Posted , 12 users are following.
I keep reading or hearing about the need to gain a good range of knee bend within the first six weeks after surgery or be left with limited range of movement hereafter. Can anybody confirm this or can i stop feeling panic as my own Rom is stuck on 60? With thanks.
2 likes, 20 replies
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jen04209 jean04276
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jean04276 jen04209
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davidjk22 jean04276
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Don't panic , everyone recovers at a different rate . Physio , exercise a little and often , ice , pain control all help . As well as bend it is very important to be able to straighten the knee . You will get there in the end , it takes time , don't get depressed if it seems to be taking too long , try to increase physio and exercise , but don't over do it . Take your pain medication before exercise , much easier to do if you are not in pain . Look forward to many years of pain free knees . I am now 19½ and 17½ years since my tkrs and have had no problems .
jean04276 davidjk22
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CHICO_MARX jean04276
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I started outside PT at 3 weeks. Measured -14 / +84. Did PT for 10 weeks @ 2X/week. Finished at -1 / +123. Kept up the ROM work. At 18 months post-op, I'm 0 / +133. Everyone is different but you must do the work...and the earlier the better.
davidjk22 CHICO_MARX
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cherry75260 jean04276
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Hi Jean,
I’m 9 weeks post-op tkr. I started PT 6 weeks ago with a ROM of 85. My progress has been slow, but I reached 111 degrees today. As you can see by everyone’s reply, we all reach our goals at different rates through much hard work and dedication. My goal is 125 so I have a ways to go, but I’ll make it. Hang in there, be faithful about your exercises and you will meet your goal !
Many blessings ,
Cherry🍒
jessica12540 jean04276
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Jean hang in there. It is as they have said different for everyone. You have to stick with it. And exercise everyday. Ice is your friend. In time you will see progress and don't be discouraged if it feels like two steps forward one back. It will change! Good luck😀
jean04276 jessica12540
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John5006 jean04276
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Hi Jean,
?Well, basically you heard right. I'm not from a medical background so can only tell you my experience. My surgeon and hospital wouldn't let me home until I had at least a 90 degree bend in the operated knee. I soon learned all about heel slides. I also learned about massaging the incision line to prevent scar tissue forming - this can restrict the benefits of exercises.
?So, plenty of pain medication, do exercises little and often, elevate and ice when resting. You will find you'll need about a 130 bend, maybe a bit more, to eventually be able to walk properly. Suggest you go to youTube and type in search box "exercises after knee replacement surgery" and/or "heel slides". you'll find short videos on there that explain stuff better than I can write it.
?I never ever had PT after my discharge from hospital. Just a programme of exercises to do at home, up to 5 or 6 times a day. But, I did get my sports injury massage therapist to weekly massage my incision line. Stopping scar tissue forming is so important.
Good luck,
John
jean04276 John5006
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sharonc67 jean04276
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I'm just over 4 weeks since my TKR, and the worst part by far is my bend. Only up to 60 degrees myself and the physio has said that if I don't get up to 90 by the time I see the consultant in 2 weeks, he will probably insist I have another operation to bend it for me under anaesthetic! Obviously don't want to go down this route so working hard on my exercises. Really getting frustrated now not being able to drive but the swelling and scar tissue is still holding me back. Everyone has their own journey to go on...good luck with yours.
jean04276 sharonc67
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Many stress that ROM varies between people, that there is no set time to achieve it and you can still be improving up to a year later.
As advised, thinking you may need further surgery can set you back and feel defeated. Join me in thinking with exercise and self belief, we shall achieve our goals no matter how long it takes. Best wishes.
sharonc67 jean04276
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Advice and encouragement has been great on this forum, I had a really bad time early on and they all helped immensely. Keep thinking positive and we'll both get there in the end. Best wishes to you too.
cynthia89958 jean04276
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OK, you have already have some responses, all very good. Here's my story - I had a lot of pain at first after RTKR and pain meds gave me problems. So I found myself with a declining bend although knee would go flat OK. At 10 weeks and 65 degrees ROM, I was given the manipulation under anaesthesia or MUA. That was not as bad as I thought it would be and helped a lot, achieving 95 then 110 later on. The doc wanted at least 95 degrees so I could do most everyday things. The other knee is also affected by OA, so not aiming to do anything too athletic.
?I had very severe scar tissue and the knee is still a slow work in progress months later on, but I'm glad I had the procedure as then I could engage with the exercises better. I don't think I could have got there without the help.
?So, don't panic, there is lots of time and you may find your knee will reach the bend with PT and your own efforts just fine, but if not, there is help available.
jean04276 cynthia89958
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