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ROM still improving after 8 months

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Nursepair

Nursepair

supremo
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Ontario, Canada
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Just wanted to post quickly to give the TKR people with problems getting their ROM back some hope.

I have been struggling with swelling of my leg since day one of my surgery. This gave me many problems with getting my ROM back as the swelling was preventing me getting a decent bend. It took me many weeks to even get all the way round on a stationary bike. Some of you will remember that happened in the early hours of the morning, I cried with joy and went online to this forum to let my Kneesal Buddies know this wonderful news. It was great knowing that each of these people would be pleased for me and they would continue to encourage me.

About 5 weeks ago I had to go in for a manipulation under anaesthetic to help with the ROM. I heard the scar tissue tearing away, it was a bit like velcro being pulled apart. I had only been able to get to 93 degrees until then. The next day I went to PT and she managed to get it to 97.

Then 3 weeks ago it was at 102. It stayed there for the next 3 weeks, I saw my OS last Thursday, he was really pleased with me and said he could see there was still room for improvement.

Well today I went to PT again and I got it to 105!! I am walking easier downstairs one foot after the other now and I no longer use my cane at all, though if I get back to hiking on easy, though uneven, trails I may take it with me.

I hope to get it to at least 115 as I think this will enable me to get out of a chair or the car easier than I am at the moment.

It takes a lot of hard work for some of us. I go to Aquafit twice a week as well as PT once a week. I also exercise and get on my stationary bike as often as I can. My hubby bends my leg up for me at night and I hang my leg over the edge of the bed while lying on my stomach to help with the straightening. Then at weekends at the moment I swim and do exercises in the river at our trailer park. I am also trying hard to concentrate on my walking when I go shopping as I sometimes forget to walk properly which causes me to get sore calf muscles.

Anyway, I hope this will encourage anyone who has trouble with their ROM not to give up hope. Good luck all. Sue
 
Sue,
You are an inspiration and great role model. I really admire your positive attitude and all the hard to work you have been through to get to a ROM that came much more "easily" to many of us. I know people who had TKRs who gave up and "settled" for poor ROM and using a cane forever because it was just "too hard".
You are one special lady.
Beach
 
Hey Sue, yes, I remember those cold early morning post with all of us lamenting over our ROM and the feared MUA.
I also remember when you got that bike all the way around the first time. Now look at you. Probably ready to play some hockey!
On the humorous side, have you had any of those "leg won't bend" moments? For me it was when my foot got stuck under the brake pedal and I had to slid my butt back and forth to get it out. Of course I had a serious discussion with the leg, brake pedal, parking lot, and anyone else in hearing distance while I was working it loose.
 
Sue, HOORAY for YOU!!! This has been a long road for you, but bless you....you never give up. And it's paying off now. You are so sweet to think of the other "kneesals" that are coming after you. Everyone heals differently and I'm sure there are many who will benefit from your very inspiring story. We continue to applaud your progress!! Hang in there and you'll get to the level you want.
 
Sue,
You have made great progress and have a future goal of hiking. It truly does not get better than that does it? Getting to do things we enjoy again in our lives. I have a suggestion for hiking. Rather than take your cane with you, purchase a pair of adjustable hiking (walking) poles. I have a pair and they are great! You have the added stability of your upper body on the uneven terrain. Just a suggestion.
Best,
Crystal
 
Sue,
I think Crystal's suggestion is excellent!

I got a "trekking pole" instead of a cane at the suggestion of my PT before surgery. It is great and waaaay "cooler" than a cane. (I bought it in our school colors. Image is everything with teenagers at school, you know!). It will give you more stability and helps with balance and my PT says it "unloads" by about 20%. That just might be enough at this point.
 
Thanks for all your very kind words you guys, I really appreciate them. I got a warm glow all over when I read them!! I hope it will inspire anyone who has similar problems not to give up. I know I felt like that many times and would never have been able to get through this recovery without all your posts!!!

Good idea about the pole Crystal and Beach, I forgot about that. I actually have one I use in the Lake District in England when I am hiking up the Fells. I will look it out today and take it with me. Thanks!!

