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TKR SIX WEEK PT SETBACK
At six weeks post TKR my PT had me do a set of 20 wall sits ; the next day I had a sharp pain in knee when sitting down or upon standing from a seated position,with considerable swelling. I am frustrated by the setback and I am interested in suggestions to handle it.
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I would definitely reach out to your doctor and PT.
I am in no way affiliated with the health care industry but I would keep my knee elevated as much as possible and ice for no more than 20 minutes at a time while waiting on direction from a medical professional. Good luck, I hope it's just a strained thigh muscle.
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1 Reaction@tennisgal Ouch! Setbacks after new PT exercises are not uncommon after TKR or any other surgery/injury.
Is this the first time the therapist had you do wall sits? Was it the registered PT, or a PTA (physical therapy assistant)? Were they at hand the whole time, watching your technique and level of fatigue? Did they limit your range for the squat to 45 degrees and make sure your feet were far enough from the wall? It sounds like this might be a case of "too much, too soon" or of poor form.
I would report this to both the surgeon and the therapist, ice and elevate, and continue range of motion exercises to the best of my ability.
And next time a new exercise is introduced, I would insist on doing half as many as the PT wants the first time, supervised directly by the PT (not PTA) to see how my body tolerates it.
If I got pushback on my requests, I would be looking for a new Physical Therapy facility - they are not all equal in quality.
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4 ReactionsI appreciate your kind response,thank you; to answer your questions,it was the first time I attempted wall sits,and was instructed to reach ninety degrees and hold for five count. After five or six I was struggling and told to take a break and continue to twenty. Interesting, I am not certain if it is a PT or a PTA and will now find out! I will follow your suggestions and advocate for myself,I appreciate your instruction, thank you.
@vonkamp I appreciate your kind response, thank you!
@tennisgal, Bless you and I can so relate.
There were some PT exercises and the weighted board push was one that would cause so much pain for me. It would take me days to get back to normal. I told the physical therapist I could not do those anymore and she was ok with that and gave me others to do.
PT should not cause so much pain and swelling for you. I have other health issues that would flare up as well if they over did it in PT. I at times would take an entire week's break from PT and do exercises at home until I was able to go back to PT. I definitely would elevate and ice the knee and also talk to your doctor.
I know PT is not pleasant, but, it should not be torture and cause setbacks like what you are describing.
Praying for you. Blessings & Prayers.....