Revision TKR Complicated RTKR revision 2015, considering LTKR

[Randi]

Just thinking ... After all my complaints , I am really grateful and lucky.
I have a wonderful husband who is having to do so much more than I like because this recovery is so very slow.. And he does it with love.
I am able to lie here in bed an extra few hours if I want, (with my leg elevated and icing) rather than face the rain remnants of Hurricane Patricia that we're experiencing as everyone rushing off to work has to
And I have the support of many wonderful friends and this group.
I may be slow, but I'm truly blessed.

 

[Randi]

More thoughts...after all I have LOTS of time to think - have other folks on here had to do non weight bearing for a few weeks? This must prolong recovery, correct ? I must be feeling better because I'm raring to go...having to hold myself back from cleaning, walking , etc...

 

[Matching knees]

Randi - just stumbled upon your post. My R TKR was 9/15 - my night pain is so worrying. Shouldn't I be further along? Is something not healing? Twice a week P/T too aggressive, or, hard to believe, not enough? My biggest psychological block - well, I didn't have these issues 2 yrs ago with my L TKR! Though I know the "every knee is different" mantra, it fails me at 1:30, 3:15, 4:38 AM. OS has found nothing physically wrong, which is small comfort staring at the clock.

Your issues may not be even close to mine in my recliner, just wanted you to know we-in-pain understand. Keep your spirits up. Come back to the forum....someone here has been through anything you're experiencing.

 

[Randi]

Thanks Matching knees. I'm not anywhere near giving up ! As we are at virtually the same time in recovery I'd guess that you are also just having a slower recovery this time. Given my experience I would wonder if your PT might be too aggressive but I'm not an expert. .

I also was getting frustrated comparing to my first RTKR . Gosh, at this point in that recovery I was on holiday, walking 1/2 mile a day, no cane, just a little stiffness after walking...but that one turned out to have been done just a little incorrectly which didn't become obvious for quite a while , so, after much whining and several good pity parties I've decided to try (!!!) to look at it as this one is taking longer because it's going to be perfect when I get to the end of this long and winding road...

 

[cairistiona60]

Keep right on to the end of the road, keep right on to the end
Though you're tired and weary still carry on

Old Scottish song, just for you! I can't remember the words and it's just as well,that you can't here me try to sing it. I'm not quite tone deaf but I'm one of those people who thinks they can sing until I open my mouth then I remember that I can't!

It gets very frustrating, (or frusterating as my younger step son used to say), when we think we should be doing better. Hopefully it won't be too long before you can get back to your kidlets.

I forgot about hurricane Patricia. That would explain the wind in my bedroom tonight, or that might be the Swiss Chalet we had for supper!

 

[Randi]

Thanks ! What a nice funny way to end this long day. Now off to sleep ...

 

[Thesoutherncook]

Tie a knot in that rope and hang on! It WILL get better.... Look back and see how far you've come!
My DH keeps telling me ( although most days I don't want to hear it) that this recovery will take a year.
I suspect that he is absolutely correct! (But I'd never admit it to him!!

 

[wberry]

I remember my initial TKR, it was so horrible. I was in agony for weeks after the surgery. My PT was great, she worried so much, and was extremely patient and gradual in her approach. I thought my knee would never improve. I couldn't straighten it, hurt to put weight on it, you name it. But by week 5 things started changing dramatically. Now flip to my revision, and it's like night and day. In your case you seem to have flipped the other way. The great thing is with time you will be okay. The revision is just taking more time to heal up. Hang in there, we are pulling for ya.


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum

 

[Randi]

Thanks @wberry. I keep telling myself that every knee is different and every day is a new opportunity for progress.
And - I'm being paroled from my non weight bearing jail today -Just reported to my OS and he's saying I can go back to 'normal' activity gradually and mindfully. So, I'm going to drive to my crafting group this afternoon and maybe stay for an hour. It will be nice to get out and reconnect with my friends. Still using the walker for extra support though I probably don't really need it anymore - but I'll try to be good !

 

[wberry]

Enjoy yourself, time will eventually pass enough that this will be behind you.


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum

 

[Randi]

8 weeks since my revision and here I am back here complaining again. It's been a crazy ride these past 2,weeks. A little better or level but ok. But somehow in these last few days I managed to get into big trouble again. Trying to think back to what I might have done, here is what I came up with. - I did a tiny bit of grocery shopping using a cart,,someone else carried the bags into the house, I went to a funeral and the ground was uneven, and I attempted to put on socks for the first time since my surgery. Nothing very stressful that I can think of. I felt increased discomfort again yesterday in the same spot as before, inside of my knee. This morning I could barely walk so spoke to my PT who hasn't let me do very much anyway and he was concerned with how I was feeling and the fact that I went back to using the walker because of pain. He went upstairs and came back with one of the surgeons ( mine is on vacation). He assessed, looked at me and my x-Rays , and said ,as others have concurred, that it is likely a tissue tear I am dealingbwith and nothing can fix it except time and rest. So, once again ,,no Physio, ( I'm consistently at 0/120 so nobody's too fussed about my stopping ) and virtually no weight bearing for at least a month ! I truly think I will go out of my mind

I'vev asked before and got no response, so I'll try again...has anyone here had a soft tissue tear post TKR a or revision and if so, how did it get sorted out?

