Revision TKR Never give up, keep trying, don't settle - that's me, Bonnie

[RunA42K]

Airrosti seems to be doing no good on my loss of ROM, only thing it is doing is draining my bank account. I canceled my appointment for Wednesday and will just go to my PT instead. I made an appointment today to see my OS. I can get in on February 13, 2013. After reading about Kelly's scar tissue removal skigirl it makes me wonder if this could be my problem. I've lost 20 degrees ROM over time. :-( I am worried that the OS will just say that I have enough ROM and dismiss me, but when I can't go down the stairs without pain and I still have this metal clamp feeling around my knee at 22 months post op something is not right. What do I do next if he just brushes me off???

 

[karmigirl]

Bonnie,
If your OS just dismisses you with your problem my suggestion would be to find a revision specialist, that is what they do, try to find what the problems are.

 

[skigirl]

Bonnie---the other way to do it is to NOT let him dismiss you. For one thing, you are an athlete and 115 is not adequate for your needs. Make him see you as an athlete who is committed to working with him to increase your rom. The idea of a revision specialist is a good one too.

With my knee, the adhesions were holding my kneecap against my knee and not allowing it to slide up and down. I could not ride a bike without pain. So, my OS found extensive and aggressive adhesions which he removed. Some of it is back, of course, but I can ride a bike and my kneecap does slide up and down. Don't stop until you get what you want. Kelly

 

[RunA42K]

Bonnie---the other way to do it is to NOT let him dismiss you. For one thing, you are an athlete and 115 is not adequate for your needs. Make him see you as an athlete who is committed to working with him to increase your rom. The idea of a revision specialist is a good one too.

With my knee, the adhesions were holding my kneecap against my knee and not allowing it to slide up and down. I could not ride a bike without pain. So, my OS found extensive and aggressive adhesions which he removed. Some of it is back, of course, but I can ride a bike and my kneecap does slide up and down. Don't stop until you get what you want. Kelly

My appt is the last one of the day for him skigirl. Either I will hold him as a captive audience or he will be in a hurry to go home. I hope that he will listen to me. I was in back in April for ROM concerns when I dropped to 110, so its not like this is new news. If needed...how does one go about fining a revision specialist? Will another OS look into the possibility of adhesions if it was not their surgery?

 

[WyrDachs]

Bonnie, I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet Molly. Especially on the morning of your surgery. I can't imagine how hard that day was for you.

I had lost my dachshund, Cadman on 1/2/13, it was 9 days before my surgery. So I understand exactly how you feel . My Cadman's ashes were ready when i was still in rehab, so my husband picked him up and took him home.

 

[WyrDachs]

Tykey, what a beautiful poem. I'm glad you shared it.

 

[RunA42K]

Bonnie, I'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet Molly. Especially on the morning of your surgery. I can't imagine how hard that day was for you.

I had lost my dachshund, Cadman on 1/2/13, it was 9 days before my surgery. So I understand exactly how you feel . My Cadman's ashes were ready when i was still in rehab, so my husband picked him up and took him home.

WyrDachs Maryanne, I am so sorry for your loss. Nothing hurts more than the loss of a beloved pet. Reading what you just wrote gave me chills/goosebumps because although it took me back to such a horrific time in my life, your words were sweet and I appreciate them. What could ever be worse when getting ready to go to the hospital for a TKR to have your husband come and tell you that your beloved 14 year old dog had just drowned in the backyard pool. The only way I could come to terms with that was to believe that God have given her a long and beautiful life and he knew how hard it would have been for me to take care of her after surgery. But why in such a horrible way...I have no answers for that. Maybe God had the same in mind for you. Although you miss him dearly, 'and that I know to be true' maybe God was thinking of you too and knowing it would be hard for you also to take care of an aging dog. I am not an overly religious person but I do believe in God and when there are no answers here on Earth, you just have to look higher and know that he had a reason.

