Nervous about maybe having a manipulation!

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I saw my surgeon yesterday for 6 week check up after TKR. He said I am doing well and knee looks almost straight. However, he also said I need to get more bend, right now it is 100/-5. I will see him again in 5 weeks, if bend is not better he mentioned manipulation under anesthesia. I I told him I do not want that, so he gave me a prescription for pain pills so I could work harder at PT. Not sure if this was a scare tactic, but now I am so worried about this. I have been working very hard at PT and even do exercises at home. Wish he did not put this into my mind, I am so worried now!

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  • Posted

    Please don't worry.  I started PT 3 weeks post-op at -14 / +84.  Took 10 weeks of PT @ 2x/week to get to -1 / +123.  It just takes time.  My 6-week alignment check with the doc showed only -5 so we were the same.  Use the meds when you need them.

    • Posted

      Thanks Chico , my husband says I worry too much! I will take the meds before I go to Pt and if I need them at night, I hope I can do as well as you did!
  • Posted

    Dolores, I understand your worry. I wouldn't want to undergo another knee procedure. Geez I would think he's jumping the gun a bit. You're only 6 weeks post. I'm 5 weeks and at 110 in right and 112 in left, which isn't that much more than you! What the heck does he expect?? I hate all this damn bending "rules"! We're all different!! Good luck to you. I'll say a little prayer.

    • Posted

      Thanks Eizie, I can use all the prayers I can get! I think he is jumping the gun also.
  • Posted

    I'm at sixteen weeks and I'm still only 95/8.   This can take ages to improve. Carry on with your exercises and try not to worry too much.  I think you're doing really well at six weeks.

    • Posted

      Thanks Jane, hearing from you makes me feel better. Everyone heals at a different rate . Lots of luck to you in your recovery!
    • Posted

      You too - I was terrified I would have to go back in as m physio said I might but when I saw my surgeon he was very happy! He said it takes up to a year and as swelling disappears etc. it gets easier. 😊

  • Posted

    Dear Dolores 

    Use the painkillers and work just that little bit harder at the exercises.  Like you, the last thing I would want is an MUA because I think this will be seen as a set back for you.  I do wish these Surgeons would stop expecting everyone to be the same!  Resist MUA and work towards that bend yourself.  

    • Posted

      Dear Roaring-girl,

      Thanks for the good advice! I rather work on the bend myself then go through a manipulation. My pain is starting to get better and the last few nights I have slept more than 3 hours. Heard they can be very painful.....had enough of that!

  • Posted

    Hi Dolores

    I agree with absolutely everything everyone else has said. You are you, you are not an automaton. You are a human being & are doing everything you can to get YOUR knee to bend & flex, not because a surgeon says you must. Because YOU want to be able to walk without a limp! You know why you are doing all this exercise!

    Grrrr!! These damn surgeons think they are the Almighty! They have NO idea of what it's like to recover from this operation! They are wonderful in what they can do for us, but totally ignorant of the actual process of recovering from TKR!

    So sorry to rant but it makes me sooo cross to hear good people like yourself being threatened with procedures which, certainly at this point in time, are unnecessary! For Pete's sake you are at 6 weeks & about at the right point in your recovery. At 6 weeks I wasn't even near 100, flex was better. My surgeon never even looked at what my bend & flex was at the 6 (8) week check! He saw me walk rather than hobble in, asked how the pain was (gone), checked the scar & the X-ray. In 5 mins I was out & heading for the A1!!

    Now that MAY be an indictment of the NHS but he knew I was still under NHS Physio & that she was pleased with my progress. I now walk up & down the stairs with no problem & can climb onto & off the step stool at work! No limp with operated leg.

    No nasty threats, no push! He knew, my Physio knew that I did not want to spend the rest of my life limping in pain!

    Ok rant completely over.

    Do your exercises, ice, elevate & rest. You WILL get there. It's a long, long road we travel. Good luck on your journey.

    Take care.

    (I promise not to rant again!!)

    Marilyn

    XX

    Ps. At least the weather has been good today.

    The first day of Spring & it felt like Spring too

    Yay!!! 😀😀😀

    • Posted

      Ditto, Ditto and Ditto to what Dolores said!!! Good luck!
    • Posted

      Thank you Marilyn for your kind words. This morning I have PT and my knee is hurting me, The Ortho Doc gave me a prescription for Vicodin so I am taking it before PT. The pain is on the outside of the knee & feels like metal or something is out of place. I am getting so disgusted. It started hurting after we took down the seat of my exercise bike 2 notches. I was able to pedal around for 5 minutes, but when I got off I had the pain. I did this under

       the advice of my surgeon. Maybe it was too much too soon! I hope I can even be productive today at PT. I was sick since Monday with a low grade fever & upper respiratory infection. I am on antibiotics for 12 days. I did not go to therapy on Wednesday due to illness but did try to do some exercises at home. I just want to cry! I mentoned to surgeon I feel like a rod in my knee, he said "you do have one"! Sometimes I feel I am going backwards not forwards although I know I have made progression. Can't wait for the warmer weather to get me out of this depression. Reading your post made me feel a lot better. I appreciate it so much....Thank You....Dolores

    • Posted

      Dolores, chin up my dear. You have come far. Just think of what you were like at your first PT visit. I'm at 6 weeks and sill have pain in my right knee, but left knee is great! My thing is sleeping. Still not sleeping more than 3 hours a night; occasionally 4. I just wish I could get a good 6 straight hrs!!??

    • Posted

      I know Eizie sleeping is a problem for me also.It is so hard to get comfortable .Thank you so much for boosting up my morale. Hope your knee feels better soon and you get your much desired rest!
  • Posted

    I guess I was fortunate with my surgeon. He was more interested in straightening than the bend. He said, don't worry, the bend will come. And it has, 135 at one year.

    • Posted

      Yes Melinda you were very fortunate. My surgeon is a very kind man but I think he doe not realize he is making me a nervous wreck!

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