Headed towards success with AF

[Shaky]

I traveled from Georgia to Vail and had my procedure at Steadman Hawkins this past Monday. I had LOA, hardware removal and some releases. Operative photos showed massive amounts of scar tissue. Was in hospital til Wednesday (primarily for respiratory reasons- the altitude is killing me). It's probably a little too soon to say how successful this will be but I am very optimistic. Dr. M and his team are clearly experts on AF. Therapy is going good and their approach to my therapy has been individualized. I feel like they know exactly what my issues are and are addressing them immediately. Extension has always been my issue and Dr. M had me hyperextended during surgery and even w swelling & pain I've been maintaining at 3 without much trouble. For me - this is phenomenal. I feel good about the decision I made to come here. I hope to be typing a success story thread soon!

[Shaky]

After hovering at 2 & 3 degrees lacking for extension. So this morning I had a MUA. There was some scar tissue already formed. I also now have an indwelling catheter with pain meds for the next 2 days. I  went straight to therapy after the MUA and measured -1. Went home, came back for afternoon PT and measured -4. So now I just need to maintain and prevent the scar tissue. I have JAS brace and a CPM. Not sure which one to use overnight since that's my longest period of time on inactivity. Going back to Georgia in a few days.

[Jill M]

Shaky,
Sorry to hear you had to have MUA. Sure no fun.
My personal experience with CPM machines maintain motion but keep you in a flexed position more than in extension. If you are trying to maintain extension and the JAS brace is for extension than that might be your best option. I would definately check with you MD or PT to see what there thoughts are since I am not a medical expert.
Just curious- what kind of exercises do they have you doing for extension?

Jill

[Shaky]

Jill- My PTs  do ALOT of knee mobs and stretching themselves.They are hands on stretching, knee mobs, etc for at least 30 minutes of each session. They have me do wall slides, quad sets and I use this thing called the "can opener" ( works similar to Elite seat or ERMI extensionator). An old patient of the clinic developed the can opener when he was plagued with a loss of extension. So there is only 1 - literally.

Now for my bad news. Had x-rays, CAT scan & ultrasound this morning in an attempt to find the source of yesterday's pain. I have a femoral fracture! It happened during MUA on Wednesdsy. I swear I am living a nightmare in real life. Options were surgery to input a plate with screws or go into a brace for 4-6 weeks, non-weight bearing, and let it heal on it's own. Doc was not recommending surgery because that will likely lead to more scar tissue. So I am in a brace now to see how I manage the pain & PT. I can move forward with my therapy but am limited to 90-100 degrees on flexion. I can also go for 0 on extension but no hyperextension.

I was supposed to leave tomorrow but now I am staying an extra week.

[Decruz]

I use this thing called the "can opener" ( works similar to Elite seat or ERMI extensionator). An old patient of the clinic developed the can opener when he was plagued with a loss of extension.

Sorry for you complication.
Is the "can opener" a JAS brace as you posted before or is a device developed by an old patient with lack of extension as you posted above later?
Is it checkable online in a website?

[Jill M]

Shaky,
Sorry to hear about the fracture. I hope that that the brace will help with the pain. The "can opener" sounds interesting. I am glad you are staying an extra week. Keep us posted.
Jill

[nwc07]

Was this an open or closed MUA?  I hope you heal quickly!

[Shaky]

Sorry for the late responses all. I left Vail last Saturday and am back in Georgia. The "can opener" is not a device searchable or available. It was created by one patient strictly for use at Howard Head Sports Medicine. My MUA was closed. Started back at therapy in my hometown and have not gotten back to "0" extension as I had in Vail. But I realize that I'm not going to therapy 2x a day with nothing to do for the rest of my day but work on my knee. I am back at work full-time and therapy 3x a week (once a day). I try to get in my knee exercise at work but its just not the same. I'm just hoping I can maintain the progress I have now the 6-8 weeks until my femoral fracture heals and then be able to get back to some aggressive PT. I am VERY limited in what exercises I can do until the fracture heals. Trying to stay positive!

[Shaky]

I haven't posted in awhile. @nwc07 (Robin) - I couldn't respond to your personal message. I am 8 weeks post femur fracture and just came back from a weekend in Vail @ Steadman Hawkins for a follow up. My femur fracture is healing but not healed. My extension passively (after PT at Howard Head) was 4 degrees and actively 2 degrees. I still have considerable difficulty straightening my leg while walking. Will begin weaning off of 1 crutch in the next 2 weeks. Dr. M says 4-6 more months of PT before deciding if more surgery is needed. I sm better than I was prior to the April surgeries in Vail but I have a long way to go.

[nwc07]

Thanks for the update Shaky...I've been thinking about you .  Have you been able to keep the inflammation down?  Are you still in PT 3X a week?   

[missmyknee]

Your femur fracture is a reminder of one of the complications that can happen in a MUA. Torn muscles and tendon ruptures are some of the other serious ones.

Glad you are healing from this.

Best wishes in your recovery

Pam

[Shaky]

Yes. Still on PT 3X a week with home exercises on other days. I am now around 3 degrees but feel like I'm at an impasse. Doc says 4-6 more months of PT before deciding if I need another surgery to remove more scar tissue.