Revision TKR Hmm. Not thrilled with the revision yet

Tomorrow's the day. The day I start rattling some physician's offices. I'm so much worse since this 3rd revision. I understand time and patience, believe me I do. But I want someone, frankly anyone, at the physician's office to hear me - not just pretend to listen. Then give the canned answer of "we'll see you in 4 months" or something like that. I don't think that's asking too much.

My game plan is calling the surgeon's office and seeing what that brings about. (Which I can already tell you he will say I have to see the Pain Management doctor.) I plan on calling them also so that should be interesting. The pain doctor will want to know what I'm not using the compression sleeves on my legs - hello, I can't stand to have my leg / knee in the position it has to be in with the sleeves. Besides I swell even more in the knee area. Oh its going to be a fun day, NOT.

I would bet pretty much all of us would like some pain relief of some sort. I think I simply don't want to be dismissed - which is what I feel has happened to me. Ok, rant is over. Guess I should put myself to bed so I'll be well rested for tomorrow!!!
 
:console2::console2: It’s so very frustrating to have a painful condition and go to Dr after Dr and get nothing out of it.

No one knows what to do with my knee, but I’m not in excruciating pain, so I’m managing.

My husband, on the other hand, does have excruciating pain in his back, it’s been about 2 years, and there doesn’t seem to be much help for it. We’ve been to 3 surgeons and a couple different PT facilities, and have seen different chiropractors, and nothing has helped.

Not that it’s much consolation, but you are not alone in not finding a solution. :console2:
 
Zip, zilch, nada, crickets........I've not had a response back from my orthopedic surgeon. I know today he does knee scope surgeries so I'm sure I'll hear nothing. Not that I figured I'd get a quick response, but I'm disappointed none the less.
Sigh...................
 
These doctors can be so frustrating sometimes. It seems like after they finish the surgery they send you somewhere else. I was experiencing some pain and discomfort about a year ago and made an appointment to see my OS. After waiting about an hour I saw a PA. I didn't make my appointment with a PA! This is happening more and more to patients.

I hope you hear back from your OS really soon.
 
I'm just going to lay low all weekend. Meaning elevation and ice will be almost constant. I'm very disappointed that I didn't hear back from the surgeon's office. (But frankly I didn't think I would)

I've toyed with the idea of calling the after hours nurse but again I know nothing will happen. I hate Hate HATE being dismissed. I've always played by the rules, done as I was told and haven't made a fuss about anything. Come Monday morning that is going to change...................
 
It’s very frustrating. I have learned that medical offices as well as businesses don’t like unhappy customers and often try to ignore us. Been there. :console2:I hope you get better results on Monday.
 
I am firing my PT too, first thing Monday. Not only did my leg swell and become much more sore after my last session (one of 2) they have me coming back to back days for my 3 days a week, how is that for recovery? The advice I've gotten here leads me to believe rice and healing are what is needed. One thing that concerned me though, I was talking to another TKR patient at the therapist's office when I was waiting last week who told me she almost ended up with a revision because " I didn't work on ROM and go around full revolutions on the bike". I expect that is what the Dr./Therapist told her. I hope my gentle and patient approach is the right path to take
 
Each knee is different, as we all know. But threatening a revision if you can't do a revolution on the bike? Oh my. During what time frame? I'm 18 weeks post surgery and just last week was able to do a full revolution. But if I try two days in a row I'm too swollen to be able to complete the revolution.

I'm just bored, sad, frustrated, upset, on and on about the entire thing. I know it will get better - given a lot more time. But darn it all I'd at least like a medical professional to listen to my concerns. Being dismissed absolutely fires me up.
 
I am so very disappointed and frankly mad I can hardly stand it. I not received calls back from last week, so I took matters into my own hands. I called the surgeons office and was told his nurse was in clinicals today & would return my call tomorrow. I quickly pointed out she'd not returned last weeks calls. I was nice but firm. The receptionist said she'd personally talk with the triage nurse and have her call.

Within 10 minutes the triage nurse did call. To say I needed an appointment July 11 was next available. She told me to take 2 Tylenol three times daily. I said I was and it wasn't touching the pain. When I voiced concern she immediately went to the "you should be seeing a Pain Management doctor, you were referred to one." Yes I was referred in Oct and saw him. That physician insisted on the genecular nerve block which did nothing. He then sent me back to my orthopedic.

I feel like a ping pong ball being bounded all over the place. No one listens, each office is scared you'll ask for pain medication and they won't order it, but gladly send you to another office. My knee has been through too much for this nonsense. I went with this surgeon because of his reputation and how things were handled. For some reason things all changed at the beginning of this year and I can't even get a return call. The nurse did 'suggest' I use a 'walking device' to prevent a fall. I laughed at her & said I'm using a cane & my walker. She asked 'why?' What in the world - because of stability and pain. You can't make this stuff up.

Guess I'll go continue with my Netflix's habit while elevating and icing.

Sorry for the rant. I know you all totally get this frustration.
 
You’re totally allowed to rant! Whatever gets you through!

