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MUA UPDATE - MUA determined today...ugh!

It's so uplifting to read how happy you are with your MUA. It's painful to read about people who have them and get no improvement, and then there are people like you and Becky for whom it was absolutely the way to go. Bravo! :roseshwr:

I wish I could answer about when gait feels "normal." My gait was abnormal before surgery (left knee was deformed by arthritis and didn't bend normally), so it was right after surgery, literally the next day, that my gait felt normal again. I think for single TKRs, gait is more finicky, because you still have that original issue knee helping define the normal. Your brain is constantly comparing the new knee to the other one. PT is your best friend for working on gait, I think.
 
@SusieShoes Thank you, that was exactly what I was thinking, so I'm very glad to hear you say it...that your mind has to process this whole new dynamic. That is how it feels every time I take a step. It's getting better, but I can tell it'll be a while before I'm able to walk without thinking about the next step. I look forward to it all feeling natural again.
 
@RadioGal, it takes awhile before your brain catches up and realizes your new knee is up to all sorts of activity. If I remember correctly, I began to walk without focusing so much on my knee at around 10-12 weeks. I wasn't conscious of every click and clunk and stopped regarding it as a foreign invader, which I guess was my way of beginning to *bond* with it; hah! I just realized the other day that now, at 16 weeks, my eyes aren't always glued to the pavement and I don't need to recite the heel/toe mantra anymore, lol. I just do it, and so shall you!:yahoo:
 
Either this is a testament to walking, or just a fluke...

But I must be crazy because @ just shy of 3 months post TKR my husband and I decided we needed to go see our 5 yr. old grandson. Right now I'm a mini vacation, Seattle to Calif, so fortunately just a two hour flight, and yesterday the kids decided taking in a tourist attraction was in order. Talk about trepidation!

I didn't want to be the "just had surgery, I'll sit this one out" party-pooper so I went along. After a tour our guide said "You just walked short of a mile." Now mind you, it wasn't just that, but going up and down stairs, through narrow passageways, walking in tight groups, visiting 100 of a 160 room house. (It was the Winchester House, btw) Afterwards my grandson wanted to play mini-golf. Yeah, did that too. Knee throbbing, cramped into the backseat of a car for an hour each way, I was longing for ice and elevation. Got home, hit the hot tub to work out the muscles, sat and iced most of the rest of the evening. By the time I went to bed I was walking normal, zero pain (truthfully!) and feeling awful good. I told my husband this never happens, especially after a day like today, but I was amazed!

Just a fluke? I don't know, but this day after I'm feeling pretty good still with very little pain...which I'm sure won't last :) Just wanted to share lest you've been avoiding walking.
 
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that great RadioGal ~ walking and being out in the fresh air and sunshine with your family is the best kind of therapy. it's encouraging when you wake up the next day and you've recovered from all the activity. i think it is a testament to walking, rather than a fluke.:thumb:
 
So happy to hear this! I noticed this too. After a certain point, somewhere around three months for me, My knees started bouncing back from activity faster. Walking really is a great activity for building both leg muscles and overall stamina. Best of all, it sounds like you had a great time! :happydance:
 
Question - is (some) pain in the physical therapy process ever a good thing? I've read thread upon thread here stating the opposite, and thus has given me the gumption to speak up when they've gotten too aggressive. But after my OS follow up yesterday regarding my recent MUA, he's satisfied with the bend, but not the extension. Neither am I.

I haven't been paying enough attention to placing my heel on a wedge or towel, working on that extension. It's pretty painful, so I've been avoiding it as I should, or pulling my leg into a bend when it starts to hurt, not giving it enough time to be effective. I think I've only stunted my recovery by doing this. So, now the OS wants me to really work on this, and PT got their marching orders and really wrenched on it today, pushing it down and holding for seconds on end. Then during icing, adding a small weight. It's almost unbearable, and it made me nauseous, but I stuck in there to see if it would help. It did! I went from -20 one day to -6 the next (after the aggressive therapy.) That told me something. But, I'm not sure if I should let them do this because it might get better in time on its own? That's my question. Thanks.
 
