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Knee inflammation

Posted , 4 users are following.

Defender
Defender

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L T K R done on 12 February 2020 physiotherapists keep pushing as I can only get 70 degree bend but it's like hitting a brick wall.

I had R T N R April 2018 and had the same problem but can't remember how long it took for the swelling to go down

I have my next physio next Tuesday and I know they will push to get more bend.

I am trying but just seem to be getting nowhere.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX Defender

    Posted

    Swelling post-op is absolutely normal and will take a while to resolve. The two worst things you can do are: ROM work in PT and doing too many steps in one day. Unfortunately, the ROM work is very necessary so you have to deal with the resultant swelling. Anti-inflammatories before and after a session, ice, elevation, etc. are all good for your knee.

    Doing too many steps on any given day is completely under your control. I always recommend a pedometer on your wrist with software that can track your progress. Doing too many steps will swell the knee every time. Increasing your step count is a gradual thing as time and distance are irrelevant. It's the steps that put the load on the knee. You can push a hip, shoulder or elbow to recovery but not a knee. It will just laugh at you and swell up like a balloon.

    Finally, not only are you different from everyone else, your knees are different too. People who have had both done invariably report that their experiences were rarely the same so don't compare this knee to your other one.

    Also remember that there are advances, setbacks and plateaus...all very normal. Your ROM advancement is NOT linear...it just takes time, work and patience.

  • lynda49844
    lynda49844 Defender

    Posted

    That does look swollen. With that amount of swelling it's going to be hard to bend the knee, rather like a hosepipe full of water. Some surgeons are advocating no physio other than the basic exercises you come out of hospital with for the first 6 weeks to enable the knee to start healing first and others no exercises at all apart from the activities for daily living and walking round the house. I know of people on the Bonesmart forums who say they have done no physio and still achieved a good ROM. I'm not sure I'd be happy doing nothing, but it seems to have worked for them. Maybe check the forum out for yourself.

    First time round I had a physio assessment at 2 weeks, but didn't start weekly physio until 6 weeks. This time, because I've had difficulty with extension, I've been assessed every 2 weeks, given stretches to help, but not passed for weekly sessions yet. My whole leg remains swollen far more than last time, to the point I'm beginning to wonder if it's ever going down, and yet less pain and discomfort. Whether I rest or exercise seems to make no difference to the amount of swelling this time.Weird!

    • Defender
      Defender lynda49844

      Posted

      thanks for the replys.

      After seeing what happened at my last physiotherapy I do wonder.

      there was a group of 8 one chap was doing really well

      He had a good 90 degree bend and could do straight leg lifts.

      the physiotherapist wanted us to get out of the chair using our legs only the poor chap tried and fell back to his chair in tremendous pain and they had to take him away.

      I do wonder if they just want to tick boxes.

      I am trying as hard as I can but I believe you have to listen to your body when I try to get the bend and it gets to the point where it gets so painfull I stop.

    • lynda49844
      lynda49844 Defender

      Posted

      I agree. I'm sure it is about ticking boxes and discharging patients, My surgeon and most of the physios I've seen have all said to work to discomfort but not pain. I've heard of physios forcing knees and causing people to scream out in pain. At my last assessment a very young physio said she would apply pressure to my knee to 'help' my leg straighten. I told her in no uncertain terms that she wasn't and she offered an alternative, which was fine. My leg has been crooked for years. Those tissues at the back of the knee are not going to stretch overnight and the previous physio I saw agreed.

      With the first knee the surgeon told me it would take 18 months for the IT band to stretch. I'm seeing him next week so will see what he says about this one straightening. Someone I know who had a similar problem straightening the leg has recommended a hydrotherapy centre so I might try that if it continues.

  • carole17315
    carole17315 Defender

    Posted

    I'm the same in respect of bend and I'm at 7 weeks.. Like you I've been trying hard, doing all the exercises they sent me home with, they gave me extra physio sessions, still no response.

    I don't have as much swelling now but my knee was similar to yours at 2 weeks. Thanks to this forum, I did lots of elevating and ice, and the swelling reduced....... I did what I felt I could.

    I've just had my 4th hydrotherapy session, another attempt my PT to increase the bend. I have to say it has increased my leg strength and improved my walking but my knee still feels stiff, bend still rubbish so it's frustrating, but there were many benefits.

    Saw my consultant this week and he wants to do a MUA, I'm continuing with everything exercise wise at home in the hope of a miracle 😃

    So, I'd say lots of rest, ice, elevation and do things little and often. Good luck with your recovery.

    • Defender
      Defender carole17315

      Posted

      Yes as you say little and often and ice.

      many on here have like me going through our second T K R and it's very true they have experienced very different to how they are.

      I remember I had a lot of trouble with the bend on my other knee.

      I also noticed that the ones that were doing better had less swelling.

      For some reason all the others in the group had to make an appointment to go back in 2 weeks

      But the physiotherapist wants be back in a week for a one to one session which I thought strange as there was a woman in the same situation as me.

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