[thought I would create a new post. I hope it helps someone facing an MUA]
Had my MUA on the left knee last Thursday. I was 7 1/2 wks post tka.
Pre-MUA my extension was 3. Flexion was 65-70 on my best day (& after 40 minutes of stretching and coaxing) usually went back to 50 or so when I return home from PT. Leg stays very stiff despite my home exercises and PT 2X per week.
**Surgery 34+ yrs ago left me w/large amount of scar tissue.
Post-MUA, ext. 3-5, flexion achieved 114 degrees. I expected a good deal of pain and bruising, but no bruising at all and I generally bruise easily. Nice surprise. Completed as outpatient service and got home mid-morning. Stayed on top of pain w/meds, RICE. Friday the pain was mild to moderate, easily controlled w/hydrocodone. Sleeping was not a problem either. Saturday afternoon I had lots of swelling (watched very closely) RICE and within a couple hours the swelling began to subside. I rested the remainder of the weekend only riding my recumbent bike 3X daily for 10 mins. each time.
Today is Tuesday and I had PT Mon., today and am scheduled for Thursday and Friday. I have decided my therapist is evil and more than likely has gone over to the dark side.
When I wake in the mornings I'm not as stiff as before mua, it's easier to get into my normal gait BUT the weakness in and around the knee joint has made me feel 'insecure' walking in a crowd or on uneven surfaces. I also find myself forgetting about the need to 'continue a normal gait' and I start holding the leg in a bent position (as if my body is protecting it) and I can get around faster and get more done.
bad idea. Physical Therapists told me to go back to my walker whenever I needed it to stay in my 'normal gait' and rolled that foot and force my knee to engage. (amazing to me how your body compensates for shortcomings) Tomorrow (wed.) is my day off and I plan to meet a friend for lunch and rest the remainder of the day (except for my home exercises)
If I had it (the MUA) to do over again, YES I would do it. It has given me a freer movement and the tight pain across the top of my knee following TKA is no longer there. I reached 95 degrees today at PT within the first 15 minutes of working. The leg is not as tight (swollen) as my day continues and I am finding the swelling is less and less w/each passing day.
Moral of the story: I was dreading, scared and anxious about the MUA. What if it didn't work? was very painful? they could have broken my leg?
It gave me freer movement and hope to eventually reach my goal in time, of 125 degrees. (that's a personal goal I set for myself. No OS or PT told me to do this)
I think you have to work hard and do everything humanly possibly to get normal movement back or otherwise, ... what's the use.
Time to get some Christmas gifts finished. I will admit though, I sure am missing my horses. All I can do is stand and brush occasionally. . the fall trails are my favorite. I guess I will be bundled up in winter riding.
United States
I am so happy that you are pleased with the outcome of you MUA. Stay well my friend!
