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Old 10-30-2017, 03:51 PM
784caroline 784caroline is offline
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[QUOTE=bbbbbb;1468345]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Judith Ann View Post
My knees are causing me grief, and I know I'm not alone.

I imagine I start with an orthopedic doctor. I would appreciate
hearing about your experiences with different treatments, surgery,
and what doctors you would recommend.

OK here are some thoughts. Finding the right doctor is a real challenge. I understand there is a Vietnamese doctor in Orlando? who does a side entry on the replacement and that method will minimize the surgical accesses? Mine was done in Oregon about 3 years ago, it is not the best (##***). Front entry, big job. There is another doctor i believe who is reportedly very good but that is all I know. (Dr Duke). It is a long shot, it is a very tricky area and all I can say is do the homework, do it well, because after it is done, it probably cannot be fixed? Recovery is long and the leg after replacement has to be flexed, bent to 120 degrees. Again, visualize a straight leg, then bend 90 then bend 30 degrees more. That is mandatory and during rehab,
YOU MUST DO THIS TO GET TOTAL FLEXIBILITY AND DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU DIFFERENT.
I made a cardboard template with the angle on it, and made up a strap of webbing with a loop so I could lay on the bed and pull like all whatever to get the flexed angle.
Ouch,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I mean Ouch, but do it for sure to guarantee flexibility, some doctors I understand do not tell you that!!!!! I found out from a therapist, like, i need the angle to go for. I made a template and had my wife pull and pull and use the template to measure,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,this goes on for the first 6-12 months to get that flex in the leg. Just do it.
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If my memory is correct I had about 112 -115 degree on the first day of PT after Dr Nguyen's surgery...hitting 120 did take some work but with home exercises (lying in bed with a sheet pulling your foot back to flex the knee) in addition to the actual PT that was done with the therapist, we accomplished our goal. (Everyone NEEDS to do this...this is NOT optional) By week 4, the therapist asked me what else I needed to do...I said I wanted to jump for I play water Volley Ball. SHe put me on a mini-trampoline and I jumped. She also tossed balls to my right and then to my left to get range of motion.