 

[Pumpkin]

Yes, I tore my peroneal brevis tendon and longus tendon at my foot, after my primary TKR at about 6 weeks. The longus tear completed healing (no longer goes crazy when the barometer drops) about 6 months ago, 3+ years after the injury.
I suspect, because my knee was unstable after the tears, that I must have stretched my knees lateral collateral ligament.
The foot sorted itself out with healing, for the knee injury I now have a hinged revision knee.
Not exactly a cheery story.
Frustrating, but you are going to have to rest that tear and let it heal. Be sure to eat right, drink plenty of fluids, and gently move your knee.
Those tissue tears are nasty, taking a long time to heal, and they act up if you do anything to irritate them.

Here is lots of nutrition information from Poppet,
https://bonesmart.org/forum/view/library-nutrition-for-pre-and-post-surgery.84/

 

[Randi]

Thanks@Pumpkin. Since this is already a revision I will do absolutely anything to avoid another one. Do you know how the issue became torn? It probably doesn't matter but I'd like to know.

 

[Pumpkin]

At 6 weeks I injured myself. I was sitting and heard something behind me, stood up, turned to the TKR side, started to fall, caught myself with a max muscle contraction, and knew right away I had injured myself badly.
I was OK the first few days, went to PT who decided I had a sprained ankle, and treated it as such doing an ankle maneuver for sprained ankles, the next day I could not walk. Called the OS went in that day, scheduled an MRI that showed grade 2 tendon tears. IMO, the ankle sprain treatment turned what were micro tears into grade 2 tears. I ended up with a flexion instability. Up until that time my recovery was normal, I did stuff the day of the injury I still cannot do.
Sorry for the run on sentences, that is the way it happened.
If you go to my thread you can read about it starting with the first post. The link is in my signature.

Sounds like your tear is limited to the one place, you should heal and be none the worse for wear.

 

[Randi]

Yikes...and thanks for reliving this on my behalf.,what a bizarre thing our bodies are.

 

[Randi]

Here I am again. Haven't been writing because I was taught if you don't have anything good to say, dont say anything...but I am so tired and frustrated and upset and hoping someone here can help with suggestions. It's been 3 weeks of non-weight bearing again, that makes about 6 out of 10 weeks of no Physio. My knee feels better if I do nothing but sit, ice, elevate but I truly think I'm going to go out of my mind. Of course I have not been completely not doing anything. I have experimented with short walks, a bit of shopping using a grocery cart,,even went to the pool once. I use the walker sometimes, or the cane, sometimes I don't need anything in the house. And it's always the same. I feel ok for a few minutes then the pain takes over. Sometimes it's the same place the tissue tear is,,sometimes it seems my knee cap itself hurts, sometimes it's the IT band, sometimes it's the tight band feeling... I keep playing with meds, more, less, different combinations...can't figure this out. I've made an appointment for tomorrow with a Physio I used to see, just to see if she has any ideas. Appointment with the OS Dec.,10th. Starting to wonder if I will ever walk properly again. Very upset

 

[Jamie]

Randi, I'm so sorry to hear you've had this happen. As Pumpkln has said the only resolution is rest and gentle treatment for your leg and massive amounts of time. I know this probably isn't what you want to hear, but you really must not try and push things. Every time you do something and end up hurting your knee, you're setting your healing back. I suggest you have an honest talk with your doctor when you see him in December. Tell him exactly what you've been doing and see what he advises. And if he says non weight bearing for a period of time, please try to abide by it and stay off your knee completely.

Also, you're going to be much better off with your pain medications if you don't keep switching around. You really need to be consistent and on a set schedule to combat pain. If you would like to share what you've been taking perhaps we can make some suggestions to keep you more comfortable.

 

[newlybionic]

@Randi So sorry to hear about your injury. You're more than half way through the time the OS wants you to be gentle to that knee and leg. Try to keep off it as much as possible. A few more weeks here will get you on the road to a complete recovery. I would at least carry your cane with you just in case of the off chance you start to lose your balance. The walker would actually be better. Use your thread to vent your frustrations. It's helpful sometimes to just let someone else how you you're feeling. We've all had some low points. I hope you're feeling well soon!

 

[Pumpkin]

Randi,
Just curious, did the OS suggest a knee brace to help support your knee while the MCL heals?
You will walk properly, it just takes time, .

 

[Randi]

No @pumpkin. A brace has not yet been suggested. Seeing OS in 10 days so we'll see. Thanks for checking in.