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

Mimi, you are spot on! I think it's about being able to do the activities you need and want to do like walking normally, that count. I was so excited on Monday when I didn't need the cane to get around and my gait felt pretty good. I got to PT yesterday and my initial extension measurement was a lousy 14....bummed out completely! So after thinking about it, I had not been stretching enough over the last few days, so lesson learned, I will make sure I take time for that. Today, knee is super sore, stiff and swollen, even with lots of icing last night, but it will improve. As you say, one day at a time!

Just as an aside, I can't wait for the day when icing refers to cakes and sweet treats!!

Off to Boston for an overnight. Definitely a challenge in getting from hotel to office and back. Hoping for the best, planning for the worst! Wish me luck!

Still in conscious incompetence, heading towards conscious competence!

Dawn
 
Hope all goes well in Boston for you. You know sometimes these knees have their own agenda. What worked last time now is sore and stiff. You can't count on what you know works sometimes. You have to adjust to the knee constantly.But it does get better all the time with a one day up and one day back...just the nature of the knee:scratch:

Yes, icing should be reserved for treats. However until the knee is completely healed, ice is its "best treat". Hope you treat you knee to its just desserts after your very busy day today:thumb:
 
Boston trip has turned into a late night for me. All day meeting then Xmas party, just got back to the hotel. I never stay up this late, especially with this new knee. I did sit down for most of the party, but it was in a bar with a long flight of stairs to ascend, and ultimetaley descend. I felt old, really old with my cane and limp. So depressing....just not really up to this stuff. Need to set boundaries and draw lines, and stick to them. Knee is not happy, that makes two of us. Back to the real world tomorrow. Incidentally, Boston was especially beautiful tonight as I drove back to the hotel, lights were gorgeous!

Dawn
 
Boston is such a lovely city - I have been home for 11 years now, after living for 6 years near Boston, but I still feel a little tug when I see pix or movies of it. I think a return trip is on the cards - once I know the knee will sit still for the flight!

What a heck of a long day you had! And you made it! So don't feel old or depressed - you did it and you're less than 4 months in! Feel pleased at your success and think how much better it will all be in 2012.
 
^Yes, you're still recovering but you're getting there bit by bit.
 
Had PT today after 2 hours in the car. He had me on the bike to get loosened up for a few minutes, as I told him how I was feeling. He decided to do massage only on the gastroc and hamstring. It was needed and felt good. Got to 7 on extension with no hard force, just effort on my part. That I can live with.

Now for some ice and some needed rest!
 
Off to see the OS at 1:30pm today. This follow up to my MUA. A little anxious...knee was painful last night, shooting kind from mid thigh to just below the joint. Took long acting OXy but it took a while to catch up, had not had that much discomfort in a few weeks. I will blame it on the cold front that just came through! Will post update later, wish me luck!

Dawn
 
well, saw the PA for follow up and he is baffled, his words, not mine. He said I am one of the tougher cases they have ever had. He examined the knee, moved it left to right, said there was no issue with the implant, said that was a way to check something, but I didn't catch it. He said that since he could put his whole fist under my knee when it is straight on the exam table, that it was still a problem. That's about 14 degrees or so. Last week at PT, after 30 minutes of deep tissue massage and stretching, no pushing, i got to 7. PT said he wants me to walk in off the street at 7, which I would die for!! I told the PA that I felt really good right after the MUA and had really good extension for about 4 days, only to lose it when PT started really pushing and twisting the joint. THen it swelled up immediately. Its probably a combination of things, I shouldn't blame PT.

He said he wasn't sure what the next step would be; another manipulation, scope the scar tissue, dynasplint...he said he would talk to the OS first thing in the morning and call me back with options.

Is is possible to gain extension over time with only the use of deep tissue massage? The PT works on the calf muscle every time, and it is so tight and stiff in the beginning. After he is done, it releases and helps a ton with extension. Jo, really interested in your take on this.

Dear Santa, I hope a solution is under the tree for me!

Thanks,

Dawn
 
My take, for what it is worth, is that more often than not, a lot of aggressive PT is counterproductive as all it does is produce lots of swelling. It's quite possible that your knee would straighten were it not swollen all the time. I say this because we tend not to have problems like that in the UK because we don't have this aggressive PT like you have. I could be wrong but it really seems to me that the therapy is causing more problems than it is solving.

