Revision TKR Mamie's Pre-Op Thread

Mamie

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July 16th is my revision. I think I may be in the wrong thread. I need help and advice. Good luck everyone.
 
@Mamie :welome: to BoneSmart. I will ask one of the moderators to create a signature for you and help you make your own thread.:flwrysmile:
 
Thank you.
sorry but falling to sleep. Last two nights barely slept!
I was trying to be sure my information was added properly and find a place to add my story, questions and support those I can. I am scheduled again after being canceled last month due to Covid. The truth is, I am terrified from unanswered questions. My total knee was an awful experience and the surgeon says this one will be much worse and difficult on my heart. Hopefully revisions are here somewhere with hope, answers and advice. Thank you.
 
Hi @Mamie ,
I have moved your posts and started this pre-op thread for you. This is where you should post about yourself now. After you've had your surgery, you'll be able to have a thread in the Knee Surgery Recovery Area. We'll help you if you need help to do that.

Now, please try not to worry so much about this revision you need to have. I've had one and it really was no worse than the original surgery and it should fix your knee, so that, after recovery, you end up with a knee that is much less of a problem.
We'll be here to help you through this. :friends:

"Please will you tell us the date of your first knee replacement, so we an add that to your signature as well?
Thank you. :flwrysmile:
 
We can certainly help you with surgery questions, but if you have questions related to your heart or other medical conditions you should feel free to quiz your surgeon and your other doctors. They are there to help you and should be responsive to your concerns.
 
Hello everyone! It seems many of us share the fear Emotion in common. I will say a prayer for you all. Mine is a revision and Im trying to locate my thread. Can anyone help me please? Thank you.
 
Thank you. I’m not sure where to go in here or where to find my thread.

my first replacement was October 2005. I’m only worried about my heart as I recently had three stents placed in my left descending artery (LAD). They said my knee surgery, due to complications and 14 years of scar tissue, will be three to four hours and they expressed concern about my heart being strong enough to handle both surgery and postoperative pain. But I think I have my life in order should there be a problem. I’m not getting a lot of information about what will be handy to have on hand. I saw someone speak of a leg raiser but have no clue what that is. Thank you for your support.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you. I’m not sure where to go in here or where to find my thread.
@Mamie - This is your thread, where you should continue to post. Please bookmark it, so you can find it again.
You will find it in the forum area called
Knee Surgery Pre-Op Area
It's called Mamie's Pre-op Thread.

This may help you:
How can I find my threads and posts?

i have moved your post, above, from the July Sparklers thread, which is essentially just for listing who is having knee surgery in July. It isn't a thread where you chat to each other.
 
I am not sure if this is my thread. I’ve been ill the last two weeks but could not find my thread to communicate.

My surgery is July 16 th with so many questions. It’s a total revision and my surgeon has told me it will be about twenty times worse than the first total knee due to improper size and years of scar tissue And a knee that was the wrong size. I was also told that there was a recall on my knee components years ago but I was never notified.

I do not know what to expect after surgery except for pain. Will it my leg be bandaged completely? I need to know what supplies to have ready, clothes to wear home, and getting home health care. We live about three hours drive from therapy and we know I could not manage stairs two days or even four days after surgery or drive so far right away. We only have an SUV so climbing into it for the long drive back and worth would be impossible.. I pray they will allow home health care. I keep thinking maybe surgery should not happen with so many issues but my leg keeps giving way and I am falling almost daily. My knee wakes me every night from pain and getting worse.

We bought a stationary bike to help me recover, awalker but have no clue what else we need in case home health care and therapy can be here too.

So, please if anyone has had a rough or otherwise revision, help me understand what’s ahead of us for pain, and recovery. I am not getting my answers but told to ask at my pre-op appointment a few days before surgery. I hope this is my thread. Lastly, how do I find others that share the same surgical concerns.

Thank you,
Mamie
 
Aw Mamie, sounds like you have a bad case of pre-op jitters. It also sounds like your surgeon needs a refresher course in bedside manner.

First things first - don't expect the worst. Your surgeon has not actually seen your knee yet. Yes, he has an x-ray and may have other diagnostics. But until he is actually looking at the site there is no way he can make a judgement.

