I also want his assurance that my stiffness and annoying lack of ROM will eventually get better. Fingers crossed he doesn’t mention the dreaded MUA. I’m pretty anxious about that one. I
Some of us just take longer than others to regain ROM. It just takes time and healing, and that healing rate is different for each of us.
My ROM was not impressive my whole first year (though my records show otherwise because it was always force bent to measure) but in my second year my whole leg relaxed more which gave me better ROM. I’m in my third year post op now and I’m still feeling improvement in my ROM.
You are still really early in this recovery and you have a lot more healing to do.
If you really don’t want an MUA, just decline the offer. They can advise but you do not have to agree. MUA is not a magical guarantee of improvement. If your low ROM is due to swelling an MUA is not going to fix that.
Your knee has been through a very traumatic surgery. Give it the privilege of sorting itself out.
One of our members, Bertschb, kept a record of his ROM process. He agreed for us to post it for those of you that are afraid you're stuck. The key is to have patience! Bertschb says:
“I'm 12 months out from my surgery and have some advice based on my experience:
1- Stop going to PT (all it will do is make your knee swell and reduce ROM)
2- Don't worry about your ROM
3- Be patient - VERY patient!!!
Here is my ROM history (more or less):
1 month - 60 degrees
2 months - 80 degrees
3 months - 85 degrees
4 months - 90 degrees
5 months - 90 degrees
6 months - 110 degrees
7 months - 120 degrees
8 months - 125 degrees
9 months - 130 degrees
10 months - 135 degrees
11 months - 140 degrees
12 months - 140 degrees
I spent waaaaay too much time worrying about ROM. I thought I'd be riding my bike a couple months after surgery but it took SIX months! Looking back on my surgery, if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have wasted my time with PT and I wouldn't have worried about ROM.”