Poor range of motion after TKR and manipulation: What to do?

Posted by ffpm1381 @ffpm1381, Mar 25, 2023

I had a TKR 3months ago and had manual manipulation 4 days ago. My ROM was great while on the nerve block but as soon as that wore off my ROM went from 110 to 70 degrees. I do have a lot of pain in the quadricep and the muscle are very tight. I am taking a muscle relaxer with no relief. I am thinking of going for a second opinion. I had a comformis knee replacement and I am going to PT 5 days a week without much success . Does anyone have any recommendations or have had the same problem.

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@spinner2

Love your proactiveness! Doctors, therapist, etc. - we don’t have time to stick with losers. We’ll all get through this! The “village” of contributors helps our mental and physical well being too. My daughter’s boyfriend is a physician, and kind of jokes with me when I talk about pain. (He has a great bedside manner). He’ll look at me and say (in a “yoga” type voice), “What is Pain?” I’ll kind of laugh, but you know, I kind of think, yes, what is pain….i can get through this. Btw - 10 minute morning warm up with Dr Samantha Smith on you tube helps me become a little less stiff. I even have my 78 year old husband (I’m 75) doing it with me. Helps his arthritis. Good luck!

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Hang in there! It has to get better, right?💖🫂🙏

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@ezas123

Unfortunately if you are reading this you either have issues or had issue…. I feel for all that are stuck in a world of pain with no flexion and limited ….
But I am with you and I want to thank you for sharing all you go through and been through…..some might know I have had tkr, manipulation next year a revision …. Now few years later still pain stiffness dr want to remove scar tissue …. But reading everything and knowing my body I am done …. We have to remember Dr they want to operate that’s what they do they feel that might fix things , that is where we come in do our research and know our own bodies….. now I try anything noninvasive, graston technique, mfr, sound wave therapy, always looking for new things …. But like I said moving for me best medicine until I am totally better from car accident I know not possible …..but someone said one step at a time they are right I hurt every time I go to gym I feel so much better afterwards… I am 62 I am pretty active right now I struggle to walk I find my right foot drag a little after while frustrating but I don’t stop lol …… I refuse to let this take over my life so each day for 15 min I put my knee over wedge which is painful as you know my flexion last checked 85 at my best was 100 but that was great …. It’s amazing what we can get used to hopefully pool help me get back to 100 after accident ……so find what works for you … slow and steady…. Dont allow anyone else to physically push on you ….. you know what pain you can tolerate and having someone else do it cause more scar tissue to form …..but do what you are comfortable with just my experience….

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That last part- having someone push on you. Man, I did that 3x/week to killer pain, where I was literally banging my head on the wall beyond the table as they pushed. My spouse thinks that trauma added to my arthrofibrosis. I wished the PT and surgeon worked together. I had to trust someone?

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@cathymw

That last part- having someone push on you. Man, I did that 3x/week to killer pain, where I was literally banging my head on the wall beyond the table as they pushed. My spouse thinks that trauma added to my arthrofibrosis. I wished the PT and surgeon worked together. I had to trust someone?

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I hear you every Dr does things differently ….but hopefully us sharing will help others so they don’t have to go through what we have …..my pt tried pushing but hit stone wall was not moving my dr told me I could not handle the pain lol here he put replacement 3 sizes to big did not help matters….after that I met a chiropractor and a mfr therapist that helped me through all the pain waiting for the revision….they have been amazing through my process ….. another important thing find people you trust and listen to you …. I still see them now I took a brake when I was doing better but since car accident back to regular visits …. So this is for the seekers …. If you know you build scare tissue quick your best friend is exercise not a scalpel… nothing going to make it go way entirely but there are times I can sure live with it ….

