March 18th TKR

[FrogFeathers]

This is kinda long... grab a beverage. :D

Hello everyone. I'm 39 years old and have had knee problems for years. Three years ago on March 3rd, I injured my right knee for the 8th time in 20 years. I slipped on the ice on my back deck.

I go to the VA hospital because my husband is a 100% service-connected disabled veteran. They sort of gave me the run-around (and a set of crutches) till I found out they don't cover me on ortho AT the VA hospital. (because I'm the spouse of a vet, not the actual vet). After a couple of years with my right knee not quite healing, my left knee went bad. The VA's solution to that was to give me two canes so I could "walk easier".

So, three years later, the doctor I have at the VA (who looks like he's 15 years old) said, "We've exhausted all other options..." (uh, okay. We did that three years ago). They gave me a letter of consult so I could see a non-VA orthopedic doctor.

March 18th, I had my TKR. The surgeon said that they don't like to do the surgery on people as "young" as I am, but I had the knee(s) of someone in their 60s. I was an athlete in high school (marathon cycling) and up till I injured myself, I walked four miles a day and did yoga. He also said that my right (and mostly injured) knee is better than the left. That's why we got the left one done- which was completely bone-on-bone. During this past three years, I gained A LOT of weight. I've since lost 30 pounds of it (not doing anything- it just keeps coming off and I'm not complaining!).

I have a lot of my updates on my broken link removed: https://blogs.myspace.com/psexypsychic, but you'd have to scroll down to start at the beginning and some of them are kind of long. Leading up to the surgery, I referred to it as "cyborg assimiliation", "bionic knee", and other nerdy names.

I ended up low on blood (which is another long story involving the VA) and I lost two days of PT and OT because of that. I thought that's what was keeping me from advancing as well, then I found out about the scar tissue. We have "scar issues" in my family- we all scar "ugly" and fast, but I'm the first person to get a joint replacement so I'm the first who had a problem. I wasn't happy with needing the manipulation, but after it was all done, I know it was the best thing.

I had my follow-up on Thursday (May 21st) and the surgeon said I don't need another (we thought I would). I'm not enjoying PT at all (still going 3x a week, plus what I can do at home).

Right now, the hardest part is not being absolutely stable on my feet. I have to move slower than I'm used to as the muscle gets stronger. I have minimal swelling and the pain I have right now is mostly from the scar itself (which doesn't look nearly as neat and thin as it did in the photos). I stiffen up a bit when I sit too long, but after a moment or two on my feet, that works itself out. The scar itself alternates from sting-y pain to itching. Right now, it feels bruised because I'm wearing jeans and the jeans are pressing on it.

I was hoping to be walking and exercising by now, but now I'm hoping for August. I can't wait to get "me" back again!

 

[calling_all_angels]

Hi Frog,
So nice to met you. It sounds like you have had quite the time getting to your TKR.
I know what you are talking about when you say SCAR TISSUE problems!! They run in our family too. My Father (who was 16 at the time) lost his mother because of scar tissue problems. And I have had fun with it too!! (Not) I think that you are doing good don't be so hard on yourself. I stiffen up when I sit too, and I swell up when I walk too much. And your scar is still new just keep working on it with coco butter or vit-E.
You take care now and give yourself time.

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Frogfeathers.....welcome to the forum! I LOVE your name! As you can tell from my avatar, I have an affection for all things Froggie. So glad you joined us and even MORE glad that you are finally on the road to a normal life. Things will get better...hang in there and post whenever you have a question or concern....OR just to drop in and say hello!

 

[Texas]

Hello, I was reading thru your blog. You had a knee(in the past) and a hip done now is that right?

 

[Texas]

No thats wrong sorry, Knee March 18th. Anyway how are you doing now? I agree I dont like to be late, always 5-10 min early. Sounds like the VA didint work out to well for you . I hope your recovery is better...Post anytime.................Kim

 

[FrogFeathers]

Thanks for the welcomes.

