ROM 57 before surgery; what can I expect?

[BJVD]

My OS told me that when they got me to the OR and did a pre-surg ROM it was only 57. I am 4 weeks post-op and ROM is in the 80s. Has anyone else had such a crappy ROM before surgery? If so, were you ever able to get to 90-100 or above? I'm still not able to get the exercise bike all the way around. OS said at 2 week follow up that he was very pleased with how I was doing compared to that pre-surgery ROM.

I sure am glad I found this forum. I've had many questions and concerns and just a little bit of reading has answered many! I've not known many who have gone through TKR, so not sure where I should be with rehab etc. Thanks to all!

 

[DaleMc]

Interesting question. My OS said that my ROM was 85 to 90 prior to surgery and he did not expect much more then that after surgery. My PT has gotten me to 98 and the OS is very pleased with the results. I am 6 weeks tomorrow post surgery. For the last two weeks I have been able to pedal the bike backwards completely and only this last Friday did I get it to go around forward at the end of my stretching. We were all pleased since the OS did not think I would ever be able to do it. Just hard work and determination to do it was the only reason I think I made it. It sounds like you are doing good.

Dale

 

[Rowdy66]

I don't know what my ROM was prior to surgery, not very much I am sure as I was really crippled up, legs bowed, couldn't straighten legs or bend them that much either. I am 12 weeks post surgery this week and am pretty much back to normal and just amazed. My first trip to PT was ten days post surgery and I was in such agony driving home I was near tears, (I am not a crier, I am a cusser, sorry) and I am sure the blue words flew. The second visit to PT was two weeks one day post surgery and the ride home was uncomfortable but I made it. The third visit was three weeks post surgery and my ROM was 125 and I could straighten my legs normally and I was walking without any aids and had been since week two. I was released from PT at that point and have continued to do the exercises and ride the bike on my own at home. If I skip a day exercising I can tell the difference so I try not to miss. I do know from having read this forum since about three months prior to my surgery that everyone heals and makes progressin their own time and whatever you are doing if the surgeon and PT is happy you should be too as you are obviously progressing the way you should. This is a very difficult surgery to have done and when you think of what all they did to our legs when we were "OUT" it is really amazing that we ever walked again much less stopped hurting. I can still see improvements on a weekly basis and think I will see it for some time to come. You have found a wealth of information and support finding this forum so keep on posting and reading, it is one of the best things that I found to help me get through all this. Good luck, Rowdy

 

[Josephine]

BJ, it's not at all uncommon for the pre-op flexion to be awful. Goes with the territory and that's why you needed a TKR in the first place! So don't let that put you off.

There's no reason at all that you can't hit the numbers eventually. It's very early days yet and you have many, many more weeks to go during which you can put everything you have into your PT and get those ROMs up. You'll do it - I feel it in my bones! (pun intentional!)

 

[Dedicated_Dad]

Sounds to me like you're doing well. I was at -15/120 before, and am at 0/120 now.

I had great success with the JAS device after my accident -- it really helped my ROM, without pain! The PT stretching/pushing was excruciatingly painful and didn't help me -- I ended up moving backward! - but the JAS did the job until I gave up on it.

I still have it, but currently I am not using it... I'm waiting to see what the next surgery will be, and trying to let things settle down... The great thing about the JAS thing is that it works whenever -- I don't feel like there's a deadline...

HTH...

DD