Abbie had stopped “fighting” the knee.
AND started listening to it.
The pain had NOT got easier by pushing through..
So Abbie reduced high impact activity and focused on predictable, low impact movement.
=> The Swelling settled
=> The Pain became more localised
(at the back of the knee)
And then..
Something changed..
The block to straightening the knee..
Mechanical symptoms are the key, either way, to knee arthroscopy.
The block had become..
So Abbie tested it..
Gently at first
Then more assertively.
She worked on extension.
Pushing through that resistance.
She regained zero degrees = full extension.. 👏👏
Flexion, bending, was still a bit tight
Remember that exercise..
Back against the wall
Both knees slightly bent
See how long can you hold it..?
That's what living with a knee that won't fully straighten is like..
Knees are supposed to fully lock out. Otherwise our muscles are permanently powered 'on'.
Abbie’s gait
How Abbie walked became more normal.
Her heel strike returned. That's great detail for me..
Less of a limp. Abbie could walk a few hundred yards without support. And could stretch out her stride..
This is a critical phase. When symptoms shift, management should shift too. It becomes..
Less about protection.
More about progression.
Abbie started building up:
Exercise bike cycling
(initially short, controlled sessions)
Range of movement work
Gradual return to walking
The aim wasn’t perfection. It was to
build and scale up slowly. And importantly to
build confidence.
Because by this point, Abbie’d already demonstrated something key..
The knee could change.
My Reply =>
Crumbs. Well done on persevering..
Bath Clinic can do.. the Image Exchange Portal (IEP) transfers the images and should be okay.
Good luck!
And later, after we caught up in clinic, I sent this..
It was good to talk through- interesting from my point of view (pushing thru’ that block etc) and reasonably optimistic that you’ll settle the inflammation.
If anyone can, you can 👍
