MUA Tigz's Lessons in Patience

[PolarBear60]

I've been icing "as needed" for over a month now. Being retired, I have the luxury of arranging my schedule to meet my needs. If I were you, I'd be prepared to ice and elevate at lunch and on breaks, but elevation may be enough. You'll know, I suspect, what will feel best. Icing may provide the best relief in the limited amount of time you'll have.

 

[Kansas Teacher]

I ice on an as needed basis anymore too. Somedays, not at all but on days like yesterday, I iced a couple times.

Roxie

 

[KYata]

I ice as needed. Not only did I not get relief from icing or even feel like I needed to ice, it was uncomfortable. Nearly 5 months out here and this started about about 3.5 months I think.

This week summer finally arrived and the first few days are really hard on me so I've been icing to cool off!

 

[momweb]

Hi @tigz best of luck at work tomorrow. Take it easy and try not to do too much. Surely a hospital should understand. Key word being "should". In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

 

[kneeper]

I think I was rarely icing at 4 months. Very much as needed between 3-4 months. Often after I got home from work.

 

[tigz]

Thanks for the input! I'm still not six weeks out from the MUA so I'm wondering if there's still inflammation hiding in there like the table I put in #406 suggests (still a great reference!):

@KYata to me that suggests you didn't need ice anymore!

@momweb 'should' is a very nice word, but unfortunately since when I started back with my six hour shifts, the only way anyone's been looking out for me is to keep me off the one bench where you are on your feet for most of the day!

 

[PolarBear60]

@momweb 'should' is a very nice word, but unfortunately since when I started back with my six hour shifts, the only way anyone's been looking out for me is to keep me off the one bench where you are on your feet for most of the day!

And I'm sure you're thankful for that! Yeah. Everyone else is so caught up in what they're responsible for (or grousing about how abused they are) that you're not going to get much of an advocate beyond the bare minimum.

From the table, I'm so reassured to know my fat healed within the first week.

Those last three rows were interesting and a good reminder of the long haul we're all in for.

 

[tigz]

From the table, I'm so reassured to know my fat healed within the first week.

Those last three rows were interesting and a good reminder of the long haul we're all in for.

LOL on the fat.

That proves what people have been telling me, it was six months before they started feeling 'decent'. Two months to go! [emoji304]



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[Birdy]

So happy for you tigz as you passed another milestone and graduate to part time work. Take slowly young lady!

 

[tigz]

Thanks, @Birdy! Hope they don't push me beyond my limits!

 

[KarriB]

Around month 4 or 5. I'm sure there were some days I iced in month 4, but not at all by month 5. But I worked mornings only for 6 weeks. I was able to do that because I started the school year with 180 sick days. Hope your full days go well and aren't too difficult.

 

[tigz]

At four months out, moving from six to eight hours a shift isn't that much of a change. Still trying to ice twice at work, with some elevation as I can here and there to minimize the swelling and stiffness.

The Tylenol PM has been doing the trick for me at night this week, thank heaven.

I returned the e-stim machine last Friday as the company finally contacted me and insurance wouldn't pick up the cost of it. I had it for a month!

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[KameronSteele]

@tigz, ive read your entire thread and saw pics of your knee which looked a lot like mine currently looks. I have a couple of questions for you 1) do you think the mua was done a bit early? forgive my ignorance but I thought one shouldn't even think ab mua until 12 weeks has passed 2) your 5-6 week rom was waaaay more than mine is and in two days ill be 6 weeks post op and estimate mine is 40-ish. my knee is tight as a drum, stiff as if cement is in there. this morning seemed to be a bit better but as the day progressed I was back to what seemed to be 40 ish. for 1.5 weeks now, I do NOTHING but sit, ice and elevate. ill try to attach a pic that was taken yesterday. 3) the pics of your knee looked as if it was swollen. I assume it felt swollen b/c it was tight. was it also hot/warm to touch? if so, did you ever think that it was internal swelling preventing the bend? 4) mua seems to also be a traumatic procedure how is the knee able to bend with all the additional swelling caused by the mua? or does the OS force it to bend regardless of the swelling that is there?

thank you in advance.

