jerseychick
post-grad
A lot of us struggle with ROM during our recovery. Many doctor's tell us that there is a "window" for ROM and that you have to push the knee, work hard and feel the pain to get ROM. Many doctors say if you don't get the ROM early, then you will not be able to gain anymore bend. I too struggled with ROM in the beginning and was discouraged at the lack of my progress. Everyone was telling me to push and bend, but my knee just didn't bend. I would read posts where people had great ROM and I didn't. It would really upset me.
I am here to tell those of you struggling with ROM and discouraged because you don't have the bend yet to just RELAX. You will be able to bend your knee, but it will take time. Today I went to church for a Jubilee celebration. As I sat in the pew with my leg extended over the kneeler (in the down position) I thought to myself, hmmm, maybe I can sit with my foot placed in front the the kneeler and not over the top of it. The next time we stood up I kept my TRK leg next to my good leg and sat down. To my surprise after almost a year out, I was able for the first time EVER sit down and keep both of my legs together. It was such a milestone for me. The last time I was in a church was in December (I'm Jewish and my husband and kids are Catholic so I only go on some holidays with them) and could not do this. Actually, I have never been able to sit with both of my legs together while the kneeler is in the down position. I know there is still more bend in my knee and I feel I will keep gaining as the years go on.
Oh, one more thing...I remember reading one post recently where the doctor told someone that if you had bad ROM before surgery, then your ROM will probably not be much better. That is crazy, my ROM before surgery was awful, about 40-50 degrees and now I am somewhere between 105-110. Not great for some people, but GREAT for me.
You know the old saying, "Good things come to those that wait," and I am here to tell you that it does!:biggrin:
I am here to tell those of you struggling with ROM and discouraged because you don't have the bend yet to just RELAX. You will be able to bend your knee, but it will take time. Today I went to church for a Jubilee celebration. As I sat in the pew with my leg extended over the kneeler (in the down position) I thought to myself, hmmm, maybe I can sit with my foot placed in front the the kneeler and not over the top of it. The next time we stood up I kept my TRK leg next to my good leg and sat down. To my surprise after almost a year out, I was able for the first time EVER sit down and keep both of my legs together. It was such a milestone for me. The last time I was in a church was in December (I'm Jewish and my husband and kids are Catholic so I only go on some holidays with them) and could not do this. Actually, I have never been able to sit with both of my legs together while the kneeler is in the down position. I know there is still more bend in my knee and I feel I will keep gaining as the years go on.
Oh, one more thing...I remember reading one post recently where the doctor told someone that if you had bad ROM before surgery, then your ROM will probably not be much better. That is crazy, my ROM before surgery was awful, about 40-50 degrees and now I am somewhere between 105-110. Not great for some people, but GREAT for me.
You know the old saying, "Good things come to those that wait," and I am here to tell you that it does!:biggrin: