TKR Need Help and Encouragement, please...

[tashia]

Now this is the posting I have wanted to see. I know its been very hard but you are now starting to have a life. It will get better as you meet people. I can't help with the knee exercise, I do know in the Social Room some new exercises have been posted so do look at it. Do keep me posted on how you are doing. Keep it up, and I love your sign that you have hanging. Yes, Yes, take care my friend, Tashia

 

[megbabyrn]

Hi BEG,
Just read all your posts!! Just pray for karma for him. I do kneel, gently on my Rt knee ( done 11/21/11). I favor my left one more because I fractured the kneecap @ 10 weeks by falling on it, didn't know it for awhile. Had it pinned on 11/13/13, so it is still sore. My first husband did @ 36 yrs old from liver failure from hep B. 56 blood transfusions in 1986, when testing for HIV not hep B. I still don't remember too much that first 6 months. The worst was 18 months, thought I was losing it!! Found a great book, "life after Loss". Explained how you might feel when, it helped.
It must be very frustrating and scary with your Mom and step-dad. You never know what the next phone call will bring.
I did not get 90' until at least 4 months, and I got there very slowly as well. Like you, I found Pain MAnagement to help me with all 3 surgeries. As a nurse, I wanted just one person handling it so there would be no question of what I was getting. She helped me so much, I didn't have to beg either. I had ortho manage the first 4 weeks, then back to pain management.
You should give yourself a lot of credit for getting through all you have been through! You are stronger and wiser!!
Stay strong

 

[Pumpkin]

Hi BEG,
Great to hear from you that things are moving along, and you have caregivers for your Mom and Step-Dad.
I kneel on my TKR, feels funny, but I do it anyway. I have been known to crawl a few feet on soft carpet. My knee is none the worse for either experience, just have to put up with the funny feeling.
Take care and give that ROM some more time.

 

[BrnEydGrl]

What can I say.....It feels so good to know I can just get on my computer and there you are. It makes me not feel alone. I do need to move on.....just been so darn hard. Last night I actually went to a movie by myself! It felt pretty strange but at least I did it. I am taking baby steps.
I went to Barnes and Noble the other day, picked a few books on widowhood, and had a cup of coffee. Got some encouragement from reading.
Has anyone ever tried one of those "apps" to measure their ROM? I am just so curious. I just want to be sure my doc was not trying to just blow me off. LOL I guess I am a bit paranoid since the way I was treated by my last one.
I had a MRI on my back the other day. Monday I see my pain specialist and see what is going on. I think it is just arthritis but he said he needed a MRI in case he needed to give me shots. I have had them before, many years ago, when I bulged three discs on a hike. I am trying to get in shape. I also need to see a specialist on my darn ankle. I really do not want the surgery but maybe a better prosthesis for my shoe to hold it up.
Gosh, I must sound like such a mess!!
Here is my dream. To get in good shape and maybe go to Africa or South America for a little volunteer work. It has always been my dream. I wanted to join the Peace Corps as a kid but my dad said nope, you are going to college. Sooooo the dream has stayed with me.
Now as long as my other knee stays together for a while, maybe I can achieve it!!! At least I am dreaming again. Somedays are harder than others but there are now better days than bad ones. Doc put me on some anti-depressants that have helped.
Thank you my friends......
Hugs to all of you for standing by me...
BrnEydGrl

 

[Pjmc]

The ortho I went to was an assembly line type too . I saw you are in Pa . I had my surgery in Altoona, Pa . You were treated so poorly by the dr . Not to give you adequate pains meds from the beginning is a nightmare . Are you able to report him . I called the office administrator and reported the nurse that seemed uncaring to me and the rude receptionist . Was careful not to say bad about dr . Well , I should have told all about dr too . As he failed me .

 

[BrnEydGrl]

As Meg said, I am hoping for Karma. It is such a tight community here I was afraid no other Doctor would take me if they found out. I have told EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE, that asks me about my surgery. Retail clerks, waiters, etc....lol He WAS a good doctor, from what I hear, then turned "assembly line". I have noticed that he treats women, that have a husband who cares, differently. That angers me even more since I am a widow. I am sure he will "get his" one day. Even my dental receptionist has heard bad reports about him. It is finally coming around! I just hate carrying "bitterness" and am happy with a doctor who seems to care. I am so sorry you have had to go through something like this PJ! I am hoping it is not the same doctor!!!

