TKR Kate's Knee Journey

[Jockette]

I saw my chiropractor twice a week, weeks 4-8 post op. I had met my deductible, so the visits only cost $9, usually they cost $40.

If you’ve never been to a chiropractor, keep in mind different ones have different techniques, so if you don’t like one, try a different one. When I moved a few years ago it took 3 before I found the right one for me.

 

[kategod]

Just an update - and this thread might need retitling yet again, back to 'Kate's Knee Journey', as after only one session my PT agreed acupuncture wasn't going to help me as pain wasn't the issue! - so he did a deep tissue massage instead which definitely freed up the area around the scar where there was some fibrosis. I also wanted to post the sentiments shared with me yesterday at my 8-week meeting with the OS..... as I think some on here struggling like me to increase flexion will find it encouraging. Basically, he gave a (pretty cursory) glance at my 90 degree bend, didn't measure it or even check the PT's laboriously logged measurements..... he said that as I could bend it enough to sit with my foot on the ground and could do a heel slide bringing it towards me, that was enough. The bend would continue to improve over the next couple of months and I should stop stressing about it..... and doing heel slides along with hamstring stretches for extension was really now the only PT I needed. He also pointed out that I was less than 25% through the recovery process - which of course I knew, but it was good to hear it direct from the horse's mouth! I was surprised tbh as I was quite expecting him to say I was borderline for a MUA - I used to be an optimist until this TKR journey, but no longer! He did also say that at this point having good extension was much more important to the long-term success of the op - and as I am almost at 0 that is very encouraging. So, everyone: don't obsess like I did with getting to 120-plus degrees by eight weeks - it doesn't matter if progress is slow, or even if it stalls for a few weeks - you will get there in the end! (And I know all you good people on here have been telling me exactly the same thing..... I guess I needed to hear it from my surgeon for some reason in order for it to sink in!)

 

[Celle]

and this thread might need retitling yet again, back to 'Kate's Knee Journey', as after only one session my PT agreed acupuncture wasn't going to help me as pain wasn't the issue!

I've changed you thread title.

so he did a deep tissue massage instead which definitely freed up the area around the scar where there was some fibrosis.

Kate, your knee is still healing. There's no need for that deep tissue massage, especially around the scar. Ask your therapist to leave it alone. The danger of deep tissue massage at this early stage is that he might break up some of the necessary scar tissue tghat is part of healing.

he said that as I could bend it enough to sit with my foot on the ground and could do a heel slide bringing it towards me, that was enough. The bend would continue to improve over the next couple of months and I should stop stressing about it..... and doing heel slides along with hamstring stretches for extension was really now the only PT I needed. He also pointed out that I was less than 25% through the recovery process - which of course I knew, but it was good to hear it direct from the horse's mouth!

Yes, we told you, but it's really good to hear that your surgeon agrees.
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

 

[SusieShoes]

It’s interesting how often surgeons do agree with BoneSmart. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of communication. My OS was skeptical when I told him I wanted no PT. But at my six week check-up, after I’d slacked on PT the whole time, he was “Oh, you’ll do just fine the rest of the way doing whatever you’ve been doing.” Which was just a bit of walking and not much else. But he would never have agreed to such a program upfront, probably for liability reasons.

It’s great you can relax now and navigate the remainder of your recovery without putting pressure on yourself. It’s true our knees just keep getting better, and better!

 

[sistersinhim]

It is great to see that many more OSs are agreeing with the Bonesmart way to recover! It's so much better so the knees!