TKR BCS Anna's Recovery

[Benay]

BCS Anna you're doing great and happy to get your update.

I don't agree with your OS that it is mental attitude. From reading the threads there are some of us out there with really severe recoveries and complicated issues. Just glad I'm not one of them but it is truly difficult and unfortunate if you happen to be. Easy recoveries appear to me to be few and far between. Very glad you're one of them!

 

[BCSAnna]

@KarriB

You're coming to my town! The temperature is really oppressive today. When I came back home today, after seeing my OS up in Philadelphia, my husband and I did a quick stop up on the boardwalk. Due to the heat and humidity, there were not many people on the beach. And, to make matters worst, we have a west wind today which means those annoying green flies were down at the beach awaiting their next human to bite!

I hope this heatwave soon breaks and you have a pleasant visit in our area.

Anna

 

[BCSAnna]

@Benay

I agree with you that I am very fortunate to have had a relatively uneventful surgery and recovery. Personally, I feel several things contributed to my good results.

Firstly, I selected a board certified OS who does a high volume of TKR. Secondly, I underwent my surgery at one of the top twenty medical centers in the USA. Now, while some people may not feel that makes a difference, I would have to disagree. Especially when considering the very unfortunate outcome my sister-in-law's sister had following hip replacement surgery at a small NJ community hospital.

And lastly, I essentially did my own self administered physical therapy after one horrendous session with a local PT. After consulting with my OS, I began doing my own physical therapy utilizing the exercises contained in the booklet I was sent home from the hospital with. As my ROM increased, I began riding my recumbent bike and doing hydro therapy in our backyard swimming pool. And, I credit my decision to not subject myself to aggressive, demanding, physical therapy as a major contributing factor in my successful recovery thus far.

While my formula for success may not work or appeal to others, it has worked for me for which I am eternally grateful.

Anna

 

[Benay]

Definitely super recovery no question and probably for all the reasons you mention however I feel for those doing whatever they can (and with the right attitude) but hitting roadblocks along the way through no fault of their own. Sad to pile on their difficulties and have them assume it was, in part, due to their attitude. Wish the algorithm for recovery was that clear and simplistic.

I'm only mentioning this because I have a great deal of sympathy for those facing revisions (sometimes X2) or the dreaded loose implant, the MUA, or a variety of other unenviable and painful complications.

 

[KarriB]

I despise those green flies! Nothing effects them! Hopefully the heat wave won’t last all week.

It seems you made good choices with your TKR. I did PT but my OS prescribed non-aggressive PT, but I agree, the recumbent bike was a huge help with ROM. I also began swimming laps 5 months after my infection surgery.

 

[Rockgirl4]

I hesitate to jump in but can't help myself.

@BCSAnna I am so thrilled for you and your wonderful recovery. I can tell you have recovered in the way YOU wanted to, and I applaud you for your decisions and attitude.

However, I also agree with @Benay. Some of us just completely lost in the "luck" department. It bothers me when any surgeon or PT says mental attitude is a huge part of a successful recovery. I had a complicated recovery from the time I woke up from surgery, through no fault of my own or my surgeon. I've had complications two PTs with 39 yrs of experience between them hadn't seen before after TKR, nor had their partners. My home health nurse had only seen it twice. I also did no aggressive PT and was in complete control of my recovery. After 20 yrs, my right knee just never ceases to keep surprising the medical field....

As for surgeons--- I also have an awesome surgeon who is a Reconstruction and Revision specialist, but he agrees my knee just doesn't follow any norms, never has, and probably never will. He loves my attitude and work ethic, but he agrees my body seems to hate me at times. We are both optimistic though that things are progressing well, just VERY slowly. He and my PT both say most don't realize a TKR recovery takes 12-24 months for some people, and my PT keeps saying your type of recovery is very, VERY uncommon----though it's AWESOME for you.

I do NOT want to take away from your your success and all the things YOU did right for YOO!!! you are getting your life back and it's wonderful!!!

I just wish the whole "mental attitude" thing would go by the wayside and stop making people like me feel like I did something wrong----when I know I haven't.

 

[lovetocookandsew]

I agree with those who poo-poo the whole "mental attitude" balderdash. Having a great attitude will make your days happier, but your knee will recover at it's own rate no matter your feeeeeeeeeelings from day-to-day. If that were all it took to have a great recovery and a perfect outcome, I'd be running marathons by now, and so would most TKR patients! But, our bodies step in and make the decisions for us as to how they'll recover. Granted, doing certain things like not overdoing, icing and elevating, allowing your knee the time it needs to recover, eating healthy, etc, will contribute to your recovery, but mental attitude will only affect your moodsand the moods of those around you. If you're a pessimist your knee will still heal at the same rate as it would if you're an optimist. Besides, you're going to have days when you're feeling on top of the world and days when you're not-it's part of the TKR roller coaster and perfectly normal.

 

[BCSAnna]

I did not realize that by providing an update on my first post-op visit that I would stir up such a controversy. I was merely reporting on a conversation that I had with my OS, summarized some of HIS REMARKS, and now I feel like I am being crucified for doing so. No where did I personally make light of the fact that other people may not be as fortunate as I have been and may in fact have very difficult recoveries. But yet, I can not help but feel like I am the one who is being lectured too and attacked for reporting on what someone else had said.

