ROM ave for week 1 postop

[Luke 46]

Hi, I am 5 days post op, 46 and had full ROM prior to surgery. PT at the hospital was pushing for 90 prior to leaving. I could only get to 73 and was pushing thru all levels of pain. The Dr told me it would be harder for me to get to this level because I was athletic and came in with more muscle than the average patient (still 2 inch difference in thighs) That was 2 days ago, and I am still not there. For those of you who were still athletic, how long did it take to get to 90. I am killing my self and can't get the bend? Thanks, the forum was a hugh success prior to the op but this is my first sign on. Dave

 

[ship4]

Luke,
We all are different and recover at our own rate. I was 58 when I had BTKR and had full ROM with no muscle weakness prior to surgery. The amount of swelling post op makes a huge difference when you are measuring. Be sure to take pain medication at least 1/2 hour before your PT or exercise workout. It does make a huge difference.
When I came home from the rehab hospital 9 days post op I was 100 on one leg and 105 on the other..... I also had to concentrate on walking with heel to toe with a roll on the foot, so I would not limp. Patience.......
So, give it time, take your medication and remember we all recover at our own pace.
Be glad you have done it, and will be recuperating this year!
I am one year post op and went zip lining and on a ropes adventure course June 20th! Remember, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate that knee for recovery!

 

[loggon]

Luke
There are some exercises you can do and it will not be painful.

I came out of the hosp. with 52 rom--Because the wonderful PT forgot me in the hosp.
But by two weeks I was up to 90 rom.

I never did a forced exercise. One really good exercise for increasing the rom and the one I did most was

Sit in a chair--dinning table chair no arms--
Sit forward so that the knee is away from the chair. Then just
move your foot forward and back. After a while put your foot
as for back as you can under the chair and leave it there while you
rock back and forth on the operated leg. your knee will be moving back and forth. I have had my home PT and a center PT and they
both tell me this is one of the best for gaining rom.

The more you do it the farther you will be able to go back hold and rock.

I know you want the rom now but it does take a little time. Rushing and Pushing only causes relapse where you have to rest for a day.

Make sure you ice, elevate, and take the meds. If your muscle is
not relaxed you will not be able to get as much rom.

Good luck and you will get to were you want.

 

[Texas]

Hi welcome I dont know if you can at this point. Prob if your in that good of shape . Lunges worked so good. I put my foot on the set of the chair and I would rock back and forth. Really what a difference. You will get there but being 5 days is so early you have a lot of swelling and that will surely slow it down as that goes away you will see a diifference....Hang in there you will get it......I was at 68 when I left the hosp.....Now just fine...Big surgery you had..........

 

[skigirl]

I am pretty athletic as well and my rom was 100 when I left the hospital---but really, that does not mean that much. I thought that the cpm machine was helpful until you got 90 degrees---are you using it?

I use a rocking chair for my rom exercise at home too, it is fun to rock and it does help the leg. Someone who has full range of motion before surgery will most likely achieve it again, so don't start worrying too early!! I only had 122 before surgery and have 135 now six weeks out.

All of us muscle bound folks are used to pushing our way to things--and unfortunately there is so much rest required with this knee surgery. I have been driven nearly bonkers by inactivity---finally figured out that I could work on my upper body at the gym and work up a sweat that way.

Right now, I am sure that you don't feel that great--don't add worry about details right now to the mix. You will get your motion back.

 

[RickB]

Luke,
You are only five (5) days from knee replacement. Please rest and take your time, there is no race going on. You will get your rom back in time. Right now give your body a chance to heal its self. I didn't worry about my rom until the third week. Then I started busting my butt and now at ten (10) months after BTKR I have reached 128 on my right and 126 on my left. My goal is 130 and by the grace of the good lord I am going to reach it, I will not give up.

 

[Luke 46]

Thanks all, I am doing most of your suggestions. Just trying to find benchmarks. Did not use a CPM, my docs have moved away from them based on recent litature. I have to believe there is a lot of swollen muscle, 5 days out and how do you know your pushing thru to prevent scar tissue or swollen muscle? Thanks again the forum has been a huge help pre-op.

