Post MUA Progress

[HyperZen]

Had my MUA on Tuesday after having been stuck at 105 for weeks and weeks. We had a little party in PT when I measured 120 with no problem on my own and 125 with just a little pushing from my therapist! Got up yesterday and felt nice and bendy after I got everything to wake up and was able to do 20 minutes on the bike plus all my stretches and walk my dog. Since then, though, the swelling and stiffness are making it tough to get loose, and I am afraid of losing what I gained. I was really sore last night and it took quite a while to get it loosened up again this morning. The bike was harder today and I only did 10 minutes, but did 20 minutes in the pool after to help make up for it.

I'm on Vicodin, but only take it before I do my exercises as it makes me wonky in the head. I know that swelling and pain are normal for a while since it's been traumatized again and I keep doing my exercises anyway even if I feel like I am not getting very far, and I try to push through the pain and swelling as much as I can.

But I'm afraid for my next PT visit on Monday that I won't "measure up" again despite all my work...Any reassurance to be had? Is it possible for adhesions to reform? (Can you tell I'm more hyper than zen??)

Back on ice,

 

[Josephine]

Well, it's going to take a step back before it settles down again - you've had tissues torn apart and that comes at a price of swelling and pain and stiffness. That doesn't mean you are losing what you gained. It just means it's got to settle down.

The adhesions that were broken don't often reoccur but other stiffness can creep in. The way to combat it is to make sure you take enough pain killers - no scrimping because you think you 'ought to' - and if you keep up with the exercises but don't over do them! Stick to a happy balance so you don't get more swelling because that will obstruct your ROM. Ice as well and elevate, of course.

 

[shelly52]

The same thing happened to me 2 days post MUA. No you will not lose what you gained but the swelling from the MUA will interfere with your PT performance. We are a bunch of over achievers...PTs are experts and they understand the temporary set back from the MUA. Josephine summed it up: pain meds, ice and elevation. Kuddos on your flexion numbers-I'm jealous.

 

[HyperZen]

Thanks Jo. I'm replacing Tylenol with Vicodin and am icing like a madwoman.

Shelly, thank you. My PT clinic likes to traffic in fear and intimidation, so they are the ones that put the fear of losing my gain in my head...to the point that I think I overdid it yesterday and this morning. I think they expect all patients to slack off so they "motivate" by telling you that you will lose any gain if you don't work three times as hard.

Anyway, I'm more swollen now than I have been in a while. I went through the motions of my exercises tonight, but I think some R&R is in order.

 

[cindy88fan]

R & R sounds like the right idea! You are doing fantastic! Keep icing and elevating!

 

[skigirl]

When my doc does a MUA, he recommends daily PT for three weeks. Are you going every day? I think that I would let the pros take care of it and not do too much at home after pt. But, I think you have to make sure that more scar tissue does not form.

 

[HyperZen]

I went Thursday after being released from the hospital Wednesday and was scheduled to go again on Friday, but I only have limited visits left because of insurance, so they told me to cancel Friday if I was still feeling bendy (which I was - and then overdid) and come in on Monday to get measured but I don't have an official visit until Tuesday...

 

[Jamie]

Jill, congratulations on your MUA. I'm with Jo that it's more important to get that swelling settled down than it is to try and "push through" any pain and discomfort. Take it a little easy for a while....exercise, but moderately...until you notice less discomfort.