I’m back!
The appointment went very well. He took his time with me and the only ones in the room were me, my husband, the surgeon and a secretary type assistant using the computer to update my “chart”. (Sometimes there are others in the room, students maybe?)
As I suspected, he had no answers. I printed out a copy of my concerns and he read it. He definitely had time to read it because the computer to show my X-rays was having an issue (thank you, Lord!) and we were waiting for it to reboot.
He said the X-rays look fine, the implant and patella are where they are supposed to be.
He looked carefully at the 2 spots that I have an issue with on the lateral side (the ones in the picture I posted and circled) and he said he didn’t feel any fluid buildup and he didn’t think it had any signs of infection. I pressed on The Spot myself and there is no discomfort when I do that, amazingly enough, yet pants freak it out. He seemed genuinely stumped and was no hurry to end the appointment. He even zoomed in on the X-ray to look at The Spot and didn’t see anything wrong there.
The only mention of PT was that he asked who my therapist was, he knows the group well. He suggested I see the therapist for some desensitization. No mention of any exercises to fix my issue. He did refer to it as an incision sensitivity and I said no, it’s not the incision, I remember that feeling and this is not it. So we didn’t talk any more about seeing the therapist.
He said if the tape helps, use it, but he agreed definitely wait until my current skin irritation is healed. No mention of a knee brace, probably because he felt the patella is fine.
He suggested trying different topical things to see if they help.
So, I’m happy with the outcome. I am not disappointed because it went as I suspected it would. I told him I bowl twice a week and when the weather warms up I will take more walks, he said that was good. Right now I consider any grocery shopping to be a good walk (in a lovely climate controlled place)
He said to come back in October as that would take me well past nicer walking weather and time to heal more, to reassess the situation. I did not make the appointment and probably won’t. No point in paying $60 to show him that I’ve improved, which I hope I will. As far as I’m concerned, I have been discharged. If I choose to see him again, just to get an X-ray if I get a lot worse, I know where he is. Then I could take it to a second opinion.
I did mention to him that several years ago my sister broke a toe and it took ages, probably a year, for it to heal. And that was just a toe! So he said maybe I just have slow healing genes.
So, once again I will try to relax. I am praying for a better attitude towards my recovery, this past year has been a difficult time, both physically and mentally/emotionally.
Thanks for all the well wishes!!! You all are awesome and the best support group there could ever be!
United States
