Revision TKR Complicated RTKR revision 2015, considering LTKR

[Josephine]

Medial cruciate ligament

Ummm ... there's an anterior or posterior cruciate but no medial. Do you mean the medial collateral ligament?

I have virtually no pain now, except for some mild stiffness

Stiffness is pain!

Advil occasionally

And does it work? You may find that 1,000mg Tylenol 3-4 times aa day would be more effective anyway.

About 4-5 times / day, 20 minutes each. Not really swollen to look at.

You accomplish little or nothing in 20 minutes. Ice for at least 40-60mins and more than 4 times a day.

Pretty much whenever I'm not walking or sitting to eat.

okay

120/0.

Jolly good

Very little. Might put a few dishes in the dishwasher or fold laundry. My poor wonderful husband!!

Lucky you!

I do a few heel slides once in a while

Okay - but read this anyway Heel slides and how to do them

My main issue at this point is that I am being told to virtually do no weight bearing until this tissue heals and I am beyond frustration and concerned that I am losing strength overall. What I really want to know is if you are aware of others who have been told to be so inactive for so long and what their outcomes were.

Well you have to decide which is more important - healing this ligament which will be compromised by any activity, or losing some muscle strength which can easily be rectified once the tissue is healed. As for what the outcome will be, nobody can really tell you that. And even if we had a number of other members with similar experiences, their outcomes wouldn't be comparable to yours because every case is different. It's one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions!

 

[Randi]

My left thigh is smaller than my fore arm , and my knee, or where it was, is big as a cantaloupe. People on this sight encourage me and say I can come back. That really helps a lot ..



TKR April 12 , 2015
Marłch 10,2015,1st Stage, partial replacement antibiotic wash.
May 15, 2015, Debridement
October 29, 2015, knee replacement removed. Antibiotic Spacers in

Steve - I really think things have to get better for you. Glad you have the pain under control.

 

[Randi]

Thanks @KarriB . That is really, really helpful and greatly appreciated. If I don't go out of my mind I'll get through this and hopefully be able to inspire others too!

 

[Randi]

@Josephine. Yes, the medial collateral ligament was removed. I'm sure the advice remains the same but FYI it is fascial tissue that has to heal.,

 

[KarriB]

@Randi keep flexing your foot while you're immobile. I didn't and am suffering with plantar fasciitis now. Not sure if it's from letting my foot lay relaxed and shortening the fasciitis (?) or from walking differently.

 

[Randi]

Thanks. I'm not totally immobile but trying to remember the flexing...

 

[KarriB]

I walked with imbolizer and a cane, but spent more time sitting with my leg up. It just stinks that I went through a TKR and infection only to have foot pain with every step.

 

[Randi]

I agree. Right now I'm thinking that it stinks that I went through this twice and I still can't function in any way 'normally'. And it terrifies me that my other knee needs to be done but I will wait till I'm crawling before I'll do that !

As for the plantar fasciitis, my husband is a marathon runner ( irony ?) and had problems for over a year. He finally found a podiatrist who treated him with ultrasound. He was very skeptical but it worked very well and he's been pain free ever since.

 

[KarriB]

Wow! Ultrasound! Now that sounds like a pain free plan! I'll have to look into that.

 

[Randi]

Wouldn't it be nice if that works for you Good luck.

 

[Thesoutherncook]

It really is hard to see the end when the middle is such an uphill battle. I hope you can make a withdrawal from @Braunzie's "Patience ATM" and do what you have to in order to get through this with no regrets looking back.

 

[Randi]

I wish I was feeling more patient or more positive. On top of everything I made the decision to with draw from the narc drug I was on about a week ago and now I'm basically not sleeping AT ALL, and my mood has tanked. I know I need help to move forward safely. Seeing the OS Thursday but going to try to see my family doc ASAP as well before all this gets out of hand. I just want my life back.

 

[Thesoutherncook]

Bless your heart! I know the feeling, but not to the degree as you. Seeing your GP sounds like a good plan. I have knee #2 to re-evaluate in Jan. I'm not sure I can do this again. But, I'm so tired of hurting. We took the Grandarlings to the playground today and all I could do was sit on a bench and watch. It is very frustrating!

 

[KarriB]

My left knee as really hurting today after walking the hospital, then the grocery store. I just keep putting it off. With my right knee I could barely walk when I decided to have the RTKR.
@Randi i know how you feel. It was very hard watching people's lives move on while I stayed home and sat in a chair. But it was worth following Drs orders in the end.

 

[Randi]

Hope you feel better today

 

[cairistiona60]

Just caught up with your thread and I'm sorry this has been a difficult and frustrating time. I feel your pain, really, I do. I thought it would be gone by now but every step I take hurts. Like you, I have tried different meds and I have to work so my head has to be clear. My GP thought that Tramadol would work but it hasn't. I have no pain sitting down. I've had small victories but no lasting successes with increasing my mobility. I still use a cane and walk with a very noticeable limp. I am told that everything with my knee is fine from an orthopaedic point of view, I'm just one of the 10 to 15% who have ongoing pain. I am going to ask for a referral to a chronic pain clinic. I hope that you get some relief soon.

 

[Randi]

Oh I am so sorry to hear that. I hope you find some relief soon

 

[Randi]

Saw both my surgeon and family doc today and got some important info and some different approaches. May be a long post because I need to get this out of my head ...

First, the surgeon was appalled that I was told to do no weight bearing for another month while he was away , without any further instructions. Apparently I should have been either using crutches or in a wheelchair. Whoops...somebody goofed. So here we are one month later and apparently not too much harm done, except to my emotional state - not to be underestimated. In fact, all my sitting around and moping has in fact allowed the tear to heal a bit in his opinion. Okay.

His latest theory is that I actually have torn a muscle rather than fascia based on what he discovered going back to the OR notes. going forward, I am allowed to walk short distances, try some strengthening exercises and try the stationery bike, but only to the point BEFORE ? it hurts or I get too tired....he said to use my discretion. Absolutely no full on weight bearing like reciprocal stairs, no carrying parcels, etc for the next 3 months. And in answer to my question- absolutely no ultrasound or massage...As for the various pains, tightness, etc he felt all was to be expected given the extent of my surgery. He wants me to use an inti inflammatory if my stomach will tolerate and was actually surprised I have been managing as well as I have (!?) without anything but Tylenol, which we both agreed is probably doing more for my other knee...

Now to the patience part. He made me repeat after him " I have had a very extensive, very complicated revision and it may take a long time to completely recover " . His estimate is that I will need a cane for 6-9 months and that realistically it will be a year before I feel like myself - if all goes well.

So, a call for yet more patience, but I do feel better in a weird way because I have a sense of where I am on this long journey.

Then off to my hero of a family doc. She looked at me and said, you are stressed emotionally, psychologically and physically. She gave me the name of an OTC sleeping aid ( since I haven't slept more than 3 hours a night for a few weeks, again) AND,a "prescription" for a day at a spa ! And an appointment to check in with her in two weeks to be sure I follow orders. One smart, wonderful lady.

Thanks for 'listening', I feel better now.

 

[Thesoutherncook]

Hallelujah for answers and sensible doctors! May not be the answers you were hoping for, BUT situations that will heal and you, in time, will be back to normal! That PATIENCE ATM may need to be restocked! I hope you WILL follow up with that spa day!!! Gentle hugs and lots of prayers!

 

[Celle]

I'm so glad that your OS and your regular doctor were sympathetic and helpful.

You have a long journey ahead of you but, thanks to your surgeon's explanation, you now know what to expect.

We'll be here, to listen and encourage you. I wish we could dispense patience, too!