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9 month update

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shutterbug

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Aug 8, 2008
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Had my RTKR 11-08. Everything seems to be ok with my new knee. 130 rom I still have some swelling and stiffness, with some pain. Now I am having problems with my left knee. This coming monday I have appt with ortho doc. Lots of pain in my left knee. So much I need to take pain meds (vicodin 10/325) at night to get sleep. I also am in pain sitting/driving a long time. The pain is in the front and back of my knee and radiates down to my toes. Very much like the pain I had in my right knee before my surgery. I hear it is normal for this to happen. I suffered with my right knee for over 15 years. Hopfully the doc does not draw this out like my right knee. I am overweight (100lbs) joined weight watchers and have lost almost 20 lbs. I know with the weight loss my knees will feel better, but it will be a long time before I feel the difference.
wish me luck

shutterbug
 
Oh Shutterbug,

I can so relate to what you are dealing with. I will be praying for your OS to make some wise choices. Let him know what you want to do. Mine always gives me options and lets me know what will work and his opinion on how long it will work. Hope yours is openminded and will not allow you to suffer any longer.

I will be doing my second TKR in less that 3 weeks. Then I won't have to deal with the pain and unstable knee any longer.

My best to you.
 
Shutterbug...so sorry to hear your other knee is acting up. But good for you making an appointment NOW with your OS. Hopefully he will evaluate it and, if it's not in good shape, let you go ahead with the replacement. You'll be in my prayers....let us know the outcome of your meeting!
 
Oh poor thing! Isn't it a bummer when, just as you get one leg okay, the other starts up! I am in exactly the same boat!

Please don't fret about your weight. I'm 250+lbs. THAT's overweight!
 
Hi Shutterbug, I had my RTkr 4 and half months ago. At the time my left knee was not the most painful, even though on xray it was bone on bone and had bothered me for almost 10 yrs. off and on. My right knee had bad arthrities that was very painful constantly, so OS said it would be better to take care of that one first. Now, since I am getting more active, walking more etc., my left knee started getting very painful so I will be having TKR in two weeks. My RTKR is doing good, have ROM of l25-130 (depends on who measures) and 0 extension. It still gets stiff and sore at times and I still ice sometimes, but am really looking forward to getting the left one taken care of. Good Luck with your appt.
 
Strikes me we should start a club for people counting down for TKR#2.

My doc says I cannot have #2 done at least until December!!! I have been doing same PT on both legs...using lesbs weights on my Left knee...I am building up weight slowly. I figure the stronger the muscles the easier recovery will be.

I am a large (300+) woman. I joined WW about a year ago(lost 50) and am struggling to lose some more before next surgery. I know it will make the knees last longer if I lose...but for right now, I am focusing on exercise.

Hope your doc has some good news for you
Bar
 
Went to OS. I have artiritis in my left knee. Doing PT. The therapist told me he could not do anything for the pain, but could make my legs stronger for when I have my left knee done.
Dont get me wrong....I'm not itching to go under the knife... but i really dont want to put up with this pain for years like i did with my right. One day I would like to go out not carrying my vicodin bottle with me. Yes I still take vicodin. The otc stuff just does not do it for me. I tried.
 
I too did PT because of arthritis in my knee. It really did help a lot Strengthened the quads and surrounding ligaments. Helped for quit a bit for a long time. Then we tried some of the hyaluronidase injections. Again relief was good but not permanent. Finally the pain was such that we both (the OS and myself) knew the time had come.

I have found that my Mr Lefty has really benefited by the same PT as Mr Righty. It is still on the replacement horizon, but at last the muscles will be fit.

Personally, my arthritis has only been worsened by being "morbidly obese". :shk: I hate those words...but try to keep them in front of me to help me keep my eyes on what I want for my future--the be healthier--starting now.

Keep up all the good work! You are making great strides. :thmb:
Barb
 
Shutterbug,
I too am way over weight! I tried to loose weight before surgery. Lost about 20 pounds. Needed to loose about 80 more but just couldn't get it done. My Dr. still did the surgery. I am at about 230lbs and only 5 feet short. I'll tell you what, having both knees done, I can feel a difference. I can stand with no pain at all. I'm going to take care of these babies and get the weight off so I can enjoy the knees for years to come! I hope your Dr. sees fit to do the surgery and not put it off. You have suffered long enough! Let us know what the Dr. says. Best of luck!!

_____________
BTKR 7/20/09
Cindy
 
hi Shutterbug,
My OS too was reluctant to perform surgery. I was diagnosed 3.5 years ago with OA and it was bone on bone then. But I was 46 and the OS wanted me to wait 10 years so the replacements would last. I did PT, weight loss, injections , prescription anti-inflammatories. All helped but did not relieve the pain. So I stopped almost all my activities and all exercise. That helped with the pain too but did not eliminate it. After 3 years with daily pain and a few falls, I went back and told the OS I can't live like this for another 7 years. He took more x-rays and finally agreed. I recommend being honest and persistent with your OS. Sometimes they are only thinking about the surgery related aspects and you have to remind them it is about quality of life too. Best wishes!
 
Nobody should have to live in constant pain! Not with today's technologies! Glad your OS agreed.....If not, get yourself another OS!!! ((:0).
 
I agree with Judi!!!! I'm 45 and my OS says the age is not so much a factor anymore because the new knees now last about 20 years!!! Like Judi said, nobody should have to live in that kind of pain!!!

Best of Luck!!!!


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BTKR 7/20/09
Cindy
 
Okay, who pulled out the truth serum? I am 5'10". Hang around 200 lbs. I have been large-chested all my life. I know that my 'boobs' probably weigh 20 lbs. And to think I was too scared to have that taken care of. Hah. That would have been a breeze. Maybe that will be my next mission. My first Dr. told me to lose some weight. Second Dr., my OS didn't say a thing. He thought I was healthy enough for Bilaterals. I know I will feel so much better and be able to move that I will lose weight naturally. All my weight is carried by my calves and they are skinny. I noticed one day looking in the mirror, my thighs were not getting ANY excercise, and that after working 30 hours a week doing retail merchandising? It was because I was in pain and doing the monster walk.

Wanted to add, my diagnosis was this year when I was 50. I was not lifting my legs up high enough, because of my knees, and tripping over little things, like vacuum cleaner cords, etc. I even fell flat on my knees again, just because I could not walk correctly.
 
Nothing like "consistency" in all this!! As if we're not all anxiety riddled to begin with!!! :hissy::hissy::hissy::hissy::hissy::hissy::hissy::hissy::hissy::hissy:

:wahey::wahey::wahey::wahey::wahey::wahey::wahey::wahey::wahey:
 
Cotton, you are ready for new knees!!! I'm so glad you're having this done. You will notice a HUGE difference in your life once you are through the first few weeks of recovery. God bless you, hon!!!
 
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