
Is It Necessary To Use Knee Braces After Completing 6 Weeks Of Bed Rest?

In continuation to our earlier communication, she will be completing 6 weeks of bed rest by tomorrow. Can she walk normally from tomorrow onwards? or do you recommend to put brace, if so what kind of brace we need to put. If it is of full length she cant able to bend the knee. Also please check medicines we are using, can we continue or not?
Can use a walker with a knee brace.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
After a rest of 6 weeks it is best to get a bone scan done again to see the extent of bone healing. Putting whole weight on the knee is not advisable. She can use a walker and continue wearing knee brace and see if there is any pain on walking.
The medicines that she is taking are alright. She can continue taking these to reduce osteoporosis.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal


As suggested by you, also after taking opinion from our doctor, my wife started walking with help of walker. She is not feeling any pain, though sometime she feels muscle pain. How long do you think she needs to walk with help of walker before walking without any help.
Also, please suggest does she needs to do any strengthening exercises?
3 weeks.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
The muscle pain that she is having is likely to be due to muscle stiffness. This will gradually subside with hot compress and exercises under the guidance of physiotherapist.
Usually it takes 2-3 weeks for the muscles to regain proper strength. After that she can walk normally without walker but it is best to get a bone scan done before stopping using the walker to see the extent of healing.
due to long standing immobility.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.


When we did scan earlier, at that time she was having lot of pain. If you see bone scan report, only hotspots can be seen. It does not mention anywhere related to bone corrosion or bone crack. We came to conclusion that it might be due to loosening.
As she is not having any pain, do you think getting bone scan will help?
Bone scan can be avoided.
Detailed Answer:
The clinical improvement and betterment of symptoms is an assuring sign and is strongly suggestive of a good healing. You can avoid a bone scan for now and monitor her for next 3 weeks for any pain or sudden crackling while walking with walker. If all goes well then gradually she can start walking without a walker also.
Wishing her all the best.
Regards.

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