 

[tigz]

I wish I had answers for you. :( My OS, when I went for my four week check up looked at my bend, didn't bother measuring, and wanted me to come back in a month to see if my ROM was better, or otherwise I'd be looking at an MUA. That appointment was right after PT. After a week and a half of more PT I told the PT I was done until my next follow up. The therapy wasn't doing anything but getting me upset. She contacted the OS, and at the next therapy session said he agreed. At that point I just iced, elevated and did easy exercises (heel slides mostly) and waited. When I went back to see him the MUA was scheduled. I continued with what I was doing until the MUA... bend just stayed the same. After the MUA I had daily therapy (as you read) for a couple of weeks and managed to maintain ROM close to what he got when he bent the knee.

I still have some swelling, I'd say my ROM is where it was when I left PT. It's still swollen and stiff by the end of the day, especially on days I work and I'm medicating with Aleve and Tylenol.

Let me get back to your questions later....

 

[tigz]

1) do you think the mua was done a bit early?

2) my knee is tight as a drum, stiff as if cement is in there.

3) the pics of your knee looked as if it was swollen. I assume it felt swollen b/c it was tight. was it also hot/warm to touch? if so, did you ever think that it was internal swelling preventing the bend?

4) mua seems to also be a traumatic procedure how is the knee able to bend with all the additional swelling caused by the mua? or does the OS force it to bend regardless of the swelling that is there?

1) No....I was due back to work at 12 weeks, and doubt I could've worked with my pre-MUA bend. I would've gone for a week sooner to get another week of healing before I went back to work.

2) that's why PT killed me before the MUA. It was like I hit that brick, cement wall and got very frustrated with my knee, myself.

3) it's still a bit warm, but not as much as before. Also...I could tell PT aggravated it when I think back because afterward it was downright hot! I thought it might just be swelling, but I thought it was more than that because of that brick wall where it wouldn't bend. Therapy afterward was not frustrating in the least. It was very productive and discomfort.... Not pain.

4) the OS can bend a swollen knee because the patient is knocked out, and it's my understanding if it's only swollen it's relatively easy to bend unlike the knee with adhesions. Either way the knee, tissues, muscles, etc are traumatized and require a recovery period. Icing and elevation is key in the recovery. They took advantage of the fact I had a nerve block and gave me immediate PT afterwards....The OS office, outpatient surgery center, and physical therapy are all in the same building.

Your OS sounds like mine... He's willing to wait to see if your ROM will come around on its own by waiting a few weeks. I'm hoping it does...but if it doesn't the MUA will help you move forward. Some of us are a little slower than others. ;-)

(hope this wasn't too redundant with the previous post. I hadn't had any coffee yet this morning when I put those thoughts together! )

 

[tigz]

A post I'm replying to in my own thread for @skigirl

I think that 10 is a little high for extension. You need full extension or 0 for your quads to work properly. Many folks get to 1 or 2 and that is okay, but you might want to work on extension in your own home.

Does this mean continuing to do quad exercises at four months out if my extension isn't 0 isn't necessarily doing anything? My straight leg raise lag is being measured (indirectly?) by my lack of full extension? It was 5 when I was released from PT three weeks ago and I've continued to work on extension since then.

 

[tigz]

Thanks to @Kansas Teacher 's sorta challenge, I actually just walked one whole mile. Left the house and just kept going (probably shoulda had my cell phone with me). Maybe I should dust off the Fitbit? This is in honor of my four month kneeversary tomorrow.

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[sabbath]

congrats on the mile walk..its got to make you feel good..l see my a OS not really mine he quit but a different one in Oct. if things don't change l get a MUA,,l requested a xray first,,the V.A said l could have one when l see them again if things don't change, after following your post l think l am ready for a MUA now,,before they wasn't touching my leg again lol ,,thanks

 

[tigz]

Ack @sabbath I hope you catch a break and start bending on your own soon! But no MW(ithout)A (ouch!) ok? :D

 

[PolarBear60]

Oh, definitely dust off the Fitbit.


Jean

LTKR (Stryker Triathlon): 21 April 2015
Right Knee Arthroscopy: 25 July 2006
Left Knee Arthroscopy: 10 February 2005