RE: Re: Poor Knee Bend

[Guest guest]

You may not get to 125 degrees. in fact many people don't.sometimes you get

to 110-120 and that's it. at 100-105 you can make a pedal swing on a bicycle

and sit down pretty normally. every knee is different.depends on how bad it

was and how your new knee and you respond. Work hard and try your best.Bill

is right that it will hurt but have the PT bend it further once you bend it

as far as you can. push it but realize you'll get what you get and it might

not be 125.

Harold

_____

From: Joint Replacement

[mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Bill

Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 11:19 PM

Joint Replacement

Subject: Re: Poor Knee Bend

>

> Four weeks post op left knee replacement (Corin Rotaglide) but my knee

> bend is only 80 deg, is this normal will it improve? I am 56 years old

> and in good shape otherwise. There were no complications with the op

> and I was back at work after two weeks with no problems.

> Thanks,

> Bill.

>

Yes, it will improve. Early gain is better, but my surgeon says that

gains will happen up to a year or more out. Keep working at it until

you get at least 125 deg. Joanie suggested one good exercise.

Someone at my physical therapy had good luck putting his foot in a

frying pan to make sliding it along the rug easier. I had my best luck

on the stairs, putting the leg I was bending up one step and slowly

leaning into it. I could gauge success by watching how close my knee

was getting to the step above it. When you are able to touch your

knee to the step, move up to two steps. Another good one is an

exercise bicycle. Set the seat pretty high. You might not be able to

go around yet, but just work back and forth. You will probably be able

to go around backwards before going around frontwards.

Have patience, and keep working at it. Don't let work get in the way

of doing your therapy. Find a step in the office and work it a little

every couple of hours, or more often if you can. I spent too much time

trying to work, and it made my recovery slower.

If it is really having trouble, go to a PT 2 or 3 times a week and

have them lean on it. You will say " uncle " , but it will help.

I'm 57, and had both mine replaced a year ago. My flexion was similar

or slower than yours to come around, but it got there.

Also Bill, in Minneapolis