MUA Susie2023's TKR Recovery

[Susie2023]

Happy Easter everyone!

Update on my MUA follow up appointment. I went in very positive, feeling much better physically and mentally about my recovery. I told him I'm making great progress with pt and daily exercises. Sadly, I'm pretty sure I got a lecture instead. I was told it didn't take much to get past the scar tissue, that I still need to work hard. I told him I was. But I also told him the ROM # pt was getting supine, which was less than what he got. I told him supine is a struggle for me now since knee replacement. Thinking back, I wonder if he felt like I was complaining, he quickly told me how far he was able to get my foot to my rear. And I don't doubt him at all. I tried to tell him I have tight quads, hip flexor, then there's the swelling.

I let him get in my head and started feeling less confident about my recovery. I did understand from him that I do need to up my activity, which I've been doing incrementally. And to continue exercising and stretching. He explained the scar tissue is still in there, just not attached like it was, but that it can still develop. So that's been concerning me too.

So what do I do? I go home and push and made my knee angry. Won't happen again.

I do have a question about ROM though. Things I've read, things he said, that it gets increasingly harder to get ROM after a while.

What should I be doing? I do heel slides, bike, steps, walk, marching to lift leg, other flexion and extension exercises. I wonder if I'll ever be able to bring my heel to my bottom. He had me sit in a chair, plant my foot about 90° and scoot forward. He said it looked like 115°. I was elated with that but then came the lecture. He's very nice though, I'm sure he felt I should hear it.

 

[Jaycey]

I was told it didn't take much to get past the scar tissue, that I still need to work hard.

Bad and very unhelpful attitude. Obviously this surgeon has never had TKR.

I go home and push and made my knee angry.

Please do not do this! It is totally counterproductive.

Things I've read, things he said, that it gets increasingly harder to get ROM after a while.

Not true at all. We have members who continued to see ROM increase 2 years after their TKR.

The slow and steady approach will get you where you need to be. Do not force your knee and don't let anyone tell you to force it. You started this process again post MUA. Ice, elevate and gentle stretches.

 

[CricketHip]

I'm so sorry.. that does sound rather discouraging. Good heavens. I wish for you great success and continue practicing your patience. You will get there. What a shame, it does sound like his ego was getting in the way of you having a good conversation with him.

 

[benne68]

I do have a question about ROM though. Things I've read, things he said, that it gets increasingly harder to get ROM after a while.

This is not true. We have lots of members (me included!) who have seen their ROM continue to improve well into their second year.

Here are charts from two who recorded their progress:

Campervan’s ROM history
92 - 8 weeks post op
105 - 10 weeks
107 - 5 months
110 - 6 months
112 - 7 months
116 - 9 months
119 - 11 months
118 - 1 yr
120 - 1yr 2 months
125 - 1 yr 8 months

Bertschb’s ROM history
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

If your ROM is being blocked by swelling and inflammation, no amount of pushing will increase it. It's like trying to bend a hose full of water. And, while you may not see swelling on the outside, at this early stage of recovery, you still have lots of inflammation inside the joint. As that calms down, your knee will reveal the ROM that has been there all along.

I'm so sorry that your doctor is making you feel badly about your progress. This is YOUR recovery, not his, and you get chose whether you push yourself into more pain, or let your body do what it knows how to do and recover slowly.

Wishing you gentle healing.

 

[sistersinhim]

@Susie2023, Happy Easter! Were you able to make it to church? I'm just getting back.

I'm agreeing with the others. Your doctor has not had a knee replacement and has not been involved in the day-to-day recovery of one. You have a very good reason to be optimistic, you are doing well. Don't let him discourage you. It is your knee and you know how it reacts to certain movements. Keeping away from the things that irritate your knee will give you an easier recovery with the same results in the end, and maybe even better sooner.

