I thought it was time that I get on here and update you all. Those that I've tagged have replied with kudos for me that I am doing so well and that my results give them hope. Well, not too soon I am afraid...I'm going backwards again.
I've seen Dr. Lintner about every 5 weeks in the last 5 months. I am definitely growing scar tissue again. I knew it and he confirmed it and it is getting painful and I have the TIGHT clamp around my knee. I get up from a sitting position and I now limp again. I cannot get anywhere near close to touching my heel like I was able to do after surgery in April. My pain level in trying to bend my knee goes up to an 8 or 9. I would say I am functional at 90 degrees only when 4 months ago I could get 120 in PT without pain. This despite regular PT and 3 different RX compounding scar creams I am back where I started once again.
I can't just keep having surgery for it if it's just going to come back again so doctor Lintner and I have been talking about some other options. I've read a lot at
https://arthrofibrosis.com/ and have been on the Stedman's Clinics site as well. Since Dr. Stedman retired, Dr. Singleton has taken up his work with Arthofibrosis. Dr. Lintner even knows Dr. Singleton. But...Dr. Singleton will almost NEVER see a patient for Arthobrosis who has a knee replacement because he says that 99% of the time the Arthofibrosis grows due to an ill fitting knee replacement. That brings us to my unusually large spacer that gave me the huge leg length difference. That in of itself has been a nightmare for me now for 1 year and 9 months, with my hip aching and my lower left back always in pain. I've also read that while in hip replacements sometimes the surgery leg ends up being longer than the non surgical leg but that leg length difference in a total knee replacement is
uncommon... I have a best friend who lives 30 minutes from Vail, Colorado who says if I came to the Stedman Clinic I'd have a place to stay with her, but with a knee replacement they'd not want to see me. I've also read that if the spacer is too large it can move the joint line up which also plays havoc with with bending one's knee as it throws everything off, the pulling of the knee cap out of alignment (which mine does) and quad pain all the way up as it tries to stretch beyond what is natural.
So now comes the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th opinion...I have doctors appointments lined up for September 14, October 21st, and am waiting for a call back now from a doctors office...looking at my history and deciding if they can or want to see me. I've already been turned down once this week by one doctor that I was referred to by Dr. Lintner. That's pretty depressing when you are looking for help and your are told that they can't see you...
Houston has a world renowned medical center with world class medical care, people come here from all over the world to seek out the best medical attention. I have no doubt that I can find it here, but who is it??? I don't know yet. My right knee has been a nightmare for the past 5 years and I'm so tired of not feeling even somewhat normal. I'm not giving up though, I know that it can be better than what I have now.
@Jamie @Randi @amberpep @LaPaz @Gilina @RICBAK1 @Kansas Teacher @skigirl @patient 99
Stay tuned...
United States
Have you looked into any possible homeopathic solutions? I have not reviewed your whole history, but your comments about the large spacer grabbed me - is there a reason why they have not considered replacing it with something thinner? I would certainly think that would throw off your hips and back, having had enough of those issues myself.
