What helps with ROM

[gatiger]

If you guys don't mind, what was the biggest thing that helped you get your ROM back? I definely have a long way to go it this area. My walking is OK, pain level is OK, except during therapy time, and my leg strength is improving a lot but at 6 weeks out flex sucks. Any ideas; can ya help a man out?

 

[Skeet]

A couple of things help me. I have a small medicine ball that I roll back and forth and side to side with my involved leg. Rolling it out and back helps with my ROM. I also sit and stretch my leg out in front of me then pull it back under the chair. As I get to the point where I cannot pull it back any more, then I use my good foot to place in front of my involved leg and I push it until it hurts, hold it for a few seconds and release. Also, riding the bike helps. I have a small pedal exerciser I use at home to help keep my knee flexible.

I'm sure there are lots of other methods, but these have worked for me. My ROM is 0 to about 115-120. Haven't measured it for a while. I am 8 weeks PO today.

Skeet

 

[Doug]

Several things have helped my ROM.
First, for extensioin, I place my heel on a chair that is sitting in front of my chair. While watching t.v., I gradually push the chair out and let the leg naturally extend. I have full extension.
Second, get in a hot bath and soak the leg in hot water. Place your foot at the bottom near the drain and gradually slide down. Very important to ice afterwards.
Third and probably most important. The bike. I've always hated the bike. The seat going up my rear etc. I've favored the eleptical trainer. Can't use that yet.
Start with the seat very high and work on extension. When your foot is at the bottom of the arc, pull back with your hamstring. I lower the seat one setting every five minutes. I just started adding resistance today. I have seen a world of difference. In fact, nut that I am, I just got back from my second 25 minute session for today.
Ice, Ice, Ice...On 20mins off 20 mins.. I set a watch alarm to keep up with it.
I'll probably give it a rest tomorrow and just walk around one of our larger malls.
Hang in there and good luck with it. Just remember that when it really hurts, it's really working.

 

[TitaniumMan]

Gaitiger: Ever hear that saying no pain, no gain? Thats what I found out from PT. When your stretching the muscles for ROM your going to feel "discomfort". Hold it at the bend where and when you feel the discomfort and breathe deeply, hold it for several seconds and repeat. I have shared this here in the past but I find spa therapy and doing PT in the water increases my ROM. I guess its the heat. I set the temp at 102-104 and its great. As everyone will tell you....Ice afterwards to control the swelling the heat may cause.....My ROM is 115* at this time, my replacement was 11/20/07. My ROM is 130 on my good leg, so I guess thats about the best I will get and my Dr said its ok with him.
Godspeed on your recovery,
Chuck

 

[gatiger]

Thanks everyone. My extention was never a problem, I've at 0 since the hospital. Its the flexing that is killing me. I'll be 7 weeks this Thursday and seem to stuck at 90. They put me on the bike for the first time today and I rocked for ten minutes then moved on to 'assisted bending'. I have tried the good leg on top thing, kneeling on the bed and pushing on the wall, pull my foot with a belt; none of the purely physical stuff has helped because I can't push past the pain. Too much of a wuss I guess. I do appreciate the help and the sharing though.

 

[TitaniumMan]

Gatiger, have you tried taking a pain pill just before pt? It was suggested by my Dr and the PT....It helped me get past that initial pain and start to pedal the bike, soon after, I was doing fine w/o the pills.....just a thought you may want to consider.
Godspeed,
Chuck

 

[gatiger]

TM, I'm a little ashamed to say, but the only time I take my pain meds is about an hour before therapy, 2 Vicodin, and 1 the night after therapy, if it was really bad like yesterday so I can get a little sleep. I wish I could say that I've been doing without, so it would explain the pain, but I guess I just have a real low tolerance for pain. Days that I don't get 'help' from the therapist I do with Advil and ice.

 

[blondie42550]

Here's a question I have not see addressed here. Speaking of ROM, how is everyone measuring it? When I was in the hospital, I sat on the edge of the bed and the therapist measured it there. Now at therapy, they have me lay on a table and do heel slides and then pull my foot as close to my butt as I can get it and they measure it there. But, if I am sitting in a chair, or doing lunges on my stairs, I can flex my knees much better than laying on a table. Is everyone being measured the same? I am anxious to find out if there is a better way that will show me having a better ROM. I am at 107 on the left and 117 on the right at best. It is not consistent, some times it is better than others. Is that common too?

 

[gatiger]

They measure mine on the table, same as you it sounds like. It takes a little time and stretching to get mine bent as far as I can. First thing out a chair or bed, it won't bend but about half of what I can get say in 10 minutes of working it. The day after therapy is the slowest to get going plus it always hurts more after PT. If I do more than usual or do something different for the first time, mine stiffens up.

 

[kath]

The home therapist measured like your are having done Blondie, but now at my PT they measure it while I am sitting up on the side of the table and then bending it back as far as I can. I think you are at great levels. I stiffen up too, the best is after you work out, do the stretches etc. When I first get up in the morning or get up from my desk after a few hours of working I can't straighten my leg, I have to limp around, then walk it off, almost like I did prior to the new knee. But it is getting better all the time. I shouldn't sit so long, but I get wrapped up in my work sometimes and forget to take a little stroll.

 

[Bev55]

Hi Gatiger.... I posted this msg some weeks back.... perhaps it will be of use to you in efforts to increase your ROM. It certainly worked for me!

>>>>>>>>>>>
....... my husband and son came up with a novel solution to the passive exercise machine which I dubbed the "leg bender" during my hospital stay.....

As I am short, my PT advised it was best for me to sit on a chair with a book underneath my foot. At exercise time, my husband and son took it in turns to 'help' with my exercising by gently sliding the book back on the floor so as to help me acheive the 'impossible'. Prior to commencing we agreed on them ignoring all of my screams until they heard the 'stop' which I desperately spat out of clenched teeth. I'm pleased to say that I moved from an initial 83 ROM to 95 five days later, then 105 a week later and then 110 another week later. They wont give up till I get to the respectable 120, but my son says he is aiming higher!!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Good luck!

 

[gatiger]

Thanks Bev. I will try that, I have 3 more weeks before I go back to the Dr. and he told me on my last visit that if ROM wasn't satisfactory then he would put me to sleep again and break it loose for me. I really don't want to have to do that because it will be a set-back.

 

[Bev55]

Don't lose heart Gatiger. I've been told that having them bend it for you to break the scar tissue isn't that bad, so don't think of it as a set back. On the other hand, I too was stuck on 90 ROM for quite a few weeks post op. It was sheer hell having the guys push me beyond my limit. Lots of tears along the way. I think having someone else push my leg beyond my pain limit helped cause I sure couldn't seem to inflict that kind of pain on myself.

Let me know how you go.

 

[gatiger]

I posted this on another thread, but hey I'm proud. I increased 13* in the past week. YEA! Maybe things will now start to improve for me. Strength-wise and pain-wise, I can tell a lot of differance, but the ROM is lagging, but if it keeps going like that for another couple of weeks I'll be OK. THANKS to all of the people on this board who have offered advice, suggestions and most of all encouragement to me when I've come on here needing support. I swear if it were not for this board I don't think I would have gotten through some days. God bless you all.