Re: only 85 degrees flexion almost 4wks post TKR, any suggestions?

[Guest guest]

I went to rehab for a week and it was the best.  After that, I did several weeks

in-house and eventually outpatient PT.  I believe outpatient PT is better than

in-house PT, as they have more equipment available to them.  Good luck.

only 85 degrees flexion almost 4wks post TKR,

any suggestions?

I'm done with in-house PT, had a lot of swelling and infection postop

so think I'm not up to par with the PT issue, but today last day with

PT and I only measured 85 degrees flexion, certainly thought I was

better than that. Any suggestions for getting it better? I try bending

it all the time and press against wall, etc., just seems to pull in the

front, totally numb on outside of knee. Should I continue with an out-

pt PT place? Or have others improved on this on their own? I'm

clueless about this rehab business. I want to do what's best for

recovery. Thanks nie

[Guest guest]

You need outpatient pt...there are things they can do that you can't

do inhouse with the pt at your home...they can also work on the

swelling. Are you using ice at home...that helps with swelling.

OUtpatient can use e-stim and ice for swelling and pain.

Harold

On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 10:37 AM, johnniegarland wrote:

I'm done with in-house PT, had a lot of swelling and infection postop

so think I'm not up to par with the PT issue, but today last day with

PT and I only measured 85 degrees flexion, certainly thought I was

better than that. Any suggestions for getting it better? I try bending

it all the time and press against wall, etc., just seems to pull in the

front, totally numb on outside of knee. Should I continue with an out-

pt PT place? Or have others improved on this on their own? I'm

clueless about this rehab business. I want to do what's best for

recovery. Thanks nie

[Guest guest]

I never had in-house PT but starting about day 18 post-op and for three

months after that, I had between 2 and 5 PT sessions at an outpatient

facility. The first 7 weeks, I had to be driven.

I don't remember what my flexion was at 4 weeks so I can't compare but I

felt like I continued to get more and more flexion as time went on. I work

from home at a desk with a rolling office chair and I would pull myself by

the TKR leg around the room causing a good bend and good exercise. Try that.

Also I continued to ice my knee in the evenings for about six months.

Don't be discouraged but know that it continues to improve. I'm 19 months

out and I feel like I've just now gotten my knee exactly where I want it.

only 85 degrees flexion almost 4wks

post TKR, any suggestions?

I'm done with in-house PT, had a lot of swelling and infection postop

so think I'm not up to par with the PT issue, but today last day with

PT and I only measured 85 degrees flexion, certainly thought I was

better than that. Any suggestions for getting it better? I try bending

it all the time and press against wall, etc., just seems to pull in the

front, totally numb on outside of knee. Should I continue with an out-

pt PT place? Or have others improved on this on their own? I'm

clueless about this rehab business. I want to do what's best for

recovery. Thanks nie

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Yes, 85 degrees is a little behind what most OS would like to see at

4 weeks but some people, many in fact, just take longer to heal and

stretch out. Some of that is related to how much damage there was

before surgery to the soft tissues around your knee and where it was.

All the more need for you to get the outpatient PT and go a lot, find

a PT you can really work with well. Keep working on it and keep icing

after your exercise sessions at home as well as after PT.

It is hard for anyone to recommend the best ex. for you on line

because everybody is so different.

4 weeks --- well there is still a lot of healing that happens

especially to bone and muscle in the 4th to 6th weeks or longer.

Most PT's I know and I myself don't recommend squats and standing wall

slides at this point because there's too much loading (weight bearing)

on the knee cap and that just causes even more pain.

Maybe aquatics; warm, indoor pool?

Might be time to start with heat before ex, ice after?

Communicate with your new PT about your concerns and good luck!