I apologize for the apparent controversy that my recovery thread update created. I was thrilled by my excellent post-op visit yesterday and I just merely wanted to share my good news. Instead, based on some of the comments I just read, I almost feel guilty for experiencing such a great recovery.

At any rate, you can all rest assure that from now on, I will only be sharing my progress status with family and close personal friends.

Anna

 

[Mutti3]

I will jump in here in to support you. @BCSAnna

This is your thread, recovery, and knee replacement story. Congratulations on an excellent report. Don’t feel guilty for experiencing a very successful surgery. There is a place at the “ table” for everyone who has gone thru this type of surgery.
I wish you continued success!

 

[KarriB]

I think your choices concerning PT had a great deal to do with your recovery. You took your recovery into your own hands when you left PT and worked without pain at home. Standing up for yourself is definitely part of a good recovery.

Unfortunately many TKR patients are made to feel the issues they’re having are their own fault which usually isn’t the case. People just recovery differently. Yes, you were wise and very fortunate as well.

 

[marieltha]

Don’t stop sharing. Your success is wonderful to follow.

I’m one of the few/fewer(?) PKR folks who has had 2 very positive experiences (11 months apart), and I think sharing a variety of recovery experiences helps us all.

Our bodies are complicated and unique. For years, my right knee sometimes hurt and got very gradually worse (1st PKR), but every x-ray showed almost as much arthritis in the left! Yet, the left didn’t hurt at all, until one day, it just suddenly felt unstable (2nd PKR).

No doubt the variety of recovery experiences is helpful to readers researching options as well as those in pre-op, too.

 

[Celle]

I did not realize that by providing an update on my first post-op visit that I would stir up such a controversy. I was merely reporting on a conversation that I had with my OS, summarized some of HIS REMARKS, and now I feel like I am being crucified for doing so.

@BCSAnna, Please don't feel this way.
I don't think any of the comments were aimed at you. Rather, people were saying what rubbish they felt your surgeon's words about mental attitude were.

You reported that your surgeon said this:

"I perform over 400 knee replacements a year and I will tell you, how well the patient does post-op purely depends on the patient. Some patients think it is the worst thing they have ever experienced while others, such as yourself, say that wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be. Those patients are mentally prepared for the surgery and recovery and are determined to have the best possible outcome. And those patients are my "Rock Stars."

While he's right in part, that a good mental attitude can sometimes make recovery seem better, there are also many reasons why some people have an easier recovery than others. For example, the state of a knee before surgery - a really badly deteriorated knee will need more work done during surgery and it will also have caused muscle weakness before surgery. Therefore, a harder recovery.
The amount of work done during surgery is also going to affect recovery - the more extensive the surgery, the longer it will take, the more bruised the soft tissues will be, and the more difficult the recovery could be.

It's that your surgeon appeared to be blaming his patients for poor recoveries, rather than taking into account other relevant factors, that people are disliking. Unfortunately, blaming the patient seems to be part of our culture at times, and we see it far too often, especially when PT therapists blame or frighten their patients because their ROM is slow to develop.

I'm sure that your surgeon didn't mean to give the impression that mental attitude is the only factor. He just didn't mention any other factors.

We really pleased you're having a good recovery. Nobody begrudges you that. In fact, we love to hear of good recoveries, so enjoy yours.

 

[Benay]

@Celle what perfect clarity. I am in agreement with the way you've explained. Wish I was as succinct.

 

[Rockgirl4]

I second @Celle and am glad she stepped in to say things so well that I could not. I sincerely was supporting you and your decisions and tried to state it many times, even if I didn't support your surgeon's attitude. I was mostly trying to help others who may come along after us and read this thread, not wanting them to fall into the "it's all in your head" trap.

 

[BCSAnna]

@Mutti3

Thank you so very much for extending your very kind and caring support to me. And for so elegantly pointing out to folks that this WAS MY recovery thread. A little brevity of opposing views, served "at the table," would have been understandable and acceptable. However, the lengthy epistles of opposing views, attacking the comments of my OS on my personal recovery thread, were certainly not conducive to a positive experience on this forum nor a favorable impression of BoneSmart. I have been left with the impression that if the individual lacks a long history of knee issues; is not experiencing a difficult recovery; or are not beset with major complications, then their uneventful recovery is really not something the forum is really interested in hearing about.

As a result, I am vacating my seat at this table and am now returning to my volunteer activities of being a "peer mentor" for newly diagnosed breast cancer "pink ribbon sisters." Perhaps, that is the reason that the good Lord blessed me with an exceptional recovery from my TKR because I am truly needed and welcomed elsewhere.

Unless and until a person is faced with a diagnosis of cancer and the terrifying fear you confront with a life threatening illness, you don't really have a clue just what a horrific surgery; treatment; and lengthy recovery truly is. I do. And as a result, I feel that my time can be better served where I can truly make a positive difference in the life of an individual who recently heard the three most terrifying words ever spoken, "You have cancer."

Anna

 

[newpartial]

@BCSAnna you were one of the early ones I started my knee replacement journey with .. like you my recovery is going very well.

I just wanted to say that I will miss your Penelope updates but wish you ( and the infant knee) all the very very best for the future)

 

[Cynof4]

@BCSAnna,

I hope you won't disappear! I need my surgery buddy! So far green light for Monday...