MUA Good Strong Knee - No Bend<

two of the photos are my extension with 4 fingers height under.
Yes I know that. But that's not how I set up the scale. Read it again

a) if you can get your entire hand under easily, it's probably about +10 degrees
b) if you can get just your fingers under, it's about +5
c) if you can get your fingers under but it's a push, it's +0
d) if you can't get your fingers under at all, it's -5 or more​
 
Thanks Josephine I’m a +5 possibly a +10.
 
I was a 10 for a few months. I helped my extension by increasing the length of my stride, walking heel to toe. It wasn't quick, but it worked. With swelling, both ROMs and inhibited.
 
Last edited:
I walk with a stride have been since early on helped with the limp-I don’t limp at all- but extension has never really changed but thanks for the advice.

I do believe that if I didn’t get pain when bending or extending I still wouldn’t be able to bend or stretch it any more than I do. When I try to bear the pain to see if it will bend further it just won’t go. It could be me being scared of even greater pain!

I am still swollen, it has never really gone down much so the bend could be that I guess.

Oh well it’ll be interesting to see what the OS says on Friday.
 
When I try to bear the pain to see if it will bend further it just won’t go.
I am still swollen, it has never really gone down much so the bend could be that I guess.
There is your answer to your ROM. A swollen knee will naturally restrict ROM, which is both bend and extension. Can you bend a water hose that is full of water? Nope. Let that water out, then you can roll up that hose. It's the same with the knee. Let the swelling go down. Don't worry about your ROM until after then. It will come!
 
I’m a +5 possibly a +10.
Well that's not too bad! It will improve.
When I try to bear the pain to see if it will bend further it just won’t go.
I'm with sistersinhim! That's totally the wrong way to do things! That's also the point of pain management! I noted in my answers to you that you were only taking one Tylenol a day which is poor. Never mind how long it's been, it's the pain score than counts. And you declared a pain level of 7 out of 10 which means you should be at least taking 1,000mg Tylenol 4 times a day - every 6hrs. Just try it and see how it goes.
 
@sistersinhim Thanks for info - I know about the hose thing I’ve read lots on BS about that it’s just that I feel I should be doing more at 50 weeks! Guess I’ll just keep icing and elevating. Thanks again


@Josephine its only really a 7 when I do bend or straighten beyond uncomfortable. For the most part my ache is only a 1-2. I’ve stopped the indoor bike and the heel slides - I wasn’t really doing much of that anyway because of the pain.
I am still a bit worried about seeing the OS on Friday. I really hope he can do something. Thanks again.
 
I'm sorry to be redundant. Just remember that each knee is different. Hopefully, your OS will give you some idea of what's going on.
 
I went for my appointment with my original OS last Friday (19 Oct 2018). It was interesting! I ended up waiting in four different waiting rooms 2 for an x-ray that was minutes in its completion but an age in waiting for it to be done. My meeting with the OS was 11 minutes from leaving the waiting room to getting back to the waiting room. I came away with a tear in my eye and I feel I've been through every emotion since.

Anyway enough with the dramatics here are the facts. I have a good knee with no infection. He checked my extension and flexion by eye ~ +10/12 less than 80. I have arthrofibrosis with very 'hard' adhesions. If I had not been 90 at 5 weeks, when he discharged me, he would have called me back at 3 months and perhaps performed an MUA although he did say that my adhesions never seemed soft and so assessments/trials show that that may not have helped. He went on to say another surgeon would perhaps put a looser joint in but I could be left with a worse scenario than I have at present. He also mentioned arthroscopy to try to remove the adhesions but it may make it really bad and more painful. He told me if I was an 80 year old I would have been happy with the outcome, I'm not sure my active 82 year old Mum would agree:) I explained that I wanted to do more and because of the pain of the bend it was difficult to motivate myself to exercise. I asked if massage, osteopaths, chiropractor and sports physiotherapist would help - no not really. He said I am very unlucky to have arthrofibrosis and he suggested I accept the way it is and to find a personal trainer to motivate me to exercise without hurting/bending my knee. Written down he sounds unhelpful but he was down to earth, honest and really nice with it.

So on Monday (22 Oct 2018) I got a call from NHS community orthopedics that told me my knee had been assessed and I had been passed on to an OS at one of the local hospitals. I went online and booked my own appointment at a local hospital for December 3rd - it would have been in November but we are abroad for the whole of November. So yet again watch this space!
 
I went online and booked my own appointment at a local hospital for December 3rd -
Is this for a second opinion?

I’m sorry there wasn’t better news.

How did he diagnose the arthrofibrosis?
 
@Jockette The second appointment is through the NHS. The original surgery and OS was through the NHS but at a private hospital. My GP had put a referral through to the NHS and, I thought, an e-referral to the private hospital for a follow up appointment but maybe not, maybe it got lost in the system-who knows. The private hospital I had to ring myself and make an appointment.

I'm guessing he diagnosed me from the x-ray and discussing my pain, where the pain is and lack of ROM. I have asked the hospital for my x-rays. They did ask why and could they send them electronically to a hospital if I was seeing another specialist. I told them the NHS has recent x-rays and I would like the x-rays for myself. Hopefully she is sending them by disk.
 
Good for you for asking for a copy of your X-rays. I have a copy of mine, not that they do me any good, they look fine. Whatever my problem is, it doesn’t show on an X-ray.
 
@Jockette I noticed on your thread you’ve tried a chiropractor. Do you think it’s something worth trying? What is your problem and did the chiropractor help?
 
I don’t think my chiropractor is helping my knee. I see her more for my neck and upper back rib issues.

My problem is complicated. I had a partial. I’ve struggled most of my recovery. My ROM is good, but it took a long time, but I can’t put any weight on my leg if my knee is bent. (so I can’t do stairs) It’s also very uncomfortable when I lean forward, when I straighten back up it feels out of joint. Any different angle makes it uncomfortable. I can’t even get into position to lay on my right side, and it’s my left knee, it feels like a heavy bowling ball is in the knee and it feels off balance when I try. It’s a bit depressing.

My second opinion at 15 months wasn’t interested and I’ve given up the idea of other opinions for the time being.

I had a bad experience with PT and my surgeon forced the bend at almost every appointment to measure ROM and I just can’t face doing this over again at this time. If it gets to the point I don’t have a choice I’ll have to face it then.
 
Oh wow! Completely different then. I have a strong knee no problem putting weight on it. I also can’t do stairs well but only because I can’t bend knee! I’m not sure which is worse- perhaps yourself as I’m at the stage I’ve had enough and want to explore anything that can be done. Don’t think I’ll bother with the chiropractor though. Take care of yourself @Jockette and I hope ‘stuff’ sorts itself.
 
Taking action feels good, doesn’t it? I’m glad you’re getting another look at your knee. Sometimes when a surgeon suggests a patient just “be happy” with their results, it means the surgeon doesn’t think he can do anything more to help you. But that doesn’t mean a different surgeon can’t find a way to help.

Do whatever you can to get a knee you really can be happy with. You’re not looking for anything unrealistic.
 
members pic.jpg
 

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

  • Jaycey
    ADMINISTRATOR Staff member since February 2011

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
65,167
Messages
1,596,863
BoneSmarties
39,356
Latest member
JanieMarie
Recent bookmarks
0
Back
Top Bottom