 

[Texas]

I did use the CPM , for about 2 weeks. I admit I did like getting up and pushing on my own I just seem to get farther. Since you are so early out maybe wait a lil and try on your own...(some dont use it). Not so pleasant but when my PT would rub the scar tissue and it would break up I def. felt it...Like lil tingling feelings lil pops...I would go to PT and just say my rom was 90 once she did the scar tissue I could go up to 100 a big difference...Thats just me though

 

[Jayhawk]

I would anticipate that your range of motion will improve as the swelling in your quadracept dimiinshes.....I had a similar situation. The fluid that causes the swelling will not let you bend your knee. When I had my right knee surgery in February my quadracept was in very good condition and had major swelling due to the fact that my doctor had to (as he put it).... "manhandle the hell" out of my quadracept during the surgery. He told me it would be like a severe muscle pull. I had over 100 degrees of flex the day after surgery but as my knee swelled it was greatly reduced. When I started physical therapy on Monday six days after surgery, I strugged to get 90 degrees. By the next Monday I was back over 100 degrees and started to ride a bike. My thigh was very bruised and sore for over four weeks. The tourniquet also adds to the swelling of the quadracept.

I have had surgery on both knees (left surgery in July 2008) and have better range of motion in both knees than before the surgeries.

Keep up the physical theraply and ice!!


Steve
Spring, Tx.

 

[Judles]

Seriously???? What is WRONG with some of you wonderful people???? You've just undergone MAJOR surgery! It took YEARS for your joints to disintegrate and some of you (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!.....and so do we!!!) expect to get up, walk, and get "over" this ....like immediately!!!! Haven't your surgeons given you realistic time tables as to how your recovery should progress??? Yes, you're bionic....but YOU ARE ALSO HUMAN!!!! Take into consideration, heat factors which affect your swelling and PLEASE BE PATIENT!!!! Add a big dose of good common sense!!! And be kind to yourselves!!! You really DON'T have to hike to the Himalayas to PROVE ANYTHING to yourselves!!!!!!!!

 

[loggon]

Slow is the way to go:thmb:

A lot is loss when we push. There seems to be a back slide.

Guess the saying "Haste makes waste" is true

 

[Motherofmany]

:amen::agree: Patience, Patience, Patience. Too bad it's not natural, has to be earned! And I think we all are learning that.

 

[Linda2]

I, too, was a big fan of lunges. I started with our raised hearth, not so high up as the seat of a chair, that wasn't possible for awhile. I would push forward and then hold it for a count of ten and repeat that a couple times, no more. The next time I went by I would do it again, probably half a dozen times a day. I still do it, on the chair seat now, if I feel stiff.

 

[Motherofmany]

Gotta love those lunges. Two suggestions my PT has told me...
1. Hold it for 10 seconds (this builds the muscle), don't bounce.
2. Drop your hip to get more ROM.

 

[maumeefootball]

46
My first surgery was on my really bad knee had 62 degrees in hosp and same one week out hit 90 4 1/2 weeks post surgery. Second surgery on the better knee( much less damage from prior injuries and surgeries) was 90 in hosp and 87 first week hit 110 yesterday at week 5 post op. I was doing 160 lbs on leg extension prior to surgery now working with 55 lbs so a lot of atrophy on quads. You may not be ready quite yet but I found the eliptical at the gym to really help with movement and activity. You don't have the pounding on the leg and you get a nice stride. Just discovered today when you go backwards it really builds your quads back up. Made me realize how weak my legs had become and how much strength work I will need to do.

Don greeen LTKR 3/18 rtkr 5/26

 

[Texas]

I need work on my muscles as well. Almost seems like my knee hyper-extends when I walk. I dont think it is, mucles are just really poor. I was started on just the ankles weights at about 6-7 weks. Wwow I felt that then next day. Just do what you feel comfortable with you will get there....As you can we all to some degreel had lil blimps in the beginning, does get better...Promise..........

 

[Judles]

Kim......blimps or blips????? LOL! How are you today???

 

[Texas]

Im fine I missed ya lately. I know you busy busy....You know me blimps, blurps, buprs. I so cant spell....lol...still waiting on spell ck...

 

[Judles]

Who cares, Kim! Your spelling is the BEST part, silly! Its your intent that is sooo encouraging!!! So who Kares???

 

[mona]

BOY oh BOY Did I need to read this thread. I'm 5 days and yesterday the pt said i was about 73 ROM so I tried to push further on my own today but pain sucks. I think this was just what I needed to read. Everyday is going to be different I think and I don't see much point in pushing when it is REALLY painful - that's so discouraging. SO, slow and steady for me. Thanks all !