My husband was taking care of Molly's arrangement while my surgery was going on. It was hard for him too, as he was fixing her breakfast when unknowingly to him she fell in the pool. He was torn because he was not there when I had surgery but he was doing what I asked him to do. I had ordered a beautiful box for her from Angelashes.com it came two weeks after surgery. My husband was out of town that day, my son was to come over to stay the night with me when he got off work. In the meantime a friend had driven me to PT and home again. The box was waiting on the front porch, delivered when I was at PT. So I came in and opened up the pretty rosewood box with her name engraved, home alone, I just cried and cried and cried. It was the worst day of my life only second to the day that I lost her.

Tyrkey did write a beautiful poem didn't he. Eveny now and then I go to the first few pages of my thread again and read the nice things that people wrote to, it meant so much.

So please believe me when I tell you that I feel your pain, your loss and your sorrow. I am so very sorry. xo

 

[bottomshollow]

RunA42K, Bonnie, welcome back! We always miss you when you're gone. We understand that just living your life and taking care of business keeps you busy, busy, busy. Hope hubby has continued to improve. Give us all the news.

We care.

 

[RunA42K]

RunA42K, Bonnie, welcome back! We always miss you when you're gone. We understand that just living your life and taking care of business keeps you busy, busy, busy. Hope hubby has continued to improve. Give us all the news.

We care.

bottomshollow Thank you so much Judy! You are always so cheerful and nice, you make me feel good! You have the best graphics too!!!

I am working today (sneaking in on my iPad) but will check in from home when I can use my computer!

Happy Easter!!

 

[Dhare63]

Hi Bonnie,

Good to see you here again! Congrats on your two years! I know it's a bittersweet day, but you are strong and always seem to be moving forward!

Wishing you all good things!

Dawn

 

[RestAssured]

Hi Bonnie!

It is o good to see you again! I have missed you and have been thinking about you!

 

[RunA42K]

Ok, my thread has been awakened...thank you Jamie!

Yesterday March 28 was my 2 year knee birthday. I've had a lot of ups and downs over the two years but all in all things are good. My husband is still recovering, my kids are great and happy, and my knee always seems to be a work in progress , but always moving forward.

I really did seem to come to a plateau with my ROM being stuck around 118. I decided to try Airrosti along with PT. After 3 visits I knew that they would not be able to help me. I talked with my PT, made an appt with my OS. My PT is so wonderful and encouraging telling me that I was there once and we will get there again with time and patience. So while waiting two weeks for the OS appt. my PT came up with some things that we were going to work on dedicated each time to making progress. Well I got to 124 before my OS appt. so I canceled because I was making progress. Eventually got to 126, I was very happy, next time 124 ;-( but on my birthday March 13, I was determined I was going to have a good number, and I did, 127! But the following week, back to 125, but next time 127 again just two days ago. So I am progressing holding onto the ROM and not going backwards.

Before I ever went to my PT place, the whole crew there, none of them were runners...ever! Well I have been with them now 2+ years and guess what, I have got them all running. Going from 3 miles to several 1/2 marathons. No not me, but they are running because of me. I know that I can't run like I used to, I finally accepted that. But I did a 5K in October and November just for fun. I wanted to plan an outing with all my PT crew/PTasst/ and trainers. I had us all get signed up for a 10K (6.2miles) on March 9th. I had never run with them before, they don't let me run at PT, always sending me to the bike or elliptical but when I am not on their clock they will run with me. So we all, plus my daughter ran the 10K together. I had not run a step in 4 months, but I ran the entire 6.2 miles at an 11:45 pace. Not too bad for no training, and a fake knee! We had a wonderful time, and I had a huge smile across my face the entire time. So I am not running regular, if there is a small race I want to do, I just do it. Since I cycle and weight train it keeps me in pretty good condition so I can just go out and run once in a while.

