Mr. Robin Robert Varghese, PT

I understand your concerns about your recovery after knee surgery. While some of the symptoms you describe can be common after this type of surgery, it's important to seek in person professional medical advice from your doctor or physical therapist to ensure everything is healing properly. Here's some information to help you understand what you're experiencing: Numbness and swelling: - Numbness in the ankle and toes after knee surgery is not uncommon. This is usually due to temporary nerve irritation or compression from swelling. It should gradually improve over the next few weeks, but if it worsens or persists, consult your doctor. - Swelling is also a normal part of the healing process, especially in the ankle and toes due to gravity. Using elevation, compression stockings, and ice packs can help manage swelling. However, if the swelling is sudden, severe, or accompanied by redness or pain, contact your doctor immediately. Limited knee bend and dead weight feeling: - Limited knee bend is expected after surgery, as tissues need time to heal and regain flexibility. Your physical therapist will guide you through safe exercises to gradually increase your range of motion. - Feeling like your leg is a dead weight can be due to muscle weakness or at times from something we call as 'Muscle shut off phase' where muscles does not respond temporarily due to the injury/surgery it went through. Again, physical therapy will help you regain strength and control. Using a walker: - Using a walker to avoid putting weight on your leg is appropriate following surgery. Your doctor or physical therapist will advise you on when it's safe to start putting weight on your leg and gradually transition to crutches or walking without any assistive devices. In most cases involving LE fracture or surgery following it (ORIF), a 6-week non-weight-bearing phase is advised. Remember: - Every recovery is different. Don't compare your progress to others who have had the same surgery. - Focus on following your doctor's and physical therapist's instructions. - Don't hesitate to ask questions or voice any concerns you have. Here are some additional tips for your recovery: - Ice your knee for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. - Elevate your leg above your heart as much as possible. - Wear compression stockings as recommended by your doctor. - Eat a healthy diet to support healing. - Get plenty of rest. I hope this information helps! Please prioritize seeking In Person professional medical advice for personalized guidance and a comprehensive assessment of your situation.

If you are an avid runner or is planning to do running on a regular basis, as a physical therapist, I would recommend that you undergo a physical therapy evaluation, even if they are not currently experiencing any pain or injuries. This is because physical therapy can help to improve a runner's overall fitness level, flexibility, and strength, which can help to prevent injuries from occurring in the first place. If you are going to do this on a light scale, then a PT or even a stretch coach can help guide you through some regular stretches you might benefit from doing to prevent muscles pulls or tears.

There are a number of things that physical therapists can do to help runners avoid pulls and tears. These include:

Assessing your running form: A physical therapist can assess your running form and identify any areas where you may be overstriding or landing incorrectly. This can help to reduce the risk of overuse injuries.
Developing a strengthening program: A physical therapist can help you to develop a strengthening program that targets the muscles that are important for running. This can help to improve your running performance and reduce the risk of injuries.
Improving your flexibility: A physical therapist can help you to improve your flexibility, which can help to reduce your risk of muscle strains and tears.
Providing education on injury prevention: A physical therapist can provide you with education on how to prevent running injuries. This includes information on proper warm-up and cool-down, proper running form, and how to listen to your body.
In addition to the benefits listed above, physical therapy can also help runners to recover from injuries more quickly and safely. If you do experience an injury, a physical therapist can help you to develop a rehabilitation program that will help you to get back to running as soon as possible.

Overall, I would highly recommend that all runners undergo physical therapy. It is a safe and effective way to improve your running performance and reduce your risk of injuries. It is just similar to taking your car for regular maintenance to avoid any breakdowns.

Radiating pain from your back up to your thighs could be due to several reasons, including:

Sciatica: Sciatica is a pain that radiates down the leg from the lower back. It is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in the body. Sciatica can be caused by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or other conditions.

Piriformis syndrome: Piriformis syndrome is a pain in the buttocks that can radiate down the leg. It is caused by irritation or compression of the piriformis muscle, which is located deep in the buttocks. Piriformis syndrome can be caused by overuse, injury, or other conditions.

