Going to see Dr.W in Ann Arbor, MI

[tippyclubb]

Nick,I can't belive someone else actually had to go through what I did in physical therapy.  I prefer to call him the physical terrorist or the therapist  from hell.  I know what you mean it was awful.  After he told me I would never get a ROM better than 110 I went to my doctor and had him write a prescription for a new therapist. My second one was fantastic and never pushed me real hard and took everything slow and easy.  3 weeks of seeing him and my Rom is 145.  When I told him what the first one did to me he was shocked he didn't cause more damage to my knee than the fall itself. My PT said he could have caused cartilidge damage, torn muscle, tendons.  Guess I got lucky by leaving that butthole.

By any chance do you live near the Warren, Michigan area.  Its about 45 minutes from Ann Arbor.  I have a excellent physical therapist and OS.

Good luck to you!

tippyclubb
tippyclubb

[Nick 33]

tippyclubb

I live in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, I'm only 10 minutes away from Wisconsin.  I have a long hike to see my new Doctor, but I think its going to be worth it.

Isn't PT like we went through BS, it should be a friggan crime.  Thats great your ROM is back to 145.  I got another 15-20 deg. to go.  Not sure if it will move because of all the scar tissue in there though.

Physical terroists is right.  Those idiots have no feelings.

Take Care

Nick

[tippyclubb]

Nick,  Me again.  My second Pt told me once the scar tissue is set and grown not much you can do except surgery.  However, soon as you start rehab massaging the scar helps, plus my PT used A large plastic sryinge suction apparatus with a hole size of a quarter on the bottom and used thats suction device on my scar.  It hurt awful while doing it but between the knee massage and the suction sryinge, my knee always felt better after he did that.  He said the suction was breaking up the scar tissue and I believe him and know what he did worked.  

I can find out the name of this device if you want.  My PT told me he bought it from a camping store.  Unbelievabe isn't it.  One more thing about scar tissue if your going to stop from growing you have to get started on it right way.  PT told me once it gets to thick the massage or the machine will not break it up.

tippyclubb

[tippyclubb]

You must be up near Copper Harbor, how beautiful!  We have cabin in Cheboygan--love it up north.

Good luck

tippy

[KATRN]

Nick,

I guess it all depends what kind of work is done inside your knee as far as how much time you will need off.  My first surgery which was a open procedure ook alot longer to bounce back from but he did have to do alot of work.  The second surgery was just a scope and I bounced back alot faster and was not down nearly as long.  It has only been four month since my last surgery and I am doing quite well.
I still feel I have some issues going on in the knee still and I am anxious to see Dr. W again.
I did do alot today and not sure if that is why the knee feels like crab. 
So do plan on doing a few days of PT there?  I think it would be a great idea.  On good thing about Medsport as they don't really push PT IF you can do stuff on your own.  And they will work with you on a at home program.  Alot of diagram of stuff you can do etc...  It was very helpful for me because I was very scared to try yet another therapist after my surgery with Dr. W.  I had gone thru three therapist before I started seeing him.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

kathi

[Nick 33]

Hi fellow knee Geeks

How is everyone doing? Kathi and Janet hows the knees treating you guys?  I've been about the same, tuff to get any more range of motion out of the knee, must be pretty packed tight with scar tissue.  I have little over 4 months to go before I get my knee work done, I just want to get it done to see if it helps. 

Take care

Nick 

[Janet]

Nick:

Hang in there! Four months will pass pretty quickly. Kathi and I both have appointments on April 11, so we can update you then. And since we're both there at the same time, we'll get to talk in person again. So much better than this site or the phone! I'm not looking forward to the drive, though, because they are having major construction between my house and Ann Arbor. I'll go a different way, which will probably add 20-30 minutes to the commute.

Janet

[Nick 33]

Janet and Kathi

Good luck to the both of you on your travels and at the appointment.

Nick

[youngblood]

Heres to never biting down on a towel again!!!!!!!!!!  Ugh..   

[Nick 33]

Youngblood

Yea that towel thing really isn't to fun, whats your story youngblood, I read some of your posts, and I seen your latest one.  Hope things continue to improve for you, even the smallest amounts of gain makes a guy feel good.

