I am a newbie here,my first post. I am 2 months and 4 days post opt. LKR.
I had an appt. with surgeon yesterday and my ROM is 97 and they wanted it
at 110 sur missed that mark. Now I have until Monday April 9,2010 to let them
know if I want manipulation or dinasplint, but will have to wear dinasplint after
manipulation as well. Can anyone tell me after manipulation when the PT bends
the knee back, is the pain still there and how is the range of motion and how long
is rehab. after manipulation. Several people have told me it is worse than the
original surgery, I need help please, very nervous and scared. I have heard no good
advice from patients at therapy.
Thanks for any advice
zeus (78 yr.old grandma)
Hi Zeus,
I have not had MUA but I have a friend who did, and got a very good result from it. I have also heard from others who didn't get much relief from it.
My friend went from the hospital straight to PT the day of his procedure. He said it was like starting over with PT, but I will tell you that over a period of 6 to 8 weeks he was at -3 and 120 degrees flex. Don't be afraid to go get this done, it has the potential of helping a lot. Please let us know how it turns out
__________________
JerseyBoy
C5-C6 Diskectomy & Fusion 9-15-98
Right Torn Medial Menicus 5-10-99
Right TKR 3-31-10
Left TKR 7-7-10
Hi Zeus,
I have not had MUA but I have a friend who did, and got a very good result from it. I have also heard from others who didn't get much relief from it.
My friend went from the hospital straight to PT the day of his procedure. He said it was like starting over with PT, but I will tell you that over a period of 6 to 8 weeks he was at -3 and 120 degrees flex. Don't be afraid to go get this done, it has the potential of helping a lot. Please let us know how it turns out
Jersey Boy,
Thank you for encouraging me to get this done, I want the knee to bend so bad
The narcotics kept me sleeping and tired all the time did not do home exercises
as faithful as I should, I was completely exhausted could not pick up a fork to
eat with so went to my primary and he told me to take a week off therapy so
I am getting my strength back and hope to be back in therapy on Monday and will
schedule the manipulation for Aug. 10th or 11th. The PA told me it would be like
starting all over again, became somewhat depressed, but I am pulling out of that
with all my support from my Church.
Thanks for responding to my post, I am new at all this. I will let you know how it
goes.
I think you will find this list to be a vital source of information and more importantly, support. It is also great that you have a good support system in place at your church, but the difference is that most of those folks have not been through what you have been through, so they don't really get it like we do I have made a lot of friends on this board and have become close with most of them, mainly because we understand each other and share a similar experience, so welcome new friend
__________________
JerseyBoy
C5-C6 Diskectomy & Fusion 9-15-98
Right Torn Medial Menicus 5-10-99
Right TKR 3-31-10
Left TKR 7-7-10
You are so right, my family cannot realize how bad the pain is for me.
I am getting my strength back with the rest last week, and I am doing
exercises in small bursts and I think that has helped my emotions, knowing
I am doing something to help myself get the knee bending. I want a miracle
to happen before Monday and I know that is not going to happen.
I am walking very good, just no ROM. The pain has decreased extremely,
and I hate thinking I have got to start all over again and the pain will be
worse, so I am told.
I am so happy my son found this forum for me, although I have not found
too many posts on manipulation. Just to know I am not alone.
Thank you for letting me vent, my new friend.
Ya know what Grandma? Don't let anyone tell you how "bad" any particular procedure is going to be! What hurts me may not hurt you and vice versa. Go into MUA with an open mind expecting a good outcome and our Lord will give you just that!
That being said, also remember that you will only get out of this what you put into it
__________________
JerseyBoy
C5-C6 Diskectomy & Fusion 9-15-98
Right Torn Medial Menicus 5-10-99
Right TKR 3-31-10
Left TKR 7-7-10
Ya know what Grandma? Don't let anyone tell you how "bad" any particular procedure is going to be! What hurts me may not hurt you and vice versa. Go into MUA with an open mind expecting a good outcome and our Lord will give you just that!
That being said, also remember that you will only get out of this what you put into it
Jersey Boy,
God has sent you to me on this forum, what a blessing you are so encourageing
to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will begin right now trying to have
that open mind, I am still afraid of the PT afterwards, I am afraid I will have a
nervous breakdown.
Now I am doing exercises in small bursts and feel much better about myself.
Walking good, very little pain, sleeping good for three nights in a row, what a
blessing.
I have not been able to read the word since the surgery, eyes not focusing.
Just today I can read. The narcotics I can not take.
I will be coming out of manipulation and going only with celebrex for pain.
PS: Sic Semper! my dear husband was a Marine before an Airman, a Marine always
a Marine!
Well I guess that kinda makes us family
If your husband was a Marine then he is my brother! Good enough for me
Ya know, I had a real hard time with meds my first time around. Perocets made me sick to my stomach. I find Vicoden and MS Contin work best for me. Point is, if one is making you sick ask for something different. There's more than one pain med out there If your Ortho Doc doesn't seem like he wants to help control your pain, ask for a referral to a Pain Management Doctor. My wife sees one to control the pain she has from a recent shoulder surgery and I fear I may be following her down that road if my Ortho doc won't rewrite. I have already had 2 refills on Vicoden.
