zjrog
post-grad
Color me happy too!!!
Revision TKR Knee replacement is not nice to me...
- Thread starter Coachie
- Start date
- Status
OP
OP
Coachie
senior
Having a slightly rough go of things as of late.
The week before Christmas, I had a pretty bad cold for about a week. I was having a hard time catching my breath, so I went to the Dr to see if they could possibly give me something to help with my breathing.
Before I knew it, I was at the (small) local hospital for x-rays and blood work. About an hour after that, the Dr ordered a CT Scan, and then about 1/2 after that, he came in and informed me that he was going to transfer me (by ambulance) to a larger hospital about 30 miles away because my d-dimer was 5 times the normal limit and he saw shadows on my lungs- thus was worried about a Pulmonary Embollism.
So, I got put on Heparin and transported to EMMC in Bangor by ambulance. The next day they did another CT Scan and ultrasound of both legs. I did not have a blood clot (thank goodness!!)
My lungs did not sound rattly like they would if I had pneumonia, but I was still having a hard time catching a full breath, so they kept me for another night and full day. I do have spots on my lungs- could be pneumonia, could be bronchitis, could be something else- I get another scan on Thursday to see if they are still there.
Anyway- after getting home on Dec. 23rd, my back started hurting really bad, so I went to the chiropractor. After three adjustments, my back is still really bad- I cannot stand up straight and cannot walk "normally." Teaching today was not a lot of fun as everytime I turned, I twinged in my back and wanted to cry.
My chiropractor thinks it is caused by a few reasons- being in a bed for 4 days, and because I still do not have full extension of my knee from my September surgery and limped for an entire year before getting the revision.
It's very frustrating to me as I was just getting back to being able to walk more than a mile and such, and now am back hobbling around in a great deal of pain. It really stinks :(
Just had to vent as I know you all understand.
The week before Christmas, I had a pretty bad cold for about a week. I was having a hard time catching my breath, so I went to the Dr to see if they could possibly give me something to help with my breathing.
Before I knew it, I was at the (small) local hospital for x-rays and blood work. About an hour after that, the Dr ordered a CT Scan, and then about 1/2 after that, he came in and informed me that he was going to transfer me (by ambulance) to a larger hospital about 30 miles away because my d-dimer was 5 times the normal limit and he saw shadows on my lungs- thus was worried about a Pulmonary Embollism.
So, I got put on Heparin and transported to EMMC in Bangor by ambulance. The next day they did another CT Scan and ultrasound of both legs. I did not have a blood clot (thank goodness!!)
My lungs did not sound rattly like they would if I had pneumonia, but I was still having a hard time catching a full breath, so they kept me for another night and full day. I do have spots on my lungs- could be pneumonia, could be bronchitis, could be something else- I get another scan on Thursday to see if they are still there.
Anyway- after getting home on Dec. 23rd, my back started hurting really bad, so I went to the chiropractor. After three adjustments, my back is still really bad- I cannot stand up straight and cannot walk "normally." Teaching today was not a lot of fun as everytime I turned, I twinged in my back and wanted to cry.
My chiropractor thinks it is caused by a few reasons- being in a bed for 4 days, and because I still do not have full extension of my knee from my September surgery and limped for an entire year before getting the revision.
It's very frustrating to me as I was just getting back to being able to walk more than a mile and such, and now am back hobbling around in a great deal of pain. It really stinks :(
Just had to vent as I know you all understand.
It seems to be the case that if you have one persistent medical problem, others happen as well. But in the year after your last surgery, they are likely to slowly work themselves out which is unlike your other experience. I hope things overall are moving in a positive direction. What a bummer to be shipped to EMMC and undergo all those tests.
Coachie...so sorry to hear of this latest problem for you! NOT FAIR!!!
I'm praying for you on Thursday to have clear tests. Hope you are feeling a bit better this evening....and even better tomorrow. Even though you had to endure an ambulance ride and all those tests, I'm glad your doctor was proactive. He gets my vote for Good Guy.
I'm praying for you on Thursday to have clear tests. Hope you are feeling a bit better this evening....and even better tomorrow. Even though you had to endure an ambulance ride and all those tests, I'm glad your doctor was proactive. He gets my vote for Good Guy.
So sorry Coachie, you have had more than your share. I hope that you are feeling better soon. Maybe a little PT for your back as well as your knee would help. I think that we spend so much time worrying about our knees that we forget about everything else.
All my best! Bonnie
All my best! Bonnie
old goat
senior
- Joined
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- 75
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United States
Coachie I am wishing you the best. This is really rotten and I hope you get better soon. It sure does seem like when one thing goes wrong one seems to be open to more health issues. It is a bummer to have this happen. I am cheering for you that this next year will be a good one. Hugs. Ann
RestAssured
alpha
Coachie.
I was really hoping that you were catching a break after your knee revision! I am so sorry to hear how things are turning out for you! May 2012 be better and you start to see much improvement!
I was really hoping that you were catching a break after your knee revision! I am so sorry to hear how things are turning out for you! May 2012 be better and you start to see much improvement!
OP
OP
Coachie
senior
Good appointments on Thursday. I still have some light "spots" in my lungs, but am feeling better, so no worry at this point. The spots are just infection clearing up. Yay!
