I'm about 95 degree bend at 15 weeks. Straight is at 0. The going's been tough so far. My question is; realistically what kind of improvement (in your opinion) in ROM can I expect after 4 months? I've been working diligently daily but my knee is stubborn. Anyone have success with late success? At this stage I'd just be happy to be able to ride my bike and perhaps walk down the stairs.
"Success with late success"?? Perhaps replace that with success at a later stage in rehab.
Keep doing the work. It is a never ending story. If I forget my quad exercises I pay for it. Keep on doing what you can. Get on to YouTube and research exercises. I flew 6.5 hours last night. Hobbled to immigration 500metres. Knees freed up and walking was easier. Just get on with it and try to be kind to yourself. x
Thanks Lyn.
I am 15 weeks tomorrow and at 122 on my own. I get released from therapy on Griday. I was "stuck" at 115 for over a week and kept icing my knee twice a day and slept with ice bag on knee every night. It finally let loose and I went from 115 to 120 in two visits. Best of luck to you but it WILL happen.
I'm nearly 15 months TKR and I'm still not right!
Are you seeing a physio? Now might be a good point to...you are doing all the right things. What was the knee like before surgery? If it was more than 95 then it would be nice for you to see it a little further along the line. I would think it will cobtinue to improve. Do you have still much swelling? That wou ld slow things down. People do experience gradual and continual improvement over extended periods of time. However, it would be timely to get a professional opinion I think. Do you have a stationary bike you could use initially? Some personal trainers have experience with TKR rehab also. Your knee isn't stubborn , just been through a hard time! Give it some love!
Me either but nothing is going to stop me travelling and enjoying my life. I am resigned to one perfect and one imperfect knee. Better than many outcomes. x
I had a right tkr on Feb 5th. Still at a 90' bend and, despite pt and all my home exercises, it hasn't budged from there. I still can't do a full rotation on a bike. Also can't walk up or down stairs using alternate steps. I walk every day and continue to do stretching and bending exercises. My knee isn't particularly swollen. I feel that if I just continue doing what I'm able to do, my bend will eventually improve. I do get frustrated and have been reduced to tears on numerous occasions but I guess we just have to get on with it!
Jimbo, your story is similar to mine except the swelling. I still have extensive swelling.
Jenny, I just finished two months of PT. My knee is about the same as it was before the surgery except for the swelling, I have continual swelling. I'm unable to ride a bike although I can ride a stationery floor model unicycle weird type of thing I have but whenever I do my knee "complains".
I can only tell you what my surgeon told me - that bend increases over the two years post op. But I don't know how much. Sorry you're having difficulty - some really do, don't they! Good luck!
Have a look at some studies that have been done on degree of bend after the op compared to degree of bend before - there seems to be a link that if you've not got so much bend before the op you get less than the maximum after, but I don't know HOW much it affects it.
What you said about the bike - just made me wonder - is it that it's not healed enough yet. Are you icing and keeping it elevated for most of the day?
Yes, bend was restricted before the surgery. I couldn't ride a bike or do stairs (down). Same now. I've been icing and elevating like a wildman. I literally live my life with my leg up high covered with an ice pack. I'm starting to look like an ice cube.
Oh LOL! Sorry to laugh about the ice cube! LOL! From what I remember reading, you should be able to get an improvement on what you had before the op, even if it's not as much as some of us who had a good bend before the op get. But I guess it is going to be a lot harder because muscles and ligaments will have shortened. I think the professionals need to help you really. It must be so frustrating, but I wish you luck!!!!
I reckon it needs just more time..sounds like you are doing all the right things. Range of motion can continue to improve for a very long time, as far as I am aware. Don't get fearful. You are putting the work in.
That's interesting, because it is a long time...no need to panic...
Thanks Jenny. I disagree, I think it's time to panic.
I think we need a support group for people who have stuggles with flexion and ROM as it seems a select number do but why? The "experts" tell us it is because we did not do enough exercise in the early recovery but I think that is to make it look like our fault not theirs. I have seen others who barely break a sweat with their exercise but so great - they say it hurts a lot but it was not the pain that stopped my knee bending - it was just that it would not move any further. I'm no quitter and I'm still hearing that it was my fault after an MUA to break the scar tissue.
I always put 100 per cent into everything and no way would I shirk and end up with a stiff knee that restricts my independence this way. I'm only able to get 95 degrees even after manipulation but I had an OK bend pre op, just a permanently bent knee then, could not straighten. Now the other way around. I am at 10 weeks post op and have found recovery challenging with pain that would not get controlled and bad reactions to meds. I have several other health issues that have not helped.
I am a former researcher and have read everything out there about knees and scar tissue. Some of seem to be more prone to make more scarring and adhesions than others, but how to avoid it - if you overwork the knee you get more swelling and stiffness, but if you underwork it, the scarring takes hold. I have read of people making improvements for months and even up to or beyond a year, but my surgeon said you need to over 90 degrees to have any hope of futher improvement. Now the work is harder than ever to maintain it. So frustrating to kep working without a positive result. But has to be done somehow.
Jumbo, you may need manipulation. I did when I was stuck at 105. It took all of 10 min. I was knocked out briefly, my doc came in and bent my knee. Said he got it to 145 and heard popping noises from the scar tissue being broke up. 6%of folks need manipulation. Look into it. I moved right along after that. Good luck!