Dressing of the surgical site will be very similar to what you experience post or original TKR. Your pain will be managed using your medication around the clock, as prescribed. Ice and elevation will also help control your any pain.
I need to know what supplies to have ready, clothes to wear home, and getting home health care.
Do you have the supplies you used after your TKR? A grabber is nice to have. Ice packs are essential. I bought a 6 pack of gel icepacks and rotated them all day.

Wear the same clothes you wear going to the hospital.

Discuss your concerns about getting into and out of your car with PT while you are in the hospital. Better yet - take a list of all the questions you have with you to your pre-op assessment. And write down the answers while you are there.
how do I find others that share the same surgical concerns.
Nearly every one of our members in the pre-op area share these concerns. Keep posting here. Read some of the pre-op threads as well.

You are going to be fine!
 
A raised toilet seat was very helpful for me.

I’m sorry your surgeon has described such a negative experience. Hopefully the staff at your pre op appointment, and the staff during your hospital stay, will be more compassionate and encouraging.

You have us now, and we will be very supportive!


Hang out here with us.
Bonesmart has a wealth of advice, information and support.
We will offer helpful suggestions, :idea:

Cheer your accomplishments :happydance:

And send hugs when you are feeling down. :console2:

Best wishes!
 
Hi, Mamie.....I'm glad you have a thread now in the pre-op forum where you can ask questions and let us help soothe your nerves. We all get a bit nervous before surgery - it's normal! And, given your surgeon's gloom and doom predictions for you, no wonder you're thinking this may be a real challenge.
I'd like to tell you some of the things that should be different this time from your 2005 TKR. Surgical techniques have improved dramatically since then. Doctors frequently can get in and out of your knee much faster, even if they have to remove scar tissue. As Jaycey said, the surgeon won't really know what needs to be done until he gets into you knee, so it's pretty difficult to say exactly how long the surgery will take. As for pain afterwards, pain management techniques have improved as well. Ask if your surgeon uses a pain protocol called Exparel. It's very popular these days and works well to keep you pretty much pain free the first few critical days after surgery. A cocktail of pain medications in injected deep into the tissues around your incision just before they close and it works wonders.

I can't promise you a walk in the part with recovery, but if you are reasonably healthy and mobile, you should be fine. I'm assuming you've had a meeting with your cardiologist to discuss the stents. I'm not sure why anyone would say that having them would cause you to not do well in surgery. If they are functioning properly, you should be just fine. But your cardiologist is the one who should clear you for the procedure. Once you are cleared, you can rest assured that the anesthesiologist will be monitoring you closely. They are used to working with patients with various heart issues and have many ways to handle anything that would come up during surgery. If you have a choice, it would probably be best to have your revision done in a full-fledged hospital rather than an outpatient or orthopedic specialty hospital. That way, if there was a problem, cardiologists would easily be available to assist immediately.
Home health should not be a problem for you. Just let your surgeon know your circumstances and request that he order home health for you. I used home health for both my knees for all my therapy as I felt more comfortable not having to get dressed and drive to an outpatient facility. It worked great.

Your purchase of a stationary bicycle was a smart one, as it can be a great tool to gently help you begin to get your range of motion back. The first few weeks you'll be focusing on healing for your knee rather than a lot of exercises. Gentle bends and stretches throughout the day and some walking every couple of hours should be just fine to keep your knee mobile and loose. Then, once you are healed a bit, you could start some additional exercises or activity.
 
Hi Mamie - your surgeon gave you the worst possible scenario, which is frightening, I agree.

But I'd like to tell you that I had a revision and it was nothing like as bad as this guy told you. It was no worse than my original surgery. In fact, I think my recovery was a little easier, because I knew how to elevate and ice my knee properly, so I didn't have as much swelling.

You should not fear really bad pain. There are new ways of controlling pain now and if one way doesn't work well, there will be another. You just have to let people know your pain is getting worse and something can be done about it..
 
