Just came back from PT, they are so obsessed with the ROM measuring all the times I’m there, I told him my knee is swollen it’s not going that far and to stop pushing !!! I’m at 108 now and I don’t care!!! It hurts to push.
PT must never hurt. Do you remember this, from the post-op reading we gave you?
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.
That PT is doing your leg no good at all and going there is just making you worried.
It's your knee. Take control and take action to help it.
Stop doing exercises at PT. Give your knee a chance to recover from all that pushing. Tell them to stop measuring.
Instead of painful exercises and measuring, insist that your therapist helps you with gaining confidence in walking - you are the boss, not your therapist.
It's not exercising that gets you your ROM - it's time. Time to recover, time for swelling and pain to settle, and time to heal. Your ROM is there right from the start, just waiting for all that to happen, so it can show itself.
My surgeon doesn't measure ROM at all, because he knows that function is more important than the numbers. He just looks at my knees and says, "Show me what you can do."
For this early in recovery, your flexion is just fine. You do know it can continue to improve for a long time yet, don't you?
There's no need to rush to get ROM (Range of Motion) because it can continue to improve for a year, or even much longer, after a knee replacement. There isn't any deadline you have to meet:
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
I talked to a women who had her knee replaced nov 11 and she was doing great , walking without assistance , I was kind of disappointed cause here I am still struggling with my walker with this fear of stepping full on my leg so it doesn’t snap!
And that is why we advise people not to compare.
You are still early in this year-long recovery and you have plenty of time.
Her knee might not have needed as much work during surgery as yours did, but how would you know that?
Every knee is on its own recovery journey and no two knees are the same.
Your leg won't snap. Try to trust it.
I feel so behind like I should be doing great by now . I know we heal differently but it’s so disappointing!
There is no time line you have to follow, no deadlines you have to meet. Complete recovery normally takes a full year and there is no need to rush. Time is on your side.
Your knee is following its own plan and it knows what it's doing.
Where are you in recovery?? (TKR)
United States
