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Flexibility and Range of Motion after TKR

Joint Replacements | Last Active: Feb 6 8:35am | Replies (26)
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@pennreel123

Had TKR 12/15/24 have had no pain meds except Advil and Tylenol as I’m allergic to all narcotics. I’ve had severe pain on lateral side and I’ve only gotten to 105° range of motion. I can get up and down from chair, climb 4 flights of stairs, ride a bike and other things but just can’t get the knee to bend backwards. Anybody else with this problem as my doctor is not happy with my progress even though I’ve had no narcotics to get me through this

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Replies to "Had TKR 12/15/24 have had no pain meds except Advil and Tylenol as I’m allergic to..."
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Feb 6 7:56am

Hello @pennreel123,

I combined your discussion with an existing discussion titled:

"Flexibility and Range of Motion after TKR"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/flexibility-after-tkr/

This conversation was started by @4russcoll and outlines much of the same issues you have encountered. I'd also like to invite @knittygirl, @irenesara, @lisastpeters and @cathymw who have all discussed their range-of-motion as well.

@pennreel123, What does your provider or surgeon think of your current recovery arc? I struggled with scar tissue when I had my knee replaced at age 19. But it was attributed to being so young for the surgery. Ultimately after two MUAs I ended up with about 105 degrees of flexion as the final result, but that is not the norm and below what I had hoped. It has already been 19 years, and my quality of life is and was vastly better regardless of the ROM.

Are you still continuing to make small gains, or have you plateaued with your progress?

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cathymw | @cathymw | Feb 6 8:35am

I've written my story before. TKA was end of May 24. At 6 wk post-op my knee was not extending flat and barely flexed past 90* without major help from PT. My Dr. didn't seem concerned. 2nd opinion stated no one would touch me unless I tried an MUA to see if it was a scar tissue issue. My surgeon had to be convinced. It is best to do prior to week 12 for best results.
So glad I did. Can get to 0* and 125* now (30* improvement at least). Still doesn't move like I had hoped, but at least I can walk and hike. Stairs are a bitch. Still stiff. Still limiting and frustrating to the point I can't do my other painful knee.
Look up past posts of MUA, arthrofibrosis...
Good luck. You're still "new", but that 12 week timing is ticking...

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