 

[Pjmc]

@BrnEydGrl When I first saw your post and Pa I thought must be same dr . Mine was in Altoona ,pa . I should have had a clue actually I spoke with my GP a month before surgery and told her. Had second thoughts about this dr . She had already sent me for another option some time ago . Then she did a complete turn around " oh he will be fine " no he was not saw him once at hospital he didn't even go tell hubby after surgery anything . Just a text saying I did fine . Saw him at four week check up he really didn't give my incision an up close look . I suspect if he had he could have notice the redness irrational drainage that became a problem . I feel I was sold a bad deal . From him telling me I would be running to. Him saying 90 rom is success after surgery . Well he is not seeing me again because I recently saw the new ortho. New ortho said go back to operating dr for anything . I called first dr for appointment , his office said they had talked to dr and he was not seeing me as I had sought second opinion . Gee, now I really am wondering what there is wrong that it bothers him so much I went to another dr . Truth is it was not for second opinion I wanted him to take me as a patient . This operating dr has his face and name on bill boards . I know I will not refer anyone to hi. Or his office . My GP that encouraged me to go to this new dr was not supportive after all this either . I went to her because incision opened is oozing jan . 16 th surgery was sept 5 th . I am so sick of all this extra worry stress, frustration Drs should help us not cause problems .

 

[BrnEydGrl]

Wow, sounds so familiar! Not the same doctor though, I don't live in that part of PA. I am still shocked there are TWO of them out there! You were lucky, you saw him in the hospital and in the office 4 weeks later! I only saw him right before the surgery, my friend got the text that all was ok, since she was driving me home. I only saw his assistant on the 6 week follow up. I saw NO ONE in the hospital, just the hospital GP that never even looked at my knee.
I went the same route as you for a second opinion. No one will take over another surgeons work because of INSURANCE. (six month wait) My OS nurse cut me off from pain meds when I suggested seeing someone else. She would never let me talk to him. Heck, my internist tried reaching him three times and he would not even call him!
I always say "bad things happen for a good purpose". I am still waiting to see the GOOD PURPOSE. Maybe it has to do with warning people on this board so they never go through what we have gone through.
My doc even LIED and said he did "minimal knee surgery". Boy was I stupid not making him explain totally. Was I in SHOCK when I looked down and saw the huge cut and not the two inch minimal surgery cut. I trusted way too much but then again I was still reeling from my husbands sudden death and was not all there mentally.
I am sooo sorry you are going through the same...keep strong...

 

[Pjmc]

@ BryEydGrl I sent you a private message with more details .

 

[tashia]

Its so good to see you again and writing. This is a excellent place to come to and be among friends. There are times after going somewhere with a friend for lunch, I find my slef comeing here because it can be friendly that in person. I also need to get out there. I am so tired of being tired but I do have a replacements comeing up with the hip then I can heal and then get out there. I loved hearing about the Peace Core. They do take older people not just 18 years old. Keep me posted on how you are doing. Take care and remember you are very important. Tashia

 

[Pumpkin]

I think Jimmy Carters Mother joined the peace corps, she was up in years at the time.
Sounds like a great idea, you have so much more to offer with all your life experience.

 

[tashia]

Pumpkin, I think you are right, I don't believe there is any age restriction at all. It would be exciting to look it up and find out. Take care and do be careful with all the wether. Tashia

 

[Knitter4444]

I need to pipe in here. There is a global period for joint replacements of 90 days. That means that any care that you get from the surgeon is included in the surgical fee. You have every right to go anywhere. You have heard the expression.."old boys network". (With apologies to OrthoDoc)
Every state has a patient rights law. Please Google it for your state. It is not uncommon for a dr to feel that you should return to the surgeon who did the surgery. I would suggest that you fill out the necessary forms to retrieve all your records including xrays, MRIs whatever. Also request your operative report along with the hospital records. Write your surgeon that you are dismissing him from your case. If you feel that he hasn't taken care of you use the word abandonment. Happy to help you through this process. It has nothing to do with insurance. Send me a message if you like so that I can help you.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

 

[icep707]

