My wife had her knees replaced about 15 years ago. The surgeon, however, was not pleased with her post-op progress. While she could bend her knees to 90 degrees, he wanted at least 135. Now, like any surgery, knee replacements can form scar tissue, even over the repair site. Concluding that scar tissue was impeding her knee function after months of physical therapy, the surgeon opted for a procedure called a manipulation, where he merely pulls the foot up toward the hip until the scar tissue gives way.
To my wife before she went in, he said, “If you hear things snapping and popping and cracking and breaking, I’m doing my job.” To me, fully realizing I’d be out in the waiting room, he said, “Now, if you hear things snapping and popping and cracking and breaking, I’m pushing too hard!”
My wife had her knees replaced about 15 years ago. The surgeon, however, was not pleased with her post-op progress. While she could bend her knees to 90 degrees, he wanted at least 135. Now, like any surgery, knee replacements can form scar tissue, even over the repair site. Concluding that scar tissue was impeding her knee function after months of physical therapy, the surgeon opted for a procedure called a manipulation, where he merely pulls the foot up toward the hip until the scar tissue gives way.
To my wife before she went in, he said, “If you hear things snapping and popping and cracking and breaking, I’m doing my job.” To me, fully realizing I’d be out in the waiting room, he said, “Now, if you hear things snapping and popping and cracking and breaking, I’m pushing too hard!”