Pain/discomfort @ front of new knee.

[Guest guest]

Bill here again..... I had TKR last Feb, everything went well. However, for the

past couple months, the front of the knee seems to " pull " when bending. It's

most noticeable when bending the knee going down steps, .....like a muscle on

the front of the knee. Anyone else have this experience?

Bill

[Guest guest]

Bill here again ....... Feels like a musle " pulling/stretching " at the

left-fromt of knee.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bill here again..... I had TKR last Feb, everything went well. However, for the

past couple months, the front of the knee seems to " pull " when bending. It's

most noticeable when bending the knee going down steps, .....like a muscle on

the front of the knee. Anyone else have this experience?

>

> Bill

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, my knee is now a year old and I know exactly what you mean. I also had

achiness on the top of the thigh, very close to the knee. I have mostly

eliminated it now through specific stretches.

I will pass on what was explained to me by an excellent physio - although she

used more technical language and this is a real layman's guide to it for sure.

There are three big muscles that start by being attached at the hip then cross

around and over the thigh and attach to the front/side of the knee. Through all

the years of favouring the knee, then the trauma of surgery they get adhesions

between them so they no longer move smoothly against each other - this is what

causes the achiness I was experiencing and the tightness.

So as long as I faithfully do the following, I have eliminated both the

tightness and the achiness. But as soon as I stop for a couple days it starts

returning.

1) Lie on the edge of the bed with the leg dangling over the edge. Position the

foot back so that the stretch is happening down the front and the inside of the

thigh. Experiment with this a bit till you feel the stretch. Hold for a count of

30. If I do this just before I go to bed at night I eliminate any achiness at

night.

2) Use a belt behind the ankle - put leg straight up in air and pull it toward

you - stretching the back of the leg/thigh.

3) Lie on floor with foot of good leg against wall (knee at 90 deg). Bend

replaced knee/leg over the other and push gently against the knee. Hold for

count of 30.

4) Take a squash ball or a tennis ball wrapped in white tape (so that it does

not slip) and place it between your hip and the wall. Roll around with the ball

biting into the muscle attachment on the hip. If it hurts or you have sharp

needle like sensations your are applying pressure to the right places -

attachments that are congested/tight. This accupressure releases those

attachments.

5) When I am sitting in my lazy girl watching tv I " work " those muscles with my

fingers - grabbing them and applying deep massage, manipulating them, moving

them - so that the adhesions are released and don't reform.

The other thing that I totally swear by is IMS - Intramuscular Stimulation. The

physio inserts slender needles (like accupuncture) into muscles that are very

tight and they release. I feel the release immediately and am always so much

better after one of these sessions.

Hope this gives you something to think about/try.

Carolyn

>

> Bill here again..... I had TKR last Feb, everything went well. However, for

the past couple months, the front of the knee seems to " pull " when bending.

It's most noticeable when bending the knee going down steps, .....like a muscle

on the front of the knee. Anyone else have this experience?

>

> Bill

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Bill, Nope, no pulling.  How far can you bend it?  If it is 130 degrees

when the pulling starts, forget about it!

All the best, Joan

________________________________

From: wsingham2 <wsingham2@...>

Joint Replacement

Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 5:42 PM

Subject: Re: Pain/discomfort @ front of new knee.

 

Bill here again ....... Feels like a musle " pulling/stretching " at the

left-fromt of knee.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bill here again..... I had TKR last Feb, everything went well. However, for the

past couple months, the front of the knee seems to " pull " when bending. It's

most noticeable when bending the knee going down steps, .....like a muscle on

the front of the knee. Anyone else have this experience?

>

> Bill

>

[Guest guest]

Carolyn:

Thank you for the great information. I'll be studying...... it carefully.....

Was your discomfort at the front-and-slightly-to-the outside of the knee?....

Bill

[Guest guest]

I remember the discomfort you are talking about. I do a lot of aquafit and at

about the 6 month mark for me I remember that there is a maneuver where you bend

and cross the knee kind of to the inside at the same time you touch your

opposite elbow to the knee.

When I did that I had a really strong discomfort on the outside of the knee.

That is probably what you are talking about. I think it is strictly the result

of being a lot more active with time - it certainly was with me. I kept pushing

that particular stretch until I realized one day that it had not bothered me in

a long time. And it no longer does.

Similarly I think that a lot of the discomfort I sometimes get now with those

muscles that cross from my hip down my thigh to attach in the front of the knee

- that discomfort comes from the intensity of the workouts I am doing. I am

hoping that by being faithful to the extra stretching that one day I'll say the

same thing about these - that I no longer feel that discomfort.

Incidentally, I now have very good flexion - don't know the number but it was

120 a LONG time ago and I know it has improved quite a bit in recent months

because I can now touch my foot almost to my butt. They say that you must get

all your flexion in first 3 months and I am sure you get MOST of it then by

working the knee hard, but you can still improve it in the ensuing year or two.

Make sure you work very hard on the flattening too as that is what will permit

you to stand for long periods without pain.

By the way, I am the biggest believer in aqua phsyio and aquafit classes. My

greatest gains in flexion always came during sessions in the water, but the

benefit/increased flexion carried over onto land.

And ...I will celebrate my 60th birthday this fall by having my other knee

replaced as well.

Carolyn

>

>

> Carolyn:

>

> Thank you for the great information. I'll be studying...... it carefully.....

Was your discomfort at the front-and-slightly-to-the outside of the knee?....

>

> Bill

>

[Guest guest]

Good advice Carolyn.  I still do my exercises and still fell I can get more

flexation even after 11/2 years. I think we all have to understand that the new

knee is never going to be exactly the same as the old knee was before arthritis

set in.  I may not be able to kneel, but I can still thank God that I live in

an era of joint replacement.  It sure beats a scooter.  

All the best, Joan

________________________________

From: cusher53 <cusher@...>

Joint Replacement

Sent: Saturday, July 30, 2011 6:22 AM

Subject: Re: Pain/discomfort @ front of new knee.

 

I remember the discomfort you are talking about. I do a lot of aquafit and at

about the 6 month mark for me I remember that there is a maneuver where you bend

and cross the knee kind of to the inside at the same time you touch your

opposite elbow to the knee.

When I did that I had a really strong discomfort on the outside of the knee.

That is probably what you are talking about. I think it is strictly the result

of being a lot more active with time - it certainly was with me. I kept pushing

that particular stretch until I realized one day that it had not bothered me in

a long time. And it no longer does.

Similarly I think that a lot of the discomfort I sometimes get now with those

muscles that cross from my hip down my thigh to attach in the front of the knee

- that discomfort comes from the intensity of the workouts I am doing. I am

hoping that by being faithful to the extra stretching that one day I'll say the

same thing about these - that I no longer feel that discomfort.

Incidentally, I now have very good flexion - don't know the number but it was

120 a LONG time ago and I know it has improved quite a bit in recent months

because I can now touch my foot almost to my butt. They say that you must get

all your flexion in first 3 months and I am sure you get MOST of it then by

working the knee hard, but you can still improve it in the ensuing year or two.

Make sure you work very hard on the flattening too as that is what will permit

you to stand for long periods without pain.

By the way, I am the biggest believer in aqua phsyio and aquafit classes. My

greatest gains in flexion always came during sessions in the water, but the

benefit/increased flexion carried over onto land.

And ...I will celebrate my 60th birthday this fall by having my other knee

replaced as well.

Carolyn

>

>

> Carolyn:

>

> Thank you for the great information. I'll be studying...... it carefully.....

Was your discomfort at the front-and-slightly-to-the outside of the knee?....

>

> Bill

>