MUA LTKR journey and feeling discouraged

[Mommom25]

Good morning. What a great forum. I wish I had found it three months ago. I had LTKR on January 24th. Surgery went well. PT came to room and as I got up to walk, had dizziness, sweats and feeling of passing out. Back to bed. Tried again on day 2 and had same results. More blood tests. Day 3 scheduled for blood transfusion. feeling better on Day 4 and went home. No PT in hospital.

Once home realized I could not tolerate any of the pain meds. Only one that I could take was Tylenol w/codeine.

Home PT started on Day 5. Was very painful. After two weeks started outpatient PT. Things were going slow. Not getting a good ROM. Saw OS and he said I may have to have MUA. Didn’t improve so scheduled MUA on March 28th.

March 7th went to ER with rapid heartbeat. Admitted overnight for observation. All was well and cardiologist cleared me for MUA.

MUA was helpful but I feel it set me back with pain quite a bit. After a week knee was feeling better and ROM improved. Seem to be stuck now on 110. Was doing PT 3x a week and now moving to 2x a week. Pain is minimal but still have swelling and some days tightness. On days I do not have PT I go to the gym to use the recumbent bike.

I get discouraged quite a bit so it is nice to read your forum and know that it is normal. I have dreams of waking up and everything is back to normal. Someday…. I am bothered mostly by walking. Can’t seem to get a steady gait. Sometimes I feel as though I forgot how to walk normal.

 

[WFD]

For where you are time wise, 110 is really good. Rest, ice, etc., and easy motion will get the swelling down and reduce the pain, and give you more range of motion automatically.

You are only three months along in a year long recovery, and you are in a better spot than many at six months.

Take it easy and be patient and you’ll get there.

 

[Mommom25]

Thank you WFD. Some days are better than others. I appreciate the support.

 

[Musicbox]

I have felt just like you . I am 6/12 post TKR . Keep going .

 

[Jockette]

Hi and Welcome!

I agree with WFD, your ROM number is great, and will improve over time. Mine even continued to improve well into my second year.

I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind all people are different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for you.“ Your doctors, PTs and BoneSmart are available to help, but you are the final judge as to the recovery approach you choose.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:

rest​

elevate​

ice​

take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

don't overwork.​

3. Do what you want to do BUT

​

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.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

​

the BoneSmart view on exercise​

BoneSmart philosophy for sensible post op therapy​

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

Activity progression for TKRs​

6. Access to these pages on the website

​

Oral And Intravenous Pain Medications​

Wound Closure​

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.

 

[Jockette]

I am bothered mostly by walking. Can’t seem to get a steady gait. Sometimes I feel as though I forgot how to walk normal.

When you’re walking, try to remember, heel to toe. It will smooth out as you continue to heal.

You might be interested in the OneStep program.

OneStep App

What is “gait” and why is it important? The simple answer is that “gait” is the pattern of how you walk. But as far as your health and wellbeing are concerned, it’s so much more! Your body’s alignment, balance, and mobility all depend on you having normal and coordinated movement. Proper gait...

bonesmart.org

 

[Mommom25]

Thank you for all the great info. I will check out the OneStep program as well.

 

[sistersinhim]

Having had a MUA on March 28, 2022 now sets your recovery time back to that date. As others have said, 110 is a very good bend for this soon after the trauma of the forced bend. Your knee will have to heal from that new damage before it can get back to its normal TKR healing. Treat it gently and you'll have good results. Aggressive exercise just causes more inflammation which causes more swelling. Swelling=worse ROM. Get that swelling down and your numbers will automatically improve. Ice and elevate as much as you can and you will help out your knee's healing process.

 

[patriciad]

You are doing really well and have a good ROM which if you treat the knee gently will gradually improve. I have learnt to trust the Bone Smart Method of slowly does it and have healed my PKR without any outpatient Physical Therapy after a poor experience with an aggressive Therapist. You don't need to work hard to improve your ROM just normal daily activities will do that and if what you are doing hurts then stop. Continue to ice and elevate as much as you can as that really helps. Good Luck with everything.