I hate that you’ve been treated this way. Most doctors only like the success stories. When things don’t go as textbook they literally avoid you-I feel you’re pain.

Keep insisting on answers- you’re entitled to them!

Best wishes!
 
. The nurse did 'suggest' I use a 'walking device' to prevent a fall. I laughed at her & said I'm using a cane & my walker. She asked 'why?'
So you’re already doing what she suggests and she reverts to “Why?” :doh:

The more I read experiences like yours, the more I’m willing to just manage with my knee in the condition it’s in. My ROM is still improving (at 2 years post op!!) even if not much else is. And contrary to popular opinion, ROM is not everything.

I’m sorry you’ve been through so much.:console2:

My husband had RFA (Radio Frequency Ablation) done on his back and it did nothing for him.
 
The surgeon's office called later in the day. It was the surgeon's personal assistant. She wanted to go over everything that I'd said. Then she said the surgeon wants to see you, not the PA. But its' still a weeks wait. I asked her what if anything I should do in the mean time. Her suggestion was keep using compression sleeves as tolerated, elevate and ice and if not icing to constantly be elevating. Take whatever medication I need adding Tylenol in several times per day. Be down as much as possible.

There it is. The waiting game.
 
I'm just bored, sad, frustrated, upset, on and on about the entire thing. I know it will get better - given a lot more time. But darn it all I'd at least like a medical professional to listen to my concerns. Being dismissed absolutely fires me up.
I hope you tell him this. We pay these doctors a lot of money.
 
@eaglemom I’m so sorry for you. I know how frustrating it is, I’m dealing with pretty much the same thing. I have an appointment with my OS in 3 weeks, but I feel like it’s probably going to be a waste of time. All they ever say is give it time. But in reality, what choice do we have?
 
You are right jboles - the answer of 'give it time' always seems to be mentioned. I'm sorry your having troubles.

Last night was a rough night, I just couldn't get my leg comfortable. I was driving myself crazy, so I resorted to a pain pill. I did a few simply stretches and went back to bed. The pain pill finally kicked in and I was at least able to rest some.

I would guess many of us are dealing with pain and might not even know it. Its something we're so used to having pain has become our 'normal.' Lots is said and written about pain the first month or so after surgery but I've not seen much about pain several months out. Since the healing process can take a year or more to me it makes sense that sometimes we are going to have more pain than 2 Tylenol (1000mg) can address. I believe that was my case last night the Tylenol simply didn't hold the pain at bay. Some days are better than others as we all know.

As a silly side note: I'm using my roller walker around the house. Our shih tzu is forever watching me, until it dawned on me what she wanted - which was to be on the seat of the walker. So she gets a ride around the house while I'm working on proper walking, etc. She a very silly girl, but this just cracks both of us up.
 
She a very silly girl, but this just cracks both of us up.
And I bet you smile every time you give her a ride. That’s a great. A cute little walking buddy.

I still have plenty of discomfort and I’m more than 2 years out. Sometimes it’s actual pain, but usually “just” an extreme discomfort. A medical professional once said, it’s the same thing. I said no, pain makes me think “Ow!” which is different than a lot of annoying discomfort. He agreed, he’d never thought of it that way.
 
I wonder if our knees will ever feel "normal"? Like we are not aware of it?
 
I wonder if our knees will ever feel "normal"? Like we are not aware of it?
Mine won’t, as long as I have this partial. It feels awful, any time I’m weight bearing. It feels swollen inside, and like above my knee doesn’t sit right on the area below my knee. On the outside it doesn’t look any different than my other knee. And of course my X-ray looks fine.
 
Wouldn't a 'normal' feeling knee be wonderful? Up until about a week ago I could have said short from occasionally being slightly stiff my left TKR felt like a knee should. But alas, it too has now developed an attitude. I have great extension & ROM with it still. I know the left is getting sore because of how I'm walking / wobbling.

I certainly wish each one of us could get some honest answers about our individual knees. It truly seems as if the surgeons (at least here in the US) do the surgery but then refer you to a pain management specialist. I was / am uncertain how a pain management physician works. The one I saw seemed ambivalent if he ever saw me again or not. Plus he referred me back to the knee surgeon. I fail to see how that is helpful. Clearly I still don't understand their role in our knee recovery.

I too think we all deserve at least an explanation beside 'time.' We know our bodies and we know when something isn't correct. And like all of you, I do have / had a life which I very much would like to return to. Let's hope we all have a good week.
 
I'm my own worst enemy. I know better, but alas I thought / allowed life to get in the way of recovery. And guess whom suffers? Me, thus I'm my own enemy.

I've not used the leg compression machine for 4 or 5 days. Equally I've not elevated & iced for 4 days. Life has been busy and I simply didn't take the time to tend to those things and now am paying the price in even more swelling. Let's hope I've learned my lesson. Going to try to take it very easy the next several days and properly tend to myself. I see the surgeon on Monday - that should be fun!!!

Happy healing everyone. Don't do as I have, ice elevate and the rest can wait.
 

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