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TKR New Left Knee . . . Check!!

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Bonnie,
The moist heat pack is called ThermalOn. I bought it at Walmart for about 15 or 20 bucks I think it was. I found it near the pharmacy where they sell gel ice packs and that kind of stuff. It definitely gets moist when you heat it in the microwave for about 2 1/2 minutes. It stays warm for a good 10 to 15 minutes, as opposed to the hot towel which barely seems to last about a minute or two. I think the directions say not to heat it for more than 2 1/2 minutes, but I would like it to be just a little bit hotter than it is. Maybe my microwave is the problem. It does feel good while it's on though.

I have never stopped taking Mobic since I started last August, which was before my surgery. So it's really hard for me to determine if it is making a difference for me or not. Like you, I feel like my knee has never been not swollen since my TKR. Kind of discouraging to hear that you are still having the same issue at 10 months out. Curious to know what your flexion is since you have a swelling issue too. If you read through the last couple of pages of my thread you'll see that an MUA is still being discussed for me. My flexion is just now at 110 at 4 months out--still not really functional for me. So wondering how you are doing in that regard at 10 months.

I will let you know how I like the Zensah sleeve when it arrives. Take care, Niki
 
Niki, thanks for the info on the ThermalOn. I will look for it. Have you received your Zensah knee sleeve yet? I actually buy mine at the running store where I work, we order all kinds of compression socks and sleeves for runners. If you find that you want another one, call around to your local running store and see if they have them. I know that RunOn is very big up there in Dallas, maybe they have them...and no shipping charges!

Yes, I took Mobic for quite some time before my TRK and still take it now. I really do think that it helps. It never takes away all the selling or all the pain, but I do believe that it helps me more than taking Aleve or Advil.

As far at my ROM goes, I got my highest ROM at 7 months post op and that was 137! Depending on how much I've worked my knee, swelling, etc., I can always get it to 130, 132, 135, 137 etc., it is all so variable but I am solidly in the 130's. Thank goodness...as in my early days Josephine would really have to get after me because I worried if my knee would ever bend again. Patience, patience, patience she told me and as always...Jo is right! With swelling comes 'less' ROM, I can understand why 110 is not working for you, I still had a very hard time going downstairs and peddling my bike at 110. What is your OS telling you about it?

Today it was warmer in Houston. Started out pretty cold but got up to about 70 this afternoon so my knee was not quite so stiff since it was warmer...but, it was achey today and I wonder if that is because the humidity was up with the warmer temp? I guess this is all a learning experience this first year to 18 months. Most people that I have met who have had TKR's say that it took 1 year to 1 1/2 year for the swelling to go away. Hang in there, you are 6 months behind me and I am 6 months behind someone else so we can all learn from each other! :doggieshmooze::doggieshmooze:
 
Friends! Thanks for thinking of me. I know I have been slack about posting, but I was really waiting for today cause I saw my OS this afternoon. We've decided to go ahead and do the MUA. My flexion progress has been SLOW to say the least. He thinks my swelling at 4 1/2 months out is pretty typical and not really hindering my flexion much at all. I only gained 5 degrees in the past month since I last saw him.

He said that we could continue on as I have been and just see where I can get, but he also said that he can tell how frustrated I am. He does think the issue is scar tissue and that being so limited in what I could do (pretty much nothing) for the first 9 weeks didn't help. He agreed with me that there is no way I'm going to spend 8 hours a day in a device/splint for weeks on end so we are opting for the MUA.

My PT doesn't think I'll get to 130 even with the MUA, but my OS said that is nonsense and I will get to 130. He said during the MUA he would probably get to about 140 or 145 (pretty much max with your heel against your butt). But he said realistically when I'm conscious, 130 would be good.

At any rate, I'm having the MUA this coming Tuesday, the 14th, at 2:00. I'm a little nervous, so if anyone reading this has had an MUA, I would love to hear what to expect--especially in the first few days afterward. My OS said I would not have the CPM again, but I would be doing PT 3 days a week again for a few weeks. I've only been doing 2 days now for over a month or so.

My husband is a little concerned because he is headed out of town the next morning for about 10 days, but I told him that I don't think I will require any kind of caretaking at all and should be able to do everything I have been doing.

I hope it does the trick for me and I can really start making some progress!
Niki
 
Niki,

Glad to hear you are getting some resolution to your problem. I've not had an MUA but from the sound of it here on Bonesmart it doesn't seem to be that bad, just a few days of discomfort. Hope this gets you on your way to getting the light at the end of the tunnel.
 
Hi Niki
Well, you have had a long and trying journey which you have endured with a lot of courage and patience. I sincerely hope that the MUA on Tuesday will really give you the ROM that you want. I will be thinking of you.
 
Best of luck with the MUA. It sounds like your OS is reasonable.
 
Hi Niki

I wish you all the best for Tuesday and hope it does the trick for you. There have been loads of good reports about MUA's on the forum - I will be thinking of you.
 
Look in this forum for a few pages back. There are a few threads with the MUA prefix.
 
Hi Niki,

I have been patiently waiting for your update. I am glad to hear about the decision, I think you will be amazed at the immediate improvement.

I arrived for the surgery and was prepped in the same way except they did not have me scrub my leg. I was given an anesthetic to put me to sleep and had an anesthetic to numb me from the waist down. The procedure is quick, in and out fast. Woke up in no pain at all, just couldn't feel my legs. They did have me in a CPM in recovery room, and actually when they put my leg in it, I could not feel it, that was a little freaky. My OS originally had planned for me to stay overnight but there were no beds available. One big issue, make sure you have complete control over your lower extremities before you leave the hospital. Get up, go to the bathroom, walk around. You probably won't have much pain the day of the MUA. I did have a CPM at the house for two weeks and I used it several times a day.

