OS Visit Today

[BigRed]

I saw my OS this afternoon and he took me by surprise. I am four months post-op. I am walking okay with a cane and one leg still somewhat stiff. My ROM is a little over 100 in both knees, one better than the other. My left knee is still tight. I can climb stairs with caution one leg only (but that is how it was prior to the surgery) but coming down stairs is less controlled. I can lift weights up to four pounds with my right leg (my worse one prior to surgery) and up to five pounds with the left - even though that one is tighter.

What surprised me is that he said I was "functional", no longer needed to go to pt but should do the exercises at home, and I should come back for another check-up in three months. I guess this is all good - I just thought I seemed behind in my recovery.

I know that I will never be a complete cure given that I have had knee problems since 1958. My pt even told me that it was amazing I was walking as well as I am considering my knee history. She just implied that I needed more therapy to help me improve and was sending a report to the doctor about where I was and where I still needed to go. My doctor obviously feels I can continue to move forward without more pt. I think I can too - but it will be strange not having that person to keep after me to do the exercises. I guess I will have to keep after myself.

 

[cotton1958]

Hi Big Red. I understand your feelings about now. I'm BTKR in August....my PT looks like it's winding down---maybe 4 left now. I'm forced 105 and 95 ROM. I could probably get further with pain pills.

My plans are just to force myself to remain active. I guess I just didn't think I would be hobbling around still and released from therapy.

Good Luck to you BR!

 

[cindy88fan]

Are either one of you riding a stationary bike? That's what helped me a lot to get to the ROM that I am at now.

Big Red...are you taking pain pills before you work out each time? You should be taking them 60 - 90 minutes before you work out. For awhile I felt like I was walking stiff too. So when I had PT he had me march when I walked. Yeah it looked goofy but I didn't care...it helped. Also, after you work out make sure you are still icing. I figured out when I felt stiff...I was swollen. So ice and elevate.

You are so right about when PT ends...I kind of felt lost. I didn't want to quit PT. I was pushed and I was able to do what he said. But I have disciplined myself to do exactly what I was doing during PT. So make yourself get up and do what you need to do. Remember...it's a long hard recovery!

Take Care!

 

[calling_all_angels]

Big Red,
I can understand how you feel I have had to fight for every tiny bit of Rom and movment that I was able to receive!! And I am still fighting to just keep the left leg at 100 Rom. I am still in PT and I am glad that I am because without the help they have given me I would hate to think of where I might be.
But if your Doctor thinks you are doing well then your PT must think so too. I hope that you are able to keep working at it at home. Is the a Gym that you can go to? I work out the Knee's 2 times a day just to keep them moving.

 

[Texas]

Hey Big Red im o happy for you i know you were worried you will keep up with you excercises and you will be fine much better than what you went thru before...........congrats to you........)

 

[Josephine]

That's good! And time to start getting back to 'normal' life! I would still keep after that flexion - you can continue to increase it for many months yet.

As for that tight feeling, I still get that from time to time, even after seven months.

 

[Jamie]

Big Red, give it a try on your own for a bit, but if you still feel you would be better off with the assistance of a therapist, talk to your doctor about possibly ordering some more sessions for you. Jo's right.....if you have the discipline to work at it, you can keep gaining ROM for quite a while. Keep working on your strength too....those stairs need to be a little easier to negotiate.

"Functional" is such a goofy word, isn't it! I'd say that it really is relative. If you don't FEEL "functional," get assertive with your doc. YOU are the judge of how things are.

 

[dcdowden]

My at home therapist told me that the most important thing was to get past 90 degrees as soon as possible - her goal was normally to work with patients to get there at three weeks post op. She said that was because it was 'easier' to continue to make progress after that. I think that the recumbent bike was probably my biggest tool in improving flexion. When I first started I could only get the pedals to go around backwards and I had to sit on a pillow because I am 6'4" tall and my knee would not bend enough. Now my therapist has me spend part of my time on the bike with the seat moved forward to the point where my knee is bent to the limit. I was shocked the first time they said that the bike was going around too easily and that I should move the seat forward until I could barely get the pedals to go around. This seemed to work well for me, but my therapist says that she does see other patients where the bending is much more of a struggle.
Good luck,
Doug