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@ezas123

I hear you every Dr does things differently ….but hopefully us sharing will help others so they don’t have to go through what we have …..my pt tried pushing but hit stone wall was not moving my dr told me I could not handle the pain lol here he put replacement 3 sizes to big did not help matters….after that I met a chiropractor and a mfr therapist that helped me through all the pain waiting for the revision….they have been amazing through my process ….. another important thing find people you trust and listen to you …. I still see them now I took a brake when I was doing better but since car accident back to regular visits …. So this is for the seekers …. If you know you build scare tissue quick your best friend is exercise not a scalpel… nothing going to make it go way entirely but there are times I can sure live with it ….

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My surgeon mentioned at my 6 week postoperative that he’d go down a size for my other knee there was debate about it being too large. How the hell does that happen? Don’t they have a plan and parts ready? That may be what contributes to my issues. Who knows?

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@ezas123

Unfortunately if you are reading this you either have issues or had issue…. I feel for all that are stuck in a world of pain with no flexion and limited ….
But I am with you and I want to thank you for sharing all you go through and been through…..some might know I have had tkr, manipulation next year a revision …. Now few years later still pain stiffness dr want to remove scar tissue …. But reading everything and knowing my body I am done …. We have to remember Dr they want to operate that’s what they do they feel that might fix things , that is where we come in do our research and know our own bodies….. now I try anything noninvasive, graston technique, mfr, sound wave therapy, always looking for new things …. But like I said moving for me best medicine until I am totally better from car accident I know not possible …..but someone said one step at a time they are right I hurt every time I go to gym I feel so much better afterwards… I am 62 I am pretty active right now I struggle to walk I find my right foot drag a little after while frustrating but I don’t stop lol …… I refuse to let this take over my life so each day for 15 min I put my knee over wedge which is painful as you know my flexion last checked 85 at my best was 100 but that was great …. It’s amazing what we can get used to hopefully pool help me get back to 100 after accident ……so find what works for you … slow and steady…. Dont allow anyone else to physically push on you ….. you know what pain you can tolerate and having someone else do it cause more scar tissue to form …..but do what you are comfortable with just my experience….

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Thanks for your encouragement and support! I feel for everyone who is having to deal with pain and stiffness! I'm remaining positive that I will get through this and have an ok quality of life! Praying for you and everyone else too!,💖🫂🙏

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@cathymw

My surgeon mentioned at my 6 week postoperative that he’d go down a size for my other knee there was debate about it being too large. How the hell does that happen? Don’t they have a plan and parts ready? That may be what contributes to my issues. Who knows?

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Oh my goodness …. Sorry but I don’t think I would trust that Dr ….

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@jkelly7889

I had a failed knee replacement dec of 22. Then a manipulation jan of 23, then a scope july of 23. Then after finding a revision specialist i had a revision Sept of 24. I a now back to where I was before my first replacement. My knee is twice the size of my other. I can only bend it 65 degrees and I have constant pain and swelling. I can no longer do daily activities safely. I'm unable to walk down a step safely or get in and out of my car without the risk of falling. My quality of life is poor, I went from being a very active person to not being able to participate in anythinh

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Hang in there

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@jkelly7889

What specific test did you have done to see if you're allergic or rejecting

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I haven't had any testing done yet.

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@jkelly7889

I haven't had any testing done yet.

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I was able to get the name of the cement and will be scheduling the patch tests. I understand they can be pricey.

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@cathymw

That last part- having someone push on you. Man, I did that 3x/week to killer pain, where I was literally banging my head on the wall beyond the table as they pushed. My spouse thinks that trauma added to my arthrofibrosis. I wished the PT and surgeon worked together. I had to trust someone?

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That's what happened to me! The PT was so aggressive in his effort to increase my ROM that I think he actually caused more harm than good! Since I left PT and have been walking, doing stairs and home exercises, my knee has relaxed a bit more. It's still stiff from scar tissue, but my doctor just prescribed Pregnesone to help stop further development and help with swelling. I start seeing a new PT this month, and they offer aqua therapy which has been recommended to me! Best of luck in your recovery! Time is our friend....It will get better!💖🫂

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