The worst part about the VA hospital is that years ago, I got a letter telling me they started the spouse healthcare program (its called "CITI"). When I started going to the VA, I took one medication for thyroid disease. In totally unrelated events, I ended up on blood pressure medication (hereditary on my dad's side) and asthma medication (lung infection that evolved to asthma). We live on my husband's disability and we've got three kids. So, I was kind of stuck because the medication would be too expensive if I had to pay for it at a regular doctor and pharmacy.

Now I'm on different medications for different health issues (most recently I was diagnosed as Vitiamin D deficient) and there is no possible way I could afford to see a normal, non-VA doctor for all my medical issues, AND pay for the prescriptions. There's a list of things that the VA hospital won't do on the spouses- and that list sometimes changes with no warning. That's how I found out they'd never cover ortho, pain management, or podiatry.

I was a bit angry that they offered this program to spouses, then don't cover everything. Then the whole waiting three years to give me a letter of consult- that just did me in. By the time I got that letter to see a non-VA doctor, I was just relieved I was getting help. I jumped into the whole knee-replacement with the excitement of a child. I didn't realize it would take this long to fully recover. (Oh, I read everything, I know it can take up to a year, but I figured, "no, not me! Eight weeks, I'll be right as rain!"). While I was off seeing the ortho surgeon for my knee, I asked him to refer me to a podiatrist. ;) (now I have orthodics inside my shoes that take care of the foot pain... take that, VA hospital!).

 

[Texas]

That is alot to go thru, Are you still hurtig now? We lost our medical Ins for awhile. The Rx's can be out of this world expensive. haha funny you say that, before my TKR I thought the same thing, time wise, but nope this will take awhile. If we get good result in the end it will be worth it. Mine is alot better than it was 2 weeks ago. Guess we need to hang in there it will be over soon. Go back to doing the things we love to do. We will all get there. Some might be faster then others but we will get there. Take care, post anytime..........Kim

 

[ship4]

Welcome FrogFeathers! Have you heard of the program Partnership for Prescription Assistance? It helps those who are in need with feed medication.....
Best,

 

[FrogFeathers]

We still live on a fixed income, but we don't qualify for assistance programs because the VA pays us just enough...

My mom one time said to me that there were thousands of people who lived on VA disability and they were "just fine". I pointed out that those people were usually older, had adult kids. We had to raise three kids.

We're okay- I still go to the VA for my general health issues. The insurance the VA gives families is fairly good, but with the kids and other bills, taking out my costs helped out. Of course, till now... we're paying 25% of the knee replacement and the other costs. Luckily we have that insurance, otherwise, I'd still be dragging this leg around without any hope!

 

[FrogFeathers]

I had to call and cancel my PT appointment on Tuesday because my dog had a puppy (long story as why she only had one, but everything is fine! Nothing to worry about!).

I had my appointment today and it was decided that I could start going once a week because I'm doing stuff at home on my own. They seemed surprised when I told them that quite honestly, I hadn't been doing my exercises as much as usual. The last week has been quite busy with my mom's medical stuff, my dog getting ready to, then having that puppy, and so on.

So, I'm down to one visit a week and now most of my exercises are working on strength and balance instead of range of motion (as its over 90 now).

 

[Jamie]

Feathers.....sounds like you are doing just fine and managing to cope with a busy life AND knee recovery! That takes a lot out of a person. Take good care of yourself!

 

[Texas]

Frog, You sound like you are doing very well. Be proud of yourself. It will all fall into place. Hope the puppies ok........I do my excercises at home as well I just go once every week for her to check , but money wise that will have to stop. They still let me use the pool though...Hang in there your doing fine..........I like reading your posts........your a sweetheart!!!!!!!

 

[Josephine]

Feathers, Frog? Beginning to sound like a menagerie in here!

 

[FrogFeathers]

I live in a menagerie! Four dogs (three Chihuahuas- one is a newborn, and a German Shepherd; four cats; a bird). Yup, lots o'pets.

