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Revision TKR Multiple knee replacements

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@napper This is my suggestion and I am only suggesting this because I know better than most how a screwed up knee can be. If it were me I would go for the pain pump first the reason being if you do the knee first it is going to be a month maybe longer before you can drive. Now granted once you have the knee surgery you will be on some strong medication but will it be strong enough based on what you wrote. Yes the Medtronic device is great it did wonders for me for the nerve damage I had from a Weight Loss Surgery but even though it helps with the knee pain its not exactly perfect either but your situation is different. One things is definite pain sucks period!!!! you may be able to schedule them both it would depend on Dr.'s schedules. Like I wrote the Pain pump first no question then when you have your knee done the pain will likely be at a more manageable level.
 
@Jamie As many times as I have been thru this I am still nervous and no it has nothing to do with the surgeon the hospital etc it has everything to do with will this be the last revision?? I feel like when I say how many surgeries I have had including revisions it almost seems like I am trying to set a record and I hate it. Whether its right or wrong I keep thinking somehow something is going to go wrong it always has I have the history to back it up. Like I said its nerves.
Another concern is pain management yes I have been down this road before but it seems lately things have gotten a lot stricter concerning pain meds. Pain meds are great for short term such as knee revision long term no but based on my past after surgery you can be in pretty severe pain for a good month or more after 2 months it does get better. A fact remains the more surgeries you have the longer it is going to take my guess I am in for a treat!! Maybe I am driving myself nuts but come on I have really had more then enough surgeries on my knee.
 
I understand. You have plenty of reasons to be ultra-focused on the "what ifs" of surgery. All I can recommend is that you try and keep your mind on other things. You can make yourself literally sick if you allow yourself to worry. As you said in a post just yesterday....you were worried needlessly about the surgery getting scheduled and how it would work. Sometimes you have to just trust and go with it. Granted, that's a lot more difficult when you've had so many failed surgeries. But those were with different doctors and different times. Allow yourself to believe in and trust this surgeon to do right for you. It's so much better for your mental health, which then improves your physical health as well. If you believe in a higher power, put yourself in their hands. Call on your friends and family to keep you occupied so you're not dwelling on what might happen. You do have the power to control your thoughts and how you approach your surgery.
 
@napper This is my suggestion and I am only suggesting this because I know better than most how a screwed up knee can be. If it were me I would go for the pain pump first the reason being if you do the knee first it is going to be a month maybe longer before you can drive. Now granted once you have the knee surgery you will be on some strong medication but will it be strong enough based on what you wrote. Yes the Medtronic device is great it did wonders for me for the nerve damage I had from a Weight Loss Surgery but even though it helps with the knee pain its not exactly perfect either but your situation is different. One things is definite pain sucks period!!!! you may be able to schedule them both it would depend on Dr.'s schedules. Like I wrote the Pain pump first no question then when you have your knee done the pain will likely be at a more manageable level.
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I tend to agree with you on getting the pump first. I'm nervous because it's going to be a process to get that pump going and the meds regulated to my tolerance. However, it definately will be nice to have that as my 24 HR maintenance med. And easier to get the immediate release meds to work. You are correct about will any meds work for me? I can honestly say no. That's why I went to a pain clinic to start with. My revision was HELL plain and simple. They couldn't get the epidural block to go in, so I woke up in horrendous pain, with the surgeon prescribing oxycontin 10 mg 2x day, and Dilaudid 4 mg every 6 hrs. It did absolutely nothing for me. And he refused to do a morphine pump while in the hosp. I don't quite understand the reasoning.

After a couple of months working with the pain clinic to get the correct meds, my artificial hand knuckle broke, so I had to get that fixed. I finally got in for my trial on Oct 2. A week later, ended up with a spinal headache. My husband was at work, so I called him to come home and promptly passed out from the pain. Next thing I know is the paramedics were standing by my bed. My husband had been calling for an hour and I didn't answer, so he called 911. I had a blood patch done in the ER. Amazing what they have available now to help. My headache was immediately gone.

Anyhow, now that I'm able to get the pump, my knee loosens. I can't win.

Praying that things go my way finally.
 
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@napper Without intending this to be mean and its not meant to be my knee situation is pretty screwed up and it sucks on the other hand if you have had approx. 40 surgeries WOW it almost makes me feel better about my knee issues not that they are great by no means. My last rev. I wish they did an epidural but because I had a scar on my back from the Medtronic they did not want to mess that up so waking up from the last surgery was reduced to morphine and Dilaudid 4mg this time I am going to tell them I want the epidural it was done for Rev#4 and 5 along with the 2 surgeries in between dealing with the infection with zero problems. Tomorrow I go in for pre-op physical depending on my mood I may mess with the nurse. They always ask if you have been outside the US in the past 30days I may say why yes I was and tell them I was playing with bat dung in some bat caves in Africa. I told that to the nurse prior to my 4th Rev. ( the time period was during the Ebola epidemic ) she about freaked then I told her just joking and wanted to see her reaction I thought it was great she finally came around. Yes I need this next Rev, but what great timing right before Christmas. Not that it matters but for the most part it will pretty much be me myself and I taking care of myself. My Mom will get me the meds from drugstore and may help with making lunch or dinner my daughter has her own apt. but she has a mild form of autism and while it would be nice to have her with me in the end it would cause me more work then I will be capable of doing. Yes this is all going to suck but come on Rev.#7 if I can't handle it now I never will.
 
