TKR Round 2 of the Bionic Bernie

[Nana moon 27]

Hi Bernie.

You've made me really think now with what you've said in your post. Mmmmm. Would I have been better off not to wait for bone on bone? I'll make an informed decision in September, once I get the results of the planned aforementioned X-ray.

Thank you you've helped me more than you'll ever know! You've changed my thinking. Xxxxx

Love Nana moon 27 xxxx

 

[dogwheels]

Hi @cafecortado - just found your thread and thought I would pop by and say hello.
I vaguely remember reading it when you first started it ....
My physio told me that recovery is compromised and rarely textbook if the initial cause was trauma and the knee hasn't been functioning properly for many years. On that basis, I score 2 out of 2 - which may explain why I had my 'little bit of trouble', and if you have had problems for 10 years, yours too.
I remember reading your thread about the pain behind your knee - that was my problem but I didn't want to jump in at the time and worry you unduly. Mine was a bleed that caused a haematoma somewhere (we think back of knee although nobody knows for sure). I still have the weirdest black bruising behind my knee - but at least its bending again. My physio thinks that I have very old (like nearly 28 years old) scar tissue problems from my original surgery, plus all my main muscles have tightened up over the years and are only giving in very slowly to this new knee that is able to bend.
I have taken things really slowly and gently over the last 7 weeks, with lots and lots of massage which has helped loads - and things are on the up.
You're absolutely right that timing is tricky - my OS refused when it was bone on bone (and that's going private), then 2 years later when I couldn't walk, was surprised I had taken so long in returning as large areas of bone had worn away. Can't win!
Anyway, I really hope that your GP can sort your meds out on Tuesday - they are being so stingy with them, its as if they have to pay for them themselves!
Take it slowly and gently and as my physio says, 'Listen to your knee and let it tell you what it is able to do each day'.
Take care
X

 

[cafecortado]

Hi Bernie.

You've made me really think now with what you've said in your post. Mmmmm. Would I have been better off not to wait for bone on bone? I'll make an informed decision in September, once I get the results of the planned aforementioned X-ray.

Thank you you've helped me more than you'll ever know! You've changed my thinking. Xxxxx

Love Nana moon 27 xxxx

Well Nana moon 27, I'm very happy if I could help you in any way. It's so difficult trying to decide what to do for the best! I do wish I'd had mine done earlier as my life has been effectively on hold for quite a few years. I can't imagine that one day soon (hopefully) I won't have to think about where I can park before going to a shop and actually being able to walk around a park woo hoo! Xx


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[cafecortado]

Hi @cafecortado - just found your thread and thought I would pop by and say hello.
I vaguely remember reading it when you first started it ....
My physio told me that recovery is compromised and rarely textbook if the initial cause was trauma and the knee hasn't been functioning properly for many years. On that basis, I score 2 out of 2 - which may explain why I had my 'little bit of trouble', and if you have had problems for 10 years, yours too.
I remember reading your thread about the pain behind your knee - that was my problem but I didn't want to jump in at the time and worry you unduly. Mine was a bleed that caused a haematoma somewhere (we think back of knee although nobody knows for sure). I still have the weirdest black bruising behind my knee - but at least its bending again. My physio thinks that I have very old (like nearly 28 years old) scar tissue problems from my original surgery, plus all my main muscles have tightened up over the years and are only giving in very slowly to this new knee that is able to bend.
I have taken things really slowly and gently over the last 7 weeks, with lots and lots of massage which has helped loads - and things are on the up.
You're absolutely right that timing is tricky - my OS refused when it was bone on bone (and that's going private), then 2 years later when I couldn't walk, was surprised I had taken so long in returning as large areas of bone had worn away. Can't win!
Anyway, I really hope that your GP can sort your meds out on Tuesday - they are being so stingy with them, its as if they have to pay for them themselves!
Take it slowly and gently and as my physio says, 'Listen to your knee and let it tell you what it is able to do each day'.
Take care
X

Wow @dogwheels that's really interesting what you shared about what your physio said and makes sense! Also although I don't think I've had a bleed, like you, I do know that I haven't been using the muscles in my legs properly for years, so it might be quite some time to sort it all out. This actually helps with my thinking and emotions so thanks very much for sharing! The 1st knee still hurts at the back and is still very stiff, I feel like it's being ignored at the moment, due to my pain & movement issues with my latest knee, but I guess once that's more mobile I'll be able to concentrate on getting them both sorted and stronger! Think it's going to be a loooong job, which I don't need the G.P making worse with the stingy meds, so hopefully I'll get that sorted! I'll try my best to take your advice and listen to my knee, although it seems to be speaking In a foreign language ;) thanks for stopping by. Xx


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[cafecortado]

