At week 7. Started work yesterday. PT in the morning then work following for about 5-6 hours mostly desk work and some walking. ROM is still at 108 and not really changing. In more pain than usual and very stiff. Am I overdoing it?
Yes, you are overdoing it.
How can your knee bend further when it's got swelling (water) inside it, making it stiff? It can't, of course.
Work on top of PT is too much for such a new knee and will increase the swelling that's stopping your flexion from improving. Going back to work at only 7 weeks was too early, although I do understand it was probably an economic necessity.
The thing to remember about going back to work is that so often when you think of going back to work you just think of the work.
You forget it also includes these:
- having to get up earlier in the morning
- getting washed/showered, putting on the 'face',
- getting dressed
- getting a fast breakfast and eating it in about 5 mins instead of casually
- getting out the car
- driving to work
- walking from car to office
- actually being up and about and unable to take intermittent proper rests during the day
- walking from office back to car
- driving home
- putting the car away
- making an evening meal
- probably feeding pets and/or others
- washing up and then finding it's almost time for bed.
That's a whole lot of additional exercise, so you don't need to add PT as well.
(Yes, I copied those examples from this article:
Phased return to work )
Stop trying to make your knee bend more by doing more exercise. Instead, decrease the exercises and spend more time resting, icing and elevating your leg, to try and decrease its internal and external swelling.
I’m very concerned because of the threat of MUA in 4 weeks so I’m trying to do what they’re telling me. PT consists of several types of stretches, bike for 8 minutes and a machine similar to elliptical that just you just push legs up and down but doesn’t go all the way around for 8 minutes.
I feel very conflicted with doctor and PT advice vs Bonesmart.
My gut tells me Bonesmart is the right direction but doctors keep telling me otherwise. How can I find a doctor who practices this method?
It's only 7 weeks since your surgery and a flexion of 108 is pretty good. Most surgeons won't even consider doing an MUA once your flexion is beyond 90 degrees and you're well past that. Your PT and surgeon are trying to scare you into working harder by threatening you with the possibility of an MUA.
Your PT therapist wants your knee to continue to increase ROM according to a theoretical protocol she/he has that takes no account of individual recoveries. An increasing ROM makes her/him look good when it's reported, but trying to make your knee conform to that set pattern isn't good for your knee, and it's worrying you.
But it's not exercising that gets you your ROM - it's time. Time to recover, time for swelling and pain to settle, and time to heal. Your knee is capable of achieving good ROM right from the start. Its ROM will gradually increase as your knee heals and the internal and external swelling decrease.
As for your surgeon, don't waste time discussing what you want to do. You won't change his mind and you wont find a surgeon to take you on so soon after surgery. Simply say that you don't want an MUA and you'd rather wait a while, to give your knee the chance to increase flexion when it is ready.
Stick to that, and don't be frightened into having an MUA.
No one can do an MUA without your consent. You are the only one with the right to say what happens to your knee.
I know it's difficult when you get conflicting advice, but you have the right to choose whether or not to accept the advice that is offered. You don't have to get your surgeon's or your PT's approval for what you decide.
Talking about PT: It's far too early to be using the machine where you push your legs up and down. There's a danger of causing damage to your knee by twisting it when you use that machine. Please don't use it any more. (Just say "No, that doesn't feel right for my knee." )
United States
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I do still have some issues, but ROM isn’t one of them. 
