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MUA MUA at 5 months

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bikerchick1958

bikerchick1958

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I have a MUA scheduled for June 10, 5 months after I had my knee replaced. I'm not sure what to expect because everything I've read here is from people who had it done early on. My OS like to wait until later when the swelling has gone down. He isn't very good at answering questions - he's almost a caricature of the surgeon with lousy bed-side manner. He's one of the best surgeons in the area, well actually one of the best in the state, so he's who I chose regardless of his lack of ability to talk. I know I'll be in the hospital overnight on the passive motion machine. What I mostly want to know is how much work I might miss. I can work from home, so the only real problem with working is if I have to use strong pain meds. Will I be able to drive afterwards, or will I have to wait for awhile? And how long will it be until I can be as active as I have been lately? I've got to think that recovery from this after just a month or two after the surgery would be very different than at 5 months - my knee is no longer angry, the swelling inside my knee seems to be gone, I'm not exhausted, and I've been off pain meds for about 6 weeks.

By the way, I love, love, love my new knee. I spent the winter crying, thinking I had ruined everything by getting this knee that was never going to work right. Reading this forum kept me from completely despairing. Everything I read said that what I was feeling was normal and it would work out fine in the end. And they were right! I can walk for miles and miles and the rubber band feeling has been gone for over a month. After I've been really active, it will click and feel like hardware, but most of the time it feels like it's my own knee. I'm really looking forward to getting flexation back so I can walk up and down stairs normally and not get my leg stuck in branches when I walk in the woods. And riding my bike is going to be fantastic.
 
Hi bikerchick, sorry you are needing MUA so soon. I can't really comment on the procedure but I'll tag Jamie and Josephine to give you expert advice. Hang in there - they will be along soon!
 
bikerchick1958, I had my MUA at four months. I was in hospital overnight and on the CPM machine all night (my choice). A day or so later I had more swelling and stiffness, but I was able to continue with day to day things. I will still off work then, so fortunately didn't have to worry about that side of things. It was only a few days before Christmas and family due to come and stay. But I still managed to get the housework done and do the usual preparing, cooking, etc. over the holiday period.

Upshot is, so glad I had the MUA. I had no problems and it helped improve my ROM enormously from 70 to currently 105.

You should have no worries.
 
I had an MUA on my right tkr at 10 weeks. I went home the same day. My knee was pretty sore and swollen for a few days so had to go back on crutches for 3-4 days, but after that I was able to drive and get back into things. My Orthopedist did insist I stay out of work for an additional 2 weeks, but that is mainly because I had an hour commute and he said being in the car that long would not be good. The worst pain was the muscle pain as the muscles were taxed pretty heavily during the surgery.
 
You didn't say what your ROM is at present.

Actually, your questions rather fall under the 'how long is a piece of string' question. Everyone's experience is different and it depends how much effective 'damage' he does. But previous posters have told you their personal experience - don't get much better than that!
 
BC'58,

Best wishes for your outcome on the MUA. I hope you are back on the bike soon.
 
I guess based on my experience, how things go after MUA depends on how aggressive your ortho is. My ortho does them pretty gently. He grasps the lower leg just below the knee so that the leg is not bent with a lot of force. But you are getting your MUA at a time when your knee is pretty settled down, whereas most of us get MUA when our knee is still swollen and inflamed. So I would ask your surgeon, and it depends on your line of work. A few days at most, I'd think, just guessing. I mean, why not plan on a week off anyhow to really baby yourself and give your knee a good new start?

By the way, that lack of bedside manner is pretty common with surgeons and especially orthos. I think they deal with so many pain complaints, too, that they have to steel themselves to us a bit. But he sounds conservative (which is good) and apparently has a good reputation.

I'm glad you are going forward with this because that bending thing is pretty important to not only function but our sense of well-being.
 
You've had some good responses regarding your upcoming MUA. Try not to worry about it. Recovery will not be anything as extensive as your TKR. I imagine you will only need pain medications only for a short while. For people who have hit a wall with their bending, it can do the trick to loosen things up. Be prepared for some swelling and pain afterwards, but you may or may not have it.

Actually, we recommend that folks wait to have an MUA until just about your point in recovery or later. You want to be sure the swelling is down and give the tissues a chance to settle before doing something like this that would fire them up again. I think your surgeon is wise with that choice.
 
First of all, don't worry! I had my first one at 6 months and have another in 2 weeks! I was back atvwork in 4 days and in retrospect, i did not give myself enough time to heal. Guilt about being away got in the way ... Wrong ... Wrong ... Wrong. I am pretty sure i got adhesions hence the second one. The people on here are great. I suggest listening to them. Hang in there.
 
BC'58,

I read your posts in the Cyclist's recovery thread. Going to short crank arms and unclipping the recovering side so you you can keep cycling is great adaptation. I'm glad you are back to longer rides. Hope your flexion snaps back at some point and, again good luck w/MUA.
 
I can't wait to get it done. My husband is looking forward to it too so I don't get so sore when I ride.
 
Had my MUA on Monday. When I woke up, I was amazed at how much my knee was bending. Now I'm right back to where I was before. I've been using a CPM about 5 hours a day, but nothing seems to be improving. Is this normal? I feel as frustrated as I did last winter. I thought I was going to be one of these people who would be back on my bike within a month or so.
 
My understanding is that there will be some temporary regression after a MUA, as there is going to be some swelling and some stiffness due to what was done under the anesthetic. After the knee gets over this trauma, it should begin to loosen up.
 
Oh, I hope you're right. I feel like I've gone backwards - I have to think very carefully again about walking properly and my once perfect extension is definitely not where it was. I'm starting to feel hopeless again, like I did last winter. I have to remind myself that things got better last winter, and they will get better again soon. I hate feeling like this. At least I'm not in any pain at all, which surprises me. I threw away the prescription they gave me for oxycodone.
 
I had MUA 2 weeks ago and had intense physiotherapy since. Before i had procedure, i was about 75 now i am about 80 despite being on every machine and gadget known to man. I question the validiity of CPM as perhaps it can be too passive. I must add that i am not the expert, just the recipient! Might I add one thought? How much ice are you putting on? I have found that not only does it reduce the pain but also the swelling and so free up movement. The other thing perhaps it is just a question of time. At the stage, maybe the only thing you/i can do is give it time.

PS i have had 2 MUA and next stage is revision so hopefully you are not on the same journey.


Good luck
 
This is typical. It is important at this time to have faith. The adhesions were broken, you already witnessed what you're capable of, but now you have to get the swelling down and the muscles settled down enough to want to stretch again. It will be a couple of weeks or more before you see bending that renews your hope. In the meantime, DO NOT push your knee to bend more. You are once again on square one with healing first of all and only doing gentle range of motion stretches until the muscles are ready for more. And yes, when the adhesions are broken, there's less pain because you're not trying to move with those adhesions working against your efforts. I cannot stress enough how important it is to not rush your knee by undergoing intense physiotherapy with a professional or on your own.
 
I agree with Mary. I'm sure you will be fine and see much improvement over the coming weeks and months. Remember that word - patience :)
 
Hello. Last physio before return to surgeon. Only got 80 degrees despite all the extra effort. Fallen over twice... Ouch! It will be interesting to see what surgeon suggests.
 
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