Physical Therapy (PT): How long? Where did you do it?

@katclub : It sounds to me as if your PT people are way too agressive. Can’t argue with 126 ROM at this early stage, but I got there in about twice the time frame (132 at 4 months). My sessions lasted roughly 45 minutes, starting with a 5 to 6 minute bike warm-up, then GENTLE exercises, maximum weight on leg 2 to 3 lbs. Never needed pain pills before or after, never had exceptional pain during or after PT. Mostly, I went shopping to some specialty stores nearby after my sessions. Each PT group has their own methods, but yours sound unpleasant.
Of course I did 3 sets of exercises at home, every day, for about 8 weeks, then tapered off to 2 sets. That seemed to be more beneficial than screaming-pain workouts with the therapists.
My apologies - meant to hit (and did) the edit button, must have accidentally touched the “like” button as well. Ignore!

@ellerbracke When I go to water fitness classes I generally go at 9:00 in the morning but on the days when I do not do that I end up going in the late afternoon -- it takes me that long to get myself motivated! Yes, afterward, I am glad I went, but going there is the pits.

@katclub Your ROM sounds great, congratulations on that. Your PT does sound very intense. My ortho does not want his patients to be in a lot of pain from PT, but they are all different.

@johnbishop I only knew my flex from what the PT measured it at but you can purchase that tool from Amazon for a fairly reasonable cost if you want to be able to measure on your own. I thought about it but didn't end up buying one.
JK

I thought about buying one of the tools to measure the flexion but I just look at my other knee and compare the amount I can bend each one. I'll let them tell me when I go in for the MRI and follow up in July. Not that I'm cheap ☺

Friday I skipped one excercise, just said no. The most painful part is when pt bends my knee and deep massages my soft tissue area. I had 15 minutes of heat and tens unit and 15 of ice machine but the rest is exercise. I’m liking the bike a lot, I’m doing one session at home most of the time since I try to walk a lot.
I do feel they are agressive😐 will just Jeep saying no to what hurts!

How are you progressing with no PT?
Do you have swelling and any numbness?

@johnbishop: 🙂... not that I’m cheap either, but I was curious. Did sort of the same: compared bend/angle of knees between good one and new one. Then, once in a while, lined up non-tkr knee exactly with angle of tkr knee, took protractor (we’re both old enough to know what that is, and to have one), measured angle of good knee, and calculated from there. Simple question of math and angles. Not perfect, but close enough. Basically, I did it to bolster my ego, and keep me motivated. PT people did focus more on function than ROM in the beginning. Me, being type A personality, needed the pat on the back for doing good.

@katclub : Re. numbness, swelling.... do you still have either? Most likely, at least some. I think the last little dead, numb spot around my scar disappeared around the 4 to 6 week mark. It took a while for the nerves to regenerate. As far as swelling goes, it took much longer. Perhaps 3 to 4 months to get back to almost normal, now at 8 months I still have a slight bump on the outside of my knee every day, and it is still warmer than the other one, and any extra activity does add some swelling. Gone are the days where I could flash some sleek legs.............

I still have swelling and numbness, was told swelling for months.

@contentandwell : not sure where to find your posts regarding hip bursitis. I am wondering how you are doing? We both had the hip pain show about around the same time. I opted for PT, and it seemed to help things, at least some, and for a while. I kept up with 3 to 4 times weekly swimming 1/2 mile+, and was doing ok. Have put my indoor pool membership on hold (“open” times there do not work for me in the summer), and also have somewhat neglected my hip exercises. After 5 years of daily back exercises, about 7 months of knee rehab exercises after arthroscopic surgery in October of 2017, and now 8+ months of reduced, but still daily knee strengthening and flexibility exercises after right TKR last September, I am sick and tired of them. Will go back to OS and perhaps cave and try a cortisone shot. Hip pain is causing other issues.... left ankle hurts, developing callous on bottom outside of left foot, so things are off kilter. Are you all better now?

@ellerbracke Hi, I am sorry for such a late response. I am doing well but I do not think the PT helped my hip bursitis. I still cannot lay on my right side. I really wanted the therapist to help me figure out what was causing my bursitis to flare but he seemed clueless. I had used him for a few other things in the pasts and he had been good but this time I would have to say he really was not much help at all so I ended the PT.

I am moving along, and frankly, at this point, I think I may just have to rely on cortisone shots every 6 months or so. Not a great option but I don't see any other really. I am still doing my pool and gym exercises at my club but am on a hiatus right now due to some minor surgery that I had on Friday. I may go back to the doctor I had been to in Boston for cortisone shots before, he always seemed to really hit the right spot. My doctor up here, in the Manchester, NH, area, was excellent with synvisc shots in my knee prior to my TKR but she didn't do a great job on the cortisone shots. I just hate having to drive to Boston for something that should be fairly simple.
JK