__________________
JerseyBoy
C5-C6 Diskectomy & Fusion 9-15-98
Right Torn Medial Menicus 5-10-99
Right TKR 3-31-10
Left TKR 7-7-10
You bet that makes us family, he was in the 1st Marine Division and was in
Korea and wouned but not serious enough to be sent home early.
God called him home Oct.20,1987. I never remarried, we have four wonderful
sons and they have all turned out to be wonderful young men as their Dad
was. The oldest tried a stint in the Army but got out and now works for the
VA in El Paso, TX. I have been very fortunate that none of them turned out to be drugies. I thank the Lord for that. I have five beautiful grandchildren.
And he retired from the Air Force and has left me with the privilage
to be able to go to the Commissay, BX and I attend Chapel there. Did some
volunteer work until my knee gave out on me.
Yesterday was a rough day for me cried most of the day, much better today
trying to get my mind clear so I will make the correct decision on Monday, and
sounds like there is only one decision for me to make and that is to proceed
on with the MUA.
I spent my time in the 2nd Marine Division stationed at Camp Lejeune NC. I was fortunate not to have seen combat (78-84). My dad also went home in 1987. January 27th to be exact, as a matter of fact his birthday would have been Monday the 9th
To make the world even smaller, I have a sister who works for DMV in El Paso As far as your Monday decision, here's my advise. Get on your knees (even if it hurts) and talk to our Father about it. I garruntee He will not steer you wrong! Know also that I am praying on your behalf
__________________
JerseyBoy
C5-C6 Diskectomy & Fusion 9-15-98
Right Torn Medial Menicus 5-10-99
Right TKR 3-31-10
Left TKR 7-7-10
I am so happy to have you in my corner praying for me.
A sister from Church came be today and prayed with me
we brought the Holy Spirit in my home and I felt much better
after praying with her.
Although I am very tired and think I will turn in early tonight
so I can keep my mind clear. I know the Father will get me
through this, my son and I are concerned my body is not
ready for another round of hard PT at this time.
Yes, a small world your sister working in El Paso.
When you come to the point of PT you will likely get an evaluation before you start. Take advantage to this opportunity to talk with your PT about your concerns, tell them you're not sure if your body can take another round of therapy.
My experience is that it was just painful to do some of the PT. I could physically do it, it just hurt. As a result I ended up with a -15 extension on my right leg. That is now giving me a LOT of trouble. With my new surgery the doctor ordered another round of PT for the right leg as well as the left. I guess what I'm trying to tell you in all this is you will only get out of PT what you put into it.
I'm going to take a shot in the dark here and ask if your having MUA because you didn't get the results out of PT that you thought you would? And if so, did you do your home exercises?
I thought my doctor was going to order MUA for my right leg, but with recent left leg surgery I'm no longer a candidate, so pretty much my last chance for a sucessful outcome on right and left knee replacement now relies on how well I do through the next few weeks in therapy. I'm only 52.
__________________
JerseyBoy
C5-C6 Diskectomy & Fusion 9-15-98
Right Torn Medial Menicus 5-10-99
Right TKR 3-31-10
Left TKR 7-7-10
I actually just had this procedure done on July 12th. My surgeon required that patients go to PT every single day (including the day of the manipulation), for a week straight. My swelling/pain increased significantly after the manipulation. I had improved ability to bend my knee for the first couple of days, then it started to tighten back up after that (even with extensive PT). However, I did not have TKR, just suffered complications from 3 knee surgeries in a short span of time, and developed a lot of scar tissue (arthrofibrosis). A manipulation must take place in a certain span of time after surgery, or it becomes too late for it to do you much/any good. If you wait too long, the scar tissue becomes too hard to break, and the surgeon may need to go back in and surgically release the bands of scarring. I have heard from others who said the manipulation worked very well to improve ROM, reduce swelling, and pain.
I am a newbie here,my first post. I am 2 months and 4 days post opt. LKR.
I had an appt. with surgeon yesterday and my ROM is 97 and they wanted it
at 110 sur missed that mark. Now I have until Monday April 9,2010 to let them
know if I want manipulation or dinasplint, but will have to wear dinasplint after
manipulation as well. Can anyone tell me after manipulation when the PT bends
the knee back, is the pain still there and how is the range of motion and how long
is rehab. after manipulation. Several people have told me it is worse than the
original surgery, I need help please, very nervous and scared. I have heard no good
advice from patients at therapy.
Thanks for any advice
zeus (78 yr.old grandma)
Hi Zeus,
I did have a knee manipulation following knee replacement surgery and it was a piece of cake. I was in and out of the hospital in about an hour and gained more than 25 degrees of flexion.
My surgeon told me that you can get a lot of ROM after the manipulation and then you can lose some of it only to get it back over time. He was exactly right. Now at about a year post-op I have full range of motion and am absolutely thrilled. The manipulation was kind of a reset for me. I was absolutely stuck and it got me making progress again.
