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TKR 1 yr 5 months and no better

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Josephine, good point hadn't much thought about it in that way.

What is the reluctance here with the Dr anyway? I had to sign all kinds of forms stating I was aware of the risks and complications so it's not like I can come back on him for anything.

I think one form said I may even grow feathers due to the operation (that's a joke lol)

So why not be upfront and honest about what's going on? It really seems like this game of 'oh one day you'll just get so use to it that it won't bother you any more'.

Well that's a question you can't answer I know but I know you understand what I mean
 
The reluctance of the doctors is your FDA and their desperate efforts to cut down on drug addiction which is grossly unfair on people like you who have very valid reasons for needing pain killers. I think they think that if anyone has more than half a dozen pills of anything, they'll end up jibbering smack heads! It's so unfair! But I have heard that pharmacists will report doctors they think are over prescribing to the FDA who will come down on them and they can then risk losing their license to practice. Also grossly unfair.

Love the idea about growing feathers - I know exactly what you mean!
 
My first tkr was also feeing loose. I got fixed with a bigger space--a spacer exchange was much easier than a full revision. I will join everyone else in looking for someone who does revisions. I find that when I look at a clinic and pull up the bios that there is usually one doc in every practice who lists revisions. That would be the one that I would like to try.

My own doctor admitted that the knee was loose and told me why---I am more limber than he took into account---and he did do the second surgery. His first question was---is it more stable now?? Yes, it was more stable the first time I stood up after the surgery.

He did stress over and over to take the recovery very slowly after a revision.
 
I have a DuPuy revision prosthesis. The stems are longer that go into the bone and he did not use any cement as there are grooves in the stems that allow for the bone to grow into it. I didn't care what hardware he used I wanted a OS who did a good number of revisions and I knew he would make my knee work better. My original OS kept telling me nothing was wrong so I had to find someone else I could trust. I was tired of living in more pain after the original TKR than I had with the arthritis. I'm really doing very well and I couldn't be happier. You'll find the right OS for you.
 
newlybionic said:
I didn't care what hardware he used I wanted a OS who did a good number of revisions and I knew he would make my knee work better.
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Choosing the right surgeon is the most important factor for success. A surgeon who is accomplished at doing revisions will know what prosthesis to use for your knee.
 
@Josephine, they were talking about opioids on our local news last night and, believe it or not, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is recommending no more than 3 DAY prescriptions for opioids!!!! So I researched this and found the following:

“Management of chronic pain is an art and a science. The science of opioids for chronic pain is clear — for the vast majority of patients, the known, serious, and too-often fatal risks far outweigh the unproven and transient benefits,” wrote CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden and Dr. Debra Houry, the director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control in an essay today in the New England Journal of Medicine." ...

"The CDC also suggests that short-term treatment — typically, just three days, but sometimes seven days — is far more preferable than long-term use. The overriding concern is that patients who take opioids for extended periods are much more likely to become addicted.

“We don’t want people getting more opioids than needed,” said Houry in an interview. “We want people to have a proper course of treatment, but still want patients and health care providers to use caution.”
https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2016/03/15/opioids-painkillers-cdc/

This is not a law yet, but could become one. It gave me pause, wondering if I'll get opioids if I need them.

P.S. I think that 3 paragraphs from an article are allowed to be posted, but if not, please delete it.
 
That's just ridiculous! And they're obviously not making any exclusions for things like knee replacements.
And what about 3rd degree burns? Patients can continue to need serious pain management for months.
 
:tantrum2:
Winston Churchill once said, "You can always count on the Americans to do the right thing after they have tried everything else ..."
This could take years.
 
I'm sorry you are having so many issues and I really hope you find a surgeon that can help you.
 
@Josephine, I went to have a look. Several other very good replies there too. Those idiots at the CDC should have a few joint replacements or ankalosing spondylitis or any other chronic painful condition. Just because some have an addictive personality disorder the people with real pain must suffer?
 
