I agree, give your leg rest and TLC, with short walks and very gentle bends for mobility. I don’t understand why these medical teams don’t understand this healing process, or the trauma that is introduced during an MUA.
MUA Help after MUA
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I agree, give your leg rest and TLC, with short walks and very gentle bends for mobility. I don’t understand why these medical teams don’t understand this healing process, or the trauma that is introduced during an MUA.
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Glad you're listening to your knee and realizing that the swelling is what's causing difficulty in bending your knee. Please know that you didn't ruin your knee and missing a couple of sessions shouldn't undo the progress you've made. Rather than push through pain, gentle consistent movement like heel slides or knee bends while seated should suffice for now.
Continue to ice / elevate several times per day in an effort to control the swelling and pain, along with steady gentle motion and you will likely see some improvement. Happy Weekend, WillsNonni!
@WillsNonni
Continue to ice / elevate several times per day in an effort to control the swelling and pain, along with steady gentle motion and you will likely see some improvement. Happy Weekend, WillsNonni!
@WillsNonni
Hi @WillsNonni
I'm horrified at what you've been put through and advised since your very recent MUA. Not the advice by Bonesmart or course! I had a MUA in June after a TKR in January when 5 months after the TKR my knee refused to bend more than a pathetic 45o and I could only lift my foot about 3" off the ground. Immediately after the surgery my surgeon told me he'd got my knee to 90o which I'm not ashamed to admit made me cry (with relief). However when I saw the PT a week or so later he measured it at 78o. Next visit was, I think 85o, then it went to 92o and I signed myself off when it reached an amazing 98o.
All this was reached by doing heel slides and walking my dogs for 30 minutes each day. I did the heel slides gently, but very regularly. I think every couple of hours, and I think I did about 20, holding each one for 20-30 seconds. I did some sit to stand too but these aggravated my to-be-operated knee so I stopped these.
It just takes time and patience.
My knee is unlikely to improve much beyond 98o as my knees are stiff knees! But I can drive and do what I want to do so I'm ok with this.
Good luck.
I'm horrified at what you've been put through and advised since your very recent MUA. Not the advice by Bonesmart or course! I had a MUA in June after a TKR in January when 5 months after the TKR my knee refused to bend more than a pathetic 45o and I could only lift my foot about 3" off the ground. Immediately after the surgery my surgeon told me he'd got my knee to 90o which I'm not ashamed to admit made me cry (with relief). However when I saw the PT a week or so later he measured it at 78o. Next visit was, I think 85o, then it went to 92o and I signed myself off when it reached an amazing 98o.
All this was reached by doing heel slides and walking my dogs for 30 minutes each day. I did the heel slides gently, but very regularly. I think every couple of hours, and I think I did about 20, holding each one for 20-30 seconds. I did some sit to stand too but these aggravated my to-be-operated knee so I stopped these.
It just takes time and patience.
My knee is unlikely to improve much beyond 98o as my knees are stiff knees! But I can drive and do what I want to do so I'm ok with this.
Good luck.
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Your knee is so mad at you!!! So its swelling and then swelling some more and toss in some pain just to show you its in charge. As you now know, you've been way overworking your knee. Now is the time to settle back with ice and elevation and let it calm down. When icing try moving the ice around on the knee. Meaning to the back of the knee and on the sides. Don't always just ice on top of the knee.
This too shall pass and you'll be on the recovery road again. Slow and steady. PT numbers mean nothing if they are pulling / pushing your leg to get to the number. That's where you say - nope, no one touches my knee. When I finally said that at PT it was such a relief to me. They were shocked, and I was relieved. You've got this.
This too shall pass and you'll be on the recovery road again. Slow and steady. PT numbers mean nothing if they are pulling / pushing your leg to get to the number. That's where you say - nope, no one touches my knee. When I finally said that at PT it was such a relief to me. They were shocked, and I was relieved. You've got this.
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Now that a couple of weeks have passed since you last posted, wondering how you're doing? Hopefully you're feeling more optimistic and no longer worrying you ruined your knee.
Let us know when you have a minute. We'd like to hear from you. Wishing you all the best in 2026!
