TKR 1 year anniversary, continued pain, seeking 2nd opinion

[Celle]

As sistersinhim said, there is still time for your ROM to improve. We have had people whose flexion continued to increase well after a year post-op.
Even if it doesn't, you should still be able to do most things.

This little list gives the degrees of flexion necessary to do various activities:

• 65° to walk
• 70° pick an object off the ground
• 85° to climb up stairs
• 95° to stand from a sitting position
• 105° to tie shoelaces
• 115° (or greater) to squat or sit cross-legged
• 125°+ covers most activities. However, squatting or sitting on your heel may always prove challenging.

 

[Kimbo1]

Moderators, will you please change my thread name to "One year anniversary with continued pain and seeking second opinion?" Today marks my one year. I am still having pain after about 5,000 steps and have to take a break. Standing for periods over several minutes also causes pain and swelling. This makes cooking, doing dishes, or shopping tough. I have a hard time doing stairs and getting out of cars. Worst of all, I can't get back on stage (was an actress) or dance. Not that I was expecting to go-go dance, ha! It's difficult not being able to exercise. I am seeing my OS today for follow up and have a second opinion appointment scheduled for next week as I believe my OS is going to tell me that this is as good as it's going to get. I think after all the reading and research, surgeons should ask if you have a tendency to develop keloid scars. If you do, PT should not even start until surgical swelling lessens or should be very GENTLE. I know that mine was way too aggressive. Bone Smart should be given to patients as a resource before surgery to everyone. I wish I had found you before I had my procedure so I would have known better about PT. To those who are prone to keloid, be very careful with PT. I am so sad and frustrated. I will let you know how it goes and try to remain hopeful.

 

[Jaycey]

@Kimbo1 So sorry you are still suffering after one year. Sounds like a good plan seeing someone for a second opinion. This surgery is supposed to get you back to living. I hope you find someone who agrees that you need to get your quality of life back.

Please keep us updated!

 

[Kimbo1]

Well, not very good news from OS today. He said, it is what it is. He didn't recommend doing a lysis if adhesions because of the risk if infection or damage to the appliance. He also said it usually only adds about 5 degrees to flexion and wasn't worth the risk. He said if I want to try it, he'd do it. I mentioned the aggressive PT and he said that if I am an aggressive (keloid) person, this was going to happen regardless. His only positive comment was that "at least you can walk in level ground." I was glad I had a mask on so he couldn't see that my chin was quivering and I was about to cry. I'm going to get my second opinion next week, but any other suggestions are greatly appreciated. I am so sad.

 

[Celle]

I agree that wasn't a helpful appointment with your surgeon.
I hope your second opinion surgeon will be more helpful.

 

[Kimbo1]

Has anyone had lysis of adhesions after more than a year? How did it go?

 

[Celle]

I remember that a former member of staff, Skigirl, had a lysis of adhesions.

She had to re-start PT very gradually and gently, but she had a good result in the end. She went back to her job as a ski instructor, so that tells you that she did well afterwards.

 

[Kimbo1]

@Celle thank you. I will check out her thread.