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Post TKR bend range

Posted , 4 users are following.

davidpage66
davidpage66

i know someone who had a TKR 10 weeks ago. At six week she went in to have a full manipulation done under anaesthetic due to low range movement with 24 hours on a a CPM. This was due to scar tissue adhesions reducing movement. 

Now ow she is getting 85-90 degree bend over edge of physio bench but can only side leg up when lying down to about 45-50 degrees. 

Consultant wants more physio and says adhesions may reform with addn manipulation needed. 

Stil il in pain when exercising at home and not very happy with progress. Can walk without stick. 

Has  anyone else had more than one set of manipulations and can anyone give advice as to whether this is normal or should we be concerned. 

She had previously had two keyhole arthroscopies btw

Many thanks for any help

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • martinarvelo
    martinarvelo davidpage66

    Posted

    Unfortunately we are all different. I think Im heading in the same direction and working as hard as I can to avoid it but it's so difficult to keep inflicting pain on yourself even though you know it's necessary. I hope your friend manages to improve and wish good luck
  • Jlndidit
    Jlndidit davidpage66

    Posted

    I don't understand why you have to be in pain in order to do PT.   Do you not have pain meds?  You cannot always be pain free but you should not be in lots of pain during first couple months.  I am in USA and they give pain meds for first 4-6 weeks after TKR.  One thing is important and PT should tell/show how to move skin to keep scar tissue from forming.  Good luck to you.  I'm almost 10 months post TKR and am fixing to have my other knee replaced.  
    • joansgarden
      joansgarden Jlndidit

      Posted

      Oh good grief, I am also in the US and I am on the strongest narcotics they have but they don't do a thing for the pain that comes with trying to bend my knee. I had a MUA 9 days ago, and while the nerve was blocked I got good motion, but as soon as the block wore off the pain returned and the bend decreased so that now I am about where I started before the MUA. No doubt the bend decreased because it was was just too painful to bend it. It was AGONY. I had physical therapy every day for 8 days and by the 7th day the therapist gave me a bit of a break and didn't try to bend it quite so far. I've been on narcotics now for 12 weeks and wonder how on earth I'm ever going to get off them.
    • martinarvelo
      martinarvelo Jlndidit

      Posted

      Pain control isnt easy here in Spain. After three days they were giving me just four 500 mg paracetamols a day, and believe me that does not do a lot of good i eventually persuaded the specialist to prescribe tramadol, but he's only given me enough for one a day which i use just before the physio comes. I think they would all be at home inFifty Shades of Grey. I just dont understand why..... I would never put myself through all this agony again
  • joansgarden
    joansgarden davidpage66

    Posted

    I'm in about exactly the same boat. I had my TKR 13 weeks ago. At 12 weeks I had MUA due to adhesions reducing movement. I had 2 previous surgeries on that knee. I'm doing a few degrees better with the bend, but not much. I've heard of people having more than 1 manipulation but I don't know how successful it is. I'm also still in pain when bending the knee past about 95 but can walk and drive just fine.
  • diana90984
    diana90984 davidpage66

    Posted

    I've had 2 manipulates so far and may need another one but mine is to straighten the leg. I'm afraid it's back to square one each time, particularly as I was in plaster for 3 weeks last time. I didn't have a nerve block and it was agony for a couple of hours but controllable with paracetamol and diazepam after that. I'm now 7 1/2 months post op and still on paracetamol (can't take any opiates) but doing clinical Pilates and walking at least a mile a day. Still waddling rather than walking but I've got to have a life and can't sit around all day. So keep cheerful and try to be positive!!
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