Nick 33

[youngblood]

Haha... well.  I wish they would have kicked me out of PT.  About 2-3 months post op from my ACLR with patella graft I was 15-88... and they started all the torture and acting like I wasn't trying.  Which really pissed me off... I was thinking: I've gained 30 pounds of muscle over a summer before... I think I know healthy pain.  So I started here...  and it all sounded like me.

I drove about 4 hours to Dr. Paulos in Houston and found out that I had patella entrapment.  They said 2 surgeries to fix and put me on a new therapy program.  I had only about 6-8 sessions of the torture... so, think the timing was right.  He told me that most PTs are wrong.  You can't work for extension and flexion at the same time with this type of knee.  Extension is the most important.. and he believed in old fashioned getting that quad to "pop"/built up.  He said swim every other day with a kick board until you drowned.  And use an e-stim 2 x daily.  I literally went back and was 0 to hyperextending after this in about 4-6 weeks.  My flexion improved to 118 without even working on it.

The knee still feels tight and I've got a long ways to go... but, looks like a surgery might not be in my future.  The extension is great.  He says the knee will never be the same nor what I expected... and that theres a 50/50 chance for a scope.  It depends on how the knee responds to therapy, etc..

So.. I'm trying to share so other people avoid the MUA I almost did with my OLD OS....  theres some merit to the correct PT for these type of knees.  It might not be the magic bullet... however, the difference is huge!

John

[Nick 33]

John

I know what you mean about good pain and bad pain.   I've lifted weights since about 14 and got good pain from that, sometimes a little to good of the good pain.  But when I had my ACL recon with menisectomy I had no idea how it was suppose to feel.  I thought all of that brutal pain was normal with such a surgery, because alot of my friends had ACL recons done and they said it hurt like hell.  But when I explained what was going on, it was totally different then what they expierenced.  I just wish I would of knew what I know now back then and got the hell out of therapy sooner.  Finding a OS that understands arthrofibrosis is so important, just wish I could of done that sooner as well.  I cant wait to get this crap out of my knee, it feels like I got clay packed under and in front of my patella.  Only 4 more months to go, then Dr. Wojtys from Ann Arbor, MI will take his try at it next.  My ROM is good 0-125 or better but I cant walk with a normal gait and it gets so frustrating I could just snap, but I got to remain patient.

I know what you mean about getting pissed off at PT's that don't understand Scar tissue problems.  It really drove me nuts when they would say you should be able to walk normal you got enough ROM and acted like I was a slacker.  I'm getting ugly just thinking about it again, I better stop.  I also went through a MUA that was a real treat, felt like someone beat me from my chest down.  Wish I could of found this site sooner like you have.  I told my last OS I was on the internet alot trying to find out stuff on arthrofibrosis, and he said do yourself a favor and get off the computer.  I'm glad I didn't listen to him otherwise I wouldn't of found this site.

Nick

[KATRN]

Nick,

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile.  I finally went on a airplane ride, which I have only done one other time since my accident.  So i just arrived home and now am preparing to drive to Ann Arbor on Monday.
The knee is doing well.  I still have alot of tightness and still have alot of difficulty going down the stairs.  But unlike you I have a normal gait.  But don't have the ROM that I would have liked.  I am curious to see what Dr. W has to say about my progress.

kathi

[jim mac]

Kathi,
I was just catching up by reading down through this thread.  I haven't wandered far from a couple different threads in a while.  Glad to read that you are doing well.  I'm just trying to stay as close to where I've been so that my next surgery will be a gain instead of a "do-over" . . .
I tried celebrex for a bit to try and knock out some of the constant inflammation but I opted out just yesterday.  Wasn't seeing enough difference to justify the risks of taking it.  I have good days and really bad days pain-wise and my knee is stiff, stiff, stiff.  It's a battle every day.  PT X 4 days a week and JAS every day for extension!!
Take care . . .

Jim

[KATRN]

Jim,

Sorry to hear that you are still struggling with the knee.  But you have to remember you have only had one surgery with Dr. Steadman.  I had two surgery with Dr. W.  I see that you will be heading back out to Colorado in May.  Do you think there will be more surgery in the future?  Have you been able to maintain what you had after your last surgery? 
I still have issues with the knee but in general I am doing well.  I still have alot of difficulty with the stairs but atleast I am able to stand on the leg for long periods of time without to much difficulty.  I will be curious to see what Dr. W has to say on Tuesday. 
I will continue to keep you in my prayers Jim.. I only hope the best for you as I do all the others that suffer.

take care jim,

kathi