Revision TKR Knee revision

[Layla]

Hi ruthcb,
With any luck your sleep has improved since you last posted. What helped me get more comfortable sleeping on my back was multiple bed pillows. I pretty much surrounded myself with them so I could rest an arm or leg on one through out the night. I had different sizes and weights on each side and slept comfortably. Gather up some bed pillows, it's worth a try. I hope your appointment on the 12th went well.
Happy One Month Anniversary and best wishes for a great holiday season.
@ruthcb

 

[ruthcb]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I had a 4 week check up this week and the surgeon was so surprised that I can lift my leg already and am almost bending to 90degrees. They didn’t expect me to be able to lift my leg for a lot longer time because I don’t have a patella and my muscles are so weak from 5 years of not walking properly. So am feeling very happy.
I am on tramadol, 4 per day and gabapentin 4-6 per day. This is an increase on what I was having. I have hardly been awake and strange dreams. I looked up to see if there is a reason for this and found out that you shouldn’t take them together as it can cause respiratory distress and all sorts of other issues. So, I am going back to 3 tramadol, and having gabapentin in between as opposed to together. Has anyone else had these issues?

 

[AnnYo]

So happy you're doing well--what a long siege you've been through. I admire your strength in not giving up even after coming up against so many roadblocks. A lesson to all of us! Hope you continue to heal well..

 

[mendogal]

Oh congratulations on the 4 week check up!!!

These meds are sometimes prescribed together after spinal or joint surgery.
There are risks associated with this, and as with most medications and treatments, each prescribing doctor will be weighing the benefits and risks for each patient.

Please call the prescribing doc - I assume your OS - let him know you're over sedated and having strange dreams. Let him decide if it's time to adjust your regimen.

 

[Layla]

Wonderful news! I'm glad you're happy.

I do agree with, mendogal, on checking with your OS or PCP about adjusting your medication,
mentioning the dreams and also sharing what you read about mixing the tramadol and gabapentin.
I hope you have a great weekend!
@ruthcb

 

[sistersinhim]

They didn’t expect me to be able to lift my leg for a lot longer time because I don’t have a patella and my muscles are so weak from 5 years of not walking properly.

Since I have no kneecaps either, I was concerned with being able to lift my leg after the TKR. But, surprisingly, I lifted it right up! Maybe it is the opposite of us who are kneecapless, maybe our muscles have compensated the lack and work better than those with their patellas. Who knows? We are wonderfully and fearfully made!

 

[Layla]

It's been two months to date since your revision, ruthcb.
How are you doing these days? Please let us know next time you're on the forum.
Hope to read an update from you soon.
@ruthcb

 

[ruthcb]

Hello,
Well it’s been an interesting time. On Christmas Eve I ended up in hospital for almost a week. I had an awful gastro infection and the concern was it would spread to my knee, which thankfully it didn’t. But it certainly knocked me around and has put me back a bit on walking and exercising. I am still using the walker, tried crutches but it’s too soon. Can walk 250m once a day, and am doing some exercises.
The infection came because I stopped acidophilus a week before surgery (as instructed), and because the surgery meant lots of antibiotic washes, plus IV antibiotics after, all the good bacteria in my digestive system were wiped out and the nasty ones took over. Ten days of vancomycin seems to have sorted things out, but some blood tests are still a bit elevated, but all heading in the right direction.
But good news is that I stopped tramadol and gabapentin and am just having a few paracetamol as needed.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2024

 

[mendogal]

Oh no!!!!! Hopefully you're back on track!!!!!

 

[Layla]

Oh my goodness, how frightening, I am so sorry to read this news. Thankfully you're seeing improvement.
What a memorable Christmas this past one will be, so sad. Please do stay in touch and share progress as you bounce back from this setback. Rest up and feel better soon!
@ruthcb

 

[sistersinhim]

What a miserable Christmas you had. You'll have to have a real celebration now. Your knee will have benefitted from your rest time, allowing more healing to occur. I pray for your complete body's healing.

 

[Layla]

Hello on this three month anniversary since your revision.
Wondering how you're doing since we last heard from you?
I hope everything is going well, you've fully recovered from your hospital stay and continue to make progress with your revision recovery. Please let us know when you have time, we'd love to hear from you.
Happy Three Month Anniversary! @ruthcb

 

[ruthcb]

Thank you Layla!
I was just waiting to post until I had my review with orthopaedic surgeon this week.
OS is very happy with my progress, she has always said it will be a 2 year slow recovery and I am determined that it will be less. I can bend just past 90, and the lag is 20 when lying down and 11 when I push down. My Physio has given me lots of exercises to do, and I am doing them every second day, and the days in between I am using crutches, but only at home. I am still using the walker if I go out, especially if there are any steps or gutters. Still managing not to take any pain meds, unless I have overdone things the day before.
Thank goodness the bug hasn’t come back, I never want to go through that again, but I shouldn’t speak too soon as it has a 20% chance of recurrence in first few months.
Hope everyone is doing well

 

[Layla]

Hopefully you're on a good probiotic now and there is no recurrence of the infection.
Good to read your OS is pleased with your progress. That's always reassuring.
@ruthcb

 

[ruthcb]

Yes, I went back on probiotic when I came home from hospital. I think the c diff was from having to stop probiotic a week before surgery and all the antibiotics used during and after surgery. Interesting that I haven’t had any IBS since then, and haven’t had any IBS meds for 6 weeks.