TKR Desperate for recovery advice<

[buddydog]

Can someone respond to the scarring? Mine is starting to look like a keloid which is unusual for me.. I saw an ad about a scarring cream backed by BoneSmart. Do you believe in this? thx

 

[Indi55]

Lovetocookandsew, well put.

 

[Celle]

Can you post a photo of your scar, @buddydog ?
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/uploading-a-picture-in-a-post.14731/

Does it look like one of these photos?
Scar abnormalities: keloid and hypertrophic scars

Yes, BoneSmart does recommend Active Skin Repair Hydrogel. It may help with your scar.
These links will give you some more information about it.
https://bonesmart.org/hypochlorous-hocl-solution/?source=woundcareathome

Hypochlorous Fast Facts

Active Skin Repair Hydrogel is available only through BoneSmart via these links:

https://shop.bldgactive.com/products/ssg/?source=bonesmarthocl

 

[SusieShoes]

can someone respond to the scarring ? mine is starting to look like a keloid wihich is unusual for me... i saw an ad about a scarring cream backed by bonesmart. do you believe in this? thx

I have hypertrophic scars. Photo of one below. Does it look like what you have? The scar follows the incision line and is simply wide, not branching like a keloid. I know I scar this way and expected mine, so am not unhappy about it. (Well, I would prefer skinny scars but I’ve made peace with my body.) I know from experience with other scars that my scars will eventually be as pale as my usual skin tone and much less visible than they are currently. Mine used to be raised but have already flattened.

Check out the link Celle provided to Active Skin Repair Hydrogel. My scars are 16 months old, but if they were newer and still forming I would try this product.

 

[buddydog]

I will get a pic to you and am also ordering the Active Skin Repair Hydrogel. Thank you!!

 

[buddydog]

Ok.. you're probably sick of my saga by now but it never seems to end! My knee has been waking me up at night and continues to ache the more active I am. It seems I'm backsliding. The grinding is getting worse and the back of the lateral side of the knee is now hurting also. Honestly, things hurt worse than before the surgery. Very depressing.

As mentioned before, I had to have the hip injected because of groin and flexor pain. hip pain still bad.

One pressing question... all my scans showed severe arthritis under the kneecap. When I addressed this to the doc he said he doesn't touch it normally because it weakens the knee cap. Well, my family doctor doesn't understand why this was NOT removed or resurfaced and thinks this is why I am having issues with pain still. He apparently messaged my operating surgeon with no reply. Mobility is ok. Stairs are still tough but would anyone address the fact that this doc said the 'button' weakens the knee cap and he wont do it? He quoted all these studies that shows it is not worth it.

My gosh, I feel like I'm looking at a revision if this doesn't start improving.

Also, how do I find a well regarded revisionist if it comes to this? I feel like I already made a mistake with the doc I chose to do the TKR.

Again thanks for your patience.

 

[sistersinhim]

It seems crazy that your OS didn't clean up your kneecap, too. I will tag @Josephine who has a whole lot more experience than I do.

 

[buddydog]

Thank you!

Was Josephine the moderator in the BoneSmart video about joint replacement? It was a great presentation. Wish I knew those docs!!!

Oh and how do I delete my post if I duplicate it??? thx

It seems crazy that your OS didn't clean up your kneecap, too. I will tag @Josephine who has a whole lot more experience than I do.

It's a shame but my entire experience has been crazy. Sad.

 

[Celle]

@Josephine or @Jamie - please can you help buddydog with his problems?

 

[Jamie]

I will get a pic to you and am also ordering the Active Skin Repair Hydrogel. Thank you!!

Please do post a photo of your scar here in your thread now as we will be very interested in your experience with Active Skin Repair Hydrogel.

I'm so sorry to hear your surgeon left your kneecap alone with visible arthritis. It's very likely that is causing you pain. You're going to need to see a different surgeon. If you tag me with your city and state or zip code, I can help you search. I'll also need to know what surgeons you have already talked with.