So @dogwheels mentioned something funny about an upcoming visit to Yo sushi and possible embarrassing seating options ;) This reminded me of something funny that happened this week in the middle of an otherwise pretty rubbish week. Last Wednesday my friend Linda, came to cut and colour my hair as I couldn't manage the hairdressers yet. I hasten to add, she is a hairdresser and not just a friend picked at random ;) So she came round with her baby and another friend also arrived with her baby so it was quite a party. You might be able to see a photo of the 2 beautiful babies on my profile photo.
All was going well until time to rinse the colour off, I only have a shower over the bath. After a long discussion it was decided that I couldn't stand over the bath, I definitely couldn't kneel. So 5 minutes later, I'm sat on the bath board perched on the bath, in my nightie with an audience of 2 friends & their babies getting my hair showered whilst trying not to get soaked! Thankfully I banned all cameras and phones, but couldn't ban the inappropriate comments of my "friends" I have to say we had a good laugh (at my expense) but the therapy of that and all the baby cuddles made for a lovely time......Dignity?....what dignity ;).


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[dogwheels]

Ha ha ha @cafecortado - I can just imagine you in a soggy, clinging nightie, dripping hair and 2 dodgy knees. Poor you. Still at least you were able to have a laugh with your mates.
I always say that once you have given birth any shred of dignity has gone forever, so there's no point being precious at this stage in our lives.
Take care and sleep well
X

 

[Jozilla]

Very funny story. I am exhausted with aches all over - I have severe osteo in lumbar and cervical spine with spinal stenosis. Thats not counting my one knee left and toes!! Most of the time my pain is well managed but not today. I will be popping in and out. I love the stories here and the members too! Take care and keep us updated!

 

[Texan]

@cafecortado, I just came across your thread tonight and am so sorry for all the troubles you have had with getting pain meds. It is hard enough to go through this with the correct pain meds, so I can't imagine what you are going through. I had my left knee done January 29th and am scheduled to have my right knee done June 11th. My pain meds controlled the pain but made me extremely sick to my stomach. Sometimes you can't win for losing. Until you get some help from your doctor, keep your knee iced and elevated. You will be in my prayers. Hang in there!

 

[dogwheels]

Hello @Texan - I am in total admiration of @cafecortado and yourself having both knees done in quick succession. I had a LTKR the day before you and the thought of having another one in just over a month's time makes me feel quite queasy. You are both so brave. I was fortunate with no real pain issues post surgery and just on minimum meds however things went a bit wrong for me at 6 weeks, which is the reason I would baulk at a repeat performance so early.
Hope the first knee is doing well and the second one does even better.
I intend looking after my 'good' knee for as long as I can. I have had enough of this 'experience' and am not looking to repeat it any time soon.
Best wishes for your next operation and hope that it goes very smoothly.
X

 

[Jozilla]

@Texan - wow I didn't realize you had such issues with pain meds too! I don't know how you handle this surgery without! My OS will not use morphine at all even in hospital so I was given one to two percocets every three hours the whole time. I am a big chicken so I always took two. Thankfully it was enough for me. Good luck with your second knee. I will have mine done in September.

Bernie I am praying your GP listens and helps you out today!

Xoxoxo JoAnne

 

[cafecortado]

Mmmm not much to report re the Doctor and trying to sort my meds. I rang this morning and tried to book an appointment with my usual GP but was told there wasn't anything with her until the end on NEXT week! So I've had to settle for a telephone conversation with her this Friday, again that was the first time I could get. Not holding out much hope and a bit fed up.
Then this afternoon I had my weekly half hour PT session and my physio was off sick.....maybe it's my deodorant? Anyway, the girl I saw was ok, my bend is up to 90 which was an encouragement, my extension has always been good. I mentioned my pain behind my knee and she confirmed it was my hamstring. She gave it a massage and I kid you not, I had my fist stuffed in my mouth to stop me screaming out!! Ouch! It had better work!


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[cafecortado]

Thanks @Texan, that's very kind of you to drop by. I'm taking your advice and icing & elevating as much as possible. Sorry you are having. Trouble "stomaching " the pain meds, as you say one problem solved seems to lead to another, never mind one day we'll all be doing a celebratory dance ;) love Bernie


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[Texan]

@dogwheels, I have gone back and read your thread. No wonder the thought of surgery so soon sounded awful to you. If I had gone through everything you did, I wouldn't be having surgery in June either! I'm sure that was a very scary situation for you. I hope all is well now...or at least much better.

I had originally scheduled knee replacement for mid October. Once I had increased mobility from the first TKR, the other knee started rebelling and was very painful. This is the year of the knees for me. I have met my out of pocket deductible for the year so I am going to bite the bullet and get it done. If I wait until next year, it will cost me a little over $6000 again. If I have it done this year, I don't have to pay for anything else. Strong motivator.

@cafecortado, Sorry for your pain with the massage. I am checking into medical massage for the next knee. It is supposed to help with swelling. My physical therapist does massage for the first 15 minutes but that is all. I would like the whole hour to be nothing but the massage. I'll be ready for the celebratory dance around October if everything goes according to plan. As if my knee is going to follow my plan!!!

