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Revision TKR My left knee story, revision complete 8/14/12, hopeful

Hello Dawn.

I had a MUA about six weeks after my LTKR. The pain was minimal and the results were remarkable. I know the feeling of going to PT time after time and getting no where. I also know how discouraging it can be to feel "stuck". The MUA was exactly what I needed to get my recovery back in gear.

I sincerely hope that your MUA will do the same for you.
 
THanks Karen, that is encouraging! How are you doing now that you are 2 months post MUA?
 
Dhare63 said:
THanks Karen, that is encouraging! How are you doing now that you are 2 months post MUA?
Click to expand...

I am doing great. My issue was more flexion than extension. Because of prevoius injuries, my surgeon said I'll never gain full range of motion. I have not had PT for over a month, so I don't know what degrees of flexion and extension I have, but I can do most anything I need to do and with very little pain. Gaining strength and stamina has been the last hurdle and that is coming along very well. I would estimate I have about 3 degrees extension and 105 degrees or more flexion.

Prior to the MUA, no matter how hard I worked or how little I worked, pushed myself or rested...nothing changed. I went for weeks stuck at the same place. After the MUA I saw immediate results. I dropped down a little in progress that first week or so because of the swelling, but then started gradually improving every day. That was my goal - if I could just see some improvement every day, every therapy session - then I knew I could get through this. The MUA made that possible for me.
 
MUA tomorrow at 11am, hoping for a good outcome! Wil update when possible!

Take care all,
Dawn
 
All the best to you Dawn! I hope the MUA is just what you need to get your recovery kick started! Check in when you can.
 
At the hospital waiting for my MUA. Original plan was to keep me overnight, but no rooms are available, so I will be going home later today. Hoping this is good news and trying to stay positive, not crazy about last minute changes! Oh well, the IV is in and I am along for the ride! Will check in later.

Dawn
 
In the recovery area sitting in the CPM machine. Got back to my room about 12:30, in CPM by 12:40. OS said there were several adhesions, I definitely needed the MUA. He got me to 118 flexion and 5 extension. CPM is set for 0 and 120. Just starting to feel the pain . Be back lAter.
 
Just got home. They did a nerve block and my whole left leg was numb. As it started to wear off the pain started to pick up but took some meds and felt better. I was discharged at about 3 pm, then went home. The left leg was and is still somewhat numb so going up stairs to get into the house was not fun, but I made it. Got into the computer room and my crutch slid across the floor and down I went, my worst nightmare. Luckily I didn't fall on the knee and it was a fairly soft landing, but scared me and my hubby pretty bad. After a few tears, I am icing and hoping for a nap. The stiff/sore feeling is definitely starting to take hold. I think that is plenty of excitement for one day!

Check in later, thanks for being out there everyone, I sure appreciate it!

Dawn
 
It looks as though you have got a good result, but what a shame you fell, it must have been very frightening. Have an ice and an elevate and a good night's sleep.
 
Good very early morning, 2:30 am on he East Coast. Couldn't sleep, started waking up around 12:30 and fought it until now.

Left leg is super sore, swollen and not tolerating much weight on it. I took 2 5mg oxy and a celebrex, and put the cryocuff on. The right leg, non- injured, is also sore, feels like it was stretched/ strained when I fell yesterday. My middle back and left wrist also hurt, again, I think from the fall.

The fall really scared me. I thought for sure I was gonna get twisted up in my crutches, computer chair and desk, as they were all in the way. Hubby tried to catch me but he was totally out of position to help at all. My lack of confidence in the new knee, the lack of feeling with the nerve block and overall grogginess did not help. So glad it was a gentle landing, but a reminder I need to pay careful attention to what I am doing.

Feeling a little nervous about going to PT today. I know they will try to push the knee and keep the motion gained through the MUA. The OS said to take whatever pain meds I needed to allow the knee to keep moving. I have this dilemma in my head of wanting to take it easy these first couple of days, and the instruction from the OS to keep moving it. . I will do my best to try to find the delicate balance between letting the soft tissues rest/relax and moving to keep ROM. I do feel like a cry baby to some extent, and wonder if this is a little pity party for myself. The pain and stiffness are real, but I do feel like I am complaining too much. Again, this is a trauma to the body so I remind myself while writing that it's okay to feel this way.

I hope in a few days to be past the worst of the MUA recovery. I hate not feeling confidant on my feet and worry about falling again. So, my logical brain needs to kick in and save my sanity that all this takes time and patience. As we have all said from time to time, patience is often in small supply, and in my case, that is very true.

