Revision TKR Knee replacement is not nice to me...

[maryo52]

Coachie, I understand your reluctance to change antidepressants at this point. You start to feel like a lab mouse for goodness sakes. Anyhow, I used to work in an ER. They'll give you something for pain, and maybe even a script to take home. You can negotiate with them which med to use. But very often ER providers look only a the very short term. Plus they see a lot of "drug seekers," and I've had friends who were suspected of being drug seekers. But if you really need relief, it's certainly an option. It might just add another layer to your frustration, though.

 

[Greda]

Coachie,
I had used the er for pain (not my knee, but jaw) and I found it depended on the doctor you had. Sometimes I would leave with some relief and sometimes told about a doctor I had not considered. I did have one doctor who did treat me like a "drug seeker". It was very frustrating, but it is something that could happen. I think if I was in the amount of pain you and not getting help from your doctors, I would go to the er. This is a decision you have to make. It could either a good thing or not. Be sure to take a list of medications you are on and what you are allergic to. I found if I took in a list they paid more attention to it than just me telling them. I would probably let them know you are on a waiting list but are need some kind of relief now.
Good Luck!
Greda

 

[wanttoride]

Coachie...I spent this afternoon at the EMMC ER....read my post on my thread....

 

[Coachie]

I went my niece's homeschool graduation ceremony today. I was the featured speaker. While there, I talked to a friend of the family (who also happens to be my dentist) about my knee.

He said that I shouldn't bother with the ER (especially not the one up here since it is a tiny hospital) since he said they won't be able to do much as they won't want to touch a knee replacement without my ortho's advice.

I'm just going to call my orthopedic in Bangor (Dr. W) again on Monday and then if nothing I'll call again on Tuesday, etc., until I can get through to them how much I am actually hurting.

 

[wanttoride]

Sounds like a good plan, Coachie! Hey! Who's the dentist? I'm a dental assistant (or used to be before this knee mess) and have worked for several dentists in the Bangor area!
Have you ever taken Tramadol for pain? It worked for me, and I'm going to go back on it again. It was the only pain med that took the "edge" off . I tried Naproxen, Diazapan (for spasm pain) and some other drug...all did nothing but turn me into a walking cloud of fog.
I stopped it (the Tramadol) because I found out it was habit forming, and that scared me. But since talking to the ER doc today, the dosage I was taking wasn't that high, so I was mis-informed (again). Geezzzz.....

 

[Coachie]

All I took for my left and right tkr was Tramadol. It took the edge off my pain and I was able to get through each day with alternating that and Tylenol every 3 hours. I am highly allergic to Ibuprofen and any type of medication that has Aspirin product in it, so I am limited to what I can take. Over the winter I would take it some, but couldn't take much because of the interaction with my Zoloft. Now I can't take it at all because there is a major drug interaction between Cymbalta and Tramadol.

I was told that Tramadol can be habit forming, but it isn't as bad as a narcotic can be.

My dentist is from Lincoln (Dr. Libby.)

 

[wanttoride]

Wow! If it's not one thing, it's another! Those drug interactions......:hissyfit:. Hope today goes well for you....I'm a bit achey because of this lovely rainy weather!

 

[Coachie]

Speaking of drug interactions...

All I've been able to take in the last few months in addition to basic Tylenol is Tylenol 3. I can only take 1-2 pills a day due to allergic reactions to everything under the sun. Anyway- yesterday I was tired of dealing with this horrible pain so ended up taking 2 in the afternoon and then 2 again in the evening before bed. I took Benedryl before bed as I take it for sleeping anyway, but also because I am supposed to take it with my Tylenol 3 since I usually get hives from it. Woke up at about 2 a.m. with major hives. Took more Benedryl and went back to sleep. Still have hives now. So guess who now has NOTHING to take for pain relief today? Good times. Pretty freaking sick of this "game".

I am calling the ortho's office tomorrow and my pcp's office since they need to know how things are getting worse each day.

 

[WaterBaby]

Hugs to you, Coachie! I certainly hope your OS will respond promptly tomorrow and get you some pain medication that you aren't allergic to. Geez, enough is enough! You need some relief! Hang in there...

 

[wanttoride]

Boy, do I HATE the HIVES!!!!

 

[Coachie]

I slept all afternoon- which doesn't surprise me since I did take quite a bit of Benedryl. Not a bad thing to do on a rainy and cold Sunday...

I was talking with a friend of mine yesterday and he said, "you must be happy to have a summer off and that you don't have to have a surgery this summer since you've had one for the last two summers..." I agreed with him, but in reality, all I can think of is that while I don't have a surgery this summer (which is really nice) I also can't do anything enjoyable because my knee hurts so much. I want to be able to go out and walk through the woods or do the summer activities I used to be able to do and due to my pain and immobility, I cannot. Even with crutches or a cane, walking in the woods would not be possible or enjoyable. Days like today make me think about that a lot.

Hopefully I'll get through to someone tomorrow and someone might call me back. I don't know how I will react if they don't.

I really am trying to be positive- it's just kind of tough right now to be that way.