Lumbar radiculopathy: Lumbar radiculopathy is a pain that radiates down the leg from the lower back. It is caused by compression of the nerve roots in the lower spine. Lumbar radiculopathy can be caused by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or other conditions.

In most cases, radiating pain from the back up to the thighs can be treated with physical therapy. Physical therapy can help to:

Reduce pain: Physical therapists can use a variety of techniques to reduce pain, such as manual therapy, mobilizations, stretches, Laser, US, Cryotherapy, heat therapy, etc.

Improve flexibility: Physical therapists can help to improve flexibility in the muscles and ligaments that support the spine and legs. This can help to reduce pain and prevent further injuries.

Strengthen muscles: Physical therapists can help to strengthen the muscles that support the spine and legs. This can help to improve stability and reduce pain.

Educate on proper posture and movement: Physical therapists can teach you how to move and maintain proper posture in everyday activities. This can help to prevent further injuries.

In some cases, medication may also be prescribed to help manage pain and inflammation. However, medication should always be used in conjunction with physical therapy, as physical therapy is essential for addressing the underlying cause of the pain and preventing further injuries.

If you are experiencing radiating pain from your back up to your thighs, it is important to see a physical therapist to get a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. With proper treatment, you can expect to see a significant improvement in your pain and function.

Recovery following spinal surgery might be painful for the first 2-3 weeks due to the wound healing and tenderness of the spine. Rehab/Therapy as such is not painful following spinal surgery or any other surgery. Once the 'inflammatory phase' after surgery is over, the pain comes down drastically aiding you to participate in rehab better thus improving your functional outcomes. Thank you.

Hi, sorry to hear. I'm hoping that she is already in physical therapy. If she hasn't been yet, it is important that she gets evaluated by a PT soon and has a treatment plan prepared according to her current functional status. If she already has been on a plan, please have a therapist follow the same. Depending upon her functional status, she may be able to attend an outpatient therapy clinic which may be better in terms of outcomes. Depending on the state you are in now as well as the insurance your daughter has, you may or may not need a referral from her PCP or treat Dr. Best practice would be to talk to her Dr requesting a referral for PT and look for a good therapist near you. Hoping that she recovers well soon!

Kindly get her evaluated by a Physical therapist or an Occupational therapist. They may start her on the mobilization of her wrist and hand joints to improve flexibility and mobility and then strengthen it. Delay could make the stiffness permanent causing significant difficulties with daily chores due to limited use of the hand. At home you may try hand exs during/after immersion of hand into warm water (or a wax bath which can be purchased online for less than 100$) will be great as long as you follow cold water immersion for 5-10 mins after the exs to reduce swelling if there is any already (if she is diabetic, then this needs to be done under the guidance of a therapist initially). Thank you.

Yes, kindly get the shoulder evaluated by a PT to determine the cause of impingement to determine what the correction course of action should be with therapy. Thank you.

Recovery that is enough to be able to complete common activities of daily life without major issues and can be usually achieved by 8-12 weeks post-surgically. Complete rehab including return to prior functional activities including sports is 16-20 week post-surgery depending upon successful rehab. Thank you.

Multiple factors determine how long one may need PT after a hip replacement. On average we see patients walk out of our clinic without an assistive device in 4-6 weeks of rehab. Thank you.

Hi, every surgeon will have a rehab protocol that they follow for their patients. Protocols differ based on the type of shoulder surgery you might be having with some them needing therapy soon after the surgery while some requiring no movements for first 4 weeks and then starting on therapy after that. Thank you.

If it is a recent one then the best thing to do is RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)Once you have pain, manage the pain before exercising. If your ankle hurts now, then take care of it so that it heals properly prior to exercising. Have a PT evaluate it soon if needed so he can guide you the right way.

Kindly have your hand evaluated by your primary dr or an orthopedist at the earliest convenience.