Total knee replacement 12 weeks

Do your exercises every spare minute you can even if you are just watching TV, mine is just over the year and still get tight sometimes, but it's far better than it was, 12 weeks is early yet, the trouble is we have it done, but everyone is different, nobody really prepares you for what's going too happen, just be patient, it will work its self out, I got some bands from the sports shop and use them, I brought myself a set of peddles like half a bike and use that, I am not really the best advertisement but you will wake up one day and think no pain good luck.

Hi Julie

Early days yet ask your physio about massage it helps break down scar tissue just do as much exercise as you can you may get a reply from Chico Marx he has some great tips and links to a site rest when you feel the need hope you get some relief soon .

I know some people have had "manipulations" done to free up the scar tissue.  I have not and I don't even want to think about such a thing.  I know that I hit a "plateau" at -4 and just had to break through it.  Suggestion: Start a thread on "manipulations" and see what others have experienced.

Meanwhile...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-heel-slide-exercises-526213

 ...plus the machine in the picture helped me out a lot!!!

 

Hi Julie

I haven't had any manipulations, but it sounds like they want to put you on a Passive Motion machine.

Have you been massaging your incision scar? It's most important you do this regularly to inhibit the build up of scar tissue & stop adhesions. Both of which make the bend harder to achieve. At 4.5 months po I still massage my scar every morning.

Try yourself to massage the scar using Bio Oil or something similar. I was told by the physiotherapist to use either E45 cream or Nivea Creme. You need to really get your fingers into the scar to try to break down the scar tissue beneath the actual incision scar. Don't be afraid to give it a good old pummelling being careful not to actually bruise the skin.

It may help, also try to exercise & bend after you've massaged the knee as it will be good & warm.

I hope you can get a better bend without having to go on the CPM.

Good luck

Marilyn

XX

I had the same problem and stayed at 70 for 3 months. I had a manipulation, which you are put out for, and with a lot of hard work, and they will have you in PT the next day? Got to 110. I am 2 years out and all is well. It worked for me.

Has anyone had manipulation s on here how does it it help what is recovery time do u stay in hospital how painful was it did it work 👍🏽Please I'm so scared as 70 degrees post op 12 weeks and knee so stiff x

Hi Julie, as far as I know you should not have any pain through a manipulation procedure. Maybe some after, but this is suppose to help u with bending your knee. I chose not to have it done due to the same fears you r talking of. I'm 11 months po, walk fine and try to exercise every day or so. Got to keep those thigh muscles strong. I'm probably at a 110 bend, but that's good enough for me.  It's really a individual choice. But if I were you whatever your concerns are, write them down and ask all of them to your doctor.  I never thought my knee would bend as it should or the pain would ever be relieved, but lo and behold it subsided, I'm not sayin it's like how my other leg bends  but good enough for me.  Hang in there, stay strong and tough, I promise this too will pass.  Best, k p