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TKR Brownie's Good, Bad, & Uglies

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Marianne I so sorry to hear you are having pain once again! Hopefully, something can be done to give you relief untill you can get that knee replaced as well.:console2:
How is your BP doing? Is it holding steady or are you still having issues with it. I'm on Atenolol as well, but I'm still climbing occasionally.
 
:console2:Sorry to hear you are going through so much pain. I have to agree with Randi.... I would have gone with your Dad too.
I am doing as much as I can with my bad knee (not new knee.... it is good and getting better) but it is bone on bone and the only thing that helps is lots of serious pain meds that I don't like to take so I just have to suffer some...like before. It was suggested (by Randi I think) taking pain meds at night to sleep well. I find that a big help in getting the rest I need and it seems to keep the pain down. I guess I don't thrash around trying to get comfortable. I also ice and elevate in the evening when things are sore and swollen.... There have been a few days I have forgotten to take pain pills but still need them most of the time as I work on getting back to normal.
Rest up while you can before you go back to work.... Can you use a rolling chair at work to rest your knee? It might help. Take care of yourself!!!!:friends:
 
My blood pressure has always been a problem too Jacky. Just before the holidays it was 209 over 97 which was very scarey. I am on Amlodipine tablets but the doctor reduced them from 10mg to 5mg once a day because they were causing ankle swelling. They always watch my BP because my Mum had a stroke and died at just 62. I hope yours is OK Marianne sorry for taking over your thread. I am always interested when people mention BP
 
Well come to mention it I had my follow up b/p visit this am. B/p still up...probably because I didn't keep taking the atenolol. I was a zombie. There would not have been a Christmas if I stayed on it. But of course my b/p is still up but not as bad. I bought a b/p monitor so didn't have to use my sphygmo but it shows it higher by about 10 points. Took it to my appointment with me. So Dr. switched me to Cozaar, generic is Losartan. She told me I won't be a zombie. So today b/p was 165/95 on my machine before appt. MA got 140/90, then MD got well, actually now I can't remember but think it was 130 something over 80something. So she still wanted to treat it.
Randi I thought I would stick with current MD for now but leave the door open. Synvisc, Euflexxa, PRP none of that ever gave any relief whatsoever on right. I've had just one Synvisc One injection in left knee plus had the PRP. They don't do the series of synvisc anymore, just the one giant dose. So this one will be about 6 months from the first one. I am so miserable. Just going to doc and pharm was miserable. I guess it wouldn't be acceptable to just take mega doses of cortisone daily and be free of pain! Anyway, my rheumy wants me to go back on Humira. Would you all weigh in on that? What do you all think? I took it before for just a short while. I am so worrried about getting cancer from it. My mom had breast cancer but also paget's disease (of the vulva). She took Stilbesterol when she was pregnant with me. Hence I am a DES daughter so I've always worried about coming up with some weird cancer and they have found an increase in breast cancer with the DES. I just worry I'll end up with cancer and will regret having taken it. BUT I could just take it for a couple months and see if I get relief. It also blows out your immune system so you get every infection that comes your way. And I work with sick teenagers so that's kind of annoying. But when I had trouble with it before I was also on Methotrexate, ended up with a sinus infection and other random infections. I don't have RA, but have Inflammatory Arth.
My feeling is that I now need another TKR for my left knee. Since I am happy with the results with my right knee I am tempted to stay with my same "Mechanic" and you guys continue to be my Bedside Manner/Support Team/Answerer of all my questions that he blows off etc! On the other hand, it was a helluva recovery what with all the muscles/tendons being cut. But maybe that's why my alignment is so perfect. I have more pain now because I'm putting more weight on the right because the left is bad. But I feel that I have gotten wonderful results on my right knee and I feel confident that I am going to be super by that magic year marker.
Again I do not know what I would do with out you guys. I know you can't see my tears right now, but they are there. I wrote my saga this am and came home to the surprise of seeing alll your wonderful posts about my knee and even my b/p! I didn't call my friends or family and complain to them. And you all said exactly the right things to me....xoxoxoxox to all of you!
 
