I had knee replacement in Aug 2011. Dont have much motion and still in pain. So they r going to straiten knee all the way and bend knee all the way back break up scar tissue while im sleep. I had a very hard time w pain after first surgery because of tolerance to pain meds. I heard this was very painful and p.t. is important everyday after surgery. First day! Im still waiting on pain management doc. My doc has helped but cant continue. The whole reason had surg was to decrease pain and meds. Im depressed and only 34 yrs old. Frustrated!
Having knee joint manipulation surgery. How long is pain after?
Question posted by rainrenaye on 8 Dec 2011
Last updated on 11 October 2018
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
12 Answers
clborrelli
11 Feb 2018
Looking at your dates you may have already been through this - can you advise me on my upcoming "manipulation" Feb 14, 2018:
2002 had a knee replacement, right knee. 2004 had left knee done. 2006 fell through a deck and right knee replacement broke right leg in 7 places, cast and brace for 6 months - plate and 6 screws in thigh. 2008 had plate and screws removed because of rubbing on scar tissue at knee. 2017 had knee revision (very painful) because of wear and tear and all that knee went through as cement wore away, (or what ever held it together). 10 weeks out and still in lots of pain after 12 physical therapy sessions. Knee won't go straight (at a -10) or bend to 120˚ only 114˚. Dr. is planing on manipulation in 5 days, I am petrified. The way I understand it like straining the knee, tearing ligaments and scar tissue and pushing the knee back to flatten. My
whole leg is achy and in pain still and was wondering who had this done and how successful it was and how much pain is involved thereafter, as they will be sending me straight to physical therapy after they do this?
Rainbow55
12 Feb 2018
At the 7 week mark or close to it, I had my manipulation a few days ago, 2/8/18 and for all you who haven't had it done, it was not scary and if you have a good surgeon, they will just manipulate your leg back and forth and break up the scar tissue that has built up. There is no tearing of anything, which I am not sure why people think this, only bending and moving the knee. I was under anesthesia so I didn't feel a thing.
Now, that said, I am sore as heck but I can now go forward and backward on my in-place bike which I couldn't do before. I was up to 74 degrees before the manipulation and my doctor was able to get my knee to 135. PT the next day I was able to get my knee to 92 degrees. I'm happy, my kneed doesn't feel tight like it was. I traded the tight feeling for being sore as heck! I am not fatigued like I was but I get tired which is a good trade off. I can bend my knee better and I am working every day to get better.
Everyone will have to work to get the results they want but once you start getting positive results, I promise there is light at the end of the tunnel!
clborrelli
12 Feb 2018
Thank you Rainbow55, I feel a bit better reading what you had to say. I had 4 surgeries on this knee so there is a lot of scar tissue, but your words made me feel more relaxed about having this manipulation done.
Buckles317
10 July 2017
I am sure as time has passed you have found your answer. However, I came here trying to find the same answer to the same question and did not feel that anyone truly answered the question.
With that said today I am at 8 weeks post operative on a full knee replacement. I have had a decreased range in motion and as of today as I entered the operating room for surgical manipulation I was at 60 degree's.
The procedure lasted no more than 15 minutes and upon awakening I felt a moderate cramping in my upper leg. I have been out of surgery for 3 hours and had a dose of norco prior to leaving the hospital and stopped to get my meds on the way home. I am sitting in my chair with a rolling pin under foot working my knee for the last hour and do not find the need for pain medication at this time. It continues to feel like a mild Charlie horse and walking is not as comfortable as it was this morning but certainly very tolerable.
Keep in mind everyone has different pain thresholds / tolerances and mine is rather high. I will update this over the next few days so others in future have a point of index.
Kj1965
10 July 2017
I never had it done. Still at 105-110 and am about 5 degrees from straight. The knee still is stiff. They say give it time. I'm 7 months post op now so not sure if will ever get any better. Hope yours heals. Keep us posted and good luck!
Buckles317
10 July 2017
I am at 2 degree and have been , they said that was good but at the 130 he manipulated me to today he expects that I should end up with between 110 and 115 degree so your not much off from my surgeons expectations, also Fred tells me that it can talk as much as a year before some of that tightness dissipates. Best of wishes
evidencegoddess
30 Jan 2017
I have the same question as you. I had a TKR on October 26, 2016. It is now January 29, 2017 and my straightening is terrible. I am at a -15. My bend is at 116 with assistance and 111 on my own. I am so stiff but am walking, driving and moving on with my life. My pain is significantly less then before surgery! My surgeon is not happy that my leg won't straighten so he wants to do manipulation. I have a keloid scar on the outside which means there is probably a lot of keloid on the inside which, I'm assuming, slowed my progress. I'm simply not sure I want to do this. I am 61 and have had two previous knee surgeries for torn meniscus... now this. I have plans for trips and outings and I'm not sure how the pain will be with manipulation and if I will be starting all over again. I just can't face that pain and dependency again. I am still not sleeping as the pain at night is awful.
