Revision TKR Revision Completed...Ready to get back to my life...<

[RestAssured]

@RestAssured

I am having a struggle at the moment with myself as to whether to get this done sooner rather than later. Sooner means hubby has to get back to Canada asap and forgo all that he has to do and what he has accomplished there thus far will be for naught! Or wait until next year with this "thing" getting worse (I have no doubt that it has too?). I am trying to not over think/analyze this just take it a day at a time...so far that is not working, the brain refuses to listen.

Yes, the decision will be hard; can the doctor put you in a brace to alleviate some of the pain until surgery? When the bones kept popping out from the eaten cement at the bottom of the replacement they put me in a brace! I was in that for several months and it helped tremendously.... Well until I lost too much weight and it was too big anyways.

 

[KneeAware]

@RestAssured How long from the time you found out you had to have a revision to the time you did have it?

 

[RestAssured]

@RestAssured How long from the time you found out you had to have a revision to the time you did have it?

Almost 2 years! We had issues to clear up, mainly my bullheadedness about school and such; but we were also fighting MRSA and waiting for the new knee to be approved! Lots of stuff had to happen!

 

[KneeAware]

@RestAssured

This gives me reassurance that waiting is ok...

 

[RestAssured]

@RestAssured

This gives me reassurance that waiting is ok...

Yes, the brace helped a lot to give me the extra time. It gave me stability and a lot less pain!

When the bone popped out, it was painful to get it back in place!

 

[KneeAware]

@RestAssured

Today its been almost pain free, a twinge now and then...maybe this will be a lull period...I hope so because its back to work tomorrow. The dr didn't mention a brace or anything else just went over what it is I shouldn't be doing at the moment. Then again, I just wanted to get out of there, come home and call my husband, I didn't want to believe it, had myself convinced it was a scar tissue issue.

 

[RestAssured]

@JustmeT

@RestAssured Then again, I just wanted to get out of there, come home and call my husband, I didn't want to believe it, had myself convinced it was a scar tissue issue.

I understand completely! Even after the washout, debridement, and spacer replacement, I kept up hope for 3 days until the tests came back positive for MRSA! I knew in my heart that's what it was, but my brain refused to believe it until the doctor came in and told me. So, I knew a revision would take place sometime in the future. Get in touch with your OS and ask him about a brace. It will help!

 

[KneeAware]

@RestAssured

As long as its no worse than this for now I think I am good to go, just have to be a wee bit more careful and not be so gungho about everything I attempt! We were to take a hike this upcoming weekend that is straight uphill to get to the top of a place with the most amazing vistas of where we live, I am disappointed that this is not on the menu for now, :( Maybe I should get it done sooner rather than later...

@Josephine

Looking for a wee bit of input from the "wise one", hee hee! If it were you faced with this, the whole of it, husband away, kids and all, what would you consider doing? (Actually anyone's input would be appreciated, I am so back and forth on this I am driving my own-self crazy).

 

[RestAssured]

Well,

If you can dial back and waiting would make you more comfortable emotionally, then I'd say "dial back!" You still have the brace option,which is designed to bend along with the knee to give you support as a backup.

 

[KneeAware]

Well,
If you can dial back and waiting would make you more comfortable emotionally, then I'd say "dial back!" You still have the brace option,which is designed to bend along with the knee to give you support as a backup.

Mmmmmmmmm, dialing it back, I am trying but between the kids and myself we have such busy schedules.

This really hit me hard, I am not sure why, it didn't when I found out I needed both done back in January 2012. I am not angry or upset, just drained and so not wanting to do this again.

 

[Josephine]

2. Does the doctor say the surgery should happen immediately, or can you take meds for pain?
He suggested 2-4 weeks but said as long as I don't be attempting anything silly and demanding on the knee I can wait for a while yet, so its back to see him in January for a reassessment if it doesn't get intolerable before then.

Did he define what "anything silly" included? I can only say "if it were me" I'd want to get it done sooner rather than later for the simple reason why put up with this untreatable pain any longer than you have to. However, I do appreciate that you have additional responsibilities and concerns that complicate this decision. That's not something I, or anyone else, can really comment upon.

I cannot take pain meds so didn't even think of asking for any.

Just well as this is much like having the original arthritis - there are no pain meds that will adequately cope with it.

 

[Josephine]

@JustmeT despite your having asked and my agreeing, I decided to merge your threads as this is not about your first knee so I think it flows better as one. Hope you don't mind.