 

[dogwheels]

Hi again @Texan - you mention medical massage for swelling, is that what is termed 'lymphatic massage' here? If so I believe it can be very effective for excessive swelling. In the first week or so after my TKR my knee was very swollen and this was offered to me. Thankfully diligent elevation and icing did the trick and I didn't go down that path. I do know that the hospital I attended occasionally swap an early inpatient physio session with a lymphatic massage one when swelling is so severe, useful physio is impossible.
Reading posts on this forum, I find your health system in the US absolutely unfathomable - all the timings and costs etc. I am sure it makes perfect sense - it is just so different from ours. But I totally understand the economics of your early replacement on the other knee. You can just write off this year for ops and recovery and then enjoy a pain-free life.

@cafecortado - ha ha Bernie, what are you doing to all these people that make them go sick?? Well done with the ROM - slowly and surely will get us to where we want to be. I know the massage can be really painful - but it does get better - I promise. I'm convinced that the physio sessions in this second 'recovery' of mine - 95% massage / 5% exercise - have worked far better than the 100% non-stop exercise I had the first time round.

Enjoy your day!

 

[Jozilla]

Morning all! You are sounding so much better Bernie! I honestly don't know how you are dealing with recovery with so little pain medication. Glad to hear you sounding more positive though! Xoxo JoAnne

 

[Texan]

@dogwheels, you are right that this is the year of ops and recovery! I am praying for a pain free life. I had a group of neighborhood friends over tonight for dinner. On my feet all day getting ready and now my knees are protesting. My non-surgical knee is worse than the one I had replaced. Took pain meds tonight. First time in about a month. Found out yesterday that I have to go in the hospital a day early to have a screen placed in the vein going from the legs to lungs to filter out blood clots. It just keeps getting better and better!

@cafecortado, Hi Bernie, How did your phone conversation go with your doctor? How are you doing?

 

[Jozilla]

Hang in there @Texan. It does get so much better. I have same issue - my tkr leg is great and the other is protesting! I find myself "leaning" on the tkr leg now. I am thankful my tkr recovery went well. In September will have the other knee done. I am looking forward to this summer!! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

[cafecortado]

Morning all! You are sounding so much better Bernie! I honestly don't know how you are dealing with recovery with so little pain medication. Glad to hear you sounding more positive though! Xoxo JoAnne

Hi All! If I could dance right now I would!
So to update, I had to wait nearly a week to get to speak to my preferred G.P. Guess what, when I answered the phone this morning, it was a different. G.P as mine had gone off sick.....definitely need to change the deodorant @dogwheels! So I was prepared for a fight, but it couldn't have been more different to my conversation with the other G.P last Friday, see post #23.....I hope you're all keeping up, there will be a test at the end ;).

Anyway, thanks very much to @Josephine for the advice. I also made use of the advice given to @Nana moon 27 from @Chihuahuan, @TexasTee and @Ellejay, so thank you. From reading that, I decided to write myself a little script to read as I knew I'd have less than a minute to get my points across. So I wrote a brief history all in bullet points, of my knee surgery and about trying to get the meds changed. Then about all the areas, including my back, where I'm feeling pain and what kind of pain as it's differs depending on where it is. How the pain is effecting me daily and also effecting my recovery...using Josephine's phrase. I also said how I felt it was starting to effect my mental state and the G.P commented that she saw I was already on antidepressants. Well at the end of this, she was like, so what do you think would help as we have to get this pain under control and it's a perfectly reasonable request!
WOW! No accusations that I was becoming addicted, that I should be further on in my recovery and not refusing to prescribe me anything because she couldn't see me. Just understanding that my pain was hampering my recovery & mobility. So I now have a prescription for Tramadol, up to 2x 4 daily to take with paracetamol and said this could be renewed if needed! And like Josephine said, the G.P intimated that the Dihydrocodeine wasn't a suitable medication.
So thank you to all, including @Jozilla, @dogwheels and @Texan, and anyone else that has cared for helping me through this last few days. You are all amazing. Love xxx


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[cafecortado]

Hang in there @Texan. It does get so much better. I have same issue - my tkr leg is great and the other is protesting! I find myself "leaning" on the tkr leg now. I am thankful my tkr recovery went well. In September will have the other knee done. I am looking forward to this summer!! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

I had to stay on crutches after my RTKR due to my other un operated knee as that was much weaker. I couldn't walk due to the pain in that knee, never mind the pain I had from the post op knee, which is why the surgeon wanted to get the left knee done ASAP. I don't feel my real recovery has started until I had the left knee done a few weeks ago. All the best xx


Bernie UK
RTKR 22nd January 2014
LTKR 2nd April 2014

 

[dogwheels]

Hi @cafecortado - Bernie I am so glad that this 'stand-in' GP has listened to you and addressed your needs, that must be a huge relief to you. Hmmmm ....It's also nice when you are treated like a responsible and intelligent adult as well, isn't it?
Hope you have a lovely weekend. I expect you will feel so much better content in the knowledge that your pain issues have been addressed.
Have fun!
ChrisXX