 

[wanttoride]

I think about riding horses again....I miss it sooo much! I keep thinking that it's been 2 long winters after having TKR's, and each spring, I was hoping for a great outcome. Hasn't happened....yet! That's why I'm really thinking about fusion. If I have the surgery this fall, I can recoup this winter (my third in the recliner!) and be ready (FINALLY!) for a mobile and active 2012 spring and summer. I've already got a therapeutic riding instructor ready to go...just in case I can! Oh, I really, really hope I can!
I hear'ya Coachie! You want your life back. :cry4: Me, too!

 

[PhoenixS]

I feel for both of you. I am dragging my life back, but it comes at a cost, measured in Percocet (1 or 2 at night, I don't find any hints of dependance but manage it very tightly)
I just made an appointment with one of the Surgeons that Jamie recommended to Coachie at MGH.
This was prompted by the last few weeks if I am not having pain when I go to bed at night, I do not take any pain meds. If I do not do this, invariably my knee will wake me up in the middle of the night. DARN!!! It was doing this prior to my TKR.
I have been told by 2 different surgeons that my knee has alot of lateral "play" ie: it is loose. Not the implant, the knee itself, and the thought is the spacer is too small.
Unfortunately, fixing this is a whole new operation, which I dread. The thought of opening this joint up terrifies me, but this is ridiculous. Starting to get tired of looking at the Percocet bottle and wondering if I should or shouldn't take it. Done with it. Cant take Tramadol because I had a bad reaction to it. I took so many antiinflammatories that I needed an endoscopy for bleeding. Erosive Gastritis. Getting pushed into the corner again....
Sandy

 

[wanttoride]

Hi Sandy! That is EXACTLY what is going on my with knee now. My knee has a lot of "play" in it. The implants are tight as tight can be. It's the tendson, ligaments, muscles, etc. that are "loose" around the joing. My OS told me he left my knee loose for a reason. He was afraid that if I tightened it up, I would not be able to bend or flex my knee very much. Well, as I've written before, having it loose has caused a whole new adventure in pain, as the joint hurts because of being loose. He also told me the spacer is small. He is willing to try a thicker spacer (read my posts regarding knee fusion) to see if this helps with the looseness, but still fears that this will hinder my ability to bend and straighten effectively and without pain and instability.
I'm scared, too, because I don't want to have another surgery to put in a thicker spacer (very easy surgery, so I am told) and have that fail. Then having yet another surgery (more major) to have my knee fused and be done with all of this and move onward.

 

[Jamie]

Good for you, Sandy. The folks at Mass General looked to be a good group of surgeons and I'll be eager to hear your feedback on them. Tell them BoneSmart is watching :wink1: so they better be good!!!

 

[Coachie]

Even though I called again this morning, no one called me back again today. Hope I hear from someone tomorrow as I have no way to manage my pain at this point and it is getting pretty hard to manage.

For those who pray, please pray for our community as we are all struggling tonight. A man killed his wife and two children (and then himself) today. She was a teacher in our district and the kids were in 6th and 8th grade. The little girl was on my basketball team :(

 

[RestAssured]

Audrey,

Katie, my PT is working with me because my ligaments, muscles, etc. are loose. It causes the kneecap to push over to the side causing pain.

When I was in PT today, I was doing step ups on an 8 inch step and I felt pain. I stretched it out, but when I got to the table, no leg lifts were possible.

I laid on my side and had my right leg up in a chair, while I was strengthening the left leg. The right knee suddenly seized up on me causing quite a bit of pain. Katie had to work it out. :hate-shocked:
After she finished, I felt better, and she helped me with leg lifts. I go so far and then take a couple of steps back.:skeptical:

Sometimes I get a little frustrated!:wink1:

Coachie, I will be praying for the town and for you!

 

[maryo52]

Coachie, thinking of you all in Millinocket. The fact that those kids were in your classes must hit you hard.

Wanttoride, you're a fine example of adjusting expectations to fit realities. I could use more of that!

Sandy, glad you're going to MGH. My uncle, a long-time Boston MD associated with MGH, calls it "Mother of God" hospital. Anyhow at one point I researched the orthos there, and their ratings. Highest ratings in the Boston area. Good luck!

I just weaned off the end of my percocet and did have a few days of withdrawal. But oh how I needed that pain relief. I really feel for those who have trouble tolerating the pain med they so need . . .

 

[Coachie]

Mary- it's Dexter actually and thank you. It's going to be a tough few days for all of us, but we're leaning on each other.

 

[Coachie]

I called everyone today and no dice. I have to wait.

My PCP didn't call me back, but the receptionist who does the referrals did and said that my Dr definitely wanted me to go to this place in Bangor as in her opinion it's the best place, so that's where I should go. I tried to plead with the receptionist asking what I am supposed to do until then but she obviously didn't have an answer for me.

Dr. W's office cannot fit me in at all until July. I've called them three times in two days. I'm out of answers. Out of ideas.

No matter what orthopedic I try to get into, I'll have to wait and wait so I'm not pushing for another orthopedic. I just need to try to find some way to manage my pain and I don't know how I am going to do that without help.