kmak81230
post-grad
This site has "saved" me - mostly from myself and my obsession with overworking my new knee which I got on May 9th. I am 59 years young, and was very active prior to the surgery - spin class twice a week, cardio every day, hiking, ice hockey, skiing, and road biking about 1000 miles a year. I was told that you have to work hard right from the start - and boy did I. I had my 6 week post op appointment with the surgeon today. I have been slow to see improvement in flexion and, to a lesser extent, extension and was beating myself up about it, with lots of crying, etc. My PT favors a gentle approach primarily working on functional movement (which I am excelling at) and told me to put away the goniometer (yes, I had bought one!). With the edict from surgeon to be at 110 degrees by today I was beside myself with worry. I was exercising incessantly with ice and elevation in between - and obviously not enough rest. About a week ago I found this site (thank you, thank you, thank you!) and also began listening to others (including my PT) who told me to back off on the exercise and allow my knee to rest and recover -- it was in a perpetual state of swelling and inflammation. I can say that over the past several days the swelling has receded some and on Saturday I was able to make a revolution on the bike while standing up, and today a full revolution seated - YIPPEE! I did not make the flexion goal for the surgeon who told me to be more aggressive with the stretching (with a "threat" of MUA if no gains in another 6 weeks) but I have made some small gains. I am probably at 95 degrees flexion comfortably with 5 extension. I will use the tips from this site on correctly using the bike for stretching (not training!) as well as the suggestions for extension and flexion. I wish I had found this site prior to my surgery and will definitely do things differently when I have the right one done. Thanks to all of the experts on here - my emotional well-being is much better knowing that I am not "abnormal" and that patience and rest will help me in the long run.