Thank you for your support I’ve cried night after night. My surgeon told me this left knee was so bad my surgery is expected to be three to four hours and two real complications for me may be either amputation or death due to my heart maybe not being strong enough to handle it or an infection as suspected from blood work specific to my joint. Well I will mot allow anyone to take my leg and he said it has never happened to his patients. My other fears were pain control and the anesthesiologist breaking my jaw again!
My total knee surgery was a disaster. The surgeon put a knee in too large for my leg. It has never been able to bend since that replacement. Therapy was a nightmare. I have a pain pump from neuropathy in my legs so PT had me go to my pain specialist for a bollus prior to therapy and then forced my leg to do what was not possible to do because if the wrong size for 14 years the thigh piece was jabbing at my skin sticking out and not connected properly. I fear PT again. I love life and have so much to do yet but afraid. I found a bit of peace here with comments on what to do.
My first bad experience has given me more to know that I will never allow anyone to do to me again. I’m looking forward to my pre- op. I need them to understand I cannot go to pt three hours drive three times a week. It will be too difficult for both my husband and myself.
I’m a bit angry as he is doing my surgery but no after care. His PA follows me never to see the surgeon again. It seems wrong.
It took me a while to find my thread but tonight I did thanks to you here. Thank you. How do I get anyone to join my thread?
Thank you again for tge comments. I know that I will find my courage as I am not a quitter. I just get scared. So many bad things from hospital care but my husband stays with me now if they allow it.
Take care and stay Safe,
Mamie
 
@Mamie I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I have been through a revision also, and it was a much easier recovery than my TKR. I know that one of the reasons it was an easier recovery is that I refused to do any PT at all. None! I spent a lot of time icing and elevating, and walked around the house, gradually increasing the time and distance as my knee healed. You don't have to tell your surgeon you're not going to do any PT, you can just smile and nod as he talks about it, then just not do it after your surgery. It's your body; just because he's fixing your knee doesn't mean he owns it. It's your body, your knee, your life and YOUR DECISION.
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/saying-no-to-therapy-am-i-allowed-to.36688/

If you do decide at some point to go to PT, you still call ALL the shots. No one can make the decision for you, you decide if you want to do PT or not, and you decide what you will and will not do in PT if you do decide to attend. Never allow any therapist to push on or pull your knee-it won't help and may very well cause more pain and swelling. Any therapy you do should be done only by your own knee as only you can feel the pain response and know when to stop as a result.

I know it's hard sometimes to assert ourselves, but we need to advocate for ourselves and not allow anything we don't agree with or want. I know you can do it, and am confident you will when the time comes.
 
I agree with lovetocookandsew, while PT can be helpful, it is not as essential as we have been led to believe. I also had a bad experience and if I ever have to do this surgery again, I will not go to PT, or even have one come to my home. You can do your own “PT” at home: gentle movements, gentle stretches, and some walking. That’s all you really need.

Is the hospital also a 3 hour drive?
 
Good evening! My surgery is next Thursdsy and although I despatstely need it, the PA assistant surgeon, scared me badly yesterday at my pre-op. The surgeon has told me all along because we live so far away, I could get Home health Care. She came along and claims PT in home was never any good but then said she is not for pain meds and managed with plain Tylenol. I know I
would go crazy with no pain meds. Also, she said that my husband May not be allowed to stay with me. Three reasons for me to cancel and go elsewhere.
Any thoughts?
 
Hello Kim and Jockette,
Thank you for your support. I’m sorry for the delayed reply. Yesterday was my pre-op and yes, round trip it’s three hours plus time there. I was exhausted. This office seems to be changing the rules. If
I am not as they think I should be, they want to push me into a rehab hospital but I have refused. I believe I can heal far better at home.

This PA that suddenly I was turned over to, told me today she will not release me from the hospital until I agreed to go to PT. I have a bad feeling about this. I had finally found my peace until she stepped in with such a controlling attitude. She’s head strong. I told her that no one has more interest than I to heal properly. She told me that nothing can ever be done to fix my leg after this revision. The next step would be crippled or loss. I was totally freaked out. She also said my mental outlook needs adjusting when I was persistent about my post-op care or pain meds. I was also told that I would be in surgery 3 to 4 hours, recovery two hours and in a room by 1ish. At four I would be up, told to dress and walk the halls. It all seems very fast.

I decided to not tell her or argue either and do as you said. I tried to advocate for myself and usually good at it but she’s tough. I told my husband to refuse to be told he cannot stay and if forced to check me out against medical advice if necessary. I hate going to surgery afraid like this.

Thank you again...Mamie
 
I’m so sorry this medical team is so controlling. They are not all like this.

I ask respectfully, why did you chose this practice that is so far away? I realize some times we have to, to get the specific care that we need.

You may not have any say about your husband staying with you, but the decision about PT (and how you manage your entire recovery!) is yours alone and they absolutely can’t force you to do it, against your wishes. You will recover just fine following the Bonesmart Recovery Guidlines.
 

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