NSR - Knee recovery question

sahuaro · #1 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 04:24 PM

Mark:
Did you get an answer from your surgeon yet?
I will probably run into my PT later and will ask him.

dshobbies · #2 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 05:17 PM

I'm surprised you weren't told to keep it iced. Julius had a machine that circulated ice water around his whole knee but topical is great too.

runner · #3 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 06:58 PM

Mark,

I had two arthroscopic knee procedures so don't take this as verbatum because the last one was years ago.
RICE: Rest, ice, compression, elevation.

I think it still applies. I didn't move my knee around a lot until the swelling went down and then I started moving it.
My post-op instructions with the last one were very sparse. When things weren't going how they were supposed to, I went into PT. Even a little arthroscopic surgery leaves your muscles surrounding your knee weak. I think for at least the first week, I would do RICE.

wilsonrob · #4 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 07:26 PM

Mark,

Hope all is well re cervical. I have had many knee surgeries for various issues. One thing that would be nice is find out exactly what they did. If there was any arthritis work (meaning debridement or microfracture) then you need to take it easier. Soemtimes they don't even tell you if it is minor. If meniscus only then the instructions seem ok. ICE and some type of minor continuos passive movemnet is very nice to reduce scarring and increase ROM.

sahuaro · #5 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 08:11 PM

Didn't see my PT but spoke to a trainer who had the surgery:
He said the first few days you need to not move around much, keep the knee elevated and iced. However, he also said that he was crazy enough to be at the gym the next day testing his ROM on the EFX--but did not recommend that!

Gil Denis · #6 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 10:00 PM

Hi Mark

I agree with runner RICE and a good movie or book.

How are the crutches working out ? You should get a good upper body and arm work out.

Take Care and see you on the slopes

All The Better

Gil

mmglobal · #7 (**permalink**) 07-17-2009, 10:49 PM

Surgeon's nurse said just elevate and ice until 3rd day (tomorrow). Pain should be commensurate with amount of surgery and this is way outside the box. After 4-level cervical, I was smiling in less than a day. The pain with movement is so extreme now, I can't believe it. I feel like such a big baby, except when Zoey is around... I can manage to be stoic in front of her. I hate the "Papa, whats the matter" when she can see me in distress.

I'm taking it easy, if you can call it that. Every trip to the bathroom is quite an ordeal. I forgot how great the crutches feel against your rib cage after a couple of days. Stationary bike tomorrow feels impossible. Waaaah, waaaah, waaaah.... I'll take some cheese with my whine.

When my R knee was done in 2003, I was hopping about at a couple of days out. I remember picking up a friend at the airport and stopping to take photos for a class I was taking.... 2 days out. waaahhh, waaaah, waaaah.

moving this thread to NSR...