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Hinged Joint Revision Complete, recovery continues

Yes, he rocked it back and forth, I was more surprised by all the noise, it is usually very quiet.
When the knee is flexed it is all over the place, expalins why I cannot swim laps, ride an exercycle, or even do cycling in water with out flaring it up.
Short day at work, so my knee will be good.
 
Thread title changed. I think you're doing the right thing by getting this fixed now. This situation was discussed at a conference I attended in December and a couple of the surgeons there were really on top of the problem. It's something they felt was grossly underdiagnosed and possibly the cause of a lot of post op pain for patients who go to their surgeons, who look at their perfectly seated prosthesis and proclaim they are just fine. They're not. And sometimes the pain can come from just a slight imbalance! So...good for you that you located a great revisionist.

If you would, let me know who the doctor is and where he is located so that I can add him to our list for reference.
 
maryo52 said:
Did he rock your lower leg sideways back and forth like a clock pendulum? I had that happen without any warning and was quite shocked both by the maneuver and how loose my knee is.
Click to expand...
That's the way my pre-op knee is. I said to the doc "It isn't supposed to do that, is it?" :doh:
 
So sorry to hear this dear friend but glad you will get on a better path. It's smart to bite the bullet and do it now. Even though you will have many weeks of recovery, you will be doing it with the appropriate joint under you.

You know what to do and where to turn for support. We will be here each step of the journey.

Be well,

Dawn
 
Pumpkin, my knee was also unstable--although not as much as yours. My surgeon removed the spacer, took out the scar tissue and replaced the spacer with a slightly larger one. Is that what your surgeon is doing too?

I stayed in the hospital one night. I had a lot of pain the first three days---took 5 mg/325 mg of Percoset every four hours. But, then, the pain backed off. I had to go really slowly on my recovery so that the scar tissue would not form again. My doc kept telling me that if I exercised an inflamed and swollen knee, it would encourage the growth of scar tissue.

By two months, I felt so much better, i was able to ride my bike without pain. I hope you have a easy experience too.
 
Thanks for visiting my thread @DogLoverx3 ,@maryo52, @kneeper, & @Dhare63. thanks @Jamie for the information about loose ligaments being a cause of post op pain in an otherwise normal looking TKR. @skigirl, I thought the same thing, maybe they can change the spacer. I am only loose on the outside, I think it would be hard to balance. The revisionist is recommending a hinged revision, like Sonja's.
Hoping for an uneventful recovery,
 
I think we all have ideas of how these problematic TKRs can be made right with a little fix of some kind . . . tighten up this ligament, larger spacer, etc. Especially those of us who are women (or handy men) who have a habit of making things go and go with little fixes. The TKR seems to defy our approach! Too bad. My leg has valgus and I bargained with the second opinion doc, why not put in a new spacer that's thicker on the outside, that way my leg will be straight again (no, that doesn't work). Apparently ligament balancing cannot be achieved simplistically. I figure, for me, some day my left knee will need TKR and maybe at that point I can arrange to have both knees fixed up right.
 
I agree, I have tried everything except standing on my head:spin:, to make this knee work.
 
I think you might want to seek out yet another revisionist....just to be sure. This is such a specialized area and you need a surgeon who routinely works with balancing issues. I don't know anyone on the west coast. The surgeon who was talking positively about being able to fix some of these problems at the conference I attended was in New York.
 
After playing telephone tag (My fault, I was at work), I have a tenative surgery date of April 15th.
The OS was pretty fast finding the imbalance. He is also the first MD who found where my tibia is crooked without me having to point it out. One OS took x rays :doh:.
 
Tax day! :) So glad you have a surgery date! Also glad you've found an OS that you trust. ((hugs))
 
[Bonesmart.org] Revision Complete, recovery continues
Be cheering for you all the way,@Pumpkln! Will get you on the April surgery list when we put it up.
 
Hi @Pumpkln , I've had a busy past few days and am just catching up and reading your thread now. I know that you know how I feel about a revision...it is the best thing I ever did for myself. Interesting what Jamie said about her conference in that our Doc's will X-Ray our knees see that they are solidly in place and dismiss us as being just fine. I am happy for you that you can get some relief now.
 
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Wow Pumpkin. So happy you have a diagnosis and strategy. My revision is next week and I am really pumped. Thinking I am confusing revision with child birth?....! You have been such a resource and rock for so many of us on this forum. Thank you and good luck. Lot's to do before April 15th.
 
@Pumpkln

Having a revision was great, I am so happy that I did it, I wasted enough time thinking that things would get better. I actually feel almost normal again. As with any surgery you are nervous, but this is a good choice to help you start getting your life back. I really am saying now, "So this is how it was supposed to be!" You'll be happy, mark my word!!!!
 
Thanks so much for the encouragement @RunA42K , it is much appreciated to have your cheerleading and support!
Just taking it one day at a time.
I always think it will get better, but know that it won't. I keep being reminded every night when it flares up after my busy day.
 
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