Well its now been 13 months since my TKR and things are no better, Along with the pain I developed a constant clicking that can be heard with each step I take again the Dr. states its not abnormal. I have been to 2 other surgeons in my area and while one said it seems a little loose the other had nothing to add. All 3 Drs. have only relied on x-rays alone saying everything looks good. My primary Dr. sent me to a spine clinic to rule out that I had a pre-existing back problem which could be causing pain in my leg (umm what about the clicking?) I tried to upload a video of the horrendous sound it makes after being at rest and then bending it the sound is like 4 people cracking their knuckles at the same time!
So now I'm on LTD lost my job, lost my health insurance so further Dr. appointments are out of the question till I fiqure that part out.
Absolutely the worst decision I have ever made in my life having this procedure done
 
spyac3,
Sorry to hear you continue to have problems with your TKR. Eventually you will need to seek a second opinion with an OS that specializes in revisions, he should have no relations hip with your present OS, not even golf buddies.
Often cash pay for a consolation is reasonable, you need to ask ahead of time, and will need to pay the day of service.
You may want to keep your insurance under COBRA for a few months to cover a second opinion, perhaps a knee brace will help stabilize your knee.
 
@spyac3 i feel your pain! Your case is similar to mine. My TKR was sept 29, 2015 and I walk in pain daily- limping! I've seen 3 OS- one of which was a revision specialist. All said that X-rays look good. The last said that my quad strength may be causing pain. My ROM is not good either. I hate taking meds for pain every day- it's been over a year!

Had I know that this surgery was "wait and see" like you-I would have not had it. I was limping and in pain before the surgery and I'm still in pain and limping, but with medical bills!

Good luck to you!
 
I think I have to leave the Rochester NY area, All the Dr's know one another I did go to a highly recommended surgeon who does revisions his analysis without even taking a current x-ray was continue to follow my Dr's recommendations which is or was basically it takes 6-12 months to heal and to keep walking this was before the clicking and grinding sounds. Since then my Dr. states I am 100% "TEMPORARILY" disabled however there is no diagnosis as to why it is not functioning as it should! So he seems to think after 12 months something miraculous is going to happen since he assigned me a temporary disabled designation???
I can afford a office visit but thats where it ends there is NO way I can afford to carry health insurance on my own this is the U.S. of A after all
I did try to wear a neoprene brace with hinges however it applied too much pressure around the knee cause even more pain with it on
 
Jordon6 said:
@spyac3 i feel your pain! Your case is similar to mine. My TKR was sept 29, 2015 and I walk in pain daily- limping! I've seen 3 OS- one of which was a revision specialist. All said that X-rays look good. The last said that my quad strength may be causing pain. My ROM is not good either. I hate taking meds for pain every day- it's been over a year!

Had I know that this surgery was "wait and see" like you-I would have not had it. I was limping and in pain before the surgery and I'm still in pain and limping, but with medical bills!

Good luck to you!
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And to you Sister! if you find an answer before I do Please please post it to this feed, I know I'm not alone but not getting any answers from trusted Dr's sure makes you feel like it. I had an independent medical exam for LTD and am found to be restricted to 20 lbs occasional and 10 lbs usual I have worked 39 yrs in heavy manufacturing positions and this really stinks
 
If you do not have any insurance you can apply for Obama care. Since you are not working the premiums are subsidized by the government. You can apply for it online.

Definitely find another OS to have a look at your knee. I was fortunate that I was able to find a revision specialist but I did have to drive an hour away to see him.
 
Spyac3, your experience sounds horrible and I feel so badly for you! i certainly hope you can find an unrelated Revision specialist in some other location to take on your case!
One other thought I had is that I know now if several people who needed surgeries (in these cases, not knee surgeries, though) that had family members set up fund-raising campaigns for them. They raised almost enough to do the surgeries, enough so that they went ahead knowing a few more dollars would come in afterwards... I think both of these folks used GoFundMe, if I remember correctly. But, truth be told, you should not have to resort To This! It is awful how bad our healthcare is in this country, so unfair to so many hard-working people who did nothing wrong... it's not a system like they call it; it's a dysfunction!
Hang in there! Am sending prayers your way that you find the right surgeon and get the financial help you need, too!
 
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