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Revision TKR Hood1980’s Revision

I agree with @kneeper. What does using a weight on your leg have to do with your cane? A weight adds more stress to the knee. Don’t worry about using your cane. I will use mine in certain situations until I no longer want or need to. I’m 43 and it used to bother me to use it, but it’s my choice to be comfortable, so I’ll use it. I don’t care what others think. I hope you can try to relax and enjoy your life. It could always be worse. You will get there.
 
I certainly used my stick as a visual warning to others that I had a degree of mobility problem. It did give me more confidence when I was out.
 
Me too! I really liked having my crutches with me in the city. People stayed away from me, no one tried to rush, or rush past me. It helped me feel much more secure and stable.
 
I’m at 4 months out and still not much progress. [emoji22]. Lots of stiffness, some knee pain, lots of ankle pain. Still can’t walk without limping and “trick”knee the same as before surgery where it randomly gives out, so I still use my cane. I regret the day I ever did this!!!


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You're only two months out from your MUA, which is more your current baseline than the original surgery because of the new trauma to your knee. I still used my cane at two months out and many people use a cane for longer. Use it for as long as you feel you need it. Just know that having to use it still isn't a sign of anything gone wrong.

Most people will have stiffness, and some pain still, at four months (much less two), so try not to worry about that. The main thing is you should start seeing improvement in the things you can do. Are you limping because of the knee, or your ankle?
 
@SusieShoes I’m not really sure I know why I’m limping...the pain in the ankle, the stiffness in the knee, possible misalignment??? I try to keep positive but it’s a struggle. I try to come here to update my journey but , I Never have any progress to report. I read other people’s recoveries and I know I’m not suppose to compare, but it’s hard not to. I walked better and had less pain before TKR than I do now! What a mistake I made!


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I walked better and had less discomfort before surgery also. But I am better now than I was at 4 months. I am 13 months now and things truly are better, though not as better as I would like.

It’s coming, but it’s taking its time!
:console2:
 
Thanks @Jockette! But am I understanding you correctly that at 13 months, you still cannot walk better than you did before surgery?


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Yes, I’m sorry to report that. I still don’t walk as fast as before, it’s still that foreign object feel in my knee when I walk. (not the least bit natural like the partial knee descriptions that I read before surgery on orthopedic websites) My leg is still uncomfortable in many positions, it still prefers to be on an ottoman the best.

I had a Patellofemoral, which is just the kneecap area replaced. So my problems before surgery were getting up and down from chairs, and doing stairs, that’s it. Walking had never been a problem. While doing stairs hurt, I could do it fairly well. Not now, or at least not yet.

I had good ROM before. (I never knew the term ROM before surgery.) Now, it’s no where near as good as my unoperated leg. Even at 13 months.

And I have questions about whether or not my patella is tracking properly. My surgeon declined to comment on that last month at my one year checkup.

So, I do agree with you in that I am sorry I had the surgery. I’ve had some other negative side effects that I was surprised about. So, it’s been a really difficult year.
 
I’m so sorry your recovery has been difficult @Jockette. It seems I may be on the same road to recovery as you. When I get time I’m going to read your recovery thread. I don’t know how you do it without getting frustrated and depressed???

Like you it’s my left knee and it was always my “good” knee until it “blew out” in the gym doing kettle bell swings in the gym on 7/4/17. After 3 months of rehab and PT didn’t fix it, my OS recommended TKR.

I’ve always had bad knees, particularly the right that would give out at any time because of patella Alta and the knee caps not tracking properly. Over the years they developed severe grade 4 arthritis and the shots didn’t provide much relief. Going to the gym strengthened my leg muscles and I was enjoying walking, hiking, and the occasional 5K. I could deal with the pain, especially after getting a hot tub to soak in after anything physical.

I really thought I would be better after TKR and it scares me that I might not ever be able to have an active life again or that I may have to have a revision, because my OS said he’s “not ready to call it a failure yet!”

Well I’m off now to get ready to spend the day with my mother! She turns 90 years young today and what a lovely lady she is!


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@Hood1980, we shouldn’t compare, that’s true. It’s human nature, I think, but we tend to compare ourselves with people who are where we want to be, not with people who are lagging where we want to be — so we end up feeling like failures. It’s self-defeating. :sad:

You’re still very early in recovery, so try to resist comparing your knee to any other knees. As frustrating as it is that you aren’t walking as well, and have more pain than, before surgery, you will continue to heal, walk better, and have less pain! It’s really the end game of recovery that’s important. It’s all wonderful when some people have immediate relief (a lot of people go into TKR in significant, horrible pain and disability, so see improvement from the start) but what matters most is where you end up: with a functional, pain-free knee that allows you to live a full life.
 
While I’m not really happy with where I am at 13 months, I’m currently much better than I was at 4 months. I expect to continue healing and improving, but I’m not sure right now that I will get to the point of having a pain free knee that lets me live a full life.
 
While pain-free and functional is a goal a high percentage of TKR patients achieve, it’s true some people don’t get there. :sad: This is a long recovery, though, and it’s important not to give up too soon.
 
I haven’t given up yet. :flwrysmile:

But, like @phrog, my expectations have been downgraded a bit. :bored:
 
SusieShoes said:
While pain-free and functional is a goal a high percentage of TKR patients achieve, it’s true some people don’t get there.
Click to expand...
I was told in the early 90s after my kneecap removals that I would never be painfree, even with a tkr. It's not, but most of the time it's better than before. At least I can ride my bike now without pain!

Being better is what we have to accept sometimes, even though we all want painfree!
 
I would/will love being better, but at 4 months out I am worse and wish this aspect of the TKR process was thoroughly covered during Pre-TKR counseling and screening. [emoji22]


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Your knee is only 1/3 of the way of a year long recovery. It will get much better! It takes lots and lots of patience. In the long run it will be worth it!
 
@Hood1980 I read on another thread that you are concerned about a possible misaligned knee/leg.

If you want to, you can post a picture for Josephine to look at. It should look like this picture and include hips and feet, preferably with shorts and bare feet.

[Bonesmart.org] Hood1980’s Revision
 
Thanks @Jockette. I will definitely do that but it will probably be over the weekend when I can get my DH to take the picture and help me upload it.


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