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MUA for better extension

Posted , 6 users are following.

debs23
debs23

I'm 5 weeks post PKR. The bend is very good at 95 but the extension is not improving at all. At -10 for the last 4 weeks.

Has anyone had MUA to improve straightening or is it just for the bend?

At this stage what do they expect the extension to be?

Concerned its not improving no matter how much I'm exercising and pushing it.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • lorraine58772
    lorraine58772 debs23

    Posted

    if a MUA is like what happened to me last night, it has to be painful. My knee muscles contracted in my sleep to a full knee bend. Why it did this, I don’t know. My knee was at a 40degree bend before this ordeal. Now i’m able to bend more but my leg is heavy today and extremely sore.  I’m scared. 
    • lorraine58772
      lorraine58772

      Posted

      in 8 weeks since my surgery. So you are fresh yet into your recovery, i would suggest do your excercises twice a day, and in two weeks you’ll see remarkable improvement. 

      i started my PT almost too late bc I had a 30 degree bend, now i’m am at least 40-50 degree. it just take a commitment on your part to work your knee. I don’t think a dr would even do an MUA at 5 weeks. 

  • bobbymac57
    bobbymac57 debs23

    Posted

    Straightening is the hardest part for me too. I'm at 120 flexion but at -8 extension. My physio says that because my non oprate knee is at -8 as well is is unlikely that I wI'll get much more out of it. I still lay face down across my bed with my knees and legs hanging off with 2 lbs attached and let gravity do its thing. Hopefully when I have the other one done they will both get more extension. I will say that I am able to walk without a limp now and hope to return to work in 4 to 5 more weeks. I am 15 weeks post op now.

    Good luck with your recovery.

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX debs23

    Posted

    There are no "expectations" in TKRville.  We are all different.  There is no "should"...there is no "normal".  There may be general timelines for the entire population of TKR patients but no population statistics apply to an individual person...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-recovery-bell-curve--563756

    Give up all expectations...they only screw with your head.  This recovery takes a year...period.  I got stuck at -4 for weeks and weeks.  There are advances, setbacks and plateaus that must be broken through.  Five weeks is waaaaay too early to be thinking MUA.  Try #3...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-rom-work-at-home-620053

    Gravity is the law and it must be obeyed.  Then try #3 with ankle weights...I dare you...  Helps to scream into a pillow.  My wife closed the door and went shopping...

  • marilyn10235
    marilyn10235 debs23

    Posted

    Hi Debs, Chico is absolutely right when he says this is not a linear recovery (TKR/PKR). Defo look up his exercises.

    Stick with it, try to relax when doing the extension stretches & ice at the same time. They will hurt but oh so worth it eventually.

    I got the extension straight away with my 1st TKR, but flexion took a lot longer & harder.

    This time around the flexion has been much easier but not quite the extension! It's very nearly there, just not quite.

    We will get it in the end. Just gonna take a bit longer to achieve.

    Keep at it but don't overdo, hard to find the balance but just take heed of what your knee is telling you.

    Try to correlate when it feels easier or hurts more after, with what you've been doing.

    Takes a while to tune yourself into the knee but once you get it exercise becomes, in a way, easier!

    Just repeat the mantra .... I can do this, I will do this.

    Marilyn 

    XX

    • teela_13121
      teela_13121 marilyn10235

      Posted

      Hi Marilyn,

      How many weeks post TKR are you? I am 5 months post and can still not straighten leg. Bend about 100-110 on a good day. Exercise daily and am so fed up as I thought I would be back to normal! Hoping the next few months will see an improvement .

      Teela

    • marilyn10235
      marilyn10235 teela_13121

      Posted

      Hi Teela, I'm 12 weeks tomorrow after left TKR. 17 months after right.

      Try the stretches in the physio sheet from the hospital, concentrate on straightening otherwise you will walk with a limp. 

      Marilyn 

      XX

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