The Unbendable Knee. Stuck for More than Two Years. Now Free to Move.
a.k.a. “Frankly, my dear, I DO want to bend!”
by Tricia Lahmann, Health Coach, Knee Recovery Coach
One Man’s Comeback Story – New Hope in the World for the Unbendable Knee
Where to even BEGIN with this one. To keep it short and sweet, we were recently introduced to a man from our community in Florida who had been struggling with a very limited range of motion in his left leg. To put it in his own words, “I had a terrible experience with rehab after this knee was done!” Nice guy, but on this particular subject… NOT a happy camper. Not a good story (yet).
Meet Frank — athletic, avid golfer, disciplined fitness buff and gym-goer… a muscular 71 year-old young man enjoying life in north central Florida.
In early 2016, Frank underwent total knee replacement on his left leg, which went well. The next phase however proved to go NOT so well, and for one reason or another, Frank ended up living with a 102 – 103 degrees of flexion for the next 2+ years. “Normal” flexion for most of us is somewhere between 135 – 140 degrees, with nothing hindering us.
Frank was stuck! And it sure wasn’t for being unmotivated or lazy. Quite the opposite.
Fast forward to the first week of May, 2018. A neighbor friend who knows we serve on the Halley Orthopedics X10 Team here in Florida contacts us and tells us about his gym buddy, struggling with his sticky knee. We set up an appointment to have him use the X10 … and knowing the situation, I’ve got to be honest, I didn’t have very high hopes for much progress, considering how long ago his surgery was.
We often see patients who are only a few DAYS post-op, and we help them achieve rapid recovery and regain healthy range of motion within two to three weeks — but this is if we start them on the X10 right away. Once again, here’s Frank, stuck at 102 degrees of flexion for two YEARS and a few months. Hmm… yes indeed. We held back any excitement, we kept our words few, and certainly didn’t make any promises! Say a prayer, hope for the best, right? Let’s at least.. try.
In his first 30-minute X10 session, Frank started at 98 degrees to warm up for about 10 minutes.Then when he decided he was ready, he was able to bump that number to 99, then 100.. then pretty soon it was 102, which he said was actually a bit challenging, his knee feeling a little tight there. Minutes go by, we’re all chatting as his leg is slowly swinging along at a nice slow, passive-motion pace. He feels the stretching, and it’s coming along nicely, still moving forward and back.The session ends. Frank made it to 105 degrees. Small victory. Smiles all around, progress made, after one session. So maybe there’s more.. possibly.
Nine days pass, 27 or so X10 sessions under his belt, and Frank sends me the most glorious text. My eyes nearly pop out as I read it… “I just reached 130 this morning.” Um, mic drop! As they say.
A Solution to the Unbendable Knee
Amazed, stunned, and speechless, hope rising up in my heart, as a whole new sense of what’s possible for people struggling with those “sticky knees“… for YEARS. How many more are out there? How many more might be able to walk normally again, play sports again, ride a bike again, heck – sit down and stand up easily again? How many people have given up and maybe there’s a gentle solution that can restore THEIR hope, their walk, their legs, their lives?
Well, Frank and that knee of his. New story, much better now! Man, machine, miracles, prayers answered.
The X10 Meta-Blog
We call it a “Meta-Blog” because we step back and give you a broad perspective on all aspects of knee health, surgery and recovery.
In this one-of-a-kind blog we gather together great thinkers, doers, writers related to Knee Surgery, Recovery, Preparation, Care, Success and Failure. Meet physical therapists, coaches, surgeons, patients, and as many smart people as we can gather to create useful articles for you. Whether you have a surgery upcoming, in the rear-view mirror, or just want to take care of your knees to avoid surgery, you should find some value here. Executive Editor: PJ Ewing (info@x10therapy.com)
I am beginning to become resentful. I keep reading about the great things that the x10 can do and yet it is not available for use here. The hope is though, after reading this, that it will not be too late when you finally get the machine available west of the Rockies.
Hi Diane – we are now able to ship the X10 so there is hope. Contact us to discuss it. Info@x10therapy.com
I live in Minnesota. Is there an X10 center in my state ?
I had 2 total knee replacement and two orthoscopy on same knee. The outcome is the same. The knee does not go beyond 90 degrees. I contacted X10 center by phone after the first replacement. I live in Houston, Texas. But I was told it is not available in Texas.
Do I have any hope. Now my other knee is having arthritis. And I am scared. Please show me some hope.
Hi Chandra, would love to contact you soon. Not sure who you spoke with, but we DO now serve the Houston, TX area, as well as Dallas. This is more recent development, within the last few months. Feel free to reach out, email me if you’d like.
I have had a right knee replacement on October 2017 at HSS in New York Citi since
Then I have worked with Hree Physical Therapy Clinics to get my ROM close to 130 degrees. I am now at 110 which limits my daily work and sports activities. Obviously, I am impressed with all of the blogs I have followed now for some 6 months. I have gone back to HSS and the PT clinics I have worked with and asked them what they think of the X10 claims to achieve the excellent ROM gains reflected by the peoples experienced in your blogs. HSS and the PT clinics suggested that they would like to see some creditable medical or scientific studies. So my question is why have you not consulted with HSS or other prominent medical institutions. There consensus was that based on their medical knowledge it sounds to good to believe. Their impression is that the x10’s claims are based on clever marketing scams. Because of their combined negative views I have not been able to convince my family to go up for an X10 treatment plan. Therefore, I would like to ask you for any professional or medical sources that can back up your claims. Also why is it that you have not been in touch with HSS whose orthopedic staff wouldreadily promote your advertised TKR recovery treatment. I am anxious to get your response since I am faced with another TKR surgery next April plus I am still trying to get my Right Knee ROM to around 130 plus. Thank you axel witt
Hi Axel. We at X10 Knee Therapy have just recently had a third-party medical research paper published about the efficacy and value of the X10 machine in knee recoveries. The X10 gently moves our patients’ legs into safe & comfortable ranges of motion while they are seated upright. Patients do three or four 35-45 minute sessions per day in the comfort of their own homes, greatly increasing their ability to move from zero-degree extension (straight leg) to 130-degrees flexion.
The best part is the patient gets to control the exact degree in either direction that they want the machine to take their knee at any given moment.
Our patients have positive things to say about their experiences because that is the truth. No one gets paid to share their stories, they freely want to share them so that others know about X10. Would you like to schedule a call with me?… I would love to speak with you if you wish.
Hi I tore my meniscus from the bone and had surgery August 2019 I am 12 weeks out and have problem with my ROM around 105 110. I wish I heard about this earlier
Reading about the frank two years out is amazing and not typical but it can’t hurt to try
My question is the scar tissue or Arthrofibrosis in knee replacement and my surgery different.?
Sue – we would be more than happy to discuss this with you. Email us at info@x10therapy.com and we can set up a consultation. Or fill out the form on this page. – The Team at X10