Love you guys. (((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))) Sue
 
Sue, there are many versions to this story. All are important and yours is a wonderful twist. So glad you are continuing to improve. It's inspirational. I was looking through the old pix thread from late winter/early spring the other day and there you were in your kitchen with the little walker. Oh how you've changed! :-)
 
Isn't it great to have our photo scrapbook to go back and look at now and then. We owe it all to Patty, who set it all up and continues to post photos. It's wonderful!!! We probably all need to post some photos prior to our New Year's reunion, doncha think?
 
"I got a "trekking pole" instead of a cane at the suggestion of my PT before surgery. It is great and waaaay "cooler" than a cane. (I bought it in our school colors. Image is everything with teenagers at school, you know!)."

Great idea, I teach HS, too. How do you get a pole in your school colors?

Sue, I'm glad to hear you're continuing to work on your ROM - I had a THR 6 wks ago, & hadn't counted on still having yucky ROM in certain directions - working on it, though.

Joyce
 
Joyce

I got lucky with the trekking pole in school colors thing... there were about 6 different models to choose from( hot pink, green, etc.) and one was red and black. Go Grizzlies! LOL!

Are you back at school at 6 weeks PO? Yikes! What do you teach?

Beach
 
Hi Folks

I am at about 11 weeks. I managed to get to 105 right/110 left at about 6 weeks and then nothing for the next 4 1/2 weeks (extension is still a problem on the right we are down to -7). The OS was talking about MUA but I have a very high risk that the tibia will break so he wanted to wait. I was finding that the more I exercised the more swelling, tightness I had so I figured I had to do something about that. I went back to high dose aspirin (8 to 10 a day which is less than before surgery) and after a week or so, the knee did loosen up and gained about 6 degrees. The other factor might be the doctor told the PT to get more aggressive so he started working on flexion in the prone position as the quads were tight.

In any case it seems patience is what we all need along with exercising ever chance we get. I am also going to look for an exercise bike.

Simon
 
Beach, do you really prefer the trekking pole over a regular cane? I'm not sure I would like the straight up handle. Does that make sense? Can send me a link to the type you have so I can check them out
 
Hi Karen,

Well, my vanity likes the trekking pole way better than the cane...:D

I've never used a real cane at all. My PT had me get the trekking pole (nothing special about it) before my surgery just trying to "unload" my knee a bit (20% according to my PT). If you need to lean your weight on the handle of a cane, you wouldn't like the pole grip.

I am (unfortunately) a very experienced crutch user and never used a walker after my PKR. I regained the ability to walk pretty quickly and just used the stick for a little boost. It was also useful for me in crowded situations like the hallways at school because it protected me from jostling. There were a few times when I came close to falling in the halls when students bumped into me.

So.... I don't know if it would work as well for you as a cane.

Beach
 
Beach,

We are a lot alike. I really use my cane more for balance control when being in a situation similar to what you deal with in school. You know, large crowds of people trying to get from point A to Point B quickly and you're stuck in the middle of it and trying not to fall. I'm also a very experienced crutch person having spent well over a year of my life on them and never used a walker. I know we've discussed this before...My wrists are too weak and I needed the crutch support under my arms. Our second pair of legs, huh?

I'm always looking for better options.... I haven't used my cane in the last couple of weeks but I'm thinking about going back to it. My hip has been killing me and I'm always worried that between all my problems, something is going to give out on me. I'm always in sporting goods stores with my hubby and I really should just grap a pole and walk around the store with it and see what I think.
 
Hi Karen,
I'm having hip and back problems these days too. I suspect it is related to the plantar fasciitis which is affecting my gait. I am rolling my foot out to try and stay off the sharp pain on the medial surface of my heel and it is probably throwing everything out of whack. I broke the calcaneus on that foot about 10 years ago. I don't know if that has anything to do with this, but I know that between the PF and the drop foot problems with the other leg I am not walking normally. My knees are grumping too.... I am in Seattle tonight and was wishing I had my walking stick tonight leaving the baseball stadium. Maybe I should put it back in my car. Sounds like you might need something from time to time too.

take it easy!

Beach
 
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