Could others share there physical therapy stories/, progress please. I think this open forum could help us all. I'm three weeks post surgery and feel progress is slow. I tried using a cane tonight and couldn't take a single step
Very frustrating and disappointing
Very frustrating and disappointing
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Ohhnurse
I too felt a lack of progress during PT. I could use a cane after two weeks. My flexion was 110° without pain 120° with. I had 9 visits and had to take a tramadol before each visit because I would be almost in tears. I went back to work at 6 weeks, worked an abbreviated schedule of three 8 hour shifts vs my normal three 12 hr shifts. I'm an O.R. nurse. My work is very physical. I iced and elevated every chance I got and took a taramadol after my shift. By the time I got home the med kicked in. I was in pain and on top of that I had to wear compression stockings and a geared brace on my other knee because I need surgery on it, too. My gait was so bad dr didn't want it to ruin my new knee. I just had my surgery two days ago sndbit hurts like hell. I'm determined to do the PT at home more than before since I froze at 110°. My therapist could get me to 120° with a lot of pain but I didn't count that as a milestone since I knew I wouldn't naturally bend that much. Jan 10th 2018 was surgery. I asked my surgeon to do a manipulation under anesthesia and asked for a block from my anesthesiologist. He said he only got 110° relaxed under anesthesia and 120° after bending it. He pressed further and he heard cracking and popping of the scar tissue. I'm familiar with this type of surgery so I asked him to go for it. He got me to 150° and snapped a photo which he showed me the next morning. He's going to email it to me. He said his goal for me is at least 135°. That's why the PT exercises they give you from the hospital are so important to do at home. I wasn't diligent the first knee, but I will be with both of them now thst I'm at square one again. It hurts like hell and I cry because of the pain but I'm determined to get to the point I can go on small hikes again or swim. My PT included massage at the site and a crazy metal devise running over the incision lineback and forth. Good thing I was and am numb there or I would have kicked my therapist. He did "cupping" to break up the adhesions I'd formed and he finished each visit with 20 minutes of ultrasound. I don't know if it works, but I'm sure the combination of the stair steps, balance ball, stretch on the cycle and leg presses help. I hope this adds to your thread in some meaningful way. Take care and try and keep positive. It's all we have.
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