One other thing; the OS ordered a CPM machine which will be delivered this afternoon. How should I be using it at this point? My thought is to be in it with the ROM set to 0 to 120 as it was in the recovery room, and stay on it for an hour at a time with icing/elevating in between. Any thoughts on that?

Again, thanks for being out there. It's so comforting to have this crowd of people who have literally walked in this path to draw insight and perspective from.

Be back later,

Dawn
 
Dawn

I know how you feel about feeling a bit of a 'cry baby' - and you're not I can assure you. In the early days of both of my TKR's I often felt that if only I could just take a day off from all of this I would go back to it the next day renewed and stronger. But you can't, this your body and you can't run away from it so you have to be strong and brave. Having said that there is a lot you can do, take your pain medication (you don't get any medals for being in pain), ice and elevate, give yourself plenty of rest, do your exercises but do not cause pain, be kind to yourself, let people help you and realise that this will pass and think how good and proud of yourself you will feel then.

The fall must have been terrifying, but it turned out not to be as bad as it could have been, so take a lot of comfort from that and don't loose your confidence.

Good luck, keep posting to let us all know how you are getting on, we're all behind you.
 
I think I'm going to make a new rule on BoneSmart - NO FALLING whatsoever!

But you need to remember that when you take a tumble like that, your whole body responds with a massive muscular reaction like a convulsion. The resonance of that is painful and lasts for some days. What people tend to interpret as 'achin' all over'! Don't let it worry you - it's pretty much inevitable but will pass eventually.
 
Good Morning, Day 3 Post MUA update

Slept pretty well Thursday night and Friday, woke up feeling stronger each day. I was a little slow to move, easing into the day. I was on my bike each day, 5 minutes the first day and 20 minutes on Friday, then straight to the CPM. Did an hour in, an hour off most of yesterday, with ice in between.

Then, I had PT. When I got there, measured at 10 for extension. He did some massage on the calf and hamstrings, then really started working on the extension. He did push me quite hard, but ended with good results, I think around 2-3, which is better than during the MUA. I was able to do leg presses and the quad is firing nicely. Finished with electrical stimulation and ice. I knew I would be sore after that and I was. I went home and went straight to the chair with more ice for an hour, then back to the CPM.

The good news in all of this is that I am standing much straighter at the sink and stove than I have in a very long time. My foot is flatter to the ground and I feel more evenly balanced. It's not quite as good today as it was yesterday due to what I think is some residual inflammation, so I will do my exercise regimen and keep after it. The swelling from the MUA wasn't quite as bad as I had planned for. I have been aggressive with the ice and elevating, and I do think it has made a difference. I have also not had the kind of pain I anticipated, although the first day and a half were certainly painful but nothing like the TKR. I am so grateful for that. I have been faithful in taking my pain meds, which I am sure has helped. I will keep doing the things I know work and keep on moving.

My big challenge will come next week when I go back to work. I have a desk job and sit for long periods of time at the computer. I must force myself to get up, move around, stretch and stay limber. The PT suggested I set an alarm for myself to get up and move every 20-30 minutes, and I will try that. THis is my second chance so I pledge to put my needs before anything else. If I don't recover with good results, that has an impact on everything I do going forward. So, as much as it challenges me, I will make time for my recovery needs. (maybe if I say it enough, it will actually happen!)

So, for any of you considering MUA, my outcome so far has been pretty good. The first two days I questioned why I did it, but now I can see results. Patience and persistence are two key ingredients needed. I know sometimes we all fall short on our supply, but keep the faith! I am a financial planner, and I often tell my clients that investing is a marathon, not a sprint, and it's the long term results they need to keep focus on. Physician, heal thyself!!!

I will check back in a day or two. In the meantime, thanks to all for your support and encouragement. They help a great deal!!

Cheers,

Dawn:cat-kittyandsmiley:
 
Well done, Dawn. Just try to take things as easy as possible when you head back to work. It would be better if you could take a few more days off, but if that's not possible....just do move around at least once every hour.
 
Thanks for the encouragement! Day 4 post MUA brings a little more tightness around the knee itself, that vise grip feeling that we all know so well. I have been drinking my morning coffee and doing some gentle stretching and bending, plus massage where the muscles are most sore. I will head over to the bike next and then to the CPM to get the knee warmed up. After that, shopping for Thanksgiving dinner, which is great exercise!

One question for all of you; I sleep on my side with my knees slightly bent. When I wake up, I have less flexion and extension than when I went to bed. Is this a common experience? Once i have a few more months under my belt, will this cease, or should I expect to always be stiff/sore until I have moved around some? Again, trying to set my expectations around reality instead of my usual "glass is half full always" optimistic attitude!

Looking forward to your reply!

Thanks,

Dawn
 
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