My chiropractor has been spending a lot of time on my muscles, so my back is starting to feel better too. I will be going to him 1-2 times a week and we're going to work on strengthening my leg muscles and getting full extension in my right knee (I've been stuck at about 4 degrees.) We both know that getting the extension will help with my gait- therefore help with my back.
Things are looking up and I am feeling quite positive that 2012 is going to be a good year for me
My chiropractor has been spending a lot of time on my muscles, so my back is starting to feel better too. I will be going to him 1-2 times a week and we're going to work on strengthening my leg muscles and getting full extension in my right knee (I've been stuck at about 4 degrees.) We both know that getting the extension will help with my gait- therefore help with my back.
Things are looking up and I am feeling quite positive that 2012 is going to be a good year for me
referee54
Former BoneSmart staff member
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2007
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- Northern Part of the Buckeye State
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- United States
What a horrid holiday season you had! Oh my goodness. I am glad to read that your lung infection is going away and that you are feeling better.
You last post is very positive and I am sure that 2012 will be much, much better!
You last post is very positive and I am sure that 2012 will be much, much better!
RestAssured
alpha
I am so glad you are feeling better! Take care!:biggrin:
wanttoride
senior
Coachie...it's been a loooong time since an update or post. How are you doing? Hope 2012 is better for you!
sunflower
graduate
I'm so glad you didn't win the multiple PE drawing~you've had such a full plate with your knee problems. Now to get those lungs happy and healthy. :flowerysmile: I really have a lot of respect for you as a teacher because you've had to persevere when the going got really, really tough and you hung in there. My wish for you is that it's all downhill from here and that you will begin reaping the rewards of difficult battle fought well. 
OP
OP
Coachie
senior
Have had some good days as of late. My fiance and I are enjoying the sport of geocaching (www.geocaching.com) and that gets us outside and walking around. I am still terrified of any hills- cannot bring myself to walk down them unless it is gentle slope or if I have something to grab onto- so he has to do all of those caches, but otherwise I am right in there looking for them.
My scar is still "purplely" in color- and looks angry sometimes- but he cut right over the scar I had from my original tkr, so that is expected.
I still have quite a bit of kneecap pain when I am standing or sitting or straightening my leg, but my muscles are still trying to get stronger, so until they are, I will continue to have pain.
I would say that I am glad that I had the revision, and am thankful that they finally figured it out. There are a few moments when I will feel angry for what I had to go through last year (with the severe pain and the depression caused by that, etc.) but for the most part, I am ok! It is nice to walk without a limp
I do have a couple of questions, though. My left tkr was the "poster child" for recovery. I recovered quite easily and you would never know that I have had it replaced by watching me in a chair or walking. The only way you would know is by the scar and that I can only bend it about 110-115 degrees or so. Anyway- my right knee (tkr and revision one year later) does not like to be bent. If I am sitting in a chair, I can only keep it bent for a couple of minutes before it becomes stiff and sore- and then I need to stretch it out- which hurts like the dickens. The back of my leg still hurts a lot too- where the popliteal ligament is. Dr. W released that ligament during the revision, but it still hurts.
Do you all have that problem with the having to straighten the leg? How long will it bother me or is it something that I will always deal with? Does the stiffness go away after standing or will that always bother me too?
My scar is still "purplely" in color- and looks angry sometimes- but he cut right over the scar I had from my original tkr, so that is expected.
I still have quite a bit of kneecap pain when I am standing or sitting or straightening my leg, but my muscles are still trying to get stronger, so until they are, I will continue to have pain.
I would say that I am glad that I had the revision, and am thankful that they finally figured it out. There are a few moments when I will feel angry for what I had to go through last year (with the severe pain and the depression caused by that, etc.) but for the most part, I am ok! It is nice to walk without a limp
I do have a couple of questions, though. My left tkr was the "poster child" for recovery. I recovered quite easily and you would never know that I have had it replaced by watching me in a chair or walking. The only way you would know is by the scar and that I can only bend it about 110-115 degrees or so. Anyway- my right knee (tkr and revision one year later) does not like to be bent. If I am sitting in a chair, I can only keep it bent for a couple of minutes before it becomes stiff and sore- and then I need to stretch it out- which hurts like the dickens. The back of my leg still hurts a lot too- where the popliteal ligament is. Dr. W released that ligament during the revision, but it still hurts.
Do you all have that problem with the having to straighten the leg? How long will it bother me or is it something that I will always deal with? Does the stiffness go away after standing or will that always bother me too?
Hi Coachie,
I don't remember seeing the term "fiance" in any of your posts before. Congratulations!
Anyhow I have a stiffness problem but then I had the fibrosis and now am left with significant effusion. For me, the soft tissues around the knee are under strain from the effusion, which is worse when the knee is bent. Am seeing a rheumatologist in Bangor to hopefully get things resolved.
I don't remember seeing the term "fiance" in any of your posts before. Congratulations!
Anyhow I have a stiffness problem but then I had the fibrosis and now am left with significant effusion. For me, the soft tissues around the knee are under strain from the effusion, which is worse when the knee is bent. Am seeing a rheumatologist in Bangor to hopefully get things resolved.
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