Hi and thanks to all of you BoneSmarties who've sent opinions, advice, support - and even hugs! I really appreciate all!!
I want to stress that my surgeon and the hospital were highly recommended by my family doctor and my physiotherapist. I know several people who have had beautiful, successful knee replacements she's done.She IS a revision specialist, as well as an experienced orthopedic surgeon specializing in knee and hip replacements at one of Canada's top orthopedic hospitals. I don't think anyone, including me, should assume that she actually made a mistake. The two doctors today explained that if she had chosen a smaller tibial tray, she would have made a notch in the bone to insert it that could put the patient (me!) at risk of a fracture. I want to find out more. And, yes, I have the name of another excellent revision specialist at another, regular hospital. And, no, he doesn't play golf with my surgeon!
I definitely intend to get a second opinion when - and if - I decide to have a revision. I say if, because - and my surgeon said this was fine - I will try to improve my knee and reduce the pain with physio, deep massage, stretches, etc. Because the overhang of my tibial tray is one centimeter, she was surprised that it is causing me pain. Apparently, a majority of patients probably would not feel anything and it depends on how much tissue is impinged. That can't be seen on an X-ray, so I may ask for a scan of my soft tissue. I'm still hoping that continuing to work on my knee may lead to improvement. The surgeon said it may resolve. That's a good reason that she - and I - are not rushing into a revision. I want to avoid two TKRs on one knee. Apparently, it's much less likely I'd be able to have a third if the artificial knee wears out in 10 or 15 years, which is the normal lifespan. The surgeon said the deciding factor will be whether my knee improves on it's own or gets worse, which will mean seriously considering revision surgery. She said she wants me to be pain-free. However, I'm skeptical that a second surgery would get rid of the pain completely.
I also have other mental, dental and personal matters to take care of before January. One example: I have a frail 91-year-old mother who still lives alone in her house and refuses to move. My Dad passed away 10 years ago and my sister and only sibling died three years ago - and she lived in Mom's basement apartment. So now I'm the only family Mom has. She's a three-hour drive away and I'm trying to arrange home health care and support (e.g., medic alert/fall detection). I have to make the trip quite frequently, so can't be out of commission. We also have an ailing (kidney disease), beloved 16-year-old dog at home who needs constant care and now needs to be taken out about every 90 minutes - a little less at night, but our sleep is always broken. Going through that awful two or three months of extremely painful, drugged up recovery (I had to spend nearly all the time in bed, except for being taken to rehab twice a month) would be even more overwhelming this time. It's something I truly dread, based on my negative first surgery experience and (non?) recovery. Awful!!
Again, thank you all for letting me get all of this off my chest. I will definitely post an update here after my one-year review with my surgeon in January.
New Zealand