 

[JusticeRider]

Susie, I think you’re doing great! You should be proud of yourself. You have worked hard, persevered, been patient, and made progress. Don’t let your doc put a damper on that! Your knee is coming along, even if it’s not as fast as he wants it to be. I’m at 8 months tomorrow and my flexion is still improving. My knee just wants to go slow, but she’s going! Yours will too. Just keep it up and don’t let anyone stress you out

 

[Kandy]

I am so sorry you got a lecture and not encouragement from your OS. After my primary TKR, I poured everything into recovery to get the outcome I hoped for. Sadly, the outcome I had was not the outcome I worked hard to obtain. The PT clinic had me scheduled with different therapists, who would give me different exercises. Since no one ever told me to eliminate an exercise, I did them all. I was up to 2.5 to 3 hours of exercises daily by week 6, pushing through the pain. My knee was constantly swollen, constantly warm, constantly in pain. I made no measurable progress from week 3 to week 11 (which is when I had the MUA). The PTs would tell me that the only reason someone needs an MUA is because they are either not doing their exercises or not pushing themselves hard enough. They were absolutely wrong, but I believed them and endeavored to push harder and force that bend and extension. I painfully hung weights, 10 lbs on my shin and 10 lbs on my thigh, to stretch the extension. I had my 17 yr old daughter push all her weight down on my leg to try to get it to extend more. The MUA helped things along, but my knee was always very sensitive. I changed to a different PT who did lymphatic massages and told me I was doing way too much. Once I listened to him, I finally started making some progress, though not at the rate I had hoped for. Swelling and pain are the worst things for recovery. The OS might not have a good understanding of what all you are doing. Or, he might not believe what you are telling him. I encourage you to listen to your knee. Back off when it is telling you that you are working it too hard. Keep feeling the temperature of it as you work through your exercises. You are doing a good job. Don't let your OS scare you because doing too much is often just as bad or worse than doing too little.

 

[sistersinhim]

Don't let your OS scare you because doing too much is often just as bad or worse than doing too little.

This is so true. It's better to have a good therapist than no therapist, but it's also better to have no therapist than a bad one. Sometimes it is hard to find a PT that knows how to rehab a joint replacement. It is totally different that rehabbing a sports injury, which it seems many of the therapists are doing.

 

[Susie2023]

@sistersinhim I did not make it to church as planned. My knee was still upset with me and I was so uncomfortable. Hubs went to a later service, said it was very good. We have a new pastor now who I haven't met, but we'll both be going again when he gets back from OOT.

So I went to pt Monday. I wasn't expecting any progress, just continuing to strengthen and balance. My hamstring tendon wasn't allowing bend easily so we didn't do any hamstring work, she used a roller on it. I don't know if I mentioned before but I was able to move up one notch on the Recumbent which made me very happy. We worked on the joint itself while I was lying on my back. My pt is so gentle but explained we need to include this during our sessions. Whatever she did loosened up the joint and we measured afterwards. Got a good solid 105 which was a first for me. My extension is good.

At home this week, I continue to ice and elevate. My knee (I do need to give it a name) teases me. It gives me pain-free and less swelling for short durations, then when I could use that the most, bam! More swelling! But I do listen to it and ice and elevate. I wss able to get a prescription refill for Celebrex, using ibuprofen wasn't helping.

This week I've been gently pushing, not to the extreme where I cause lameness, but just a bit beyond where I am now. One was the stair lunge. I take my non-surgical leg to see how far I can reach with the lunge. Then using yoga breaths, I gently lunge using the other leg target as my goal. I stop when I've hit discomfort but never go for the pain lol! I was able to reach my goal yesterday. I was very pleased about that.

I'm scheduled to see the PA May 1st. I guess to get a final release. I pray she doesn't feel the need to turn my leg into a pretzel, just take my word for ROM lol!

I so appreciate everyone's feedback and sharing your experiences with us.

Oh. I do have a question about the scar color. When it turns silvery, does that mean you can't get ROM anymore? Or does that just mean your tissue is healed in that area?

 

[Susie2023]

I’m at 8 months tomorrow and my flexion is still improving. My knee just wants to go slow, but she’s going! Yours will too.

My knee definitely wants to go slow!!! I'm comforted knowing mine isn't the only one though I'd never want this to happen to anyone else! Thank you for the encouragement!

 

[beachy]

I think the silvery scar color means its healing. My first tkr scar is a silvery white color.
I'm 3 months post op with right knee. Its finally started to feel good and not swell as much. Occasionally, brief ache, but all in all it feels great. And will only get better.
Sounds like you're right on schedule!

 

[sistersinhim]

I did not make it to church as planned. My knee was still upset with me and I was so uncomfortable. Hubs went to a later service, said it was very good.

Our services are being streamed, so if I can't make it I can watch it on FB or YouTube. This was wonderful during Covid.

Then using yoga breaths, I gently lunge using the other leg target as my goal. I stop when I've hit discomfort but never go for the pain lol! I was able to reach my goal yesterday. I was very pleased about that.