@WillsNonni
Let us know when you have a minute. We'd like to hear from you. Wishing you all the best in 2026!@WillsNonni
WillsNonni
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Hello and thanks for the nudge to update. Well just about a month since my MUA...and over 24 PT sessions since I got the tkr am feeling very despondent if I am being honest. Still not getting any better than 105 ROM. I can do basic things but still lagging despite working on my own outside of PT. Dont know how much more I can do for this knee. Feeling that PT really isn't worth it anymore.
In a few days I will be 3 months since doing this and am getting scared things aren't progressing. Ive read the articles and have seen where people with worse cases then me do progress so maybe theres hope. I just dont know what else I can do.
Doc says next steps if I am not that much better in 6 or so months I could opt for arthoscopic surgery to cut away scar tissue? I didnt sign up for that.
Yes...I am having a pity party.
In a few days I will be 3 months since doing this and am getting scared things aren't progressing. Ive read the articles and have seen where people with worse cases then me do progress so maybe theres hope. I just dont know what else I can do.
Doc says next steps if I am not that much better in 6 or so months I could opt for arthoscopic surgery to cut away scar tissue? I didnt sign up for that.
Yes...I am having a pity party.
@ WillsNonni …. It sounds to me as though you may be working too hard to try and regain your ROM. That’s actually possible, even though some therapists and surgeons won’t agree.
Please tell me what you’re doing in terms of activity and exercises. I’ll need the name of each exercise as well as how many reps and sets you do on each day you do them. Also, indicate any walking, errand running, household chores, food prep, etc. that you’re doing.
Is your knee visibly swollen? Is there pain in your knee? If so, what causes it and what, if anything, makes it better?
Once we have this information, it will be easier to give you some guidance. Please don’t give up on your knee.
If you have a therapist who will do massage (especially lymphatic massage), it may be worth it to just do that for several weeks and see if things improve. I’m pretty certain you still have swelling in your knee even if you don’t see it from the outside.
Please tell me what you’re doing in terms of activity and exercises. I’ll need the name of each exercise as well as how many reps and sets you do on each day you do them. Also, indicate any walking, errand running, household chores, food prep, etc. that you’re doing.
Is your knee visibly swollen? Is there pain in your knee? If so, what causes it and what, if anything, makes it better?
Once we have this information, it will be easier to give you some guidance. Please don’t give up on your knee.
If you have a therapist who will do massage (especially lymphatic massage), it may be worth it to just do that for several weeks and see if things improve. I’m pretty certain you still have swelling in your knee even if you don’t see it from the outside.
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I agree with Jamie's comment that you may be doing too much and second her request for more details about your exercise routine and your symptoms. Please share so we can offer feedback.
Additionally, I think you might need to reset your expectations about TKR recovery. Our doctors don't warn us that this is a year-long recovery. So, at 3 months post-op, you are only 1/4 of the way through.
That said, if your flexion is already at 105, you are well ahead of some of our members who've had full recoveries. Here are two examples:
Campervan’s ROM history
92 - 8 weeks post op
107 - 5 months
110 - 6 months
112 - 7 months
116 - 9 months
119 - 11 months
118 - 1 yr
120 - 1yr 2 months
Bertschb’s ROM history
2 months - 80 degrees
4 months - 90 degrees
6 months - 110 degrees
7 months - 120 degrees
8 months - 125 degrees
9 months - 130 degrees
10 months - 135 degrees
WillsNonni
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Thanks for these replies! I am aware it takes time, alot of time. I guess I just had higher expectations going through an MUA. One of my therapists has been very good about explaining the process, etc. He agrees aggressive work is not a good thing to do when swelling, etc exists...the other one I have believes the only way that knee is going to be better is to push it. Guess which one I'd rather work with?
In addition to PT I have signed on for a couple of knee bending/knee extension course with Dr. Samantha Smith which you might have seen online. Her 'succeed courses' is where I do these from. I have only done the beginning stages of each course and you are supposed to do them twice a day (while icing every 2 hours). I do them on off PT days. Now I'm only doing PT twice a week but after the MUA I did a tortuous 10 days straight as that was what the doc ordered... Here's an example of what a day of the knee bending course looks like: (I took them off the course itself)
Knee Straightening Course Day 1
Pain: mostly medial and about a 4 to 5 on a pain 'scale'. But not constant. Responds to ice and rest.
I realize there are those who would kill for a 105 and I apologize for sounding so ungrateful. I have read the stories of those who started out (like the example above) and with time did very well. I wasn't that flexible going into all of this and believe that is part of it. So I"m working at basic stretching of hams/quads/ glutes to help in the process.
