TKR #2 done

[sistersinhim]

Got on my road bike for the first time since surgery.

What a thrill! I remember how much I celebrated when I was finally able to ride my outside bike again. I know just wanted to jump up and down with joy!

Getting back to our fun times is one of the main reasons for doing this surgery.

 

[CamGram]

@Claire56, that’s great! My TKRs were done about the same time as yours and I, too, feel that my extension is not yet as good as I’d like. But we’ll get there eventually and, in the meantime, it’s sure nice to be able to do so much more without the old bone-on-bone pain!

 

[Claire56]

Posting this mostly for my own record but maybe it will be of interest to others on this journey.

I now feel that I can walk as much as I want without any problems. I believe my walking speed is pretty good too. I helped with a volunteer event today that had me standing for around 3 hours and it was no problem. Before surgery I would have been pretty uncomfortable pretty quickly.

I think my extension on knee 2 is within 2 degrees of being straight if not straight after stretching. Still working on the bend, stairs, kneeling/getting up from kneeling, things like that.

Both knees tend to crackle when being straightened from a greater than 90 degree bend. Knee 2 more than knee 1. Still a bit stiff if I've been sitting for a while but that may be more because of my age.

 

[Claire56]

Just curious, what experiences have those that travel had with security scans? Any tips and tricks to make things go smoother?

 

[sistersinhim]

I never set off any alarms with my implants or shoulder anchors.

 

[hawk2go]

I haven't traveled by air with this new knee. The older TKR never scans accurately. That is, I always beep and have to be manually wanded but the knee doesn't alarm. The body scan shows something in my shoulder or groin or back or ankle (where I do have a plate and screws), but has yet to flag the knee. I used to carry a prosthetic card from my OS but that proved useless and I have no idea where it is at this point.

 

[benne68]

Well, I just came back from traveling in Europe and had to go through scanners at airports in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Germany (as well as the US). I warned the security staff each time before walking through so they would expect it.

The funny part is that what set off the alarm was not my knee or hip implants -- it was the underwire in my bra!

So, word to the wise: Go wire-free for air travel!

 

[Susie-Q]

I had a few mishaps after my first TKR. Scanners were a new thing at the time and most smaller airports only had metal detectors, which would set off every time and I'd have to be patted down. (this was in 2010-11 and security might have been tighter then?) I would announce I had an artificial knee, set the metal detector off and then have to go to the side to get patted down. I learned quickly to get in line for a scanner (the big thing you stand in with your arms held out) and also to make sure you were in the line where the scanner actually worked...... Nothing is more frustrating than to stand in line only to get up to the scanner and they say it doesn't work so you only have the metal detector to go through and you have to get patted down again. (and of course they won't let you go into a new line)

Having a card in your wallet saying you've had a joint replaced does absolutely nothing. I make every attempt to get in a security line with a working scanner, announce I have an artificial knee, follow their instructions and hopefully make it through with no trouble.

We are going on a quick trip to Vegas in Sept and will be flying out of Paine Field (Everett, WA) which is a very small airport with only 4 gates BUT new scanners and NO security lines. Heaven!!! Being right next to the big Boeing Everett plant, it'd better have the latest technology and security whizzbangs to make life easier! This will be my first airline trip with two new joints.

 

[Claire56]

Knee 2 has continued to snap crackle and pop when being straightened. It is also a bit painful when that happens. I had an x-ray done yesterday and they said:

New calcification along the inferior posterior margin of the patella may be loose within the joint capsule or attached to the patella with fibrous tissue. Dynamic flexion-extension views under fluoroscopy would be helpful in determining if this is loose within the joint capsule.

Waiting to hear from the doctor's office for next step.

 

[hawk2go]

I'm waiting with you.

 

[Claire56]

Just saw the doctor and the X-rays. The cause of my knee issue is pretty much what I thought. I have a protrusion on the outer backside edge at approximately 6 o'clock on my kneecap. The doctor believes that it is settling in the "fork" at the bottom of the prosthetic when my knee is bent. When I straighten my leg, it hangs up until at some point it lets go. You can actually see it happen. He said he has never seen this before.

Anyway, the solution is to go back in and remove the protrusion. While it could happen, he doesn't think it would come back. He doesn't believe it can be done arthroscopically. Ugh! I am on the waiting list for surgery. Again.

 

[hawk2go]

Thanks for the update. The description itself sounds painful. I'm sorry you have more surgery in the future but glad it has potential to resolve the ongoing pain. Are there restrictions while you wait for surgery?

 

[Claire56]

@hawk2go no restrictions. The problem doesn't affect my walking. The only time it is an issue is when my knee is bent at more than 90 degrees. Like sitting in a chair with my feet tucked back, sleeping on my side. Even then, it only hurts as I straighten the leg. Last night, I twitched as I was falling asleep and it woke me back up.

 

[WFD]

he doesn't think it would come back. He doesn't believe it can be done arthroscopically.

You may want to get a second opinion from a surgeon that specializes in arthroscopic work. He may have a greater level of skill. That is what I did - two surgeons said that I had too much scar tissue for an arthroscopic LOA but I found a specialist that only does arthroscopic work and he was able to do it.

Where in the US do you live?

 

[Claire56]

@WFD He explained to me why it couldn't be done arthroscopcally and it made sense. Basically where it is, there isn't room for the instruments.

FWIW, I'm in Michigan.

 

[Claire56]

Finally have a surgery date to remove the protrusion. The day after Thanksgiving (11/25 for those not familiar with American holidays). Hopefully recovery from this surgery won't be any where near as difficult as from the replacement surgery.

 

[Claire56]

Now have a surgery time, 3 pm. I may end up staying overnight.

Hubby is not going to be happy about that. He is a musician and his band has a "gig" the next day. He doesn't know about the time yet. The plan was to load up the equipment from our house and take it to the club that afternoon. This could get interesting.

 

[sistersinhim]

Hopefully, you two can work something out.

 

[hawk2go]

@Claire56 - I'm not sure how far the hospital is from home but can you arrange for a neighbor or friend to get you home? I had a neighbor pick me up from the hospital. Hospital staff helped me into the car safely and without hurting me. When we got home. I took my time getting out of the car. She helped me settle into my knee cave, set up my ice machine and made sure I was good with meds and water. I felt vulnerable and wished it could have been my sweetie but it all worked out well.

 

[Claire56]

@hawk2go I have thought about that. One of my neighbors is a retired wound care nurse. I think she would be willing. Hopefully that won't be necessary. I think we will be able to work it out.