Annie Pal

PT in SC

RTKR 2000

LTKR 2008

RTSE 2008

>

> I'm done with in-house PT, had a lot of swelling and infection postop

> so think I'm not up to par with the PT issue, but today last day with

> PT and I only measured 85 degrees flexion, certainly thought I was

> better than that. Any suggestions for getting it better? I try bending

> it all the time and press against wall, etc., just seems to pull in the

> front, totally numb on outside of knee. Should I continue with an out-

> pt PT place? Or have others improved on this on their own? I'm

> clueless about this rehab business. I want to do what's best for

> recovery. Thanks nie

>

[Guest guest]

Hi. I had tkr 7 weeks ago and I can only bend to 75 degrees. I have had probs

with this knee since 2001. Tore medial meniscus in 2001, had botched surgery, no

pt for 3 mos, by then it was too late. Had knee surgery in 2006 to scrape

arthritis and bone spurs. Should have lasted 5 yrs, lasted 2. Had tkr in

mid-august, and still having lots and lots of trouble. I have pt 2x a week, and

do my exercises 2x a day, and in-between morning and evening exercises, knee

gets stiff and it seems like I'm back to square one again. My therapist is

asking for another 8 weeks of therapy. I work so hard at pt, and it hurts so

much, that I cry each and every time.

 

Kellie

[Guest guest]

Keep at it and give it some more time.are you using ice at pt and then again

at home? 20 min of ice can help work wonders with pain, swelling,

stiffness. I would call surgeon and ask for prescription refill on pain med

and take pain meds 45 min before going to pt. The pt should be working to

stretch and bend you knee and hopefully it will loosen up in time.if, after

a reasonable time (tbd by you and your surgeon) it is still no better it may

be that the surgeon will want to consider putting you to sleep and doing a

manipulation (forced bend of your knee) to break up the scar tissue that

could possibly develop and could be possibly causing part of your problem

although I would think the surgeon would say give it some more time and

work.

Harold

_____

From: Joint Replacement

[mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Kellie Tuttle

Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 9:53 PM

Joint Replacement

Subject: Re: only 85 degrees flexion almost 4wks

post TKR, any suggestions?

Hi. I had tkr 7 weeks ago and I can only bend to 75 degrees. I have had

probs with this knee since 2001. Tore medial meniscus in 2001, had botched

surgery, no pt for 3 mos, by then it was too late. Had knee surgery in 2006

to scrape arthritis and bone spurs. Should have lasted 5 yrs, lasted 2. Had

tkr in mid-august, and still having lots and lots of trouble. I have pt 2x a

week, and do my exercises 2x a day, and in-between morning and evening

exercises, knee gets stiff and it seems like I'm back to square one again.

My therapist is asking for another 8 weeks of therapy. I work so hard at pt,

and it hurts so much, that I cry each and every time.

Kellie

[Guest guest]

wow Kellie, that's too bad. I'm NOT working hard at PT like you, so

I don't expect great results..I forget to do it most of the time,

then try to make up for it at bedtime. I'm not going to formal PT,

but after doc's appoint. next week, will probably schedule in-

facility PT,,I really want full movement and flexion, but like you,

it just hurts too bad to keep after it. I'll be the first to admit

I'm a pansie.

>

> Hi. I had tkr 7 weeks ago and I can only bend to 75 degrees. I have

had probs with this knee since 2001. Tore medial meniscus in 2001,

had botched surgery, no pt for 3 mos, by then it was too late. Had

knee surgery in 2006 to scrape arthritis and bone spurs. Should have

lasted 5 yrs, lasted 2. Had tkr in mid-august, and still having lots

and lots of trouble. I have pt 2x a week, and do my exercises 2x a

day, and in-between morning and evening exercises, knee gets stiff

and it seems like I'm back to square one again. My therapist is

asking for another 8 weeks of therapy. I work so hard at pt, and it

hurts so much, that I cry each and every time.

>  

> Kellie

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Harold,

 

Thank you for your words of advice. I will keep working at the pt, and with any

luck, things will get better. I have an appt to see my surgeon next Fri. I will

talk to him then.

 

Kellie

[Guest guest]

You are going to be just fine, Kellie! I just know it! Just do as much

as you can every day, and keep the faith.