Thanks again for the support! It is very helpful...
In addition to PT I have signed on for a couple of knee bending/knee extension course with Dr. Samantha Smith which you might have seen online. Her 'succeed courses' is where I do these from. I have only done the beginning stages of each course and you are supposed to do them twice a day (while icing every 2 hours). I do them on off PT days. Now I'm only doing PT twice a week but after the MUA I did a tortuous 10 days straight as that was what the doc ordered... Here's an example of what a day of the knee bending course looks like: (I took them off the course itself)
- Bike 5 minutes with heat (using a heating pad on quads to warm them up)
- Standing marches x15
- Standing knee bends x15
- Standing squats x15
- Standing hip hinge x15
- Laying knee to chest (hold) x15
- Laying Mini bridges x15
- Seated quad contraction, hold 10 seconds, stretch back x4
- Seated hamstring stretch, hold 30 seconds x2
Knee Straightening Course Day 1
- Bike 5 minutes with heat (heating pad on hamstrings)
- Seated toe touch x10
- Standing terminal knee extension x10
- Standing knee bends x10
- Long sitting quad sets, hold 5 seconds x10
- Laying hamstring stretch with rope, hold 30 seconds x2
- Seated hamstring stretch, hold 30 seconds x3
Pain: mostly medial and about a 4 to 5 on a pain 'scale'. But not constant. Responds to ice and rest.
I realize there are those who would kill for a 105 and I apologize for sounding so ungrateful. I have read the stories of those who started out (like the example above) and with time did very well. I wasn't that flexible going into all of this and believe that is part of it. So I"m working at basic stretching of hams/quads/ glutes to help in the process.
Thanks again for the support! It is very helpful...
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You've had a TKR and an MUA, the best way to say it is that your knee is angry. I think you stating that it (your knee) responds well to ice and rest is very telling. I believe its telling you your pushing your knee too much, IMO. Somehow its in our mind that if we over work the knee it will get better faster and nothing could be farther from the truth. Personally, I would back way off of everything and let that baby knee simmer down and just let it be a knee. I'd do rest and ice - continue to do some things around the house, within limitations. Just try that for three weeks and see how your knee responds.
WillsNonni
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Thanks for this response. I would agree. I guess I got it in my head that if I don't do anything, the knee will just get worse and then where will I be? I am hearing so many different things. One PT says let's just work on stretching and some strengthening...then the other wants to bend it all to you know where. I leave frustrated and dread going back. Anyway, I am going to back off on the course for now and see where this goes..again, thanks.
It can be counter productive to do exercises daily like you’re doing. All your knee really needs on the “off” days is some gentle bends and stretches maybe twice a day. Your body uses that day of rest, ice and elevation to recover from the exercises and repair those tissues that you’ve stretched and worked.
When you had the MUA, you basically reset your recovery clock, so you’re now only a couple of months into your recovery period. Try to be patient and give your body some grace. Your gut feelings about what’s going on are right. Trust yourself. You are trying to recover from probably years of not having a fully functioning knee. That doesn’t come overnight. Your ROM is actually just fine for where you are in your recovery journey.
I agree you should stay away from any injections or surgery “to remove scar tissue.” You don’t need either of these. You just need to give your body time to heal and improve. It’s a slow process for most people which is why most surgeons will tell you it takes a full year. In my case with both my knees, it was a full 6 months before I began to feel more normal again.
When you had the MUA, you basically reset your recovery clock, so you’re now only a couple of months into your recovery period. Try to be patient and give your body some grace. Your gut feelings about what’s going on are right. Trust yourself. You are trying to recover from probably years of not having a fully functioning knee. That doesn’t come overnight. Your ROM is actually just fine for where you are in your recovery journey.
I agree you should stay away from any injections or surgery “to remove scar tissue.” You don’t need either of these. You just need to give your body time to heal and improve. It’s a slow process for most people which is why most surgeons will tell you it takes a full year. In my case with both my knees, it was a full 6 months before I began to feel more normal again.
WillsNonni
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Appreciate your insight Jamie!
It does seem that you are overworking a knee/leg that really needs some TLC and time, to heal.
Regaining our ROM does not require forceful bending or painful exercises. That is counterproductive.
Regaining our ROM is more about Time than repetitions of a list of exercises.