I am also trying to figure out, if I have scar tissue that they want to break up, then won't the broken up scars turn to new scars? Just doesn't make sense. Thanks in advance for any responses.
Kj1965
15 Feb 2017
How is it going? I had tkr 12/8/2016. I'm almost 10 weeks out. I'm only at 105 in the bend and am 10 degrees from straight. Physical therapy said nothing they can do so told me not to come back. Doc told me to get a dynamic splint which I've ordered. If that doesn't work he says maybe manipulation.
Annie Mills
17 Oct 2017
I had aTKR 08 04 2017. I am already regretting this. My bend has been 108 and my straight is 8, 5 with pt pushing on it. Today the bend was only 100. I took a 45 minute drive and experienced same kind of pain the pt gives me when she bends it. Why would I lose 8 degrees?
CatherineC1225
2 March 2018
I had a slip n fall, wound up splitting knee bone in half. Emergency surgery, then felt weak, etc.. yes, you guessed it, I had picked up 2 bad Infections operating room so another surgery 9 days later to open up n drain infection as well as 4 bottles of antibiotics. While this was going on scar tissue built so a 3rd surgery, 27th Dec, 2017, manipulation. This manipulation has not helped. I have worked very hard n stuck at home for 5 months. Although hard therapy we can't get me past 72. I am supposed to be at 90 then 120. Manipulation, 3 surgeries later and not healed. It has been a little more than 8 weeks and still There is stiffness n swelling. No answer from Dr when I can expect to improve. Yes, I work it every day yet 30 mi tues later right back where I started from. How long will this healing take? Can't change Dr, no one will touch me until a year after last visit due to litigation possibilities. Used all 25 therapy visits n begging insurance for more. Does anyone have any advice please?
kcfan01
19 Nov 2016
I had total knee replacement surgery on Oct. 18, 2016. I was in the hospital 4 days. I went to a care center and got almost no physical torture. I ended up back in the hospital for another 3 days because of complications. I went back to the care center and 3 days later when I went in to get my staples out I told the doctor I was going home. She said fine. I now go to physical torture 3 times a week. My knee is still swollen, warm and very painful. I have gone from 60 degrees to 93 degrees. I saw my doctor last Monday and she said if I am not at 100 degrees a week from next Monday I will have to have manipulation on it. I am so depressed. I do not want more pain, I want this to get better. The therapist I see thinks it is just getting the muscles in my leg to work right and I will be over 100 degrees. I sure hope he is right. If I had known this was going to happen I would never had this surgery. Yes, it was painful before the surgery but at least my knee worked.
Annlis
7 April 2017
This sounds just like me. I had just arthroscopic knee surgery and my muscles went tense. I could not bend or straighten out my leg. 4 weeks later they did a MUA and can bend and straighten some what, but not completely. I can only bend it off end of high table but not on my own. I too wish I hadn't had surgery. My muscles are still tight in my leg and I can't walk. I wanted to know how you are doing and if things improved.
Amy joe
19 April 2017
I had a total knee replacement 1/30/17. I am 40 . My knee straightens to a 3 and my bend is 110? May be off just a little. The pain is horrible and by next week the Dr wants to manipulate my knee. With it being at what it is, is the pain worth it?
Should I continue to let the pt work on it and the Dr just for more pt?
Confused
Annlis
19 April 2017
For me the MUA was worth it because I couldn't move it all. But with yours already at 110 and 3..I would say keep having pt work on it. I'm definitely not a doctor, might be other reasons why they want to do that. It is painful. My muscles were so sore, but with me they are so tight and not allowing my rom. I just saw my os yesterday and they did injections and said if rom does not improve he wanted a second Mua..Ugh!
Lindasax1964
27 Sep 2016
I had my surgery Sept12, 2016 and I can't bend my knee either. I had a few problems after surgery and end up staying a week in the hospital. So I did get to do much , than they put me in a swing bed where I had therapy in the hospital, that was OK, so I got to go home but I didn't get any help until four days later cause of my insurance, in the mean time I tried to do all I could to get my knee working but it kept getting swelling and hurting. Went to the doctor that Friday and because I could not bend it, he said I was going to outpatient therapy, well I called them and they scheduled me for this wendsday, now mind you I am not getting any help so I am doing this on my own, now he is talking bout giving me two weeks and if I cannot bend it he is going to do a manipulation. I am scared cause I had a hard time with the first surgery. What should I do.
