Dr. leaving town, no one to answer questions

[Nonnie]

Folks,

This is long post, for which I apologize in advance.

The situation is this: my surgeon (who was great) has moved his practice to another state and to date the surgeon to whom I had my records sent has not agreed to take me on as a patient. I think this is because we have few bone guys in our smallish city and the patient load being transferred is quite high, so the workload evaluating all the records is also high. (I never knew one had to apply to be a patient as if it were a desirable job)

I had tkr of my right knee May 5, 2008 and have been getting along pretty well. My range of motion is perfect -- one would not even know I'd had surgery if that was the only indicator. However, I am having some other difficulties and have no one with whom to discuss them.

First, I have not been able to regain as much strength in my quads as I would like. My insurance covered 20 PT visits (am wondering how you folks who seem to have PT that goes on for much manage such a thing). Though I have enrolled in a swim therapy class, do home exercises, and try to walk and take the stairs as much as possible, I find that I still have difficulty climbing stairs. Will this ever get better? A friend who had surgery the same day climbs stairs like a monkey!

Second, I have significant side-to-side motion in my joint. That is, my upper and lower leg bones slide from side to side -- one going in one direction, while the second goes the other when I bend or straighten my leg, or just move it in bed. It doesn't hurt, or interfere with walking, but it is annoying and I am afraid it is imposing extra wear and tear on the artificial joint.

Third, I have really sore spots where the ligaments join the bone, and sometimes my ligaments hurt when I move my leg. I also sometimes have pain under my knee cap. Shouldn't this sort of pain ceased by now?

I travel quite a bit in third world countries for my job, and need to walk long distances through airports and on locations and climb stairs more than the average person might during a regular day. I realize I am whining, but I really like some reassurance that my personal weirdnesses are "normal."

Thanks for your help.

Nonnie

 

[Simon]

I suggest calling your original surgeon. Those are some pretty specific problems that need to be addressed and might be too difficult for someone who did not do the surgery to have an answer.

Simon

 

[Nonnie]

Simon,

Thanks for the response.

Yes, they are specific questions, and I was hoping that someone else in the group had had similar experiences and could offer some information. I am not able to get in touch with the surgeon.

His office is closed, and I am not able to go to an appointment at his new, out of state office. When I called that office I was told that unless I came in for an appointment (500 miles) I needed to discuss with whichever of the "on call" partners had agreed to take over my case.

I will, of course, do that when someone does take over, but was hoping for some reassurance and info before then.

Nonnie

 

[Josephine]

First, I have not been able to regain as much strength in my quads as I would like. My insurance covered 20 PT visits (am wondering how you folks who seem to have PT that goes on for much manage such a thing). Though I have enrolled in a swim therapy class, do home exercises, and try to walk and take the stairs as much as possible, I find that I still have difficulty climbing stairs. Will this ever get better? A friend who had surgery the same day climbs stairs like a monkey!

Second, I have significant side-to-side motion in my joint. That is, my upper and lower leg bones slide from side to side -- one going in one direction, while the second goes the other when I bend or straighten my leg, or just move it in bed. It doesn't hurt, or interfere with walking, but it is annoying and I am afraid it is imposing extra wear and tear on the artificial joint.

Third, I have really sore spots where the ligaments join the bone, and sometimes my ligaments hurt when I move my leg. I also sometimes have pain under my knee cap. Shouldn't this sort of pain ceased by now?

Hello, Nonnie, and welcome to BoneSmart!

The three issues you cite, stair climbing, movement in the joint and pre-patellar pain, would seem to me to all be connected with the loose knee.

Sounds to me like your ligaments are too slack which in turn could indicate an ill-fitting prosthesis, specifically the tibial insert being too small.

You're now 6 months post-op which means that any such pain or poor ROM should have healed by now. I suggest you go see a new surgeon, get a second opinion, even if it means travelling a distance. I certainly would not want to see surgeons who casually pass patients around like parcels! Do some research and find yourself one who is well experienced.

 

[Rowdy66]

Hey Nonnie, Sorry to hear you are having post-op problems. One other thing that you might consider doing is going to the nearest hospital emergency room for help in getting hooked up quicker with a surgeon who can answer your questions. I have none of the problems you are describing so can't be of much help there but can certainly sympathize in that no one should be left out on a limb like you have been. I had both knees done at the same time in May of 08 and have pretty much returned to normal life. Good luck to you. Rowdy

 

[Nonnie]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. If I don't get "taken on" by one of the physicians who agreed to take over the cases soon, or if I get intense pain in the knee, I will visit the ER.

Josephine, thanks for noting that all these could be connected. That makes so much sense to me.

Nonnie