Revision TKR Hmm. Not thrilled with the revision yet

The reason I take 2 81mg of aspirin daily is because my eye - not me - but my eye had a stroke. Odd I know, its call Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion. This happened several years ago and the retinal specialist I go to put me on this protocol.
 
@Celle, this is very true and one should check with their internist or cardiologist to see if they can stop the aspirin while on Celebrex.

I had a long discussing with my electrophysiologist/cardiologist on Aug. 22 when I went for my pre-surgery clearance. He had a resident with him and they were discussing this back and forth. I took Celebrex 200 mg bid for a month then once a day for another month while being on Eliquis 5 mg bid with my previous L TKR. I had no issues with it (gastric bleed/heart issues). My previous OS knew I was on Eliquis and they routinely put people on Xarelto 10 mg for 10 days post surgery (DVT prevention) along with Celebrex. You know, who are you going to trust?

My cardiologist/electrophysiologist finally agreed to let me take the Eliquis along with the Celebrex. He said Celebrex gets a bad rap. I'm going to chance it again and hope for no gastric bleed. It sure did help with the pain and inflammation. First sign of stomach issues, I will quit it! I just had an Echocardiogram and a nuclear (chemical) stress test and passed. I also take Celebrex 200 mg PRN when my knee really hurts and it helps!
 
In my case stopping the aspirin isn't an option. No celebrex for me and I'm very fine with that. My surgeon doesn't prescribe it.

On another note I think the gabapentin is making a slight difference. At this point I'll take any relief I can get.
 
I'd follow the ophthalmologist's guidelines for eye care: eyes are too important and your care is quite specialized.

Glad to hear the gabapentin is making a difference. Lots of people find it helps, and after TKR all help is welcome. Your poor knee has been through a lot. :console2: Now is a good time to rest, elevate, ice, and give your body time to heal from the MUA. I hope you soon see results.
 
I need to ccomplain to gripe. Is it too much to ask that when the surgeon order's things to be done that they get done? I had to threaten with my PCP doing the orders to get the MRI. Amazing it was ordered within 5 minutes of me complaining. And yet I had a chat with the surgeon about that.

Fast forward and its been two week since he ordered 2 spinal blocks. In two more weeks I go back to surgeon to discuss how the blocks worked. I have half a notion to not call & complain and go to the appointment and say "I told you so, unless you complain things aren't ordered." But I'll be the one waiting again for the blocks to be ordered, and paying a copay to see a surgeon to say nothing has happened. He is very well known and has lots of patients, that I get. But outside scheduling sucks. I like him, I like his PA I just HATE the system.

Do I again threaten that my PCP can get things ordered same day and she'd be glad to order the spinal blocks? Do I do nothing? Certainly don't want a reputation of being a complainer, but I'm just asking them to do their jobs. At least that's how I see it. Am I wrong here? Be honest.

The gabapentin has made a difference. The entire leg is 'looser' if you will. Do I have to use a cane, yes. Do I have limited movement, yes. Does it hurt / uncomfortable, yes. Warmish to touch, yes. Swelling, oh ya. Taking Tylenol on a schedule 4x's per day. Taking tramadol prn at least 1x per day. Think I'm just tired of nothing happening. Tired of still not being able to do things I want to do.

Okay, I feel slightly better now. I'd love love love to go sit in the hot tub but when I do that the knee isn't happy so I immediately strap on the ice machine and any of the oh so relaxing feels of the hot tub are lost. Sign. Now I'm do. Do I exxpect to much from this office? Is it me? If I need but yet again more surgery I'd like it on the books - prior to all of the holiday seasons that are upcoming.
 
Do I again threaten that my PCP can get things ordered same day and she'd be glad to order the spinal blocks? Do I do nothing? Certainly don't want a reputation of being a complainer, but I'm just asking them to do their jobs. At least that's how I see it. Am I wrong here? Be honest.
I think you should tell the PCP to pull finger and get on with it, explaining that you have an appointment with the surgeon in 2 weeks, to discuss the effects of the spinal blocks. After all, it's your health and you are entitled to efficient service. It's the squeaky wheel that gets the attention.

Is it at all possible that there is alack of communication between your surgeon and your PCP? Are you certain your PCP received the orders for MRI and spinal blocks?

Where I come from, the surgeon would be ordering those procedures if he wanted them done and it would not be necessary for me to go back to my GP/PCP.
 
