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TKR GrandyGirl's Recovery Story 1/14/12

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I dont know if you recall our conversations about valgus deformity or my knock knees. I was very surprised to learn that with a TKR my legs could be realigned. I looked at before and after pics online and got feedback from many of you who were kind enough to share your experience of having straight legs after surgery. So needless to say, I was Really looking forward to that in addition to a pain-
 
Sorry... My battery ran out of juice!

Bottom line: It doesn't appear, according to post-surgical x-rays and surgical notes, that the valgus deformity in my knee was fully corrected. The OS only corrected abt 7 degrees and made notes thst to correct more would require cutting more than 10 cm of bone...

So I have been trying to focus on bring grateful the psin will be gone, but zi can't lie to you. I am very disapointed. I remember someone sharing thst st first they couldn't tell their legs were actually straight but that it became more apparent afterwards. I hope this will also be my experience. If not, there's nothing I can do about it in retrospect.

The OS was supposedly THE go-to guy for valgus realignment in the lBaylor College of Medicine/VA system. He was not available at the post op exan but I scheduled another appt because I want to hear hid explanation for the decisions he made in the OR.

But this is where things stand right now. Please share any experience, comments, knowledge, etc. This is the first time I have allowed myself to express my disappointment so I thought Id bring it to my BoneSmart support group.

Thanks!

Dori
 
Have you got an xray of both knees? Or can you get someone to take a photograph of them with you standing - like this

 
all i have is a copy of the xray. i will see if i can get someone to take a pic of my knees today. how do i post it on the web site for you to see?
 
My daughter just took this pic and I am attempting to cut and paste it. The surgery was on my right knee.

I would appreciate your feedback. Thanks.

[Bonesmart.org] GrandyGirl's Recovery Story 1/14/12
 
According to my daughter (I was still under anesthesia when the OS spoke to my family after the surgery) the OS said the amount of correction that I received from the surgery is the max that can be applied without creating a hyper corrective angle. The alignment of non-knock kneed individuals is not 100% up and down. He said that if he were to correct it more than the what he did, my stature would look "wind swept", meaning i would look like I am leaning in one direction.

Does this make sense to you or sound like something you have encountered before? As I mentioned previously, when I first decided to have a TKR, I didn't even know it was possible to correct knock knees and once that option was presented to me, I researched it extensively and my understanding was that LEG REALIGNMENT was the primary goal of the surgery so I became very excited that I would be pain-free AND no longer have the deformed valgus appearance to my legs. So I'm somewhat confused about what happened. Some of the patients in the pre/post pics that I looked at online seemed to be worse off (more valgus) than I was but I just don't know.
But I will say this in capital letters: I AM GRATEFUL THAT I WILL BE PAIN-FREE AND IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN STRAIGHT LEGS AND NO PAIN, I WILL CHOOSE NO PAIN EVERY TIME....i was under the impression that i could have both:scratch:

Dori
aka GrandyGirl
 
Hi Josephine,

Sorry about the delay. Today is Super Bowl Sunday and there are some football fans mulling around here today waiting for the game to begin.

Ok, so let me try again. When you have a moment, please let me know if I transmitted this image correctly and if so, I'd appreciate any feedback the forum has to offer. Thank you.


[Bonesmart.org] GrandyGirl's Recovery Story 1/14/12


Dori
aka GrandyGirl
 
Aw shucks Aretha! Thank you. These legs were made for walking and that's what I intend to do. I finished my first PTsession and am icing and elevating right now.

Dori
 
Well done, Dori!

Your right leg is still a little valgus but okay. It will be so much better when the other one matches it!

[Bonesmart.org] GrandyGirl's Recovery Story 1/14/12
 
Hi Dori

Looks good to me!! I love the fact you have had the energy to paint your toenails - well done!
 
Wow thanks Josephine! Those red lines make a huge difference. I'm glad I brought this to the forum because I feel better now.

Jo, thanks for the compliment about my pedicure. I got it before surgery and it's time for another one but I don't think I'm ready to try to sit thru all that.

Dori
 
Hi Everybody,

If anybody is looking for some mindless entertainment, tune into the the History Channel and watch Swamp People. It's pretty addictive:)

Today I had enough stamina to make a wonderful homemade chicken soup. My son roasted a chicken yesterday and the rub that he used to season it was so flavorful I decided to use the leftover chicken as the basis of my broth. I added some veggies and tweaked the seasonings and it was so delicious....exactly what I have had a taste for. When the Grands came home from school, they had a bowl of Grand D's homemade chicken soup and some cornbread and then asked for seconds! it made me feel so good to see that big smile on their faces.

I've been doing my physical therapy exercises in two sessions and walking through the house 2-3 times a day, icing, elevating, and taking my pain meds as prescribed. I'm feeling stronger everyday, even though I seem to still have a slower time getting going in the mornings. I'm thinking I may go home next week and my only concern is how to manage this ice machine. It's too heavy for me to carry it and I'm not sure how to situate it so that I will be able to ice and elevate my leg. Any suggestions?

Dori
aka GrandyGirl
 
Hi Dori, .... back to the toenails - I envy you, I wanted to have a nice pedicure before my surgery but hospital said nope, no nail polish allowed. Darn!
 
Hi Dori

That chicken soup sounded good and well done for getting it made. It feels good to be doing normal things again! As for the ice machine - do you have the Cry-cuff? If so, I see your problem as they are very heavy?? I hope someone can come up with a solution for you.
 
Yes, it is heavy. i think its actualy called a Polarcare but it works like the Cryo-Cuff. It will be some time before I am allowed to lift something this heavy. I've even thought about getting a little wagon or something on wheels. I need to have it filled about twice a day. I really dont want to ask someone to come over just for that.

I suppose i could just resort to my old icebag if need be. But I've gotten kinda spoiled using this apparatus. It really gets the job done nicely!
 
Campervan,

Thank you for the compliment about my toenails. I recall being told not to polish my toe nails when I had my hip replacement years ago...something about anoxia and being able to see if the toe nails were turning blue...

I asked about that this time and was told it was no problem. So I totally went for the pampering before the surgery. The one thing I didn't do was get a massage and I really could use one now. My little body has been thru the mill and my muscles need a good massage!
 
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