Debbie yes I sure wish I had been able to have both done! But I hadn't gotten any medical attention to the left. I still haven't had an MRI yet. And Randi I honestly wish I could have had another TKR while I was recuperating. There's something weird about it but when I was in all the early weeks where you are still really "laid up", icing and elevating, medicated etc. I felt like...BRING IT ON! Do the left one! But then as I felt "human" again, right at the 8 week marker many of us have talked about...that thought changed. Now that I am miserable again, I am feeling like I just WANT IT DONE and over with but I would dread it more. Especially since I would probably need to wait till June so I recuperate over the summer. Dread walking around like this, then dread the surgery. But before 8 weeks it was all so fresh that I didn't really feel the dread, would rather have just gone back in and done it. So I can see why docs sometimes do it 3 days or 3 weeks later on patients. But to go back in a year later feels like it's dragging it out. My two oldest children were 1 year and 6 days apart. I had wished I'd had twins, instead I felt like I was pregnant for 2 years straight. That's how this feels. I do envy you BTKRs! Especially after looking at the graph of the recovery!
 
So sorry you are feeling down Marianne. Im exactly the opposite to you. I could have booked my next TKR for February but no way would I be able to cope with it again so soon. Hopefully by the summer I will be more up to it. It must be awful to have your good knee so painful. I have no hesitation in using the same consultant but we dont pay over here we are not able to pick our OS. Im lucky I liked mine and he did a brilliant job.Theres not much i can say really to make you feel better. I know when you are in such pain words dont seem to matter. I hope everything improves for you in the new year and you always know we are here for you. TAKE CARE. I will be thiking about you.
 
I know how you feel Marianne, almost 7 months ago that's exactly how I felt and that memory won't go away too soon, it's still very fresh in my mind! I remember saying, if I could cut my own legs off I would! And, I am so grateful that I found the right OS that would do them both at once! In that I was lucky!
Maybe you might want to consider not waiting until June to have your knee done, is there a way you could get it done sooner rather than later? The pain you are going through will be a big factor in your BP level going up, I know it was with mine. As we all know all that pain will bring tears to your eyes, pain just takes over you whole thought process! Very debilitating, to say the least!
I so do hope you find pain relief soon!:console2:
 
Marianne, why don't you look around and find someone who does 300 knees a year and who does not do the surgery as though it is still 1980? My doc uses MIS and he does 300 knees a year---My recovery was so much easier than yours, why would you want to go through all that extra, unecessary pain? Get someone who was trained in the 21st century!!! You are a nurse, you must have connections to find the best person for the surgery.
 
Hi Marianne - It seems it might be worth it to give the synvisc another shot (pun intended) :rotfl:. You may have a big build up in fluid in the knee, which is what i kept getting every week the last time I got a round of the synvisc shots. My rheumetologist would extract that by the vial-full and then inject the synvisc. I definitely got some relief, though clearly not the 6-8 months at a time I got earlier in the deterioration process. As Randi says, once we are bone on bone, there are diminishing returns, but it may give you some useful slick surfaces in there for at least a bit.
Good luck.
 
I don't know why, but I haven't received any of your update notices until just now! I am sorry I have missed all of your updates the past few weeks.
I hope the shot helps you. When I had my first set of shots, it worked for almost 2 years but then each subsequent set did nothing for me at all. I think I was just so bad that it didn't matter. I am so glad that for me I only have the one bad knee and hopefully won't need the other replaced ever, or at least not for a very long time. BUT, at least if/when I do need another one, whether to redo the left after many years or the right for some reason, I will at least know what to expect. I really hope you get the desired result from whatever it is you end up doing.

Best of luck to you!:thumb:
 
So! You will be pregnant for two years with two baby knees! I know you will figure out what to do. It makes total sense that it's harder to face now that your operative leg is better. I'm not having the pain you are and it would be daunting to face another TKR right now. Honestly, i am tired and can only so so much in a day before i fall over and my knee puffs up! Anyway, the best laid plans and all that. No matter what we do the knee really is in charge, so you'll get the surgery when you need it and can't stand it anymore. I thought Jacky made a good point about pain making your BP go up. I hadn't thought about that.
 