My advice is...don't be afraid to go for it. Good luck and let us hear how you do.
Thank you for your concern. I have been down and out, did not have the
MUA as we talked it over with the PA and I was so exhausted and they put me
on Celebrex and that caused me to be exhausted again, so I am now in the
dynasplint and doing the exercises as I can. Still get very weak, but I over did it
in Therapy and should have taken it a bit slower, and cannot take narcotics. So I
am up the creek without a paddle, not too much pain now only if I over do it, and
it is difficult for me to go slow. But I am learning and by the Grace of God I will
get there. I have had not energy at all, could not type, pick up anything, just
felt so weak. I went to my Primary and he said whatever I did get off all medication,
except for my Zocor, I have and finally just this week I felt my body is coming back
to me. This was a terrible experience for me. I was thinking I was having a nervous
breakdown.
Thank you for your concern. I have been down and out, did not have the
MUA as we talked it over with the PA and I was so exhausted and they put me
on Celebrex and that caused me to be exhausted again, so I am now in the
dynasplint and doing the exercises as I can. Still get very weak, but I over did it
in Therapy and should have taken it a bit slower, and cannot take narcotics. So I
am up the creek without a paddle, not too much pain now only if I over do it, and
it is difficult for me to go slow. But I am learning and by the Grace of God I will
get there. I have had not energy at all, could not type, pick up anything, just
felt so weak. I went to my Primary and he said whatever I did get off all medication,
except for my Zocor, I have and finally just this week I felt my body is coming back
to me. This was a terrible experience for me. I was thinking I was having a nervous
breakdown.
God Bless All Knee Replacement Participants......
Grandma
Dear Grandma,
Hang in there and give yourself some time. This is big surgery. Your body has been through a lot and we all heal at different speeds so don't compare yourself to anyone else.
I think that most of us will admit to having some pretty rough days early in the healing process but it does get better and better. Keeping a vision of the improvement I expected and the things that I would be able to do kept me going. I didn't keep a journal but I will with my next surgery. There were times when I got really discouraged and needed to be reminded that I was making progress.
There are some wonderful people on this board who know what you are going through and are here to give you advice and encouragement. Please post again soon and let us know how you are doing.
When you come to the point of PT you will likely get an evaluation before you start. Take advantage to this opportunity to talk with your PT about your concerns, tell them you're not sure if your body can take another round of therapy.
My experience is that it was just painful to do some of the PT. I could physically do it, it just hurt. As a result I ended up with a -15 extension on my right leg. That is now giving me a LOT of trouble. With my new surgery the doctor ordered another round of PT for the right leg as well as the left. I guess what I'm trying to tell you in all this is you will only get out of PT what you put into it.
I'm going to take a shot in the dark here and ask if your having MUA because you didn't get the results out of PT that you thought you would? And if so, did you do your home exercises?
I thought my doctor was going to order MUA for my right leg, but with recent left leg surgery I'm no longer a candidate, so pretty much my last chance for a sucessful outcome on right and left knee replacement now relies on how well I do through the next few weeks in therapy. I'm only 52.
JerseyBoy,
I am not giving up on that leg yet. As a matter of fact I am not even going to give up on it after next March.
The knee is certainly one issue. However, I found that from so many years of limping around I had a lot of issues with quite a few of the other muscles in my leg. It didn't help much to just work the knee when none of the other muscles in the leg had been stretched out in a decade.
I always went early to physical therapy and had them put a lot of heat on the entire leg before they worked it. I did a lot of stretching exercises in a jacuzzi. Having a really tough massage therapist work on the leg was a great help. You can do a lot on your own with either foam rollers or those hand held wooden massage rollers. An upright bike allows for a controlled stretch. Consider asking your PT to do an assessment of the muscles throughout your leg and make recommendations on how to free up some of those other muscles if they need it. A yoga strap allows you to do some of the stretches that your PT does.
I found that the leg either wanted to extend or flex but it was counterproductive to do both in the same session. If we worked a lot on extension at PT I just did some flexion exercises a few hours later at home. Loss of the ability to extend is more debilitating than loss of some ability to flex so keep on top of that leg.
At about 9 months the leg decided that it was happy to go to 0. I am now slightly more than a year out and continue to improve. I had a PT measure me at 0-125 in June but I know that I have gotten a lot better since then and fully expect to continue improving.
So, keep the faith. For me the hardest part was when I compared myself to all the other patients and even though I was younger than most of them at 54 I seemed to be doing much worse. I am now absolutely delighted and amazed with the outcome. I sincerely hope that your experience will be the same.
Thanks Cal Over the past 2 weeks things have started to improve somewhat. My numbers are starting to improve also I understand what you mean about comparing ourselves, but I was comparing right to left leg and even that is a vast difference. The recovery on this left leg is s l o w !!
Grandma, glad your back on the board, hope you start feeling better. Do what you can, things will improve
__________________
JerseyBoy
C5-C6 Diskectomy & Fusion 9-15-98
Right Torn Medial Menicus 5-10-99
Right TKR 3-31-10
Left TKR 7-7-10