I don't have x-rays before my surgery, but I had the type of replacement where they do an MRI, send off the results to Brussells (I believe it was Brussells), then they send back a model of my knee and some tools designed for it. I got to keep the plastic model of my knee. But, my surgeon, the awesome dude that he is, emailed me the plans for my knee. I finally got around to photoshopping the important information out so I could share them.

I'll post them as links because the files are quite large. They're screen-caps from his computer.

broken link removed: https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/psexypsychic/Tattoos/kneeplan1.gif

broken link removed: https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/psexypsychic/Tattoos/kneeplan2.gif

broken link removed: https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/psexypsychic/Tattoos/kneeplan3.gif

broken link removed: https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b80/psexypsychic/Tattoos/kneeplan4.gif

I have to stop being lazy about it, but I've got photos on my camera taken the day of surgery- beforehand when I'm all excited about it and then the day after when I'm in bed, the drain still attached and looped on drugs. I was still excited then. The excitement didn't wear off till the second day after surgery and the intense pain kicked in. :hehe:

The excitement is coming back because I can feel it- soon I'll be walking normally again. :D

 

[Jamie]

Boy, that's really neat, isn't it. Absolutely amazing technology.....

 

[FrogFeathers]

So, I'm down to one physical therapy appointment a week. I've sort of figured out how to deal with my itchy, dry-skin scar.

Today has been chilly (which I don't mind) and damp. The humidity is kicking my bum around. All my arthritis is flaring up today (my "good" knee aches, my right hand and wrist, my right shoulder- that's the side I hold the cane on!). I went to the post office and the grocery store today and I'm utterly exhausted from it. I know it isn't just the post-op thing, but the arthritis flare-up that's causing it all. I'm just tired of normal activities wearing me down so fast and hard.

I can't wait till I'm "normal" again.

Oh, and good news- my mother will be leaving the rotten nursing home Wednesday afternoon. While I was there with homemade spahgetti and meatballs, I met another patient who has had a total knee replacement. We've been discussing recovery time and scars and such. I'm going to give him a link to the message board and to the main BoneSmart site. (oh, and we shared our spahgetti and meatballs with him as the nursing home has atrocious food!)

 

[FrogFeathers]

Yesterday (Tuesday) at physical therapy, I was doing strengthening moves (stepping up on a low step and such). The PT said we were going to take "looong steps and swing our arms" and she took several exaggerated steps into the hallway. I followed with what was actually a normal stride (felt like I was taking huge steps though). We walked down the hallway and back, then kept going past the PT room, down another hall, to the lobby, through the lobby, back down another hall, rounded the corner and came back to the PT room. I did a whole lap around the clinic, without my cane, walking nearly-normal. When we were walking through the lobby (and getting strange looks because the clinic isn't just a PT clinic), I declared: "Look at me! Walkin' like a human and everything!"

Then I went to the nursing home where my mom was (she's home now, by the way!) and carried my cane instead of using it. She was impressed. I showed my husband when I got home, showed each one of the kids as I saw them. Their response was a flat and bland, "oh, okay... is that all?" (blah on them, I say).

Today, I went upstairs (there's 17 or 18 steps that lead upstairs) and I did about 1/4 of them with my surgical knee. The PT told me the strength is there, I just have to learn to "trust" my knee joint.

So... yay me!

 

[Jamie]

DEFINITELY, Yea, you!!! What an accomplishment! I can see the grin on your face now. Celebrate...celebrate....dance to the mu-sic! Well, maybe not dancing quite yet, but soon!

 

[Judles]

It's great to be proud,Frog! Brag on!!!

 

[Texas]

I am glad your mom is out of there. I bet shes happy. It sounds to me you have been doing a good job. Not to easy without a cane and you did it. As far as the kids, you know how kids are they are so flighty, not that they dont care just have others things to do. Really they care you know that. Keep up the good work. You will be off and going in no time..............Great Job.............