Susan Berg
24 Sep 2016
Never heard of having this done but it makes sense to me. My Ortho MD
worked with me before the surgery and I asked to have the knee thing working on my new knee right after surgery. You want the knee to bend and I had no problem until no one checked to see that the machine had worked its way to my groin area. I complained on the spot. I was two days post op and went to a nursing home for almost three weeks. I had physical therapy every day and I was determined to get full range of movement but only got 98%. That was two years ago and I am now age 65. I recently took a full fall, landed on both of my knees and swore I broke my right arm. ER said no breaks but I am in big time pain but am moving as much as I can. Just leg lifts loosen me up. Seeing the MD on Monday for my shoulder.
Stevenlucas
5 March 2016
Rain, I am going through the same issues.. Have surgery on January 6 and here I am, not able to bend it 100%, now they want to do a manipulation.. I'm not a happy Camper
Vll4ever
2 March 2016
I had partial knee replacement Feb 3 2016, unfortunately we had to flip a coin to choose which knee to do first bc the err u both r bad. Now it has been a month and I am doing terrible! I have no control of my thigh muscle n now they r talking about manipulation!! I am really trying not to give up but oh my goodness the pain. And now the other knee gave out and I don't think there is a snowball chance downstairs do I think I will be getting that one done!! Is anyone doing better after knee replacement and manipulation I'm scared!!
Indyerv
11 March 2016
I had total replacement 2 days prior to yours. As of today I have 90 total degrees. 102/12. 2 weeks ago I started our patient PT and the thing they discussed was manipulation as I was only at 60 degrees. I told myself I was not going to have manipulation and worked my ass off to get to 90 degrees. I see my doctor next Monday which will be 7 weeks post op and will get this take on all of this.
My suggestion keep working on it and suck it up. I really flelt as if I turned a corner the last week or so.
Vll4ever
12 March 2016
Unfortunately I just found out that I have nerve damage in my thigh that goes directly to controlling that knee! :( so my doc thought it would be best to not do it. I'm soooo upset n depressed right now bc the pain is unreal on top of I can't walk. I will not be getting the right knee done. Thanks all I can do is just keep bending my knee manual as much as I can take
Lucybell71
3 Oct 2016
The manipulation didn't hurt.
Pcherie
2 May 2017
Hello, did you have the manipulation? Hope you are doing well.
Evie196746
11 Oct 2018
hey I just had a total knee replacement August 13, 2018 I did home health at home for a couple of weeks truth be told I really thought I was doing something till I got to out patient therapy, they tried to bend my knee everyday until i had a doctor appointment an he suggested that i do the MUA ok I said, I just had it Wednesday October 10, 2018 an it huts worst than the surgery, I can barely walk couldnt hardly sleep for the pain last night my doctor gave me some Norco10 they so strong with me that I have to take a Nausea pill with it. After the MUA yesterday I had therapy at 2pm which resulted in nothing but day PAIN she litterally had me to lay on my stomach an bent my leg back i almost had a fit.. Im up early got therapy again today at 8:30 an im not thrilled at all. hope all went well with U.
Carol Petrongelli
4 Dec 2015
I'm having mua on Monday. I had a partial knee replacement September 28th 2015 I have scar tissue that won't break loose even in therapy i can't bend my knee it's warm and pain full. It's been 2 months since my surgery. I know I will have pain after this it's going too suck because I have to start all over again.
lorelei5674
6 Oct 2015
Hi. I had the knee replacement surgery Aug 4th. . I had no motion & tons of pain. . Then 2 weeks ago I had the manipulation. . I'm in agony! I still have no motion & more pain. I am going to see my doctor tomorrow. . I hope he has a good plsn. . Because I can't do this anymore. I wondered how u were doing & if u have motion. . I do hope you are doing better hun. . I just wish I could heal & move on with my life:)
lakergirl24
23 Feb 2016
Omg I had full knee replacement surgery Dec 29th had therapy only exercises didn't help I can't bend my knee very swollen stiff painful I am scheduled to have mua on Thursday February 25th 2016 I'm so scared my right side knee is numb I pray you r getting better these doctors think they know what pain is our pain is ongoing take care
lakergirl24
23 Feb 2016
Omg I had full knee replacement surgery Dec 29th had therapy only exercises didn't help I can't bend my knee very swollen stiff painful I am scheduled to have mua on Thursday February 25th 2016 I'm so scared my right side knee is numb I pray you r getting better these doctors think they know what pain is our pain is ongoing take care
Vll4ever
7 March 2016
How did it go? I have to go in two weeks if I don't have nerve damage in my thigh!! And I am worried about that pain
Tkr65
12 May 2017
I had TKR 3/17/17
I am at 116 degrees with my assist
110 no assist
Today I was told I will get the MUA NXT WEEK
looking for advice
This was the 4surgery on this same knee
2 cal and I meniscus tear
Tkr65
12 May 2017
I had TKR 3/17/17
I am at 116 degrees with my assist
110 no assist
Today I was told I will get the MUA NXT WEEK
looking for advice
This was the 4surgery on this same knee
2 cal and I meniscus tear
I am 65
ragha_ms
9 July 2015
I am also 34 years old, fractured my knee 8 weeks back and my PT is working on bending my knee and it hurt like hell today. My knee is stiff as i was not supposed to bend until today. I got only 40 degrees. I am thinking about Manipulation option. How are you feeling now after the Manipulation of knee? Did it help you? Please respond, thanks in advance!!