@napper Without intending this to be mean and its not meant to be my knee situation is pretty screwed up and it sucks on the other hand if you have had approx. 40 surgeries WOW it almost makes me feel better about my knee issues not that they are great by no means. My last rev. I wish they did an epidural but because I had a scar on my back from the Medtronic they did not want to mess that up so waking up from the last surgery was reduced to morphine and Dilaudid 4mg this time I am going to tell them I want the epidural it was done for Rev#4 and 5 along with the 2 surgeries in between dealing with the infection with zero problems. Tomorrow I go in for pre-op physical depending on my mood I may mess with the nurse. They always ask if you have been outside the US in the past 30days I may say why yes I was and tell them I was playing with bat dung in some bat caves in Africa. I told that to the nurse prior to my 4th Rev. ( the time period was during the Ebola epidemic ) she about freaked then I told her just joking and wanted to see her reaction I thought it was great she finally came around. Yes I need this next Rev, but what great timing right before Christmas. Not that it matters but for the most part it will pretty much be me myself and I taking care of myself. My Mom will get me the meds from drugstore and may help with making lunch or dinner my daughter has her own apt. but she has a mild form of autism and while it would be nice to have her with me in the end it would cause me more work then I will be capable of doing. Yes this is all going to suck but come on Rev.#7 if I can't handle it now I never will.
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I'm SO sorry you will be doing this on your own. That sucks!! I'm thankful I at least have hubby to help me. He's been with me through most of my surgeries, except the first three years when I was 17-20. Had a kidney removed after I went septic . For three years the infection kept coming back. It was miserable.
I met him after that was over and became an instant mom at 20. So, I raised his kids, plus Our son, and he took care of me. Fair trade.

I wish you luck. It does suck it's before Christmas, though. I wouldn't want to do it then because I would be up doing things I shouldn't. I can't sit still.
 
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Reality is setting in, yesterday went for pre-op testing. Nerves were shot not because of surgery but thinking of infection well as I thought based on the PA I stand a much better chance then the avg. person who has never had an infection. Now of course anytime you have scrape etc there is always a chance especially with Knee rev. On the positive side they test for MERSA as well as give you a kit to take home to take care of it in fact everyone who is having a surgery gets the same kit. Starting on Sunday I get to start with what they gave me in preparation for surgery.
I asked this question and depending on who you ask may get different answers. For example the night before surgery no eating or drinking after midnight so lets say surgery is scheduled for 7 am, the way I interpret this no food or drink 7 hours prior to surgery and that is fine but what if surgery is scheduled 1pm? If you go by the 7 hour you could have a light breakfast and I am not saying I will but its just a thought. I am allowed to have clear liquids up till 2 hours prior to surgery YIPPEE black coffee is okay with a sugar substitute so I am good.
 
I know the 13th is getting closer but at this point I wish it was tomorrow :censored: knee pain is getting rather aggravating. Now the knee gives out several times a day so yeah the thought of infection is nerve wracking but dealing with knee pain even worse.
 
@Jamie Besides the fact I know its going to hurt since from what the Dr. said they are only replacing the femur part my best guess it will not be quite as bad?? Of course things are subject to change once they do the surgery.
 
You are correct that since they will be doing less work in your knee the potential is there for recovery to be a bit easier this time. Of course, no one can promise that, but usually the less tissue and bone manipulation, the less post-op pain.
 
Home!! Glad to be out of hospital with one exception dealing with pain it sucks plain and simple. surgery was simple only had to replace plastic the rest was good and solid. Still have a nice long incision and while the pain stinks it could be worse. One thing for sure not going to do a whole lot for awhile.
 
@Jamie Well I am home surgery went well. I was told both the tibia and the femur were is solid all they had to replace the plastic on tibia. From what I was told a larger piece was used? They also assured me while I still may need another revision later on this one should last 10 years. On the plus side since they did not mess with the bones it does not hurt quite as bad but trust me it still hurts!! Today I will start at home therapy.
 
@NFenske - I've moved the last few posts from your pre-op thread into your recovery thread. Please continue to post here from now on.

I'm glad your surgery is over. Hoping that this is the last one and it will serve you well.
 
You've probably seen them before, but here are the Recovery Guidelines and some helpful articles:
Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:
rest​
ice​
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​

4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

6. Access to these pages on the website


The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.
 
Home. Surgery went well it was a whole lot easier then everyone thought. They were thinking they would have to replace the femur side but once the knee was opened up both the tibia and the femur were still solidly in place all that was needed was to replace the plastic on tibia side with a larger the thicker piece. I was also told at a somepoint will need another revisin but not for at least 10years. By the way yes it still hurts!!
 
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Welcome back to recovery! I hope it goes well!
 
not that this matters my ROM yesterday was120deg. I could have gotten a little more but I am ok with it. Whether this makes sense or not?? the 2 surgeons Dr. Ross and Dr.Foster are fine but the student Dr's are idiots. Saturday I was told they were going to take Epidural pump out to see how my pain is, it was turned off around 1130am by 430pm pain was pretty bad they called one of the student idiots in he informed me he was going to check and see if it gets worse by monitoring ( yeah right ) I told him the pump has been off for 5 hours what is there to monitor? I needed something for pain I did not care what just wanted to feel better. He said normal pain is between 3 and a 6 I asked have you ever had a knee revision and of course he answered no I asked do you feel pain the same as everyone else once again no. He did say studies have shown patients feel better when they are at home. I came back with if you smash your finger with a hammer and you go home is your finger going to feel any different whether your at home or at the hospital? He walked away. I understand pain meds are effective following surgery but long term no this was the day after surgery!! I asked for something stronger his reply at the hospital they can let me have dilaudid but the hospital will not allow anyone to go home with a script for dilaudid. The funny part last rev. as 18 months ago same hospital. With that one incident everything else okay. They sent me home with 5mg Oxycodone every 4 hours which I questioned but it seems to be doing the job. I am icing it thru out the day and yes it hurts but its not as bad as it could have been.
 
Its amazing how one forgets pain granted this surgery was not as bad as it could have been but it still hurts!! I am icing thru out the day.
 
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