Time to recover.
Time for pain and swelling to settle.
Time to heal.
Our range of motion is right there all along just waiting for that to happen so it can show itself.
In the general run of things, it doesn't need to be fought for, worked hard for or worried about. It will happen. Normal activity is the key to success.
I had a very tough first year, but I had a lot of improvement in my second year, as my whole leg continued to relax and heal. I could even tell that my ROM was still improving in my third year. I’m not saying that you won’t see improvement until your second year, but just letting you know that it’s definitely possible.
Regaining our ROM does not require forceful bending or painful exercises. That is counterproductive.
Regaining our ROM is more about Time than repetitions of a list of exercises.
Time to recover.
Time for pain and swelling to settle.
Time to heal.
Our range of motion is right there all along just waiting for that to happen so it can show itself.
In the general run of things, it doesn't need to be fought for, worked hard for or worried about. It will happen. Normal activity is the key to success.
I had a very tough first year, but I had a lot of improvement in my second year, as my whole leg continued to relax and heal. I could even tell that my ROM was still improving in my third year. I’m not saying that you won’t see improvement until your second year, but just letting you know that it’s definitely possible.
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Hi WillsNonni,
Thanks for the update, it's nice to hear from you!
What you're dealing with is really hard and it's understandable that you're discouraged. A TKR followed by a MUA so soon is a lot of trauma for one knee. Healing will take more time than you hoped it would. Your knee is still inflamed and needs protecting. Overworking it isn't helping because the swelling and irritation from overuse is blocking progress. It is amazing the way our body protects us! Once the inflammation settles you will make some gains, but for now gentle movement and a ton of patience will allow for that progress to happen.
A member from the past couple years shared what I will leave below and hopefully you will receive it as encouragement.
I wish you the best in the coming year. Healing continues, even when it's slow and brighter days are on the way!
Member VolLady's post from January 2024 -
"I want to tell everyone that has went though TKR that it is a long journey to heal. I am going this spring to have my other knee replaced.
Please do not get discouraged and I know you will because I did with my first one and cried more than I had in a life time. Scared mostly.... Surgeons will not tell you everything that you will experience during your healing. It took me 7 months actually to feel more normal but not 100%.
For the ROM I only got to 112 at 4 months and still cannot bend it all the way back to reach 130. But I can drive, sit at a table, put my shoes and clothes on great without a ROM of 130 or 120. There is no swelling at all at 8 months but I still have some stiffness at times but I deal with it and walk. I also still ride my bike with no trouble.
I am telling everyone this because your body will heal without PT and pushing your limit beyond to the point there is more swelling and pain. I have decided when I have my other knee fixed this spring, that I will do my own PT since I have all the equipment and items that they use anyway.
I had a MUA at almost 6 wks., and regretted it from day one. Simply because it did not help me anymore with my ROM but it did set me back on healing. The swelling was awful. I will not have another MUA even if my ROM was 95 at the time.
I will go in with open eyes on this other knee comparing on what I went though with the first one. So, with all that said, I wish everyone a happy healing and let your body decide with healing than someone trying to push you until you scream with pain. Also don't worry about the ROM, it will come -- it might take a year or more, but it will come. I am 67 years old and I don't expect to get past 120, but I do what I want to do at 67. Oh! and I can even bend down with the knee need to kneel on it..... Best wishes everyone!"
@WillsNonni
Thanks for the update, it's nice to hear from you!
What you're dealing with is really hard and it's understandable that you're discouraged. A TKR followed by a MUA so soon is a lot of trauma for one knee. Healing will take more time than you hoped it would. Your knee is still inflamed and needs protecting. Overworking it isn't helping because the swelling and irritation from overuse is blocking progress. It is amazing the way our body protects us! Once the inflammation settles you will make some gains, but for now gentle movement and a ton of patience will allow for that progress to happen.
A member from the past couple years shared what I will leave below and hopefully you will receive it as encouragement.
I wish you the best in the coming year. Healing continues, even when it's slow and brighter days are on the way!
Member VolLady's post from January 2024 -
"I want to tell everyone that has went though TKR that it is a long journey to heal. I am going this spring to have my other knee replaced.
Please do not get discouraged and I know you will because I did with my first one and cried more than I had in a life time. Scared mostly.... Surgeons will not tell you everything that you will experience during your healing. It took me 7 months actually to feel more normal but not 100%.
