Revised PKR to TKR Patellofemoral PKR with Ehlers Danlos hypermobility

[Healingwell]

Second home PT session yesterday. It didn’t feel that taxing but boy was I sore last night. Little sleep and took a prescription pain pill. Would it be wise to take a pain pill ahead of PT or the evening after a session?

 

[mendogal]

Good question!!!
We strongly recommend NOT taking pain meds before PT as they will interfere with you feeling and respecting your body's limits during the session.

Ice and elevation after PT is sensible, plus OTC or prescription meds as needed.

A marked increase in swelling and pain that interferes with function the next day is strong feedback that you overdid it. Hopefully you'll avoid joining the overdid it club!!!!

 

[sistersinhim]

We suggest you don't take a pain pill before PT. You need to feel the pain so you know when to stop. That way, you won't overdo and suffer like you did last night. Pills at nighttime before bed would be better. But, with an easy PT, hopefully you won't need one!

 

[Healingwell]

We strongly recommend NOT taking pain meds before PT as they will interfere with you feeling and respecting your body's limits during the session

That makes sense! Thank you.

 

[benne68]

Hi @Mochapup! How are you feeling at two weeks post-op? How is the pain?

I'm a few days behind you, but starting to notice a reduction in my pain level. How about you?

 

[Healingwell]

I'm a few days behind you, but starting to notice a reduction in my pain level. How about you?

Hi @benne68 I am having slightly less pain at night-daytime is quite reasonable though have taken it quite easy, just doing my home PT exercises. Yesterday I had walked about 200 yards on crutches-longest stretch so far. Definitely felt the knee buckling!

 

[Healingwell]

I am about 2.5 weeks PO for a patellofemoral replacement. Today I began to experience
severe back of knee pain. Hurts to
put weight on it. Yeow! Am icing the back of knee too now. Any idea of what can cause this pain and how to relieve it?

 

[Jockette]

This pain is most likely just par for the course, this early in recovery. You will find new pains from time to time, here, there, and everywhere, for a while. Even a partial had a lot of trauma introduced to the whole knee area, and the leg also. You are wise to ice it.

 

[Jockette]

By the way, I merged your newest thread with your original recovery thread, as we prefer that members in recovery have only one thread.

This benefits you because all your information is in one place, easy to find, and maintains a nice journal for you.

This also benefits our staff, as your information is all in one place, and we often go back through your thread for previous details, so we know what you‘ve been through which helps us advise you better.

So, please keep all your posts in this thread. If you’d like a new title, let us know what you want, and we’ll change it for you.

Many members bookmark their thread in their computer browser, so they can find it when they log on.
How can I find my threads and posts?

Best wishes on your continuing recovery!

 

[CricketHip]

Sounds like rest and ice is on your dance card tonight.. the perfect activity for New Years Eve!

Sometimes you needs to take a rest day or two and let that traumatized knee cool off a bit and just recover.

 

[JusticeRider]

Even a partial had a lot of trauma introduced to the whole knee area, and the leg also.

Jockette is right.

There will likely be lots of different pain migrating around your leg and body for several months. I know for me, every new pain could be frightening, with me thinking there was a new problem that could be serious. But eventually they all passed as my poor leg and body recovered from the assault of the surgery. Hang in there and try to reassure yourself that this is all temporary. If you have lasting, increasing pain, don’t hesitate to call your surgeon’s office. Otherwise, it’s probably gonna be ok, and you can come here and vent to us any time!

 

[Healingwell]

Is the patellar femoral procedure more invasive because of the removal of the kneecap?

Otherwise, it’s probably gonna be ok, and you can come here and vent to us any time!

Thank you! That back of knee pain has gotten a lot better with icing. Now the hip
pain on the non-op side is making itself felt! I start outpatient PT tomorrow and hope it will include some massage!

 

[JusticeRider]

Is the patellar femoral procedure more invasive because of the removal of the kneecap?

My surgeon told me he had to make a larger incision than with the medial or lateral procedures and that a lot of ‘stuff’ was stretched out when the button was placed. I didn’t know any of that when I signed up for this initially!