 

[Mommom25]

Good morning. This question is a tad unrelated but something I am curious about. During the pandemic shutdown I taught myself to crochet and absolutely love it. However since my TKR I find it difficult to focus on my craft for very long. Previously I could sit for 5 hours with no problem and crochet. Now after about 1/2 hour I am done. Anyone experience this with your hobbies?

 

[Jockette]

Oh yes, we call that Brain Fog. It can take a while to regain our focus on things.

 

[Mommom25]

Thanks @Jockette. Hoping it resolves sooner than later. Any little distraction is helpful as I progress through the knee journey.

 

[Jaycey]

@Mommom25 Many of our members stock up on books and projects pre-op in anticipation of lots of activity during recovery. In most cases they experience the same as you did - lack of concentration. Fear not! This fades with time.

 

[jaspa]

@Mommom25 you can do this, sorry you had to have a MUA, I just graduated from my LTKR PT sessions and on my own now. Be gentle with yourself. I'm glad my doctor didn't push me or my PT people and I still am stiff if I sit too long or turn over in the bed but better than before the surgeries. I know you can do this take care.

 

[Mommom25]

Thank you @jaspa. Things are moving along. I still have my PT sessions and have a great PT team. They do not push me and constantly encourage me and letting me know that I will get there. It takes time. This site has been very helpful. Many times I felt as tho I was the only one who didn’t recover quickly but I realized that it is more common than I ever imagined.

 

[Mommom25]

Good morning all. It’s been a while since I posted. Eight months in and my frustration is mounting. I had LTKR Jan 28th and then MUA March 28th. Pt for 7 months. My main complaint is the Arthrofibrosis. What are the options for that? Does it eventually go away on its own? The tightness is not as bad on the days that I don’t go the gym. My swelling has finally gone down and I attribute that to taking time off from the gym and any exercise. I try to go to the gym regularly and usually do the treadmill and 10 minutes on recumbent. After a couple days of that my knee is tight again. Taking a few days off and just doing ADL and it feels better. I can go up and down steps with no issues. Every night I go to bed and pray that tomorrow will be the day that I wake up, jump out of bed (well maybe not jump )and my knee is normal again. I see my OS on Thursday and am anxious as to what he will suggest regarding the arthofibrosis. Any suggestions, help, encouragement is welcome. Have a wonderful day.

 

[sistersinhim]

If you had adhesions then your knee would be tight all the time. Since the tightness, (which is inside swelling), goes down on the days you aren't as active, that's proof right there that it's not arthrofibrosis. Your knee was traumatized again when you had your MUA and that date is now considered your surgery date, not January. You need to heal from the MUA with gentle exercises, not aggressive movements. Just take a month off from all your extra workouts and let your ADL be your PT. You should see an improvement in that inside swelling.

 

[Mommom25]

Thank you. I mentioned Arthrofibrosis because that is what my OS put in the notes after my last visit. There were no x-rays done at that time. I will take that advice.

 

[WFD]

Since the tightness, (which is inside swelling), goes down on the days you aren't as active, that's proof right there that it's not arthrofibrosis.

It can be both. I have severe arthrofibrosis, as confirmed by three surgeons, but I still also experience an increase in RoM when I rest the knee.

I had an arthroscopic LOA and MUA on March 7th, close-ish to your MUA date.

What I think is happening to me is that everyday activities but especially knee exercises stress the scar tissue itself, and then the scar tissue (and probably other tissues) swell as a result, reducing RoM and causing pain. In my case my RoM is so limited (~78° this week when I measured) that even walking stresses it, causing the problem I mention above.

Your situation may be very different of course.

@Mommom25 , what is your RoM these days?

 

[Jockette]

My swelling has finally gone down and I attribute that to taking time off from the gym and any exercise.

Proof right there that your knee needs time to just “be” so it can recover.

Pt for 7 months.

You might have been overworking your rehab all this time which hasn’t given your knee a real chance to heal.

I agree with @sistersinhim, take at least a month off all PT and the gym, and give your knee a chance to relax.