TKR Should I change PT?

Charlotta

new member
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Jun 5, 2020
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67
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My TKR was June 9th. I had an MUA on August 27th due to ROM. Dr. was able to get it to 128 under anesthesia. The next day at 64 at therapist. Currently , Sept. 24th, at 74. While sitting at 88. 2 weeks of 5 days a week therapy and two weeks of 3 days a week therapy. Have had dry needling twice. The therapist has me do something different each visit. Therapist says I am too sensitive to pain, so my doctor wants me to try Gabapentin. I am wondering if it is time to try a new therapist.
 
@Charlotta
Welcome to BoneSmart, glad you joined us!

I am wondering if it is time to try a new therapist.
Since you are asking, it is time to find a new therapist that has a lot of experience with TKR's.
You would benefit from some one who focuses on getting your swelling and inflammation down so your ROM can reveal itself.
Aggressive PT can set your recovery back with too much exercise, pushing and pulling on your knee.

You may even want to give your knee a break so it can heal, and allow your ROM increase.

Here is your copy of the Knee Recovery Guidelines, the articles are short and will not take long to read.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:
rest
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

6. Access these pages on the website


The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds


We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.
 

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