anyone had knee surgery?

[Megalomaniac]

so I had my knee scoped and a Pattela release on Tuesday and my knee has been swollen since. I am reading my instructions on what to do and it says I should be bending it. My problem is that it is so swollen that much movement (beyond 45 degrees) it is really tight. Should I continue to try to get more movement or not stress it until the swelling goes down?

 

[jenscats5]

I had my ACL replaced about 1.5 years ago........bending the knee IS tough with all that swelling....try it on a stationary bike with the seat raised up & try first to pedal backwards (easier) then make the goal to pedal forwards (VERY hard).

Are you in PT?

 

[javaguru]

Yes, range of motion is something you really want to maintain. I was able to get 90 degrees the day after my acl replacement and had full ROM within a month but I also got pattelar tendonitis so be careful.

 

[Megalomaniac]

I had my ACL replaced about 1.5 years ago........bending the knee IS tough with all that swelling....try it on a stationary bike with the seat raised up & try first to pedal backwards (easier) then make the goal to pedal forwards (VERY hard).

Are you in PT?

not yet, I just had surgery a couple days ago and I think the doc is waiting for the swelling to go down. I was really suprised I didn't have PT yet but I am sure I will start in the morning when I go back in. So far I have just been laying around icing it, there is still a lot of swelling though. They took out a lot of junk and worked for a couple hours.

 

[jenscats5]

not yet, I just had surgery a couple days ago and I think the doc is waiting for the swelling to go down. I was really suprised I didn't have PT yet but I am sure I will start in the morning when I go back in. So far I have just been laying around icing it, there is still a lot of swelling though. They took out a lot of junk and worked for a couple hours.

I had swelling in my knee for months......still started PT less than 7 days post op.......they actually forced my knee to bend that 1st day - made me cry....ROM is very important - and it's easier if you don't lose it....if they told you to bend it, do it....

 

[Megalomaniac]

Yes, range of motion is something you really want to maintain. I was able to get 90 degrees the day after my acl replacement and had full ROM within a month but I also got pattelar tendonitis so be careful.

If I lie down and put my leg on pillows I can bend it 90 degrees now but that is using gravity and not muscle. On its own I basically have no ROM and that is what concerns me. I do have a check up in the morning but I am just wondering if I am not pushing it hard enough? I basically have been really lazy thinking the swelling would go down.

thanks for the help from the both of you BTW

 

[javaguru]

If I lie down and put my leg on pillows I can bend it 90 degrees now but that is using gravity and not muscle. On its own I basically have no ROM and that is what concerns me. I do have a check up in the morning but I am just wondering if I am not pushing it hard enough? I basically have been really lazy thinking the swelling would go down.

thanks for the help from the both of you BTW

My leg ended up 15% smaller, in PT they will move your leg to "push" the RoM and they had me using that total gym for one leg presses as well as riding a stationary bike. I had my first PT session within 24 hours of surgery....

 

[Megalomaniac]

My leg ended up 15% smaller, in PT they will move your leg to "push" the RoM and they had me using that total gym for one leg presses as well as riding a stationary bike. I had my first PT session within 24 hours of surgery....

that PT thing has got me a bit concerned. I really don't have all that much say in it being military but just wonder if there is more I should be doing. I'll wait and see what they tell me in the morning and then go from there. LOL, I'll probably be firing you up with questions after I talk with my doc.

 

[javaguru]

that PT thing has got me a bit concerned. I really don't have all that much say in it being military but just wonder if there is more I should be doing. I'll wait and see what they tell me in the morning and then go from there. LOL, I'll probably be firing you up with questions after I talk with my doc.

No need to be overly concerned until you get the 411....