You said it yourself
I felt really good right after the MUA and had really good extension for about 4 days, only to lose it when PT started really pushing and twisting the joint. Then it swelled up immediately
Click to expand...
You also said you shouldn't blame the PT. Why the heck not? It all seems pretty clear to me.
 
Had a similar issue with pain from PT. I went the whole month of November and latter part of October, 2011 to a PT person, who yanked, pulled, stretched, pushed, and I was so sore, and miserable, it took me 3 days post PT to recoup, only to go back again and it was a repeat. I finally quit the PT, and went to another place, who by the way, has helped me 10 fold... massage, stretch, but not to the point where I am almost crying...
It's helping....
SO, yes, PT person can be blamed...
 
I spoke with the PA today. OS recommends a splint to try to help with extension. He wants me to use it for 2-3 weeks and see if we can get improvement. Splint will be fitted tomorrow. Not sure about the type, will get those details then. I asked if they wanted me to continue with PT, explained that I could do all the exercises at home, so he said no, we'll just try the splint for now. I surely hope this is the answer. Time will tell. Not sure how I feel about this...perplexed.

Knee has been aching all afternoon, those little shooting pains that run across the joint. Didn't have any pain meds with me so tried the 1000mg of tylenol, hasn't helped much.

Home now and looking forward to comfy clothes and a little supper! Be back tomorrow.

Dawn
 
Dawn I hope this works for you. I was in a dynasplint for a month , 3 months post-op and it did very little for my extension. It was very time consuming, several hours each time it was worn. And it was very painful for me. I was still swollen and my quads were not working at that time and this just added to my misery. :cry: I could not sleep in it and that is what they wanted me to do to get the most out of the splint.

What worked for me was the hanging over the bed with a weight for 15 min. at a time. What worked best was just living after I was finally finished with PT. That is when my extension improved the most....when I wasn't paying any attention to it!!:hysterical:

Good luck, I know you want results and have worked hard to get them!
 
Thanks Mimi and Pumpkin for the encouragement. From what I have read about dyna splints, I am not convinced this is the answer. I will comply with OS and try this and hope for the best. I will be getting the brace this morning so will learn more about it then. I certainly feel frustrated, and just want to move ahead.

Mimi, is this something you wear over your clothes? Does it keep your leg in extension to the point I will be challenged to walk normally, with my lingering limp?

Will be back later tonight with an update.

Thanks again for being out there!

Dawn
 
The dyna splint brace was brought to me today. The young lady got me into it and she set the extension to mid range, and there was no feeling of extension in the leg. She extended it all the way and still, only a slight feeling of extension in my leg. She decided to scrap this plan and look into the JAS device. It's a splint that should be able to get me into extension more fully. She is coming back tomorrow to measure me and I should have it sometime late next week. Bummer, really wanted to get started on this track. Now I get to wait.....

Dawn
 
Hi,

Does anyone have experience with the JAS splint? Being fitted for one tomorrow, would love a first person experience to read.

Dawn
 
"Mimi, is this something you wear over your clothes? Does it keep your leg in extension to the point I will be challenged to walk normally, with my lingering limp?"

Guess this has been answered when you were fitted. You can walk to the bathroom in it, but walking is not possible.

Honestly, planting the heel of my foot and taking a step is better extension for me than that splint.

Hope this works out for you, hang in there, be patient. Extension is a slow process and will work out with time.


:mrych:
 
Thanks Mimi, I hope you're right that this will resolve over time. I was measured for the JAS device today, should be in after the beginning of the year, anxious to get started.

I stopped PT for now, the orthotist suggested I do PT in conjunction with the splint, not sure I will do that. Confused, frustrated, anxious, and unfortunately, impatient.

Sorry, I hate to complain. Feel a meltdown coming on.

Dawn
 
broken link removed: https://www.jointactivesystems.com/JAS-Systems/1/5/JAS-Knee.aspx - Joint Activity System

[Bonesmart.org] My left knee story, revision complete 8/14/12, hopeful

 
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