PKR Continuous pain 9 months after surgery.

Your mother could have developed arthritis in the other side, arthritis is not always seen with an x ray in the early days.
Which side of her knee was replaced? The inside or outside?
The inside of the knee has been replaced. I find it incomprehensible that she told her surgeon that she was in pain and he had an x-ray and said that everything was fine and that it shouldn't hurt anymore. And that's all. He did not refer anywhere to another doctor, nor did he say what to do next. He only ordered to come back after the rehabilitation was finished, that is on January 13th. And that's all.
 
He should be taking another x ray on the 13th to see how the implant is doing, he may also see arthritis in the outside compartment. It can be challenging because arthritis may not show on the x ray when it is early.
 
I would like to add that my mother hurts the side of the knee that was not mentioned. Where she has implant and stitches, it doesn't hurt her. It hurts on the other side. I don't know if it matters.
Yes, this can make a difference in the diagnosis of what's going on. Thank you for providing that information for us. It is not uncommon for someone who has had a partial knee replacement to go on and develop arthritis in other parts of the knee. If this were found to be the problem, the partial implant would need to be revised to a full knee replacement. This is usually done by a revision surgeon who is used to dealing with this type of problem. I'm not saying this is what's going on....only that it is a possibility, which is why we recommend at least one additional opinion from an experienced revision surgeon.

Please know that your mother is not doomed to a life of constant pain and the need for opiate pain medications for the remainder of her life. But it may take a little time and some different doctors to determine the cause of her pain and get things fixed. Sometimes this happens with knee replacements. It is important that you get her to these other doctors as soon as you can so her pain doesn't continue any longer than necessary.
 
The problem is that she is in such a mental state that she doesn't want to hear about it in order to go to any doctor. Within 3 months she was hospitalized 3 times and no one helped her. They just did some basic research and told them to go home. She just doesn't trust doctors anymore. She doesn't believe anyone can help her. She lacks hope. I think he's depressed from it all. The stress after the surgery, the prolonged pain, and the negligent approach to her problem by the doctors left a mark on her psyche. I think so. Here I think a psychiatrist would be needed first, but she doesn't want to go. Vicious circle. It seems to me that this is the end for her.
 
@PawelR You now need to be strong for your Mother, you must now make the decisions. It does not help her if you are getting depressed and thinking it is the end for her, you need to fight this. Insist on getting a 2nd opinion from a different surgeon and if she needs to see many doctors then insist on taking her, just talking about it, won't help her - action is needed urgently for your mother.
Show the doctor/surgeon/specialist these comments but help your mother.
 
@PawelR Please listen to Sara61, I agree 100% on what she has said.
Now you must be the strong one for your mothers sake, get her the help she needs!
 
I would like to ask you something else. What can hurt my mom in this knee, if I hurt that knee all the time? Regardless of whether it is walking, standing or lying. It hurts all the time. Her front kneecap hurts and her leg is heavy. This is how my mother describes it to me. Has anyone encountered something like this, because from what I read, most people have leg pain when moving, and my mother hurts even when the leg is stationary? My mother is already losing her mind because she cannot sleep at night. Sometimes she'll take a nap when she succeeds. There is no life woman. Just lying down and I hurt. It hurts all the time. Even the WHO considers not treating pain to be torture. My mom is suffering. Eh ...
 
@PawelR Tomorrow is the date your mother has an appointment to see her surgeon- I do urge you to take her.
I do understand what your mother says about her pain, pain can be constant and doesn’t require movement to be there, I know because I have experienced it myself. Pain can even be felt where there is no obvious injury as it can be something called ‘referred pain’, where the pain from an injury shows itself elsewhere - pain is a very personal experience for everyone and no-one experiences it the same way.
When you were a child your mother took steps to ensure you were safe and looked after , now the responsibility for looking after your mother is on your shoulders- you need to make sure she goes to the appointment with you.
You are capable and brave because you reached out for help, now you must do the same again for her tomorrow.
Let us know how you get on with the surgeon.
You both will be in my thoughts and prayers.
 
Update. So my mom didn't go to the surgeon today because she didn't have the strength. I called her a doctor who suspects my mother has coronavirus. She doesn't eat, drink or sleep at night. The situation is serious. Tomorrow an ambulance will come for her, have her tested, and they are to do her research. I don't know what's going to happen to her leg. Apparently it hurts all the time. Have any of you ever encountered such a situation that for so many months after knee surgery the patient's condition deteriorated due to complications or pain? She is emaciated, wasted, without strength and without any will to live.
 
No, these symptoms are not usual post knee replacement. There is obviously something else going on. I am glad your mother will get transport tomorrow. She will be in the best place to address these issues. I hope you get some answers soon!
 