 

[KneeAware]

@Josephine

despite your having asked and my agreeing, I decided to merge your threads as this is not about your first knee so I think it flows better as one. Hope you don't mind.

This is about the 1st knee, this was the partial replacement I had done May 2012...the 2nd one is just fine, keeping fingers crossed that it continues on like this for a long time to come! (In the meantime I don't mind that they are merged just want to clarify that it is the 1st knee).

Did he define what "anything silly" included? I can only say "if it were me" I'd want to get it done sooner rather than later for the simple reason why put up with this untreatable pain any longer than you have to. However, I do appreciate that you have additional responsibilities and concerns that complicate this decision. That's not something I, or anyone else, can really comment upon.

I was just asking for comments in hopes of help wrapping my head around having to do this again so soon. I know its not something anyone can really comment on as I know its something for me alone to decide as to when I get it done and its me alone who has to deal with any discomfort.

What the OS meant by "anything silly" he knows my tendency for doing the extreme when I am feeling good, so if the knee feels ok he was thinking I may go rock climbing or mountain biking (that is off road on the harder trails). It was his way of telling me to think twice before jumping in feet first.

I have worked so hard this summer to get back into shape and get the weight off that I had packed on in the past 2-3 years, having to go through this again I don't want to put the weight back on because of a somewhat inactive (even though it has to be this way) lifestyle again. This all leads me back to the should it be done sooner rather than later deal. Arrgghhh! LOL! I also don't want what my husband is accomplishing where he is to all be for naught, he will know more the 3rd of Sept., hoping from that we can put a plan in motion that is favourable to the both of us and the kids.

 

[KneeAware]

I am done reading about revisions, except for @RestAssured , are there any other positive revision stories out there? I know there are but it seems everything I have read there is negativity to it, it is scaring me off and has me thinking living with this for the long term isn't a bad idea. I know not having my husband here to bounce these worries off of is also a factor, I don't want to burden him too much with my worries over this because that will be all he sees while he is away. I don't dwell on this all the time, the need of a revision, may devote 5% of my day to it, that's still too much time out of my day thinking about it and when should I get it done?

@Josephine @skigirl Where is a good place (besides here ;) to get good solid information, facts, on revisions?

 

[RestAssured]

@JustmeT,

When I was in the "waiting" stage, I wasn't inactive. I did upper body, swimming, anything to help. The brace helped a lot. I am going to post a picture of the brace to give you an idea of what I am referring to. Maybe it will help. Your life IS NOT in a "holding pattern" unless you choose to make it that way. I am here to encourage, listen, joke, sympathise, give you a kick in the butt; all of the things you would gladly do for me!

 

[RestAssured]

Read @RunA42K revision story! She is going to power walk the marathon with me! Actually it was HER idea!

 

[KneeAware]

Your life IS NOT in a "holding pattern" unless you choose to make it that way.

I am not concerned about being in a holding pattern, I am, however, concerned with being over active. I am still doing cardio and upper body work outs, I am still doing exercises to maintain the quads too. I don't want to lose what I have done...

Wow! That brace looks like a work out in itself just to carry it around, what is the "technical" name of it?

 

[RestAssured]

I am not concerned about being in a holding pattern, I am, however, concerned with being over active. I am still doing cardio and upper body work outs, I am still doing exercises to maintain the quads too. I don't want to lose what I have done...

Wow! That brace looks like a work out in itself just to carry it around, what is the "technical" name of it?

As long as you aren't putting yourself through pain cardio, upper body, and quad strengthening are all great. If you have access to a pool, walking, running, and so forth in the pool is great also. The resistance of the water makes for a wonderful workout!

Strip away all the black in the picture, they were add ons due to my patella problems, and focus on the silver brace. It is made out of aircraft material and it is featherlight! I loved it! It bent with my knee if I wanted it to, or I could make it straight.

I will see if I can find that rascal again and strip it get you a name and new picture!

 

[KneeAware]

As long as you aren't putting yourself through pain cardio, upper body, and quad strengthening are all great.

What happened to the old saying, no pain no gain? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh right this is the Bonesmart forum, that's not said here, !

The closest available pool is about 100kms away (60 miles)....I will give it a go when I can though. It was after swimming this past summer that my knee was really in agony, I know, I know, you didn't say anything about swimming!

 

[Pumpkin]

JustmeT,
I am with Sonja, try the brace, it will get you to the revision. You have a lot going on, I would schedule it as soon as you are able.
"No Pain, No Gain" is so 70's, the dark ages. This is the 21st Century, see the light, "Work Smarter, Not Harder".