwards slightly and my knee feels very, very stiff at the moment. It's still healing so I'm not worrying. I'm walking a little more each day. I shall look at driving next week.
I'd love more rom as I'm no where near being able to peddle. Your rom will come too I'm sure. Slow and steady - it's early days yet.
Does anyone know where I can rent a CPM machine? Nothing is working despite how much PT I do
And there's your problem! You're pushing yourself and your knee, trying to do too much, trying to force your knee to bend. It can't while it is still swollen.
STOP the PT, STOP the CPM! They aren't working in your favour at this stage. All they are doing is irritating your wounded tissues and making you have more swelling.
You need to concentrate on resting, with your leg elevated so that your toes are higher than your nose, and do lots of icing. Also, take pain relief by the clock - when it is due and not when you are already in pain.
Your knee is not a lazy knee. It doesn't need lots of exercise right now. It is wounded and it needs time and gentle treatment to heal. As far as exercise goes, just do a few heel slides and ankle pumps a day. That, and getting up to the bathroom is all you need right now. You can increase your activity as the swelling goes down - but never push the exercise.
Working harder is not the way to get improved ROM. So many people have found that out the hard way, as you are doing. Just take a step back from pressuring yourself, lie down with a good book or watch the TV, wiggle those elevated toes now and then and do a few ankle pumps. Try that for a couple of weeks, and see if it works.
And here's a hug - ((((((((((Lilly)))))))))) - because you deserve it!
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Diesellily
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Thats really good GrumpyJ. I alas are having no luck so I'm looking to rent a machine for a month or so as no amount of exercise will shift this knee more than 30 degrees and I'm feeling really down about it. I can't get to physic unless my OH takes me and the only appointments seem to be when he is either at work or asleep (He is on nights). The hospital only offer transport to non walkers. I manage on crutches but I wouldn't exactly call it walking. I can't get in a car properly and have to lay out on the back seat. I really want some of my life back!
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grumpyj
junior member
hi diesellily sorry its that bad for you but I to had very bad rom and found it hard to sleep hardly done any physio at home then in the last 5 to 8 days its as if some one waved a magic wand and things just started to move more freely that I hardly noticed it was my wife that pointed out it was bending more I was doing it with out thinking it will get better as I was very down 2 weeks ago just stay positive they do rent cpm machines in uk can find on the web but are about £70 per week my physio told me to sit on a table let my legs dangle of the floor use the good one to push the other back but only if able to do so hope you get and feel better 
Can you use a walker? I found it much more comfortable than crutches. Could you get a cab to the physio?
This week I've walked a lot more - maybe half a mile today but slowly. I'm now sitting with my feet up. I'm five weeks past my op.
Last week I wasn't walking nearly as much and took my cane. So in just one week there has been a big difference in my mobility.
However as I've said its steady but very slow.
Go gently and please don't despair. I was very low for the first three weeks as everything was so frustrating - and I think that's what you are going through now. The whole thing can knock you for six.
I think I might be right saying your op may take a little more time than my medial one to get back on your feet from.
Focus on the bones etc healing and the rom will probably come as the swelling goes down as Celle says.
You are being too hard on yourself - pamper yourself and your knee. You deserve it.
Big hugs.
This week I've walked a lot more - maybe half a mile today but slowly. I'm now sitting with my feet up. I'm five weeks past my op.
Last week I wasn't walking nearly as much and took my cane. So in just one week there has been a big difference in my mobility.
However as I've said its steady but very slow.
Go gently and please don't despair. I was very low for the first three weeks as everything was so frustrating - and I think that's what you are going through now. The whole thing can knock you for six.
I think I might be right saying your op may take a little more time than my medial one to get back on your feet from.
Focus on the bones etc healing and the rom will probably come as the swelling goes down as Celle says.
You are being too hard on yourself - pamper yourself and your knee. You deserve it.
Big hugs.
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Diesellily
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Thank you for the kind words. I am trying to let nature take it's course but its difficult when the Head PT says I should have more ROM than I do. As for a cab I can only sit draped across the back seat and only trust my partner not to drop my leg when shuffling in and out of the car. The other pressure is work. They drop my wages soon and I have mortgage and bills to pay, so I'm getting quite worried hence the pushing harder of my knee. I know I'm not doing it any favours but not sure what else I can do.
grumpyj
junior member
i had a person like that in my first group meet at physio they tried to tell me we all had same op so should all be the same but we are not every ones different heeling is different .the thing i expected at group physio was people to chat about what they are going through but no one seemed to be chatty just came in done one circuit and left my movement has come back more since i have been doing my own stuff i am more sure of what my body can do then them i cant ride a bike yet what i do is 2 ,15min on a rowing machine use legs to push my weight back only . on my 3 weeks i was very depressed so try and stay positive it must get better its been at its most worst surley i still ache like hell first thing when i get up 
as the day goes on gets better i hope yours gets better soon as pain makes people grumpy hence name ...don't worry be happy .... 
as the day goes on gets better i hope yours gets better soon as pain makes people grumpy hence name ...don't worry be happy .... It really is tough for you at the moment. What is the PTs answer to your lack of rom?
I can understand you being worried about work. Do you have a stationary job?
If you push the knee hard then you are possibly slowing the healing and increasing the swelling - it's a vicious circle.
It's so soon for you to have such worries after a hard surgery. Please rest and take it easy if you can - just another week of resting, icing, elevating and gentle stuff on the knee might be beneficial.
Roy Gardiner and Josephine might give you more advice and tell you more about rom and what to expect from your PT.
I can understand you being worried about work. Do you have a stationary job?
If you push the knee hard then you are possibly slowing the healing and increasing the swelling - it's a vicious circle.
It's so soon for you to have such worries after a hard surgery. Please rest and take it easy if you can - just another week of resting, icing, elevating and gentle stuff on the knee might be beneficial.
Roy Gardiner and Josephine might give you more advice and tell you more about rom and what to expect from your PT.
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