Just got caught up on your delightful travel post and all I can say is "THIS is why we have this surgery! Congratulations on all that walking! :wow:
 
Hi @RadioGal / I also have extension issues. My OS at my last visit 2 months ago wanted me & my PT to be more aggressive. I was at about 10 I think. My PT does "joint mobilization" where she pushes above the knee at a 45 degree angle toward the hip - a steady pressure. She is adamant at me having no pain - she checks in throughout and wants a moderate push only with no weights. We do this for a couple of minutes and then bend - and alternate with other activities during the session. It is a bit uncomfortable but not painful. I think I'm down to about a 4 now - she has gotten me flat while doing this so is not concerned about my eventual progress. I am not in pain and do not have more than the usual swelling post PT. My OS had said "do whatever it takes" but my PT, while wanting me to gain full extension, knows it will be a long process and is not willing to hurt me in the process.

At home I just walk, do the ottoman or chair hang and lay on the bed with edge of bed just below the knee - letting gravity do its thing. I also try to stretch my calves and hamstrings when I think about it.
 
In my case extension has been harder to achieve & yes it does take a little discomfort to push through it.
I found that stretching it many times per day & hold for 10 seconds was much more bearable than 10 hard reps at therapy. It would tighten back up real quick afterwards. Working on hamstrings really made a difference too.

You don't have to rush either, my TKA was two years ago & I still stretch daily. Seeing improvements.
 
I don't think pain or pushing by your pt is necessary. I did the chair to ottoman stretch or the laying stomach down on the bed with edge of bed just above my knee so the pull of gravity stretched my leg down. When I started I could only last 20 seconds or so but I did it often throughout the day. Eventually my extension got to zero. My OS was more concerned with extension than flexion. I hope he is happy with it when I go back in November!
 
oh my goodness RadioGal i can't imagine physio being so aggressive ("wrenched on it") that you feel nauseous after. i know i couldn't take it even if it meant faster improvement. how are you tonight? if you're okay tomorrow and no after effects of pain, and a definite improvement then maybe it's worth it for you. i really do hope you're okay tomorrow and your extension has improved, most importantly i hope you will be okay. please let us know.:friends:
 
:yikes: What! 100 rooms! Up and down multiple stairs! Walking a mile and then more walking, playing miniature golf! Riding quite a ways there and back! I was sure you would be slaughtered by all that, so my hair stood up on end for you. Then I found out you did well! You had some ouchies but made it through with no lasting effects! :wow::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::egypdance::egypdance::egypdance:And all at only a couple of months after surgery-- Superior Being, I am in awe. Congrats on the accomplishment.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone, and @liam2015 I'm glad you asked how I'm feeling today because I was wondering how I would feel in the morning, and truth is I definitely had more pain last night and a bit more trouble sleeping. I took a pain pill this morning and have been fine today, even doing some grocery shopping, light walking and played with the dog. However, now that I'm required to do these extend and holds on my own at home, no excuses now, I've done it 3x today, holding for 10 mins. each time and it's pretty excruciating. I suppose I have some catching up to do with the rest of you that have been doing this from the beginning.

I should have, but long story short, my OS didn't like something that was said by a visiting physical therapist and ordered that go to outpatient PT only. It took me 9 days to get into a clinic and during that time I had to rely on You Tube videos for post TKR instruction and exercises. I was only 2 weeks out from surgery at this point. Pretty pathetic, huh? From there I've been playing catch up. It's no wonder some days I feel like everything is off. Now, my doc wants me to wear the brace that helps straighten your leg. I don't know the name of it, but have seen it online, apparently has some sort of dial on the side. This sounds nuts to me and while I'm not saying I won't wear it, I've never been one to follow dr's orders to the tee. After all, it's he who really wants PT to get aggressive.
 
i'm so glad you're okay today and no worse for the wear.:thumb: that brace sounds very interesting. i wonder if it's like the one @patsortho has? your recovery is coming along very well.:yes:
 
JAS is the extension brace. Another Bonesmartie was recently fitted with one. Pretty neat, it might be less painful to use. I put ankle weights on & hung off the bed but it hurt like crazy, so I stopped doing it.
 
Don't beat yourself up @RadioGal. I don't think it's too late for you to improve your extension. It may take some diligence and regular stretching but I think you can do it without enduring excruciating pain.
 
@RadioGal I think you will be able to get extension with what you are doing for 10 mins at a time. I think it hurts a lot for all of us when we are working on gaining that extension.
 
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