rom concerns

[stp12]

Hi people I am at 13 weeks post operative and still can't get the knee more to bend than 85/90. How long could it take to achieve maximum ROM of my genesis 2 oxinium prothesis?

I have a lot of scar tissue on my left femur from previous operations. The femur was in 3 pieces after my moped accident in 1996. The dr who placed the prostheses needed to UNDO the quadricepsplasty from 1997. After having done that, the ROM on the operation table went from 140 to only 90. Dr said you could achieve 120 after rehab but I can't believe that since I practise my butt off and ROM is still 85/90 at 13 weeks.

greetings

 

[Josephine]

My, you have had some surgery! That's the pits when you have a history after a road traffic accident. Things are never quite the same again.

In this case, it's obviously nothing whatsoever to do with the prosthesis. The type you had is irrelevant. A manipulation might improve things but to be perfectly honest, you might never achieve a decent ROM. When are you seeing your surgeon again?

 

[aussie]

I'm at 15 weeks tomorrow, and I would be at about 100 ROM and I have worked hard at it and still do. I stayed at 90 for ages. Even though I'm only at 100 I can do everything I want to. When they measured my unoperated leg it was only 103, so the number is relative to the individual. You will be able to tell if 90 isn't enough for you, if not talk to your OS, but if all seems to be going well, try not to get hung up on the number.

Good luck,

Chris

PS. I don't have all the prior injury history you have too, that would certainly contribute to how things go for you.

 

[Nana55]

I go to therapy with a guy who had a vehicle related injury, ended up with total knee, had 3 surgies and went to New York for some kind of special treatment to learn that he had staph infection. He is up to 65% but they hope he will get to 85-90 and he is pretty mobile with what he currently has. He seems to be able to do more at 65 than I could at 80 so it sure does depend on the individual.

I did the manipulation at 8 weeks and am up to 105 but it is somewhat limiting for me. I have long large legs and am 5'11" and my current theory is that folks with smaller legs (particularly women) with weight issues who are larger at the top and smalller at the bottom gain ROM faster than those like me who have smaller tops than bottoms ( with no part being petite I might add). lol I am conducting my own study at my PT in case you wonder where in the world I am coming up with this hypothesis!!!
Good luck and hope things improve for you soon!!!

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Stp12. Welcome to the forum. You have certainly been through a lot!! I'll echo what others have said that you need to reach a level of performance that works for your lifestyle. And keep the communication going with both your therapist and your surgeon until you reach a point where you are comfortable. Numbers are just a guide. Good luck to you!!!

 

[stp12]

hi josephine,i go back to the orthop surgeon in next may,

 

[Josephine]

Then I suggest you either get the appointment moved up or phone him. This problem is not going to improve with keeping and needs to be addressed.

 

[stp12]

I am not keen on MUA, have read a lot about it.In the worst case scenario you could end up breaking your femur bone or other damage doing MUA closed. MUA open should be much better because first arthroscopically they remove scar tissue and then the MUA. With open MUA there is less or no change in damage or broken femur. Will see what I do today. Had the knee 95 active. As I already said, I am not keen on MUA.

 

[Judles]

NOT an easy decision STP! Best of good luck to you And welcome!

 

[stp12]

hi judles,thanks,how is your knee doing? whats your rom and how long did it take to achieve that rom?

 

[Judles]

STP,,,,I should have said I'm a hippie! Had my RTHR on Nov 7th! I'm sorry I can't offer any advice, only support! I wish you the best!

 

[Josephine]

to be sincer i am not keen on mua,have read a lot about it,in the worst case scenario you could end up breaking your femur bone or other damage doing mua closed,mua open should be much better,because first artroscopicly they remove scare tisue and then the mua,with open mua there is less or no change in damage or broken femur,will see what i do,today had the knee 95 active with on my one,as i already sad i am not keen on mua.

Nonsense! As a worst case scenario, it's probably around 0.1% if that. I've seen hundreds of MUAs done in my time and never yet seen one end up with a broken bone! It takes some doing for a man to break the end of a human femur with his bare hands, let me tell you! Closed MUA is by far the most effective treatment. Cutting scar tissue arthroscopically is much more hit and miss as the surgeon could cut a dozen pieces of tissue and still miss the one that was responsible for your problem. Plus you now have a surgical wound which has a much higher risk of getting an infection.

I imagine your reading has been on the internet? Where you will always get a litany of 'worst case scenarios' and precious little about the other few thousand cases that have been just fine.

 

[Nana55]

Stp
I too read the internet and I focused in on the small statistical number that supported complications and I've been a nurse for 30 plus years. I had myself totally pysched out. I went to the forum and got Jo's and I think Jamie's version of Jo's previous lecture on Manipulation.

I was stuck at 75 at eight weeks and was making no progress in PT so based on how I felt after hearing from Jo and others on here who had been there, I push the OS to skip two more weeks of PT and was able to get scheduled on 2/11. Today at PT I am a solid 105 with 106-107 in pain. It was worth it. I was mentally down and now I am working part time and feeling better about my progress each week.

This is a time where risks outweigh benefits in my opinion. I went to outpatient surgery and was out of recovery in about an hour and I knew as soon as I tried to move my leg that I had more movement. After 5 sessions of PT I was up to 90.
Good Luck!!

 

[Jamie]

Nana....thanks so much for providing the voice of experience. To me, that means so much more than what a person can find on the internet. STP, does this help change your mind about the manipulation? Hope so!!!