MUA following TKR

Posted , 12 users are following.

Hi again. I am now just over 6 weeks post TKR, it still can only manage a 74 degree bend despite extensive physio.  Have my 6 week checkup with my consultant tomorrow and have a feeling he may want to do this.  Anyone have any experiences of this please?? Thanks x

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Posted

    Not yet but I'm waiting on a date for an MUA and an Adhesiolysis (operation to cut the muscle). I have a bend of 80 on a good day and extension of -30. Mine has been complicated from the start though and don't have a 'normal' prosthesis so I might not be a good comparison. I'm also only 36.

    I am 14 weeks post and was given longer to work with physio to see if it would improve.

    I have heard a lot of positive things about the results following an MUA (only a few negative about pain...I am still in a lot of pain so I'm not overly concerned with this).

    Let me know how you get on x

  • Posted

    I think it is a bit soon to decide - ask for a bit longer and keep working on the bend - we all take different times to improve. See if you get a better bend in water - even now at 18 weeks my bend is much better in water than on land - wish I was a duck. 
  • Posted

    HI

    I've had MUAs on both of my knees.  You are put out for about 30 mins and then the consultant bends the knee to break the adhesions that have formed.  You will wake up on a CPM machine, which you can control yourself.  You may have some aching, but not much.  With both of my knees, I had a problem straightening them after a few months.  The first knee was solved by the MUA, the second hasn't been.  My consultant thinks that my problem is probably excess scar tissue, so I could be facing another operation at the year stage.

    I wish you all the best.  An MUA is certainly nothing to worry about.

    Patsy

  • Posted

    If you are at 6 weeks and still at onlly 74 degrees, the first thing I would do is ask that the doctors take a follow-up x-ray.  I waited too long, and  found out 7 years later that the replacement prosthesis is too big.  I doubt that is the problem, but better safe than sorry years later and still with bad mobility.

    Good luck.

  • Posted

    hi ya ive had one i think it could be worth it mine was done long after knee replacement i had complications it only worked for a short time and stiffened up soon after .but in your case i would do it certainly the sooner the better before scar tissue takes hold  make sure after to increase physio and keep it up good luck  mine was keyhole because scar tissue was rigid thats why its better to let surgeon bend it while he knocks you out for about 15mins
  • Posted

    I had TKR Feb. 27 and for 2 months only could get to 62.  Had a manipulation 5/4/15 and have been in the 90's and high 90's since in PT.  It is totally worth it.  You are out for it.  I am now getting some type of brace that you wear to increase the bend.  I will let you know how that goes.  I will try anything!
  • Posted

    My surgeon made me wait for 12 weeks before doing a MUA because he said earlier than that the scar tissue would bleed when he broke it. What a miserable 12 weeks that was! After the MUA he did not put me on a CPM but had me go to physical therapy every day for 10 days. As the 10 days progressed it got more and more painful and the bend got less and less. I was in despair. But, in the end it all worked out and now, after 6 months I have a properly functioning knee and almost no pain. It bends well (125? maybe) and staightens all the way flat. It even feels the same temperature as the other knee.
    • Posted

      Hi Joan,

      i had my MUA 14hrs ago and hope mine ends up like yours as right now it's sore but a lot of discomfort I feel every moment more in my knee and feel movement inside the knee I didn't feel before, my quads new my knee are very tender also. I am currently icing it to soothe these sensations and sleep well earlier in the night I still had the anaesthetic that was making me sleepy as that wore out so did my sleep...lol

      i didnt come out with a CPM machine I don't think my surgeon actually thinks they are that good but have physio that I will be doing in fact I will go to the hydro pool and spa tonight he suggested this would be good for the scar tissues and tightness I have in my muscles around my knee.

      My surgeon also said not to worry about the MUA you will come out of it no different pain wise or discomfort then what I am experiencing now 9weeks post TKR...... Well that was a lie I came out with a lot of pain and need a good dosage of drugs compared to my TKR and now feels like what it felt week 1 of my TKR can hardly put any  weight bearing on it.....

      I hope it's just the first 24hrs as so far what he said is not what I'm experiencing... but I'm staying positive and have faith...

      here's hoping to the same results you got 6 months later and putting it all behind me....😀

    • Posted

      I had no pain for a day or so after the MUA because they did a femoral nerve block - of course that also meant I had no quad muscle and had to use a walker again, but my knee bent to 130 with no pain. What a concept!

      Thing was that once the block wore off it got VERY painful and the quad muscle was so sore then that it prevented me from bending - plus the swelling. What with the pain back and the bend getting worse every day, by day 8 after MUA I was a total wreck.

      Then I saw a different therapist and she spent a good deal of time massaging the area to try to reduce the swelling and that really helped, then I saw another who, instead of forcing it to bend, very gently worked on it until I could relax, and as soon as I did he got it right back to 125 degree bend.

      I'd say if you are on the same path as me it will be painful for about 2 weeks and then start to ease off. My surgeon said not to rush to get off the pain pills so I think it was about 3 or 4 weeks after the MUA that I started reducing them, and took about another 3 weeks to get right off them.

    • Posted

      Sorry to hear you're in pain, I hope it's improved a bit today. Good you're staying positive. Keep going, I'm sure you'll get there and it will be worth it in the end. I still don't have a date for my MUA/Adesiolysis so bizarrely I'm jealous. I have horrific pain without it. Keep us posted on your progress.

      Kath x

  • Posted

    My bend was poor at 6 week,  by 8 it had improved hugely so I reckon its a bit soon to make the decision, 6 weeks is a very short time in terms of tkr recovery , hope things go well

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