MUA Help after MUA

[Jockette]

ROM can continue to improve for a long time. After a tough first year mine continued to improve all through my second year, and even more in my third year.
There is no Window of Opportunity.

 

[Layla]

My personal feeling is, if you need a MUA, get and get back to work asap, you don't have time to play around.

I do hope you'll consider a BoneSmart Insiders Club membership, Steve. Your experience as a bilateral will be valuable to the community, especially those following behind you and facing bilateral TKR's themselves. Please join us!

Steve's experience was great, WillsNonni, I'm thankful he shared it and happy that it worked well for him. With that said, each persons recovery from MUA is unique. There really is no "one size fits all" timeline involved. What works for one may be too aggressive or counterproductive for another. In many cases, pushing too hard can increase inflammation, slowing recovery. I hope you've been doing well since you last posted. Keep in touch, we love updates...and enjoy the weekend!
@WillsNonni

 

[WillsNonni]

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)

• 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

As you go along in the course the exercises get harder to do. I haven't progressed from this type of example. I also do my 'own thing' with heel slides, stretching using my stretch rope (hamstrings). I also do basic walking for errands and very little 'fitness' walking per se right now as the weather is frigid here in NH. I do get out into some shopping centers and try to do a few laps.

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

I see the doc in 3 weeks. I have 2 PT sessions scheduled and not sure what's going to happen after that. Not sure how many medicare/my co insurance is going to pay for...Like I said I've been in PT from Oct. 15th (not counting the home sessions the first week) to now.

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...

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.

Thanks and yes attitude is everything. I am also doing Dr. Sam's courses and after next week I think I will be wrapping up PT..just dont think they can do much more for me and Id rather do the courses....

 

[Layla]

A belated Happy Three Month Anniversary!
May each month bring more strength and greater ease in all you do. Keep us posted on your progress!
A great week to you!
@WillsNonni

 

[WillsNonni]

Thank you! I look forward to trusting my instincts about 'new knee'! So glad I have found this space of support and knowledge...I look forward to continued healing

 

[WillsNonni]

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.

Wow that's great you have achieved that ROM..question (and I had the same experience-not bilateral but the MUA at 7 weeks) for you..how flexible were you going into all of this? Have done the work etc and still at a.low ROM but after the feedback here I have accepted that its going to get better as I go along. I was never a flexible person and I think that has something to do with that...Anyway wishing you continued success going forward!

 

[WillsNonni]

My personal feeling is, if you need a MUA, get and get back to work asap, you don't have time to play around.

I do hope you'll consider a BoneSmart Insiders Club membership, Steve. Your experience as a bilateral will be valuable to the community, especially those following behind you and facing bilateral TKR's themselves. Please join us!

Steve's experience was great, WillsNonni, I'm thankful he shared it and happy that it worked well for him. With that said, each persons recovery from MUA is unique. There really is no "one size fits all" timeline involved. What works for one may be too aggressive or counterproductive for another. In many cases, pushing too hard can increase inflammation, slowing recovery. I hope you've been doing well since you last posted. Keep in touch, we love updates...and enjoy the weekend!
@WillsNonni

Agree that we are all different. An inspiring story to be sure. I am not longer feeling 'hung up' over a particular ROM number. I am judging how I feel and the things I.can DO. This is largely in part to the feedback here. Will keep on trucking!

 

[sistersinhim]

I am not longer feeling 'hung up' over a particular ROM number. I am judging how I feel and the things I.can DO.

You are so right! It is not the numbers that are important, it is the function! That was how I always judged my recoveries.

 

[Layla]

That's an important realization, WillsNonni. Listening to our bodies is one of the most beneficial things we can do in recovery. Healing is not about pushing harder, it's about allowing progress to happen at its own pace, which will be different for each one of us. I think your new attitude will serve you well moving forward. All the best!
@WillsNonni

 

[WillsNonni]

Hello all,
Just a check in...met with my surgeon a couple of days ago. Had to laugh, the intake PA asked me 'so you achieved 140 degrees flexion at your MUA, have you managed to maintain it". I mean, I DID laugh. I said no, currently I'm at 110 ish". (And that's with using a strap). Anyway, the doc felt there was 'still some scar tissue' and said that after 6 to 9 months out when most of the healing has happened, if things still aren't where you want them to be, you could consider arthoscopic surgery where I'll cut out the scar tissue and re-manipulate the knee'.

I must've looked at him like he had 3 heads as he said "I guess you aren't down for that". No doc, I am NOT down for that....my knee is coming along and there is NO WAY in you -know- where he's getting his hands back on that knee....doing that would put me right back at the beginning as he said it would take 6 to 7 weeks to heal from that.

Anyway, that's the update. I'm still in PT once a week doing my own thing on the off days. Just under 4 months; I now wish I had not had the MUA but whatever. I am armed with a better sense of what my 'new knee' wants and needs and I can tell you that having another procedure isn't going to happen...

 

[sistersinhim]

110ish is good for only 6 weeks out from a MUA. I'm glad you're listening to your knee and being patient with it. Nice and slow and easy is usually the best way to go.

 

[benne68]

You are doing just fine, @WillsNonni. Surgeons want to do surgery... but you don't have to agree to it.

The soft tissues in your knee are still inflammed from the MUA, even if you don't see swelling on the outside. Ice and elevate. Keep moving, but don't force it; that will just re-inflame the tissue.

You will get there, with time.

 

[Jamie]

I’m so proud of you for being a great advocate for yourself. You know your body better than anyone and you’re right that you’re doing just fine. Just because a procedure “could” be done certainly doesn’t mean it “should” be done. I suspect you’re going to get where you want to be just fine on your own. Just be sure to make gradual increases in any exercise or activity so that you keep inflammation minimized. Icing and elevation are good too as long as you feel it benefits you or just feels good. Comfort is important too. This is where the patience comes in.

 

[Layla]

Hi there WillsNonni,
You're making decent progress so try not to second guess your decision to undergo the MUA. You may feel your progress is slow, but it's still progress. Give yourself the TLC you deserve...you did what felt right for you and armed yourself along the way. Trust that the effort you're putting forth now will produce the result you're hoping for. Happy Sunday! May this week be a good one!
@WillsNonni

 

[Layla]

Today is the three month mark since the MUA. How are you doing, WillsNonni?
I hope February was a good month for you and March brings even more progress.
Let us know, we'd love to hear from you. Have a great week.
@WillsNonni