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Pain after recent Knee Replacement. What is normal? For how long?
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Apr 4, 2023 | Replies (102)Comment receiving replies
I had TKA four weeks ago. My physical therapist told me I only had 21 to 28 days after surgery to get to 105% abduction. I am currently at 101 to 103, and the exercises/manipulations the therapist does three times a week are excruciating. I actually end up just screaming. I told my therapist I need a sound proof room so I don't scare the other patients. My flexion is excellent. My question is whether after four weeks post-op, I can still increase my abduction to 105%.
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Robin,
You're talking about knee flexion, that is, how far you can bend your knee, right? You're probably doing ankle slides and pulling your surgical knee as far inward as possible with the help of your other leg, while wearing socks on a wood floor. Your therapist is probably having you raise your leg over short floor hurdles, and a lot of slow walking, assisted if necessary.
The therapist is right in that flexion is dependent on doing these exercises in the weeks immediately after surgery. Don't push it past the discomfort of a hard stretch, you may be going too far. Eventually, they'll want you at 120 degrees of flexion, and 0 degrees of extension (leg straight).
Stay with it and you will be glad you did. All the best.
Joe