Yay!

I pray she doesn't feel the need to turn my leg into a pretzel, just take my word for ROM lol!

Don't let her touch you! What really counts is what you can do on your own. Any pushing your leg by anyone does not count. Only what you can do on your own is what counts.

When it turns silvery, does that mean you can't get ROM anymore?

Not so. Your bend will improve for a year and more.

 

[Susie2023]

Hi all!

My knee is continuing to offer more ROM and more moments of normalcy! At pt yesterday, I was able to move the Recumbent Bike seat up yet another notch, to 7! What a nice surprise! When we moved to the table, my pt wanted to measure to see where I was. I have stayed committed to doing the home exercises, getting creative about pushing for more ROM, so was hopeful I had improved. Laying flat on my back, heels to bottom, has always been my challenge. So she asked that I do that, I gave it my very best, and she measured. She asked, where do you think you are? I answered I hope more than 106 now. She said 110, I shouted whoot!!! She was smiling too. Then she worked on the tissue and I got 111. I'll take it lol!!! I was so happy!

My extension was -3°. Doggone medial tendon just wants to be tight so I need to work on stretching more.

My issue now is sleeping. I think I'll get some Tylenol PM. Cbd helps but not my knee achiness. And it's not overly happy when I try to sleep on my side ugh!

I am just so encouraged and grateful for my new recovery! My state of mind is so much improved. It was so dark for some time. Just the hardest surgery I've ever had.

@sistersinhim I watched our streamed service this past Sunday. So nice!

 

[Susie2023]

Three more pt sessions to go. Today was ok, building on quad strength, stepping, balance. Extension -2, flexion back to 110. But I'm ok with that because I've been doing a lot and my knee is letting me know. I walked my dog yesterday and that made me happy. I've realized this tkr has really affected my veins in my leg, and the nerves in my ankle!

I'll be 4 months from original surgery on the 27th. I wonder, for the folks who are further along, will the tightness, skin tightness, ever go away? I feel like it's Ground Hog Day (movie) every morning. I don't mind the exercises at all or knowing I need to keep doing them for a while, but gosh it would be great to wake up with regular skin. Maybe cause it's swollen? I dunno. Just wish once I get it loose it would stay loose lol!

Everyone enjoy your weekend!

 

[Jockette]

will the tightness, skin tightness, ever go away?

Yes, but it can take up to a year or more for some of us. Mine lasted at least that long.

I don't mind the exercises at all or knowing I need to keep doing them for a while,

You really don’t have to keep doing them at this point. Your daily activities will give your healing knee all the movement it needs for it to improve. Sometimes, certain exercises, or too many of them, can maintain that tightness we want to lose.

 

[Layla]

My issue now is sleeping.

Consider Magnesium, if you haven't already, it might help?
Magnesium supports the following:
Bone health
Healthy blood sugar
Cardiovascular health
Muscle relaxation and nerves
Promotes healthy sleep (falling asleep and staying asleep)

An article on Magnesium -
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/magnesium-is-a-star.20301/

Happy one Month Anniversary! I hope it's a good one. Enjoy the weekend!

 

[EalingGran]

be 4 months from original surgery on the 27th. I wonder, for the folks who are further along, will the tightness, skin tightness, ever go away? I feel like it's Ground Hog Day (movie)

Mine has pretty much gone at almost 6 months. I still occasionally get it at the end of the day or if I stand too long.
Not sure now when it actually disappeared, but probably gradually over the last couple of months.
I think it is linked to very slight swelling, that causes the funny unpleasant sensation. Would be interested in some of the staff views on that. I do remember it was bad at the beginning.

 

[Layla]

Would be interested in some of the staff views on that.

The tightness is swelling. I was informed by my surgeon that it can last a full year. Too little activity can contribute to the swelling, just as overactivity can. Ice normally helps bring relief, even months later. So keep those ice packs handy, Susie2023.

 

[sistersinhim]

Even if you don't see much swelling outside your knee, the inside is probably fluid-filled. That's a small area in there; any swelling will make it feel tight. Ice and elevation are your best friends for the next few months or more.

 

[trinket]

I’m almost five months and still have tightness on the outer right side. Some days I think it’s lessening, others not. I hardly pay attention to it anymore. Hopefully it will eventually go away, if not my pain free knee will be worth it.