I went back to aqua therapy this week, and it’s already making a huge difference in my ability to move. Everyone keeps telling me how well I’m doing, and all I can think about is how much farther I need to go. Oh well. (I live in fear of the dreaded MUA — manipulation under anesthesia, where the doctor goes in and tears your scar tissue open because you don’t have the expected range of motion.)
The PTs in the rehab center told me they don’t usually get patients who are this engaged in their recovery. It’s more common that patients get the surgery and believe their job is done — when it’s only just beginning. I know what the PTs mean; I met some of those people in aqua therapy. They constantly complained about how the surgery didn’t work and how long they’ve been in pain — while they walked around the pool talking on their cell phones. I mean, there were some people who I never once saw do actual exercises. (That said, the doctor did not give me enough pain pills, and that was rough.)
I, on the other hand, overprepared. Read lots of books, watched lots of rehab videos, asked lots of questions. When I started aqua therapy again, my therapist told me she couldn’t believe how well I was doing. (Which was what I told her all along. I think she just assumed I would follow the same timeline as her patients who didn’t take an active role in their recovery.)
So far, it’s paying off.
Good for you! Forcing yourself to do all those exercises at the outset, when everything hurts like hell and you can barely move, that’s the hardest part. And you’re getting over that mountain. Somehow, I’m not surprised! 😆
The “dreaded” MUA wasn’t dreadful. I had to have it done on two different occasions, on both knees each time, because scar tissue is an issue I have. (I had both knees replaced at the same time.) I’d spend five hours a day doing them, because I was as driven as you! But that damned scar tissue just would not succumb to my avid PT exercises.
The process was extremely quick and painless. They sedate you with propofol, which puts you out instantly. I remember looking at the clock on the wall in front of me. 7:30 am. I woke up, it was 7:45! They were done. With both knees! It only takes minutes. I had no side effects with that drug. Not drowsy or nauseous. They kept me there for half an hour or so, while my friend waited, and then she took me back to her place. I didn’t even have any pain, although they did give me a couple of pain pills just in case I needed them. I was very grateful for the skill of that surgeon doing MUA, as I couldn’t go up and down stairs in a reciprocal motion. Had to go one step at a time. I have had no problem after that second go ’round. That was six years ago.
So if you need MUA, I recommend doing it! Especially if the surgeon has experience doing it. And you just can’t get that knee past 90°.
When my PT’s asked me about the seriousness of my attitude when I was in the rehab hospital, I told them that this was the only shot I had (I was uninsured) and I fully intended to get everything I could out of it.
Nice to hear that it’s not that bad, Lea! (It sounds awful.)
Doug, I just want to get through it as quickly as I can.