Hi Mahsa – Stiffness after a meniscal repair is very common. While there may be some pain with trying to reach goals/milestones in the recovery process, too much pain can feed into a bad cycle of guarding and protective spasm. Fear and anxiety can exacerbate this bad cycle. Headspace, Calm, and other mindfulness apps can be helpful to work on belly breathing and relaxation as you are driving to or warming up prior to your physical therapy sessions. Make sure your physical therapist is aware of how you are feeling, and see if they have other exercises or positions you can try to achieve your flexion goals, both for in-clinic sessions and home exercise program. Best of luck with your recovery! Appointments are available in-clinic or via telehealth. Request an appointment here: https://www.athletico.com/patients/request-appointment/

Thanks for reaching out Heather. Pain messages sent to the brain after knee replacement is normal and help to stimulate healing. As you continue to bend your knee repeatedly, and the muscles and joint start to stretch out, the nerves will stop sending alarm signals over time. It’s essential to keep moving and stretching so your body and brain can get used to your new knee. That being said, it is important that pain is controlled as you move through this process. Please openly discuss your options for pain control with your surgeon and your therapist if you are having concerns. One of our experts will also reach out to provide you with more information.