TKR Had TKR 2011, and still having problems!

[Jamie]

He put in a knee for a 250lb person and she is 115 lbs and 5' 2".

There must be some misunderstanding here because the implants are not sized by a person's weight. There are variations in size to the various components, but they are selected based on the patient's bone structure. Bone structure and a person's weight or height are not connected.

I think a more likely scenario in your case is that you had a hip going bad all along that may have caused some gait issues or compensation in your knee. Celle is right. Be happy that the hip will be fixed and let's see how your knee does after surgery. One good thing is that recovery from a hip replacement is generally easier than a TKR.

 

[Struggling64]

I'm already willing to do the hip operation, in hopes it will line everything back up in my body and reduce a lot of the pain. Hate going back under the knife again though and dreading the post op and therapy involved. I have no friends or family to help me in this dreaded time.

 

[snowleopard]

You might find some immediate relief by seeing a massage therapist who does deep tissue work. It's clearly not going to solve the problem, but it might help you walk in better alignment until you do. I had one who did a lot of work on my leg before I had the surgery, and it made a big difference on how healthy it was going into it. I had a lot of soft-tissue distortion from compensation, and it was a problem of its own. I also periodically went to see a chiropractor, because my hips would go out of alignment from walking so badly. He helped, too.

Good luck. These are not simple problems. I wish you the best in finding your way back to health.

There's a thread that's been started to help people facing a surgery when they're living alone. Not quite the same as what you're describing, which is not having a support system at all. That's got to be tough. What about a rehab facility? Is such a thing available for you?

 

[Struggling64]

Hi snowleopard, Thank you for of all for the warm wishes to get well and finding me back to a healthy state. I have had deep tissue massage before in the past, but will give it some more thought about doing the right hip and thigh. It never occurred to me that it would help. I haven't as of yet to check into a rehab facility, but from other posts I've read, seems the hospital will have me up walking and going to bathroom even before I'm dismissed. And that will be a good thing on my part. I'm sure I will get educated on how to do with the hip before I'm released. Thanks for your input and consideration!

 

[snowleopard]

I'm not sure how to link to another thread here, but if you run a search for Home Alone after surgery, it should pop up. It's a compendium of tips and tricks from those of us who went through it. You might find something useful there, or you may have your own tips and tricks to add. For me, the rule was that you have to make a lap around the nurses station and do stairs before they release you from the hospital. I requested that I be released on day 3 (surgery being day 0) instead of the evening of day 2, as I would have had to deal with a flight home after that. The PT said, "that's simple. We just won't do the stairs on day 2."

I had a friend pick me up at the airport, do some grocery shopping for me while I sat all lordly in the back of her car (leg up), and deliver me home. I had friends who helped me out with shopping, and came and did a cooking spree for me, and others who've brought me bags of ice. (I'm going through a bag a day for my cryo-cuff.) So even though I've been on my own here, I've had help, and that made a huge difference in relieving stress for me. That's why I thought a rehab facility might be worth considering. I would have been pretty miserable without the extra help. OTOH, I live out in the country, so I can't just make a call and get groceries delivered, etc. Each situation is unique, and the more on-your-own you are, the more you just have to plan around it. I'm sure you'll figure it out.

 

[Struggling64]

Thanks for the advice, will look the thread up @snowleopard !