I had been road cycling some, but not much this winter because of my ROM. But this last week I went mountain biking for the first time ever. It is fun and challenging, and much more work than the road bike. I fell twice, had many near falls, but I carried on because I never quit, I never give up! Seven miles of dirt trail with tree roots, ruts, downhill, uphill, and hairpin turns. When I was done, my knee was fine although I ended up with many bruises on my left leg mostly, but I was fine.

I don't want to make this too long or no one will want to read it. So I will close for now then come back and tell you about our next adventure.

 

[trailspud]

Running was almost sacred to me for many years...always thought I would be a runner. It is a tough thing to give up or even limit yourself. But, it's really just moving over distance through space and time. Lots of other activities do the same...cycling, swimming, hiking, walking, kayaking, skiing, etc. You are doing well and I hope you can keep some running in your life.

 

[bassplayer]

Glad you got your thread up and running!

 

[RestAssured]

I had an interesting question asked of me the other day, Dominique said "with you getting in such great shape, what is your goal, is it to run a half marathon, or bike in the 150 mile challenge?" I looked at him and said, I don't know what I want to do, but I do know that I am "hooked on exercise!"

 

[Jamie]

Bonnie, as usual you have such an inspiring story to tell!!! I'm so glad you shared it with us. I think you are like a pied piper getting all those folks interested in running. What a great accomplishment for all of you. It sounds like the day you ran with them was fun for all. I'm proud of you for keeping at it. Sometimes that is what it takes to get where we want to be.

Please continue to let us know how you're doing. I always, always enjoy your posts!!!

 

[RunA42K]

I had an interesting question asked of me the other day, Dominique said "with you getting in such great shape, what is your goal, is it to run a half marathon, or bike in the 150 mile challenge?" I looked at him and said, I don't know what I want to do, but I do know that I am "hooked on exercise!"

Oh, Sonja I sure know that addicted feeling...I have so many things that I need to do or should be doing but working out comes first. If I get to workout and exercise it makes me happier in the rest of my life. We need to take care of ourselves, before we can take care of others.

And...A BIG Happy Birthday to you today!! Happy Easter too ;-)

 

[RunA42K]

Bonnie, as usual you have such an inspiring story to tell!!! I'm so glad you shared it with us. I think you are like a pied piper getting all those folks interested in running. What a great accomplishment for all of you. It sounds like the day you ran with them was fun for all. I'm proud of you for keeping at it. Sometimes that is what it takes to get where we want to be.

Please continue to let us know how you're doing. I always, always enjoy your posts!!!

Thank you Jamie, I have missed you...I feel bad that I didn't know about your second TKR until after it was done. I hope you are doing ok, your posts are always uplifting and make me just feel good! Happy Easter!

 

[RunA42K]

Tomorrow my house goes on the market for sale! I have been working feverishly the last couple of months going through, cleaning out all kinds of things. I still had school work from when my kids were in Kindergarten and they are 30 and 33 years old now. Yes, I kept somethings, kept some things for the kids, but a lot had to go. This is the beginning of us having NO more stairs to go up and down. With all bedrooms up the stairs it was a real challenge after my TRK then the following Spring when my husband was learning to walk again after a long illness. We figured we better get out while the getting was good. Houston is doing very well in the re sale of homes so we'll see what happens. We already found a one story house that we love that we put money down on, it is just about 9 miles from where I am right now, so I can still shop all the same stores, go to all the same doctors etc. But OMG it was so much work getting ready, the photographer came today and tomorrow the listing goes online with pictures. Now I will have to get up and vacuum everyday, keep all the dog toys picked up. Cleaning EVERY day now! Each and every morning as I come down the stairs everyday, I feel all 14 steps in my knee, hoping that soon someone else will have these stairs.

 

[zjrog]

Good luck with the sale! We are giving a good deal of thought to a single story as well. But the resale market here is fairly slow. We have a couple projects planned towards making the house more salable. Including finishing the basement. We too, figure that we might be better off with fewer stairs. But, I need a much bigger garage, or a detached large shop. Or at least room to build a bigger garage/shop.