United StatesWell I don't remember this topic coming up. In August it looked like I would be joining many of you with a MUA as the knees were stuck at 104/107 with the left one at 0 extension and the right one at about -4 ot -5 and the numbers had not change much in 3 weeks of PT.
Do to some extra risks, we decided to try some more aggressive PT. Well after 5 months and 3 weeks of PT with a fantastic physical therapist, a lot of biking and exercising at home we got the left knee to 120 (and sometimes even 123) with just a bit of pushing and the right on to 115 (and a couple of time 118) with a bit more pushing and about -2. Considering that the OS thought we might not gain any ROM after surgery as the knees were so damaged and had been for so long I am more than happy with the results. The OS was very happy as well given all the problems the surgery gave him. He said he is now really trying to talk people out of doing both at once. He also said that the 2 things he looks at for success is getting in and out of the car and stairs. He is right about the car as yesterday someone parked real close and I was able to get in were before I would have to move over from the passenger side or wait. Stairs are still a little iffy but I think that is a head game.
He also said that over time he expects more improvement if I keep exercising. He said that at 3 years his knee was much better than it was at 2 years. Nothing like having an OS who had a TKR to avoid all those questions about needing pain pills, PT or when you want to go back to work (he would write a letter for any time you wanted).
He was not totally sure what was causing the pain on the fibula but thought it was either a muscle or more likely an inflamed Medial Collateral Ligament. Since the pain was localized and not in the joint he injected it with lidocaine and cortisone. It felt great tell the lidocaine wore off. The problem on the right he says is just some inflammation as things rearrange to normal. The same for the hips, it is bursitis like the PT thought again because the muscles are moving in a new way. He said that given how long everything was moving in the wrong way 5 1/2 months is a very short time for them to readjust.
So I will just keep on biking and exercising and stretching. He said it is up to the PT to decided when to stop. I do find PT really helpful in stretching the muscles as that is hard to do by yourself.
Thanks to everyone for all the help. I hope this email gives some hope to those who are having a hard time.
Simon
Do to some extra risks, we decided to try some more aggressive PT. Well after 5 months and 3 weeks of PT with a fantastic physical therapist, a lot of biking and exercising at home we got the left knee to 120 (and sometimes even 123) with just a bit of pushing and the right on to 115 (and a couple of time 118) with a bit more pushing and about -2. Considering that the OS thought we might not gain any ROM after surgery as the knees were so damaged and had been for so long I am more than happy with the results. The OS was very happy as well given all the problems the surgery gave him. He said he is now really trying to talk people out of doing both at once. He also said that the 2 things he looks at for success is getting in and out of the car and stairs. He is right about the car as yesterday someone parked real close and I was able to get in were before I would have to move over from the passenger side or wait. Stairs are still a little iffy but I think that is a head game.
He also said that over time he expects more improvement if I keep exercising. He said that at 3 years his knee was much better than it was at 2 years. Nothing like having an OS who had a TKR to avoid all those questions about needing pain pills, PT or when you want to go back to work (he would write a letter for any time you wanted).
He was not totally sure what was causing the pain on the fibula but thought it was either a muscle or more likely an inflamed Medial Collateral Ligament. Since the pain was localized and not in the joint he injected it with lidocaine and cortisone. It felt great tell the lidocaine wore off. The problem on the right he says is just some inflammation as things rearrange to normal. The same for the hips, it is bursitis like the PT thought again because the muscles are moving in a new way. He said that given how long everything was moving in the wrong way 5 1/2 months is a very short time for them to readjust.
So I will just keep on biking and exercising and stretching. He said it is up to the PT to decided when to stop. I do find PT really helpful in stretching the muscles as that is hard to do by yourself.
Thanks to everyone for all the help. I hope this email gives some hope to those who are having a hard time.
Simon