Hey BEG!! Im so glad to hear you are still plugging away. Im still pre op so I cant give any qualified advice. Is there still pain in your knee? Im here in Sonoma county. A place from your past. Just wanted to say hi and that we are so proud of your determination. !! Best of luck to you. Ivan

 

[BrnEydGrl]

Opps I am SO sorry about that comment of 6 months wait. Knitter is right, 3 months! My second doctor accepted me on the exact 90th day. Gosh, I should remember that, but I guess it felt like 6 months! My Federal Employee Blue Shield advocate did say they pay the OS a set price and it includes the 90 day follow up. I spoke with her on a regular basis, sometimes daily. Thank goodness someone listened. I do hear ya about the Good Ol Boy network Knitter. No one would look at me, or even talk to me! Awful feeling. If someone will see you earlier than the 90 days, I would truly check with my insurance company that it would be covered. My company said there would be a conflict if another surgeon treated you for the same surgery.

Ice, I miss Sonoma!!! I am starting to think that nice dry air would be better for my knee. I have family in SF and they say there is a drought! Yep, it still hurts from time to time....but liveable. It seems to be worse with snow, cold and rain. Good luck on your surgery , most people surely do not go through what I have. Hope to see you back here to let us know how it goes!
Tashia!! You are truly my . Nice to see you! My two cats are keeping me happy. I think I mentioned one passed suddenly (too young at 8) but I now have a crazy kitten keeping my other one amused.

Pumpkin, I checked with the Peace Corps website. Yep, they would take me. I mentioned it to my doc though. Of all things, HE was a doctor FOR the Peace Corp workers. He said...NO NO NO... Basically, in a very sweet way told me it would be too tough on me, with the knee thing etc. Problem is, you have no choice where you go and they sometimes place "experienced" (older) people in more remote areas because they have the expertise to know what to do! That kind of makes sense, they do not need to be "watched over." Problem is, if you need a doctor or hospital quickly, which us older people may need, it is usually quite difficult. He said there are many more organizations where you DO have a choice of where you will be placed. I guess that makes sense so I am back to the drawing board.
Hugs to you all,
BEG

 

[Pumpkin]

He said there are many more organizations where you DO have a choice of where you will be placed.

Good idea! Who knew your Doc would be helpful in many other ways. There is great need inside the US too.
All the best whichever path you choose.

 

[BrnEydGrl]

I read a great book called Widow to Widow and they too say volunteering seems to really help the grief process. I am ready to try anything cause I seem to be "stuck."

Knee questions:
1. Does the stiffness "ever" go away?
2. What app does anyone use to measure ROM? I can't seem to figure it out and am so darn curious! My new doc thought it was good and I was better than most people. I just know one thing, I would never be able to swing up on a horse with this knee. LOL (been thinking about horsebackriding again someday)

I really wish I found this forum BEFORE I had it done. Ivan, you are way ahead of the game.

I got my MRI results....ugh. I bulged four discs about 15 years ago on a strenuous hike. I still have no clue HOW I did it but they said it would rear its ugly head years down the road. Of COURSE now is the time. Anyway, the cushions are practically all gone between the discs, and severe arthritis formed down real low on my back. (good ol horse falls as a kid) The GOOD thing IS....a prescription for Aquatic Therapy!! Yea! Maybe it could help my ROM? Anyone ever done it to help? ( I don't have any more "cheeks" to turn, if you know what I mean)

BEG

 

[BrnEydGrl]

Oh, and going in for the set of shots in the spine February. They really did help the first time around....no problems for nearly 15 years!

 

[icep707]

Thanks BEG. Of course ill post a thread on my recovery. Time is getting closer for me. Like 20 days. I would have it done tomorrow if I could. Im that prepared and informed. Ill be super busy. ill work till the day before my surgery. I got a packet in the mail from my ortho with instructions. Its alot to do . Pre admit, blood test pre op etc. Anyways hope one day you will be pain free. I must admit, your thread really touched me I actually read the whole thing. So ill always be pulling for you. Take care and God bless

 

[Twiggy]

Sorry to see you are having so many problems. I actually traveled to Lehigh Valley to a wonderful Orthropedic Dr. I'm not sure how to privately e-mail you but I will try and figure it out. I don't think you can mention Dr.'s or hospitals on thread.
I did get my pain medication from my local GP and he was great about it.
You have really had so many changes happening to you, and I'm so sorry about your husband.