That back of knee pain has gotten a lot better with icing. Now the hip
pain on the non-op side is making itself felt! I start outpatient PT tomorrow and hope it will include some massage!

I’m so glad your knee pain has improved! Good ol’ ice! But now the hip wants its turn, haha. I hope you do get some massage tomorrow. I got some really great massage work done the first few months after surgery and it was incredibly helpful. The therapist was so good and she’s moved away ): Good manual therapy is worth its weight in gold!

Please do keep updating when you can…there are so few of us patellofemoral’s out there!

 

[Jamie]

Hi, @Mochapup..... I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing pain following your partial knee replacement. Although you will read on the internet and possibly even hear from medical professionals that a partial joint replacement is less painful and easier/faster to recover from, that is not always the case. This is still major surgery and complete recovery can take up to a year. There are some who seem to breeze right through it all, but here on BoneSmart we've met many members who worried there was something wrong because "easier and faster" didn't describe their experience or match what their surgeon led them to believe. Let me reassure you that what you're describing is completely within the range of "normal" for recovery. You are not even a month out from surgery yet and having pain is very normal. I'm glad to hear you're using ice (it's a GREAT pain reliever) and that it's helped you. It's okay to take over the counter or prescription pain medications as well if they are needed.

All joint replacement surgeries are invasive. Although there may be different procedures involved with each surgery and surgery times may vary widely, there is not one type that is more invasive than another. The surgeon will make incisions based on what is determined best for the patient and for his access. Some surgeons actually make a curved incision around the kneecap. This would be longer than the typical straight one down the middle, but it can allow easier access to the patella. There is no correlation between the size of an incision and the amount of post-op pain...at least I've never seen any studies to indicate that's the case. Post-op pain is more likely to be related to the amount of skin stretching and tissue manipulation done during the procedure. There are other factors as well and it's not possible to say specifically what might cause a particular pain after surgery.

When the patellar button is placed, the surgeon does not take your kneecap all the way out. The patella is encased in a tendon that is moved to one side of the incision so the debridement can be done and the button placed.

I hope this explains a little more for you about what you've been through. It's a big deal and your body will recover on its own schedule. It's not good to try and compare your recovery to anyone else's. Please don't hesitate to ask any questions that may come up. We're here to help and support you!

 

[Healingwell]

Thanks so much for the comprehensive information! Indeed, my incision is curved a bit. Certainly is a big surgery, and that’s a
great reminder as I am still tired
and feel more tired after tasks than pre-op.
My first PT session went well. Great range of motion due to my hypermobility . Now I need to regain strength and balance. But
for today, rest!

 

[Jamie]

Most people have fatigue after any surgery with anesthetic for around 3 weeks. Perhaps no one warned you of that possibility. The fatigue is your body telling you it’s trying to put all its energy toward healing. Listen to its signals…..you can only heal as fast as your individual body is able to go. It’s in charge right now. And everyone recovers differently.

 

[Healingwell]

And everyone recovers differently.

This seems important for me to remember! A little Protestant guilt about feeling “lazy.” Just going to PT today and managing meals
was about all I had energy for. Then also, my research into Ehlers Danlos has
shown me that fatigue is also
common, due to the extra effort required to
keep lax joints moving…

 

[Healingwell]

Question: Can a quick succession of surgeries cause cumulative fatigue? Before my PKR in December, I had a left knee arthroscopy in Sept. and a right knee arthroscopy in August. Can multiple
surgeries and three general anesthesias lead
to “fatigue buildup”?

 

[Healingwell]

By the way, am I posting in the right place?

 

[MSuki]

Question: Can a quick succession of surgeries cause cumulative fatigue?

Yes, all these procedures are taxing to your body. But at less than a month out, even without the prior procedures you would have a lot of fatigue just because you are healing from a major surgery. One of the threads I looked at recently had a picture that illustrated how much of your available energy is going into healing and is therefore not available for other activities. At this point in recovery the percentage is very significant. Listen to your body and knee and get as much rest as you can.