For the ROM I only got to 112 at 4 months and still cannot bend it all the way back to reach 130. But I can drive, sit at a table, put my shoes and clothes on great without a ROM of 130 or 120. There is no swelling at all at 8 months but I still have some stiffness at times but I deal with it and walk. I also still ride my bike with no trouble.
I am telling everyone this because your body will heal without PT and pushing your limit beyond to the point there is more swelling and pain. I have decided when I have my other knee fixed this spring, that I will do my own PT since I have all the equipment and items that they use anyway.
I had a MUA at almost 6 wks., and regretted it from day one. Simply because it did not help me anymore with my ROM but it did set me back on healing. The swelling was awful. I will not have another MUA even if my ROM was 95 at the time.
I will go in with open eyes on this other knee comparing on what I went though with the first one. So, with all that said, I wish everyone a happy healing and let your body decide with healing than someone trying to push you until you scream with pain. Also don't worry about the ROM, it will come -- it might take a year or more, but it will come. I am 67 years old and I don't expect to get past 120, but I do what I want to do at 67. Oh! and I can even bend down with the knee need to kneel on it..... Best wishes everyone!"
@WillsNonni
Bless your heart. It is so confusing to hear so many different things. What is good about BoneSmart is that we on this forum have had a knee replacement and know what works best. I never took PT, and just did my own daily activities after all of my 12 knee surgeries and recovered just fine. For the majority of our members who have had a knee replacement, less PT = a better, less painful recovery.
Please try to stay positive. I had a complicated TKR revision in Oct. 2024. Like you, I went thru torturous PT sessions that nearly broke me. After 24 sessions, I decided to follow much of the Bonesmart way, and gradually my knee calmed down, my confidence increased and I saw improvement. Still, after six months, I was stuck at a ROM of 90. I ended up enrolling in Dr Samantha Smith’s knee bending course and over the next six weeks, improved to 112. I then enrolled in the strength and balance course Dr Sam offers. By the end of the course, climbing, going up and down stairs, stability, endurance and balance were significantly better. At 13 months post surgery, I finally raised my ROM to 121. I continue to stretch daily, and there are days I am close to 125. Finally, I feel as though I can do most anything I could do before knee replacement. In fact, I just signed up to do the Level 2 version of the strength and balance course.
We all heal differently, and you will get there in your own time. I wish you the very best.
Bilateral knee replacement was on 8/27/25. I am 68 years old. ROM was 80 on the left and 90 on the right after 10 weeks, I had a MUA on 11/18. For me it was a game changer!! Went to PT that after noon and every day for 2 weeks and rode my stationary bike every afternoon along with the exercises he gave me. Dr. got my rom to 125 on the left and 130 on the right. When I finished PT on 12/31, my rom was 126 on the left and 132 on the right. As far as "pain" just muscle soreness, that lasted about a week, the type of soreness that an athlete has after some really hard workouts. My PT measured me every day, it helped me to stay positive. My personal feeling is, if you need a MUA, get and get back to work asap, you don't have time to play around.
@Steve44 Welcome to Bonesmart. I will put your surgery date in a signature for you.
Bonesmart has a 2 Tier Membership program. You are currently a Basic Member, which enables you to only search the forums, and read about other recoveries, and write on threads that are already established.
If you want a more personal and interactive experience, as well as input from the Bonesmart Staff, I hope you will choose one of our options to become a member of the Insiders Club. Here are some links for you to check out:
Membership/Insiders Club
Guidelines for Posting
You can also join the Insiders Club easily by clicking on your username and avatar and then selecting MEMBERSHIP in the drop-down menu.
We are a non-profit organization and the small contribution cost goes toward keeping BoneSmart available for everyone.
Best Wishes!
Bonesmart has a 2 Tier Membership program. You are currently a Basic Member, which enables you to only search the forums, and read about other recoveries, and write on threads that are already established.
If you want a more personal and interactive experience, as well as input from the Bonesmart Staff, I hope you will choose one of our options to become a member of the Insiders Club. Here are some links for you to check out:
Membership/Insiders Club
Guidelines for Posting
You can also join the Insiders Club easily by clicking on your username and avatar and then selecting MEMBERSHIP in the drop-down menu.
We are a non-profit organization and the small contribution cost goes toward keeping BoneSmart available for everyone.
Best Wishes!
