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TKR Really fed up

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Yesterday, I had physio and flexion was down to 75 followed by 80 after some really hard work. Second physio tomorrow. I have done my physio routines today together with ice and rest. It will be interesting to see what the result will be tomorrow. I agree with the prevailing thought that CPM machines are of little value and PT is the best order. I
 
Last physio check before meeting the surgeon on Tuesday. Still 80 degrees! Now i have a choice a) leave at 80 b) another MUA c) another clean out.

Answers on a post card ...!

PS went on a bike to see if i could do it. Bad decision
 
A clean out is my vote. So sorry things are going this direction.

You mention "after a lot of hard work" you got to 80. What exactly has been going on in your PT?

I gave up PT after my arthrolysis. The only thing I did the first month was sit on the CPM watching the telly (I figured the scar tissue couldn't catch a moving target!), and gentle slow stretches 2-3 times a day. It took a few weeks to exceed 90 but now I'm at 130 or so without effort.

Arthrofibrosis proliferates where there is inflammation. The recovery from any procedure dealing with scar tissue has to be very gentle else the conditions are created for scar to recur. That is my belief, which goes against a lot of the "experts."
 
Yes, Mary, I agree with you and that was the advice from my OS as well.
 
And, as I recall Kelly, taking it easy really worked for you even though the inactivity was maddening.
 
Re: CPM machines. Study shows no benefit in the general population of TKR patients but that doesn't mean it is not of benefit in individual cases. I strongly believe CPM benefitted me. I didn't have one to use after my MUA. After my arthrolysis I was determined to use one. Logically, I figured if the leg was in constant motion without effort it would keep things limbered up with the least amount of inflammation. I couldn't find one anywhere, and actually purchased one off of craigslist. I spent hours on it, which BTW was hours that I wasn't tempted to do other things, and hours during which I iced and relaxed and had my leg up. So it was a win-win-win effort.
 
[Bonesmart.org] Really fed up
point, Mary. And we humans need all the help we can get some times to do what we know we should.
 
Hello, my PT starts off with sitting on the side of a raised bed and swinging my leg without hitting the extremes, i then put my leg on to a stair a push gently against the resistance in my knee. Then i do a series of bends and stretches for five mintes. I then do knee bends with my hands on a bed forvsupport. After this i go on to a trampet and do knee bends for about five mins.thereafter, it is leaning on a ball that is placed behind my back and i roll up and down. I do three circuits totalling about 40 mins. I do this three times a week under PT guidance. I do take (reluctantly but i do ...) my painkillers. My frozen peas are my best friend. I am beginning to think a clean out as well. I had CPM for about t hree days after last MUA but no real significant improvement.

Thank you for your advice and support.
 
Just my opinion, I think the knee bends are too much for a knee that has recently had, or has, adhesions. There is no benefit to strengthening exercises, and it does result in more inflammation/swelling/pain/growing medium for adhesions. The goal is range of motion, and if you cannot improve it, it kinda make PT irrelevant - ???
 
A year on and it still don't bend. Consultant is going to take a year out to see what is what! Going downstairs normally is out of the question. I miss my bike. Taking early retirement (was going to anyway) so i can swim and work on the bend. Moan over ...!!
 
I Just reviewed your thread to refresh my memory. Let me be direct: your doctor did MUA in March and then when things still weren't progressing, did another MUA. It's too late now but I do not believe that was the right direction. I had MUA and when it didn't work, I had arthroscopic removal of scar tissue. That stuff is like Joint Glue. It fills up the knee and adheres to all the tissues inside. It's gotta come out. There's no PT in existence that will work on you if this is what you have. An arthroscopic clean out is way way less invasive than a revision. I think you should find a different doc and get this addressed ASAP, but then again I don't know your whole situation. But arthroscopic clean outs have a time frame within which they need to be done.
 
Being in the UK and part of the NHS, options are more limited than in the USA. However, i will take your advice and go to the docs tomorrow forva chat. Thanks. I perhaps needed a kick up the bh. Thanks
 