Lucybell71
3 Oct 2016
I had a knee manipulation a week ago and nothing seems different- still stiff and it still hurts. The procedure itself was not painful. Hope this helps.
ru608660
16 Feb 2017
i had a knee manipuation yesterday 2/15/17 the best thing icould have done bud the me get aknee michine for home start using it first day 105 degrees
Inactive
16 Dec 2011
hang in there, and as for the pain dr, are you in the hospital still, or at home? and with no pain meds till you see a pain dr? the dr who did the surgery is suppose to give you a supply to last till you see this pain dr. if your dr cant give it to you i say go to the emergency room, explain the pain your in from the surgery and tell the er dr you cant get pain meds till you see a pain dr., most times the er dr will give you some meds to take home. get on that drs appt, even if you have to be a walk in and wait too be fit in. pain is not fun and often some drs dont give a hoot about patients pain because they are not going thru it. i hope things start to get better for you. hang in there and come to the family here at dc. take care
rainrenaye
16 Dec 2011
Thanks had surgery yesterday. Going home today did well. Ortho is goin to give me what ive been on even though i have more pain. God is good. Pcp gave me refer to pain management tues. Called me today someone accepted me waiting to get call back! Some meds r better than none. Doesnt hurt as bad as i thought!
no_oxy4me
23 Jan 2012
Hi Hawaii glad to hear you went under again in order for the drs to bend your leg Knees are rough and very painful BUT, YOUR'RE DOING IT! :)
I am a firm beliver that "this too shall pass" and you'll better for the wear afterward. Also i want to point out that not many people your age (or mine, i'm 44 and am recovering from bilateral knee replacement performed late November, 2011) is the norm so think about the hope you are giving to the younger people. I do know of a few people who have had to undergo anesthesia so the drs. could rebend the knee and are doing just great! so try to keep that msg. you are sending in perspective for "Us young folk" :)
All kidding aside i feel you pain b'cause (as my orho & P.T told me), the pain is excruciating initially as you well know... i too had a high tolrtance and still do to pain... sigh :( can't wait until i am off ALL meds ) but in the meantime, i do need them and have been trying to taper instead of increasing on something stronger, not easy! My primary care has been my dr. for 25 years and has truly been a savior re: pain meds... i'm still do not sleep b'cause of the pain but refuse to graduate to oxycontn... just not an option for me as i know the pain will subsidel as i've said, been there done that! please try to contact (if you have not done so already), you primary care w/o mine... probably would have lost ... please let me know how you are doing as i am new to this site since yesterday... i was oved by your story (also feel badly for you) and i am curious how you are making out. again i feel your pain but ? and remember you are an inspiration to all the younger peeps out there facing this gruling surgery... it's what i keep telling myself... hope you pain has eased... i'm pulling for you! ~Mick!
rainrenaye
23 Jan 2012
Hate tp inform the pain doc didnt like my meds and rapidly detoxed me. Im in hell. Im so in w/d he dosent care. He put on butrans patch for pain. I didnt know it increases w/ d if ur coming off opiates even though its a schedule 3. Its one of the same ingrediants in soboxen. Weird. Im doing it at home. Little better each day. Pain worse though. Really depressed.
no_oxy4me
24 Jan 2012
Have you tired "Thomas Recipie"? google it (it is on this site) load up on vitiamins, it will cut the detoxing process..i know how you feel re: depressed, i get that way myself... try to fight through it otherwise, have you seen your Pimary Care Dr? perhaps he can help with the depression... keep me posted! smiles & hugs ((Hugs)) ~M~
John Everroad
2 Oct 2018
I've had surgery 6 months ago and I did 14 weeks of therapy. I've still got terrible nerve pain and only 70 r m. It was 90. Dr wants me to decide on a manipulation. Not sure I'm going to do it. I'm in a pain clinic and it's hard getting what I need for pain. You need to stay strong and do what you need to help you.I feel like I have no choice but to try manipulation.I've been to E R numerous times for pain shots.
Related topics
pain, knee joint replacement, surgery, knee
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.