The ambulance did not arrive until today, but the paramedics said that there was no chance that my mother would be admitted to the ward because there were a lot of people there. We live in Poland, and here health care is simply a tragedy. My mother probably has severe depression because she doesn't eat, drink little, and can't sleep. She will probably need the help of a psychiatrist. I know one thing - the operation worsened her health, and thus her standard of living, enormously. She went for leg surgery and now there is a human wreckage. I don't know if and how long it will take to bring her to a normal state of functioning. I just don't understand how the doctors could have allowed her to operate without taking into account her mental state.
 
@PawelR I am so sorry your Mother is in the condition she is in & I’m saddened to hear how bad she feels & is doing & to hear your anguish. I wish I could wave a magic wand & make it all better for you & your Mother! Please know that I am praying for you both.
 
@PawelR Do you have a regular doctor who can advocate on her behalf to get her into the hospital or who can try treatments at home to help with her depression, sleeplessness, lack of appetite and pain? I know how the health system all over Europe is under tremendous pressure with Covid at the moment, the doctors office I go to had to close because of infection. Even if they could help her sleep a little, it would be of benefit to you and her. As Rubyroo says, we hear your anguish and wish we could make it all better for you both. Try to get some help from family or neighbours, in a safe manner of course for your protection and theirs, try to get out , go for a walk, talk to a friend- you have been an outstanding son for your mother but you must also look after your own health too, it is equally important.
You both are in my thoughts and prayers, please let us know how you get on.
 
Her doctor sent her to the hospital, but it is not so easy to get to the hospital here. Generally, they treat a person as an object. Like a used item. Our hospitals are called- the dying houses. Plus, this doctor is crazy about covid, and when she came to our house to examine mom, she had two masks on her face and her lugs. And she said mom may have the coronavirus because mom coughed. Overall it feels like a black comedy or a horror movie right now. In a situation from which there is no way out. Soon I will need help because I can't mentally take this whole situation anymore. The knee surgery has started and a tragedy may end.
 
@PawelR - actually I am glad your doctor wore two masks coming to see your mother, she was making sure she didn’t run the risk of infecting your mother, the masks aren’t for your doctors protection but for your mother’s. If your mother has covid then it is good she will get the treatment needed, hopefully she tests negative. I understand your fears, but give them a chance to help her at the hospital.
Please -for your mother’s sake and your own, look for help in coping with your situation , do it now, please.
You both are in my thoughts.
 
But my mother will not go to the hospital because there are no places and she is not life-threatening. We are left to ourselves. I can only seek help from private doctors. As I wrote, she probably has severe depression, mainly caused by this pain that has been going on continuously day and night for several months. And then there are further consequences - lack of sleep, little eats and depression, and depression intensifies the pain. A vicious circle from which there is no way out. She does not have the strength to go to a surgeon, and a surgeon with all the equipment will not come to her. I will write again- this operation has turned her and my life into a nightmare from which there is no escape. The knee was supposed to be repaired, and a destroyed life and a destroyed man came out. Academic medicine has been a disappointment.
 
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Hello PawelR,
This story is heartbreaking. I’m sorry for all your dear mother is enduring. It has to be extremely difficult to witness as her son and loving caregiver.

You’ve mentioned her mental state often, along with her chronic pain, it’s not surprising she’s depressed. Have you thought about contacting a mental health professional for an appointment to see if they can prescribe an anti-depressant for her, short term, to get her to a better place mentally? Kind of like a bridge to get her back to a healthier mental state. Possibly then she’d feel more hopeful about addressing her pain. I believe this may be paramount in getting her to eat, which in turn will help her regain strength and hopefully give her the desire to seek out options that may be available to her.

I’m also wondering if you’ll clarify whether she’s getting proper nutrition. I’m a bit confused because you mentioned that she’s eating three meals a day and taking supplements, but you initially mentioned that she wasn’t eating due to her inability to prepare meals while you’re away at work. If so, please find a way to have meals that are readily available (frozen meals that can be quickly heated, or left-overs from a previously prepared meal) so she’s more likely to get the nutrition she needs while home alone. Consider healthy snacks as an option also. Snacking is better than eating nothing.

I’m wondering also whether she’s been icing as we often recommend? If not, please encourage her to do so, it‘s free and easy to do while resting, watching tv, or napping. Icing does help ease pain.

Best wishes for change to occur leading to the resolution of her pain and your ongoing concern.
@PawelR
 
Darn this stuff, but thank you all for your support and advice.
 
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I've read your posts, but it's not clear to me if you've tried to work with her GP. That person should be able to help her with pain medication, a mental health referral, or to at least have her tested for COVID. If you have any Social Services available where you live (home health...that type of thing), her GP can order that as well.
 

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