The next day, I was surprised how good I felt. In my case, extension was the issue, and I could stand flat footed at the counter, it was awesome. I made sure to ice and elevate which you are used to. There will not be the same type of pain like after the TKR. It will hurt but the over whelmng pain of TKR will not be there. Make sure you have painkillers and use them. I did not lose any stamina or focus after the MUA like with the TKR either. I also didn't have the swelling like after TKR. It swelled but only after the pt started to twist and turn and push my knee too far. I didn't stop her and that my friend was a mistake.

Make sure you ask your OS what he got you to for flexion and extension during the MUA. Ask him if he heard a pop when doing the procedure. My OS said there was a loud pop which was the scar tissue giving way. Also, please be prepared that you may not get to 130. I think it's more about function than the actual numbers. Know what it is you want to do and then work to that goal. I became so caught up in the numbers that it really set me up for failure.

Please don't worry about this. It isn't that bad, and you will be surprised at how good you feel. It would be good if you had a little help for the first couple of days but in truth, you should be functionally fine.

Send me your questions and I will do my best to answer. I will be checking for you here and if you need to, pm me. I know how difficult this recovery has been for you. I hope I can help in some very minor way.

Praying for you,

Dawn
 
Hi Niki, I wish you the best of luck and I can't wait to hear your report afterwards! I always thought that I'd end up having a MUA, but never did. I don't think I have followed anyone on here through an MUA while I've been in my recovery so it will be very interesting. I will be thinking of you on the 14th! Happy Valentine's Day! :doggieshmooze:
 
Thank you so much for your messages. You guys are the absolute best! Even amidst your own recoveries and issues you take the time to reach out. I so appreciate your thoughts, support, and prayers.

Rose, How are you? And have they been able to figure out the fluid retention issues? I've thought of you so often and wondered how you are getting on.

Bonnie, I've wanted to let you know that I've had my Zensah sleeve for about 10 days I guess. I LOVE it! Have no idea if it helps at all with the swelling, but my knee feels so much better when I'm wearing it, especially if I'm going to be on my feet for an extended period of time. I just ordered a second one so that I can have one to wash and one to wear. I've been wearing mine for 10 days and haven't washed it yet :rolleyespink: cause I don't want to have to be without it while it's drying! So looking forward to getting the second one.

Dawn, Sooo glad you checked in! I am grateful to be able to read the details of your MUA experience--and I do have a couple of questions for you. First, did you have any problems with stairs right after the MUA? I'm going to have to do a set of 15 stairs at least twice a day starting the morning after the MUA. I'm assuming that I'll be able to do that (even though it might not be pretty)? And second, how long and how often were you on narcotic pain meds afterward? I have a MAJOR constipation issue (no matter how many prunes I eat and stool softeners I take) when I'm on narcotics for more than about a day. Just wondering what I need to prepare myself for. Really want to avoid the "giving birth to jagged rocks" that I went through in the first weeks after my surgery :th_heehee:. Thanks so much for your willingness to help me through this!
Niki
 
Niki.....best of luck with the MUA. You should be able to take care of yourself afterwards just fine. Do you have someone to drive you to and from the procedure?

I like your surgeon's viewpoint of the results you can expect. And I totally agree!!!
 
Hi Niki,

With allyou are going thru I really appreciate you thinking of me. The Dr. tested everything and all was fine, heart, lungs, kidneys, even had an ultrasound to check for DVT's nothing all arteries and veins great. So no one is sure what the cause was. Dr. said we had to treat the symptom (fluid retention) before it caused any damage to anything, so he put me on 40mg of lasix once a day. Was on for 2 weeks and it is gone along with 11 lbs. (all water weight), but my potassium levels started to drop so we discontinued since swelling was gone and now I just have to keep an eye on things and if I see any swelling start give them a call and will probably have to go back on the lasix for a bit.

I sure do feel alot better, started to feel like I was drowning in my own fluids and that is not a very comfortable feeling at all.

Thanks again for asking. And best of luck on Tuesday hope it will be the answer to your problems.
 
Hi Niki, I would say just the first 2-3 days might require the narcotics. Then you should be able to cut back. My OS was firm in saying I needed to be well medicated going to pt so that we could work hard for extension. Not sure that was necessary and I am sure that the aggressive nature of my pt contributed to a lot of swelling that was unnecessary. Regarding stairs, I had 4 steps to go up the day of surgery. That was awful. If you need to do stairs the day after, you should be okay. Just take it easy, be deliberate in your steps and you will be just fine.

I would definitely advise to be on your staionary bike to keep the joint moving. I was on my bike the day after MUA for 5 minutes, then day 2 fir 20 minutes and after that, back to 25-30 minutes each day with gradual increases to resistance.

I think you will do just fine, but again. Be in charge of your pt. I went 3 times a week for 2 weeks, then cut back to 2 as I didn't feel that I was doing anything there I couldn't do on my own. I stopped pt altogether at one month after the MUA. I am still missing extension and see my OS next Friday for follow up. I do has the jas splint but have seen no positive results from it.

Keep the questions coming, I am behind you 100%.

Best, Dawn
 
Sorry for the spelling errors, not a great typist while on my bike! Have a great day everyone, off to work for me!

Dawn
 
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