 

[kneeper]

My scar looked kind of like yours at 3-4 months but gradually reduced to just a fine line that is hard to see. So don't panic.

 

[buddydog]

Hope I remember how to tag...

@Jamie I live in Erie PA and have seen most of the orthos here and in Meadville with varying responses. That's why I went with Pittsburgh. Yay me.

Am I posting their names publicly here? Just wanted to make sure

 

[alexthecat]

You can certainly post their names here or, if you'd feel more comfortable, send Jamie a PM with that info. It's up to you.

Sent from my SM-S327VL using Tapatalk

 

[KarriB]

My OS is a revision specialist and is north of Pittsburgh with an office in Cranberry/Seven Fields if you’re still looking into Pittsburgh.

 

[EMc]

Gosh I've experience at least one of everything you all have experienced. I remember for a shoulder surgery my knee surgeon sent me to this shoulder guy. Had way bad vibes just entering the office. I have no problem firing or not using a doc if I am not comfortable.
I had some complications with the last TKR (9.13.18), incision bled OS fixed and put me in a straight leg knee brace. Had to stay in that miserable brace for a whole week. The worst! Anyway needed more pain meds when I called for refill the nurse said okay but this is the last one as doc we want to wean you off oxycodone and onto the tramadol. I want to shake her and say "do you know what I just went through"? Maybe the staff is not familiar with updates or in our case recent pitfalls.
I am so sorry about your horrible experience; I firmly believe our attitude, spirit, confidence and trust play a huge roll in our recovery.
How did your visit go with the surgeon?

 

[Josephine]

One pressing question... all my scans showed severe arthritis under the kneecap. When I addressed this to the doc he said he doesn't touch it normally because it weakens the knee cap.

Actually, he's not entirely wrong. Clumsy surgery can cut too much off the patellar leaving it thin and fragile. People have been known to get fractured patellae because of it. But the presence of visible arthritic changes should be the over-riding factor. One can only hope it wasn't visible when he did your replacement.

how do I delete my post if I duplicate it

You can't. If you duplicate anything, a mod will eventually see to it.

Hope I remember how to tag...

Read this How to tag another member

 

[buddydog]

Hi Josephine, I wish I didn't have to revisit you and that things were going better but after my TKR in June I had a rough time and the muscle tone never came back. Still having a lot of pain.

Unfortunately I have to consider having the other one done soon. My high mark insurance will no longer be accepted by UPMC. Here I am not out of the woods with the initial knee and now going back in.

I was asked, I believe by Jamie, to list the doctors I have seen and she could guide me from there. Considering surgery in Erie or Buffalo. I can't find the post or how to get back to Jamie. Can you help or guide me? Thank you!

 

[Jockette]

I’ll tag @Jamie for you.

I’m sorry your insurance is changing, that’s such a hassle, and that you’re still having problems.

 

[buddydog]

Ugh my bad

@Jamie Hi Jamie I hope this is correct in tagging you! I had a lousy experience with my TKR, if you care to recall the threads of my saga. I had my surgery by a doctor in Pittsburgh that I am not happy with. Considering Dr Dellulo in Erie, PA who is very kind and patient and experienced.

However, my insurance changed - UPMC will not accept Highmark insurance after June 30. There is also a Dr Romanowski of Buffalo that I hear good things about. I even have a book by him or his family member and is associated with Erie County Medical Center Hospital. I have seen several vicinity doctors but these are the two I am considering.

Problem is Dr Dellulo can get me in for surgery relatively quickly but insurance not accepted after 90 days from the surgery. And with my luck as with the other knee, it will take several visits.

Thank you so much.

 

[Jamie]

I do have this recommendation in Pennsylvania in you're interested in checking him out. I am not familiar with either of the surgeons you mention, so I'll need to go do some research.

As for your insurance, you'll want to find a surgeon who will take your new insurance and wait until it is in place. There is always a risk for problems after surgery and you don't want to be trying to use two insurance companies and possibly trying to find a new surgeon to see you should you experience a problem.