Hi Sadperson :) I to have re-read your thread just to refresh me of your journey/ordeal :sad: What a bummer I say. Are you happy with your surgeon & his explanations or do you think it might be worth getting/asking for a 2nd opinion? I'm just over 9 months post op. about 7 on the extension & I would say 100 on flexion. As someone else quoted, my surgeon did get a ROM of 120 during the MUA. I've been left in pain ever since :sad: I currently suffer with severe pain in my outside thigh, back of knee, inside of knee & the worst is in the bone directly below the knee which radiates into my foot & ankle. Explanation for this is " soft tissue & nerve damage".... My response is un-repeatable :yikes: I do know that I'm fed up & now think if I HADN'T had the TKR at least I would only have pain in one place, not SIX like I do now. X-rays show the replacement to be ok but I now want another MRI to see if this will show up something more significant that has been missed. I'm 48 & thought after going through this life would be getting " back to normal" & something to look forward to. In reality it's the complete opposite :sorry: So, my advice after a year is maybe think about getting a 2nd opinion & start getting some answers. As Josephine pointed out to me, " surgeons aren't god" yet you don't expect to go in for an op & come out WORSE then when you went in...
Anyway, thinking of you & really wishing you well in getting to the bottom of your problems :flwrysmile: Jaki x
 
Hi Jaki, thank you for a wonderful posting. I think you are the first person to declare pain at the back of your knee. I have had that since day one! I have not had any explanation! I am sorry the whole thing is so bad for you. I do know that the people on this site are helpful and supporting. I guess we both have to go through a 'life revision' . I hope you get your dreams back. I read your list of treatmens! Wow! Hang in there.
 
I kept thinking it might be a Bakers Cyst although not a huge swelling, but decided I was too young...Ho Hum :) When I had the TKR done I also had a Valgus or Varus deformity corrected so not sure if it's a case of getting used to something being corrected so to speak after years of being in the wrong position? ( it's the term used for the wrong angle of a bone or joint) Anyway, sometimes it feels like either something is way too tight in the back of the knee & needs to be stretched, but the pain is not good :sad: If I'm out walking the mutts I have to stop at a tree stump & do a few lunges then straightening exercises to allow me to walk on a bit further...GGRRRR! I don't know about you but I'm sick of everyday being consumed by pain, discomfort,,depression & tears. Sick of talking about TKR not that many people ask! Try & be up-beat but sometimes I just think ENOUGH...then realise there are a lot more people worse off than me...and that makes me feel worse...DOH! Anyway, lets be PROACTIVE in trying to get answers as I believe knowing what's wrong is half the battle to dealing with it & hopefully GETTING BETTER! :friends: Hugs my friend !
 
Seems you and me could be on the same part of the journey. Enjoy those autumnal walks on grass, looking at the trees and stay off the knee jarring concrete!
 
Wow. I feel so sorry to see people suffer with these issues. But there have a bunch on this forum who ultimately prevailed, and they did it by constantly pushing forward and often seeking out still another 2nd opinion. My best wishes for all of you who suffer without any end in sight. I had a few months of that and it is really rotten.
 
Sorry to hear you are having so much difficulty with your recovery.
Seeking out another opinion will be helpful, and give you more options.
I sought out 3 second opinions, they all had new information to offer me, and I was able to move forward and start healing.
All the best,
 
You are having quite the rocky journey.

As you can see, I am out 3 and 4 years. My right knee is doing exactly as I had expected. It has good ROM, it is not particularly uncomfortable...what more could I ask. My left knee is a totally different story. From day one of surgery, it was substantially weaker and problematic and continues to be so to this day. My original surgeon felt that it was because I was stressing it with my "obesity". I could understand that however, my reasoning says...same knee implant, same kind of surgery, doesn't make sense to me! After being two years out and still using a cane and still having lots of swelling above the knee and weak quads, "I" decided to go back to PT and get some functional therapy. To help me improve my life. It did improve my balance and functionality, but not as much as I hoped. Because of a move to a new state, I visited a surgeon who was a revisionist. He assessed my knees and said there was no problem with the replacements but exercise and weight loss would help. He did not feel that at this time a revision was needed.

Since then, I have dropped a few pounds and have started doing personal training and ride the recumbent bike. Guess what the result is? My knee is still swollen, and still hurts. My strength is improving. Will I ever be as mobile as I like? Will I ever be free of pain? I cannot answer those questions. So my decision for MYSELF, is that I will live my life 100% with the resources that I have available today. I will work toward a better well being and pray that I my knee will improve. This is not to be critical of you or anyone. This is just saying that I had to do what I could and then be at peace with my challenge.

Hang in there. You obviously are a very strong and determined person. You are going to make it. I know you will.
 
When you walked before knee surgery did your toes point outward, or inward? Mutley

After 7 years and many therapists, I finally had one that got in front of me and SHOWED me how I have been walking. I have heard foot straight, turn your foot, keep your knee in til I was "blue in the face!" When she showed me "it clicked!" The patella is starting to make progress because they are re teaching many bad habits I picked up! Soon, I will be running, or jumping, well maybe just crying tears of joy! :happydance:
 
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