TKR PolarBear60's Stryker Triathalon Journey (Left)

[PegGar16]

Wonderful news Jean!

 

[PolarBear60]

On January 9, as we were preparing to move a car, I felt something shift in my left knee. Everything in my knee is working fine, but it has some soreness and definitely didn't feel "right," so I made an appointment with my surgeon just to be on the safe side.

The bankrupted clinic is reopened under new ownership, and things are still getting squared away, but the new ownership has custody of all the previous medical records, so that's good. With this change, my surgeon now had access to the X-rays from my Dec 2, 2018, fall. He showed me where I chipped a little piece off my patella but he said it's healing, so there's nothing to worry about. I'm not to do any deep knee bends or heavy lifting for either 4 weeks or 4 months -- I don't remember which, so I'm going with 4 months just to be safe.

I asked to see the x-rays of my hand, and you can't tell my finger was dislocated, so I must have done a good job of putting it back in place. He did say that joint takes quite a bit of time to heal. I showed him my tracking problem, and he recommended buddy taping the middle finger to the index finger (it does help). I asked about my trigger finger, and he explained what caused that, and he said a shot would help that, so I had him administer that. He said if these things don't help the hand, he'll refer me to a hand specialist.

I'm still waiting for my referrals to come through (they anticipate getting full accreditation with Tricare this week and have a stack of referrals to send in). He'll check out my shoulder (not related to my fall) when the referral comes through. I verified he still does shoulders, and he confirmed that's what he does the most of. I love the work he did on my knees, so if or when my shoulders reach a state that requires surgery (I don't think I'm there yet), I'm thankful to know that. I'm not knocking the expertise required to replace a knee, but from what I've learned about shoulders, they are a more complex and challenging part of the body.

 

[Jockette]

If it’s not one thing it’s something else for us. I hope things work out well for you.

 

[sistersinhim]

That fall is still plaguing you, it seems. It's good that you got your finger back in place by yourself! Ouch! To hear your kneecap is healing nicely is another thing to celebrate. To have a surgeon you trust is such a blessing!

 

[PegGar16]

It sounds like you had a pretty good appointment. It is nice to have a doctor that talks to you and listens. I agree with you about the shoulders. My shoulder was harder then the knee.

 

[KarriB]

Ugh, I’m sorry you’re still dealing with the effects of that fall. I hope those shoulders hold up for a long time!

 

[PolarBear60]

Peggy and Paula, you're right. I'm so thankful to have a surgeon I can trust who listens to me as well as knows what he is doing. By Bonesmart standards, I shouldn't give him the time of day (he doesn't do enough surgeries to meet our recommendations), but he has done such a wonderful job for me in all three of my surgeries (he did a carpal tunnel release for me, too), that I absolutely trust him with anything he does that needs work on my body. I did my PT with people who had their shoulders done by him, and they were all pleased with his work. The physical therapist said he was good, too, so it hasn't just been my experience.

The shot for the trigger finger must have done something helpful -- I was able to put my wedding ring back on tonight and get it off again. I've been able to get it on for the last couple of weeks, but then I couldn't get it off again with any kind of ease, so I'd still been leaving it off. Tonight I can put it on and take it off without fearing it's going to be a major production.

I hope the shoulders hold up, too, Karri, but it's been minorly troublesome in some way for the last 20 years. He gave me a shot about a year and a half ago (after a diagnostic exam -- no x-rays), and that helped ease it until the last couple of months, so I think it's time to have it formally evaluated. I'm not sure anything will show up on x-rays or other imaging tools, but I want a baseline.

 

[sistersinhim]

Good news that your finger is doing so much better! I know it feels really good getting your wedding ring back on and then off again! Hopefully, your shoulder will straighten up. Maybe another shot? It got you through for over a year. Maybe another year out of one again!

 

[PolarBear60]

Four year check up on my left knee yesterday, and all is well. Even the patellas are behaving. Three year check up on the right knee. As my surgeon says, he can't make them as good as what God made, but he does his best.

I'm just thankful to be largely pain-free. I did get shoulder x-rays and I'm waiting for a referral to discuss shoulders with him, but he indicated there's nothing seriously wrong with my shoulders at this time -- a bone spur on one. I'm pursuing therapeutic massage to try to address my shoulder issues, but my gut feel is it's a soft tissue problem. By the time I get in to see him again, I should know what the massage has done for me and we can discuss the way ahead.

But knees? They are great. I'm so happy for that.

 

[KarriB]

So happy the patellas are behaving!

 

[Slainte]

Great news!

 

[Benay]

Wonderful!

 

[sistersinhim]

What a wonderful update, Jean!

 

[Benay]

That's great!