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Knee pain and swelling after physical therapy

Posted , 6 users are following.

janet16384
janet16384

Education.......I had physical therapy on Friday, May 24. The physical therapist was aggressive with me as I had difficulty straightening my right knee. Before starting pt, i was experiencing knee stiffness. She used some knee strengthening exercises on me and told me if I didn't learn how to walk correctly, I would fall and end up in a nursing home and remain there for rest of life. So I worked hard to exercise. When I got home, I experienced a lot of pain in my lower back and right knee. Since Friday, I have been using cold and heat paks on my knee and taking Naprosyn 500mg to relieve the pain and inflammation. I need to inform my physical therapist as to what happened when returning home. I had more pain after pt and no pain when starting. I am 73 years old and also have rheumatoid arthritis. The knee is osteoarthritis and possibly the meniscus tear irritated. I plan on letting the Physical Therapist know what happened so that we can adjust the exercises or try some massage when the knee is in a flare. Any feedback on how to handle things with the PT. I don't want to feel like I'm blaming her. On the other hand it's an inform and go easy next time maybe

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • jean02698
    jean02698 janet16384

    Posted

    IF you feel the exercises are doing more harm than good then tell her. Explain how you were after your therapy and tell her you would like to go slower. She is working for or with you...don't let her bully you. She sounds a little cruel telling you that you will fall and spend the rest of your life in a home. She is using scare tactics. You could always change therapists.

    • janet16384
      janet16384 jean02698

      Posted

      Thank you so much Jean for your reply and your thoughts. This really confirms what I felt about her comments that if I were to fall, I may spend the rest of my life in a nursing home.It was cruel. I definitely will tell her about the pain I was in after the pt and let her know I was pushed too far. The only reason I want to return for one more session is the pt assistant is very good and patient with me. I'd like to thank her, as she's young and just learning and likes working with me. My last appointment the head physical therapist didn't have her usual standing appointment, so she started working with me at the start. Thank you again. You have really helped confirm what I thought about this last pt treatment. I will let you know how it goes after I call her this Tuesday.

  • jenny61596
    jenny61596 janet16384

    Posted

    i would change physios , no way would i put up with that attitude , and really if you have that much going on with your knee doing too much will make it worse , to say what she did was unprofessional and out of order . Good luck , shes just a bully

    • janet16384
      janet16384 jenny61596

      Posted

      Thanks so much, Jenny, for your support and help. You're right, as after I replied to your first post, I started thinking about changing. I've had pt quite a few times in the past for my shoulder and back issues. The Physical Therapist I had for my shoulder was very professional, unlike this one.No way could I ever see him making such remarks. The reason I was going to the present one is that she focused a lot on balance issues, which I needed due to a bulging disk and also herniated disk in the lumbar. I see my rheumatologist June 7, so I'll discuss my knee and pt with her. Many thanks again.

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX janet16384

    Posted

    So, you're dealing with knee pain from arthritis and maybe meniscus but have NOT had the knee replacement...correct? If so, options:

    1. Home Therapy - Cold packs with alternating heat. Elevation. Get some Voltaren Gel (RX in the US, generic diclofenac elsewhere...check for interactions). Best topical anti-inflammatory out there. Also can try AsperCream 4% Lidocaine, pain patches (meththol, capsaicin, lidocaine) and/or an inexpensive TENS machine.
    2. PT - Not sure how much good this will do to a knee filled with junk. Maybe it's just aggravating it. So...
    3. Orthopedic Surgeon - First need some imagery to see what's really going on in there. Unfortunately, an MRI is sometimes inconclusive for soft-tissue problems like a meniscus but an x-ray will reveal if you have a bone-on-bone condition. The surgeon can give you options.
    4. Cortisone - Simple shot. Lasts some people a few days, others up to a year. No telling.
    5. SynVisc - This is an injectable fluid that lubricates the joint. I had the three-shot regimen (days 1, 8 and 15) that lasted 11 month each round. Used it successfully for years in my 50's before moving to a much warmer climate at age 61 and ended up not needing it anymore. They also have a single shot version that works for up to six months. SynVisc is NOT guaranteed...meaning that it works great on some people and not at all on others. Flip a coin.
    6. COOLIEF - FDA approved technique for osteoarthritis in major joints. Can stop pain for two years or more. Great way to put off a TKR as long as possible. I had this done very successfully on my hip and will ABSOLUTELY use it on my other knee if it starts acting up in the future. My doc says he has many patients who repeat the procedure every 2-3 years and have put off their TKRs indefinitely.
    7. TKR - End of the line...last stop. Total knee replacement. Major surgery with a long (one year) and painful recovery. But when you're done, it's like a miracle...very, very happy with mine (done at age 68...I'm now 71) but it took a lot of time, work and patience. It's the fix we try to avoid for as long as possible but it's absolutely survivable and the end result is usually very good...pain gone, some minor residual stiffness if you don't keep the knee active and some minor nerve pain when kneeling on hard surfaces without any padding. Again...end of the line. You don't do this without trying everything else.

    I'd do the home stuff immediately and make an ortho appointment for the imaging. If the doc recommends a TKR, walk (or limp) away. Go to the COOLIEF website and find a doc in your area that does the procedure. If it works for you, you are "golden"!!! I intend to do this with my other knee when it goes (guaranteed that it will as it's just like my other one) and put off the TKR as long as possible.

    Then again, everyone gets to choose their own path. Good luck.

  • janet16384
    janet16384

    Posted

    Hi CHICO_MARX,

    Wow, thank you for all this valuable information for knee relief. Yes, I immediately did start the home therapy with cold and heat. I have Naprosyn anti-inflammatory which helps the inflammation. I have heard many good things about the Voltaren gel and will ask my doctor for an RX for it. I've had many cortisone injections in my lower back for lumbar stenosis, so am familiar with the relief they provide.

    Thank you for the info and your experience with COOLIEF. I am very interested in loooking into this treatment. I am glad to hear how well you have done with the knee replacement and now avoiding surgery with the other knee. Thank you again and all the best to you. I am going to print a cipy of all this valuable info.

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