Thanks Ladies
Jacky good point about b/p and pain. New med not bothering me at all and b/p now 117/70 so that's good. But still awake at 3 am, knee uncomfortable.
Skigirl good point! Jo said 80 percent do the new method. Maybe it's the time of night but just feel exhausted thinking about all of it but I couldn't even do the treadmill today, too painful for left knee. Not sure how I am going to be at work starting on the 7th. Trying to take less pain med but it means I have to really watch what I do. It's a vicious cycle. If you don't move, your joints can calm down. I feel like I'm bone on bone on left. Can't imagine how it could hurt more, when up and doing dishes, walking, housework etc.
Don't know how I would do without all of your support. My Pt asked me today what I was doing for New Years! I said, well, you may think this is weird but Bone Smartie is having a party. She looked at me like HONEY YOU ARE KOO KOO. I said we had to be careful about the time change but we were all signing on at once!! She is wonderful and I just love her but it was pretty funny I have to admit. The last thing I would want to do is go out at this point. Last year I had a little New Years Eve Dinner party but that's not happening this year. By next year though! I talk to my friends about you all and refer to you as my "new friends". I think they may feel like I'm one of those people who talk about a soap opera like it's real. haha!
 
Marianne Ive not heard anything about the New Years Eve Party. Can you give me any details?
 
I can tell you for sure that pain affects blood pressure. When Dave had is spine problem, started with the pain before surgery and after, his bp went up as high as 213/106 or something like that. I have a home bp machine and it would only read error, wouldn't go up that high. Went back to dr so many times trying to get the right medication to bring it down and it wasn't until his pain was almost gone did his bp go down. One other time with kidney stones it went way up too. Some people just react that way.
 
Brownie51 said:
refer to you as my "new friends". I think they may feel like I'm one of those people who talk about a soap opera like it's real. haha!
Click to expand...

My hubby calls you all my "Boner Friends" and the site my "boner site"! Lol

I also did not know about the party. I will have to go check it out!
 
Shubbles said:
My hubby calls you all my "Boner Friends" and the site my "boner site"! Lol
Click to expand...

Not gonna touch that...:yikes:

I was also pregnant for 2 years in a row. I agree with Randi, it will just be like recovering from knees 2 years in a row, only without the diapers, bottles, and temper tantrums...

I can read the frustration in your notes, and I'm sorry that you are having a bumpy ride. I have had a difficult recovery (TKR in 2010, never really recovered (long story in here somewhere), revision in 2012), so I can really empathize with your predicament.
Just think about the long term instead of focusing on the bad stuff short term. (difficult, but try anyway).

Some thoughts on pain. You must keep it under control, as it will depress your mood and elevate your blood pressure.
Dwelling on the prospect of another long painful recovery is counterproductive, but you already know that!

In the meantime, try to focus on this recovery, and keeping your pain in a tolerable range.
There are alot of folks who have had TKR's spaced 1 year apart, and many of them will tell you that the recoveries were very different.

I am wishing for you an easier recovery this coming year, and I'll see you at the party!
Best,
Sandy
 
I have to disagree on one point.... my knee regularly throws temper tantrums!!!!:heehee: It means I have done too much. Rest, ice and elevate! Then meditate on the year after the 2nd knee is done.:thumb:
 
Marianne, I am with you in your frustrations. I am probably facing another hip replacement this summer.i wish I could just have had it done with the knee instead of spreading it out. I keep hoping that if I lose enough weight, exercise enough, etc. I can hold it off longer. Fortunately I don't have too much active pain. Hope you can get the pain under control and get some better rest.
 
Hi Marianne - If you think you are bone on bone, most likely you are. I was so far beyond that for the right I was actually beyond the pain (until the recovery!) I would think at this point they would be taking x-rays of both knees together (how is 1 doing, and where is 2 going). Performance of one certainly impacts recovery of the other. Points above were good on impact of pain and blood pressure - Debbie, your husband's experience is certainly very telling. :goodpost: And they refer to "white coat pressure" for a reason - the stress of "dealing" with our medical issues (good, bad, or otherwise) can send it soaring. While my bp tends to be low, it pops up when I'm going to see Penenberg, even if things are going well. So they remind me to breathe and then take it again. You've been dealing with this anxiety for so long, as well as the issue of which doc to use, I am sure some of that is reflected in the bp #s. I was glad to see in your most recent post that it has come down quite a bit.

And having purused these entries now for some time, I don't think there is a "right" answer for when to get #2 done: we all heal differently, we all have different life circumstances, some of us need to rush back in because the "new" leg is an inch longer than the old and it has triggered sciatica pains. :friends: My neighbor is planning on after her daughter's college graduation in the spring (2 years after #1) because she is proud to admit she is a wimp - and she is switching docs because she didn't like the outcome with #1 - he cut the quad.
 
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