Teach4 Still frustrated in Ohio

[Teach4]

HI all! I'm 53 years old and had a total knee replacement May 13. I wrote in June and many of you replied and gave me hope. I had some issues with blisters and my incision is still not totally healed because of the blisters. Anyway, I've been going to PT now for 3 weeks, 4 times per week. Riding the bike and doing my exercises. The doctor wanted me to be at a 90 degree bend last week when I went to go see him and I was at 85 degree. He threatened to put me back in the hospital to "crank" my knee. So, the Pt and I have been working hard. Even when I ride the stationary bike, my hip moves up to compensate, but the PT said I was still moving my knee and that was important. Last week I was up to 95 degree bend and on cloud nine. Still doing my exercises, riding the bike and today I was at 89 degree. My knee has been SOOOO stiff the past two days. Is this normal? I am so upset, I don't know what to do anymore! The PT told me not to go to the local rec to ride the bike, but to rest my muscles tonight, take a walk, and see how it goes tomorrow. I keep telling myself things will get better, but then I feel like I hit a wall. Any suggestions, help, thoughts from you wonderful people who have been there?

 

[JenniferG]

Hi Teach, don't quit. I remember that stiffness. Does it feel like a tight band wrapped around you lower thigh? Listen to your PT. Elevate and ice to try and minimize the swelling. Swelling hinders the bend, yet the swelling is normal too. glad to hear your blisters are healing even if it is slowly. Remember, your body is working mad hard right now to heal, that takes a lot of energy.

 

[Teach4]

Thanks Jennifer, I will continue to ice and elevate, and yes it does feel like a tight band is wrapped around by knee and thigh. Sometimes I look down and am surprised to see my knee with nothing wrapped around it! I'm not giving up, but just frustrated!

 

[JenniferG]

Yes, that band feeling is 100% normal.

 

[Josephine]

You making sure you take some pain meds before the PT? That will definitely hinder your progress if you don't/

 

[Teach4]

Yes, I'm taking my meds. It's the swelling and stiffness that seem to be hindering my progress. I elevate and ice all the time. I just don't know what else to do anymore!

 

[Nursepair]

Hi Teach. I can completely relate to what you are going through. I have just had to have an MUA (Monday). I was only at a 93 ROM at almost 6 months. I had the same problem with the swelling. It seems I am a "sweller", had the same problem when I broke and disclocated my wrist 2 years ago. My OS said the lack of ROM was no fault of my own, that you simply can't push through it. While I was under the epidural he managed to get 120 ROM for me and he also straightened it. I heard the adhesions breaking, sounded like velcro being pulled apart but a little quieter.

Yesterday at physio my PT managed to get it to 97, but as usual I have swelling again. However, it does't hurt to bend it in the same places, just where I am getting the swelling and stiffness. I think that tight band you are talking about has finally gone, but with the swelling it is hard to say. I am waking up really stiff and sore in the mornings, so I have to make sure I get it moving ASAP. I am now taking 2 x Advil Extra strength to give me some relief while working it. At the moment I have been told to only work it twice a day and ice it 2 hourly.

So Teach, just persevere with the exercise and if it won't work let them do the MUA eventually. Mind you, my surgeon wouldn't do it until the swelling had come down a bit, as it did at 5 months. Yes, do keep taking your pain meds before PT. Good luck. Sue

 

[Doug]

Teach,
One of our former members gave us some advice a few months back. Recovery is like the stock market. Good days and bad....(disregard the recent slump).
One other trick to try that helped me.
Get in a bath tub or hot tub and soak the knee in hot water for about 5 mins. Then, while keeping your foot or feet on the bottom, slowly just slide down. Bend until it is tight and then relax it. Keep repeating and bending it more. When you get out, make sure and ice it down.