Post TKR and MUA

[char]

I had my TKR on 4/10 and then needed the MUA on 5/2 ... I too had great improvement - not as good as Laurie - but improvement. I'm in PT twice per week and just got to 117 flexion - goal being 120. My problem is with the extension - I've gone from minus 16 to minus 6 - but it is painful as #$#%% to straighten this sucker! My OS told me that the knee would not go as straight as the other (healthy) knee - it certainly wasn't straight before the surgery, however, my Physical Therapist puts his whole body weight on it to straighten - and i'm not so sure he should do that. I go back to my OS for a follow up on the 13th and I will ask just what the expectation is for extension in that knee and I'm thinking I should tell the therapist to hold off on that particular exercise until then.

I'm still VERY swollen and somewhat sore - and it has been two months! I still have a numb 'quadrant' on the right side of the knee that just feels like mush ....I massage the scar with Vit E oil several times a day, ride the recumbant bike several times a day and do what i'm supposed to - at times it feels like the swelling is just something i'll have to live with.

I still get fatigued by the end of the day - but I have gone back to work -- my job is wonderful and I can work at my own pace - half days or full - up to me. I can also work from home which is a great option to have.

OK - that's it for now!!

 

[JenniferG]

Hey Char, good to hear your progress. So much better thahn before the manipulation. One of my 2 is still swollen and I just passed 12 weeks yesterday. I was told the swelling goes but could exist for months (8,9,10+).

 

[edk]

I was about to post a new thread about this. When I first got my TKR the surgeon
could have implanted a grapefruit. All my knee ever was was a swollen lump. At
about 8 weeks I started to realize I had a kneecap again. Now at 13ish weeks the
swelling has gone down to the point where I can feel the crack between my bones on
the front and I have an indentation in the outside of the knee I haven't had in years.
If I do exercise it still puffs up so I'm not done yet.

I had a rotator cuff repair a couple of years back which of course was all soft tissue
repair and the OS said that in 4 months your soft tissue would be 90% healed
and it wouldn't be as strong as it was ever going to get for 18 months. So I
am thinking that at about 4 months post-op you are mostly healed but not all the
way.

 

[JenniferG]

I'm like Edk My more swollen of the 2 swells even more when extra exerted. And yes I feel my knee bones, now properly aligned again, as well. Kinda cool. I have my own knee caps, so it is me that I feel and not a piece of plastic. I like that.

 

[Doug]

Char, I think I would ask for a good reason why the new knee won't go out all the way. My leg wouldn't go straight prior to surgery, and it does now. To me, if it's scar tissue holding it then snip it, suck it out and get on with it.
Kind of like buying a new door hinge but the door won't open all the way.
Have you gotten on that nice bike of yours yet??

 

[Josephine]

Are you elevating as well as icing? You can't elevate enough and it shouldn't be a pillow under the knee with the foot down but the whole leg pointing upwards. Is there anybody in your family any good as massage? They could massage the swelling - gently - and encourage the lymph drainage.

 

[Laurierocs]

I was told to do some ankle pumps as it's elevating to help with swelling. I also took an Aleve daily. The problem I was having near the beginning of my TKR was not elevating the knee properly. Just like Josephine says make sure you're elevating the foot too. (in my case higher than the knee worked for me)

Good luck,

Laurie

 

[Rowdy66]

Char I Cannot Imagine My Pt Putting Their Whole Weight Down On My Knee To Straighten It, I Am Pretty Sure I Could Send Her Flying If She Tried. Guess I Am Lucky That I Have Not Had As Bad A Swelling As Some As I Have Always Been Able To See My New Knee Since Surgery, Which Is Not To Say That I Haven't And Don't Have Swelling Which For Me Is The Worst Of Everything. I Was Four Weeks Post Surgery On Tuesday So Guess I Don't Have Much To Complain About Except I Am Having A Devil Of A Time Getting Back To Walking Normally Again. Seems I Want To Continue To Waddle Especially When I Am In A Big Room. Home Isn't So Bad As I Feel Safer I Suppose. Well, Here's To Everyone Continuing To Improve. Rowdy

 

[beachcomber]

Char--- do you have the lymph drainage massage instructions Jo mentioned?? I sent them out to a bunch of people a while back and would gladly send them to you as well. Just PM me your regular e-mail address and I will send them to you. (the file is too big to send via BoneSmart)
I think the LM really helped me.

Good luck!

 

[char]

I ice everyday but haven't elevated nearly as much. I did return to work which may contribute to things. I plan to elevate much more and will start now! LOL Thank you all so much for you ever helpful comments