CPM Machine

[Amy29]

Was wondering if anyone can help?

I had a Microfracture procedure done last Thursday and got a CPM machine to bring home with me and use for 2 weeks.  I had to 1st use it when I was still in the hospital and it felt fine.

However, since I have been home and tried to use it at home, I found it so painful that I ended up in tears.  I was wondering what the best position to lie in is when using the CPM machine?  Is it better to lie completely flat or lie on a pillow? I also wondered if this may be the reason that I'm finding it so painful?  It is set at 90 degrees and I have been told not to adjust it.

Hopefully somebody can help me as I am not using it at the moment (am doing the manual heel slide instead) and am worried that this will affect my recovery.

Thank you   

[WonkeyDonkey]

Hi Amy

Not sure if this will help, but I used a CPM after I had my HTO at physio. I rested on a pillow, sitting up at an angle. I only had mine set at 50 but increased it slowly as I could bare.

Worked wonders though, and I got so much ROM from only using it twice along with leg slides etc.

Good luck

WD

[Amy29]

Hi WonkeyDonkey;

Thanks for the reply.  Just wondering when you were sitting using the machine - were you sitting up straight and did you lean against anything?  I haven't been using it and want to try again but am quite dubious as I don't want to be in as much pain as I was the last time.

Thanks
Amy

[WonkeyDonkey]

Hi Amy

I was half sitting with a pillow behind me, although at physio it was on a hospital bed which you could fix in a half sitting position. My foot was then strapped into the foot rest and off I went!! I started at a lower degree and then during the session I would turn it up as and when I felt comfortable. I managed to move 25 degrees in the first session and only 6 degrees in the 2nd session. The sessions were a week apart.

Hope this helps, and it may hurt to begin with but most physio does until you get your leg working again. Even doing leg slides I had tears rolling down my face and my husband wondered what on earth had happened. Try to feel positive as you know you have to do it to get better, put on some relaxing music, get a bar of chocolate and sit back and let the machine do the work for you!

Good luck

Pat

[Amy29]

Thanks for that wonkeydonkey - that's pretty good advice - I may try that.  I just wanted to know coz I can't use it on a bed at home so am trying to use it on my hard living room floor