TKR Almost Two Years Post Op and Still Struggling and Searching for Answers

[Layla]

It seems as though you're stuck in a cycle of activity thats's irritating soft tissues (tendons, muscles, ligaments). Then you reduce your activity in an effort to improve symptoms, you feel better, but you're likely resuming your regular activity before the soft tissues have fully recovered, so the symptoms return, starting the cycle all over again. Frustrating...no doubt.

It has to be so difficult to still be struggling at 23 months post op. Hard to slow down when all you want to do is get on with life. We want you to have the best possible long term recovery, so is giving yourself longer breaks between activities possible? I'm guessing your family will support you with patience and understanding knowing you're trying you're best to get back to normal, but still need more time.
Wishing you a good week, Readabook.
@Readabook

 

[Readabook]

@Layla hopefully moving further away from that cycle- but thanks for the good wishes! We all do the best we can based on our responsibilities and what is thrown our way. Best!

 

[Readabook]

I was able to see my original surgeon's (He retired) PA today. The one who helped in surgery and stapled my knee and saw me for a few followups. A very mellow man, and honestly if you have had one person in this recovery process that you connected to I recommend that you try to find them (if possible) to help reset your anxiety. My knee and shin were on fire from over intense testing by a new surgeon (who I was deciding if he would be a good fit for me and husband) after a really hard active steep-stair filled September. This PA remembered the initial sprain and how I got it last year (rescuing my 2 yr granddaughter from a scary crowd) and remembered that I never took nsaids thru recovery. He took new images and said he saw nothing of concern with my knee and shin. There was more conversation, but we have a plan based upon a shared conversation. (I had told my family sports med doc about this major soft tissue flare for last 7 weeks and he said "well you are the soft tissue princess.....) This PA said "well- your tendons were already on fire and that surgeon pushed them over the edge with his test- which should not have hurt so much.. but did because you were already hurting." He told me it will take LOTS of time to settle, but the bones and implant are good. Have a good week everyone. Health care is exhausting!

 

[Layla]

Hi Readabook,
Did the Physicians Assistant explain what he means by "LOTS of time to settle"?
Wondering what the PA recommended for your knee...If he thinks it will take a long time to heal, what are you supposed to be doing to help it heal? I'm curious if he gave you any exercises, instructions, restrictions or referrals because it may be useful to someone else here struggling long term.
Hopefully any recommendations he gave you give you a good starting point for getting yourself back on track.
@Readabook

 

[Readabook]

@Layla Sure- nothing really new. Did not want me to do PT for this right now as he doesn't want to flare it. Use Ice, heat etc. He would like me to give voltaren gel a try cause I have always stopped that and prefer things like CBD balm and have a sensitive gut. I asked about acupuncture(which I have done for other things and I have def had a needle around my knee-but he said NO. He wanted no risk of infection. No CT scans, or ultrasounds needed. He suggested it could be related to my back, but at same time remembered that I had an actual soft tissue event ( and no one else including me think its related to my back.) I terms of time- this has been a chronic thing with last few mos being a big insult- so he sort of started with 6 weeks onward, and that its a really challenging tendon to heal.

 

[Layla]

I apologize for not looking back through your thread, but have you tried any type of menthol gels or rubs? Or Lidocaine patches or cream?

a really hard active steep-stair filled September

Is there any way for you to completely avoid the stair climbing for a week or two to see if you notice a difference?
Or stay upstairs for a week or two and be waited on?
Laughing because that was a joke of sorts, I know your answer to that...a big fat NO!

 

[Readabook]

@Layla
I should try lidocaine patches- I do not love them, but that's ok. I use Penetrex roll on, just cause for some reason we have it. I have a cbd balm that I like a lot. I will try voltaren, it just is not immediate which challenges me! I am taking my tyelenol and may take an aleve one a day. The worst stairs are my mother's and I was also dealing with a gut illness at the time that wiped me out and unfortunately my GP did not write labs correctly so I did a lot of extra running around to different labs to fix mistakes. It was not a good time. We cancelled a trip this week that would have had us on the top floor of a hotel! No elevator. But Yes, I live in an old farmhouse with stairs. They have kept me in good shape up til this chapter! Its not just stairs- its being on my feet a lot. I have a scooter riding 3 year old granddaughter to pick up Friday as her mom is at a conference, and her dad works til late. My husband is there, but no spring chicken!!!!!

 

[Layla]

Maybe this is a good time to make a plan that will work for you. An approach you can stick to for a while avoiding triggers that you know cause you pain. Choose a few manageable self care goals and try to commit to them consistently. After all of this time, you deserve to see how you'll feel if you can find a balance between activity and rest. I hope your family and those you care for will understand that you need some time to allow your body the rest it needs for healing. Hopefully if you can do this, in six weeks, if you're to check in with the PA again, you'll have good news for him.
@Readabook