Three and a Half Month OS Visit

[pallen]

I went to see my OS today and he was not pleased with my recovery. My ROM is only 102 degrees and my flexion is 3 degrees. He said my knee is very tight and I have to be fitted with a special brace to help with my ROM. The worst news is, I have been weaning myself off of Tramadol for the last month and he wants me back on the full dosage again. I guess that means I am in for some painful physio to get my ROM where he wants it. Another $675 for the brace, thank god I am covered for it. What a downer when I thought I was doing OK.

 

[Texas]

Oh Pallen im sorry........I am glad you have ins as well , well try what he says and yes take that med you will need it but maybe this will work.....they say you can gain ROM up to a yr............I pray it does.....Hang in there we are all her for ya..............).....hugs

 

[Jamie]

Pallen....did your doctor discuss the possibility of a manipulation at all? Many times that can help loosen things up when ROM is a problem. And did he indicate that he thought the problem was swelling or scar tissue build-up?

I'm not sure what a brace will do for you......what kind of brace?

 

[JudyS]

Pallen, don't worry you will recover, it will just take longer. Y;ou weaned off the meds once, you can do it again, you will be a pro
judy

 

[pallen]

I am not sure what kind of brace he was talking about. He was talking so fast and I wear hearing aids so I don't always catch things on the first try. He was in a hurry also, he got an emergency phone call during my visit. I have to wait for call to get fitted for this contraption. Maybe I can find out more from my PT tomorrow. I will let you know when I get more info. He didn't mention manipulation, but he said my knee is really tight. I think he is concerned that the PT is not making much of an improvement in ROM. I have been stuck at this point for over a month. It is not that I am not working at it either, because I am doing my exercises at home every day and pushing at PT as hard as I can. I do still have some swelling, maybe that is the problem.

 

[tom67]

Hi Pallen, just wanted to say Hi and I'm pullin' for Ya' Tom

 

[Jamie]

Swelling could definitely impact your ability to gain ROM. Are you taking anti-inflammants on a regular schedule?

 

[Josephine]

and icing still?

Honey, I'm so sorry to hear of your set-back. Try not to despair - more flexion can still be achieved. But do ask him about an MUA though it maybe that at 102, he'll feel it's too borderline to go that route. I'm feeling confident things can be improved. God bless ya, hun!

 

[pallen]

I am taking Celebrex twice a day, have been for years and I was down to 2 Tramadol a day. Now I am back up to 4 Trams a day and I may have to go to 6, I will see how it goes. I am down to icing only in the evening, but I am going to go back to numerous times a day. I am getting fitted for the brace today, so I will know more later.

 

[pallen]

This brace is called "Mackie Hinge" Knee Brace. I have to use it 3 times a day for 30 minutes at a time and increase the amount of flex or extension every 5 minutes. It is supposed to be a six week program and I should have 120 to 125 degrees of ROM at the end. It looks like it will work. https://www.orthoinnovations.com/mackieKnee.html

 

[JudyS]

Ok good luck with it
judy

 

[kimberlyann]

I hope it gives you all of the results you need. Good luck and please tell us how it goes.

 

[Texas]

I agree no way i have never seen that one here not that fast .......You will do fine all that time laying around when you get yours done we will all be here for ya for sure !!!!!!!!!!!hugs Oh i saw the web site do you move it and bend it....or do you out it at a certain spot and it stays there almost like stretching..........very curious........love to know how you do with it

 

[pallen]

If you attach it to the back of your leg, when you crank the screws on the sides, it bends your leg. You crank it until your leg gets tight or you start to feel a little bit of pain. Every 5 minutes you can tighten it a couple of clicks until your 30 minutes are up. It will gradually stretch the tendons with little or no pain, so they say, lol. I tried it last night and I had to take it off after 20 minutes, I guess I cranked it too much. If you put it on the front of your leg, it will straighten your leg if you need extension. I will use it for a few days and report back on what I am experiencing.

 

[loggon]

Oh my that sounds more like a medieval pain torture.

 

[pallen]

That is what my wife said,lol.

 

[tom67]

Hi Pallen, That thing sounds Painful! What will they come up with next!! LOL!
Have a great day, Tom

 

[pallen]

It is painful Tom. I crank it until my knee feels tight and after a few minutes I give it a couple more clicks. It doesn't hurt at first but after about 20 minutes the pain level is about a 7 or 8 and I have to take it off. I am not sure at this point if it is helping or not, my knee feels a lot more stiff and sore than it did before. Time will tell.

 

[Jamie]

Be sure you are icing and elevating after you use it and continue those anti-inflammants on a schedule. It's pushing your joint and you can expect some swelling that the ice and meds will help.