1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Knee Problems

Feeling Down - 70 Degree Bend at Six Weeks

Posted , 5 users are following.

jane37928
jane37928

Has  anyone out there only had 70 degree bend at six weeks? I'm desperately in need of encouragement today, been working so hard and had a different physio today. It's knocked me back a bit, I thought I would have improved a bit more this week.  

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo jane37928

    Posted

    Progress is very much up and down with this operation. think at six weeks I was about 80 . .without pushing.  I thought I had ninety, but when I went to see the specialist he said nope, that's only 80!  I didn't have a physio at that time, and hadn't bought the goniometer.  I now have 130.  it took me time, and perseverance, but in the end I got there with only the sort of pain I could put up with, not the agony the physios expect us to endure!  As long as you keep persevering, it should come. . .

     

    • jane37928
      jane37928 martinarvelo

      Posted

      Thanks so much for that, on bad days you start to wonder if it's just you!  I am determined to keep going and not be beaten. What was the best exercise you found to get that bend going, or was it just a combination?  Jane 

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX jane37928

    Posted

    Agreed.  Plus everyone is different.  Gotta put in the effort to get to 0 / +120.  I started at -14 / +84 and it took almost 10 weeks of really hard work to get to -1 / +121.  Now I have 0 / +133 with the gym work.  

    "It don't come easy...you know it don't come easy." - Ringo Starr

    • jane37928
      jane37928 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thanks Chico, it's a real help to know what other people,have done. I just had a bad or rather a disappointing day.  The felt sure my bend was at 90 and when she said 70 I wanted to scream.  Will keep pushing on.  

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX jane37928

      Posted

      There are advances, setbacks and plateaus.  I got stuck at -4 for over 2 weeks.  Very frustrating...but we finally broke through the scar tissue and succeeded.  You will too.
  • John5006
    John5006 jane37928

    Posted

    Hiya Jane,

    ?The hospital I was in wouldn't let me home until I could get at least a 90 degree bend within 3 days of surgery. I achieved this ... but it was hard painful work.

    ?After getting home it took me about 6 weeks to get from 90 to a bit over 110, then it plateaued and by 11 weeks I was at 125 to 130 and back at work. Your PT must work on breaking up the scar tissue, MUST, I had my Massage therapist weekly massage my incision line and all around it. She showed me how to do this at home and I did. I was never told the importance of this by the PT's.

    Basically, if scar tissue forms it can/will impede all the exercises you do and you may not make as much progress as you'd like.

    Good luck.

    John

    • jane37928
      jane37928 John5006

      Posted

      Thanks John,  yes I am massaging the scar and surrounding tissue - I have noticed afterwards it's quite hot and inflamed (it does go down again) - did you find that too?

       

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX jane37928

      Posted

      John is totally right.  Plus, that heat and inflammation is perfectly normal the first few weeks.  After that, you will feel those sensations if you push the knee too far.  Back off, ice, recover.  Know your limits and increase gradually.  Swelling is the teltale sign that you overdid it.
    • jane37928
      jane37928 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Cheers Chico. I'm off to see my consultant tomorrow for my six week check and I'm feeling more confident armed with everyone's helpful information.  Do you know of anyone who has been taken back in for manipulation under anaesthesia?  I would really rather progress at a natural pace albeit slowly. 

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX jane37928

      Posted

      The six-week check is for "alignment".  They take an x-ray and draw a line from hip through knee to ankle.  If everything is correct, the line will be straight.  Else...

      Yes, some people have gone back for manipulations.  While it's not "rare", it seems that a small percentage of people have this done when the doctor feels it's appropriate.

  • dianne07195
    dianne07195 jane37928

    Posted

    Dear Jane

    I am 11 weeks post op for TKR,dont despair it will come keep doing the exercises and persevere.We all improve at different speeds.I am one of the slower ones,and know have a 90  deg bend,but terrible tightness round my knee,and stiffness,but I keep plodding on hopeing i willbe able to walk normally again one day.It seems to me that you seem to be doing pretty good for  6 weeks,as i said we are all different,dont loose heart and keep going.Happy and pain free new year Dianne

    • jane37928
      jane37928 dianne07195

      Posted

      Thanks Dianne, I'm feeling a bit more positive today after all the useful comments and replied on here.  Also I have been to see my consultant today and he is really pleased with my progress.  I'm walking well, a little slowly but that's the least of my worries.  Happy and pain free new year to you too. 😀

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.