I probably wasn't too clear. Yes the surgeon has ordered those procedures. But the surgeons office hasn't seem to follow through with the surgeons orders.

My PCP is wonderful and will do whatever is needed to 'help' me through this and get things done, if need be. Order testing, etc.

I just hate hate hate to always complain about the same lack of efficiency in this office. That's just not my style. I then find myself apologizing for complaining about the lack of efficiency. Ridiculous I know.

I just can't wrap my head around why nothing is done until I complain. Clearly this is an office issue and I can't be the only one.
 
When you see you OS in two weeks let him know what's going on with the staff. He might not have any idea at all that his orders aren't getting carried through. I agree that you should get those blocks as soon as possible so you an see how they work.
 
Still zip, zilch, nada from the surgeon's office on the referral. It's been 2 weeks. My heart just hasn't been in complaining mode. I'll start next week rattling some cages. It's absolutely ridiculous as a patient I have to fight to get what the surgeon has ordered, testing wise.

And to think I chatted him up about this issue I've had before and again this nonsense. I'm just tired, sore, swollen and hurting - like everyone else I'd guess.
 
Are you considering going to a different surgeon? And I do understand all that involves, I’m in that spot also.
 
I've had a fleeting thought about trying to see another surgeon but don't think anyone will see me. Each knee surgery I've had a different surgeon. I'm at this guy because the surgeon who did the original replacement referred me out. Even my PCP's hubby had a replacement by this surgeon. I like him, I love his PA - I just hate trying to get anything done. This surgeon is highly recommended, and with this being a revision that even lessens my chances that anyone will see me.

It's just frustrating, as you know.
 
I understand. It’s really hard when you like the dr but not the staff. Maybe go to the office and talk to them face to face? If you’re close enough, that is. Maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of your doctor and get his attention?

This is a “do as I say, not as I do” suggestion, as I do not like confrontation either. But eventually, enough is enough. :console2:
 
At exactly 4:45 on Friday I get a call from the office that is to do the spinal blocks!! It took the surgeons office 14 business days to make that call.

Not gonna complain about it yet. I see this guy on Thursday, we'll see how it goes. Of course this is just an office call. Then we'll schedule the procedure. Hurry up and wait.
 
This won't help you in the short run, but if your doctor's office or health plan has any kind of survey you can do I would do it and mention the slowness of orders being placed.
I think giving them a few days to do the order and calling to check on them is reasonable. It's ridiculous to have to wait 2 weeks!
 
I see the pain management doctor tomorrow. The paperwork to fill out is like a book, a 19 page book. I've never filled out 19 pages to see a doctor before. I just need him to do a block, but none the less have to fill out all of the paperwork.

A question about gabapentin. I'm taking 100 mg @ bedtime. I've been on it since the 8th of this month. Over the last several days I've noticed my upper arms itching. Each day its gotten worse, and I feel like I've got hives. Today it's moved from upper arms to below my elbows and is quite it itch. I'm going to put a call into my prescribing physician, but could this be from the gabapentin? That is the only thing I can think would cause this. Absolutely nothing else has changed in my life. Would it take several weeks to build up in my body then cause the hives? As a side note my usual adverse reaction to medications, if I'm going to have one, is hives.

Thanks everyone.
 
@eaglemom, Gabapentin scares me! I am going to refuse to take it. This is the "in thing" the OS are prescribing these days. 2 years ago it was not offered as much. They need something to help deal with the opioid crisis and I think this is their way of dealing with it. It has soooo many side effects!!!
 
The side effects I got from gabapentin were: major constapation, my tinnitus that had been at a manageable level increased to an unacceptable level, and a feeling of being drugged most of the time. I took 300 mg three times a day for almost 3 weeks. It did not help the issue I took it for.

I was told it could take 2-3 weeks for the side effects to settle down and it could also take 2-3 weeks to help my issue.

I chose to stop taking it. I did not wean off it and didn’t have any withdrawal issues, though I know that weaning off is recommended, as per the info that came with it.

Interestingly, I was given gabapentin in the hospital but not after I got home. I was only in the hospital overnight. What was the point for that short a period? :doh:
 
@Jockette, I will be giving gabapentin in the hospital too but I do not plan to take it once I get home.
 
I've never had it and don't want it because of those side effects.
 

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