Revision TKR Sondrals’ Revision
- Thread starter sondrals
- Start date
I know it's easy to say and hard to do, but try to take no notice of what you mom and other people say. You've been through a rough time, with two knee replacements close together, and neither your mom nor your boyfriend have had their knees replaced, so they don't have a clue about what it's like.
We've all had joints replaced, so we understand. You can come here and let off steam as much as you like. We'll listen, and give you virtual hug.
As for the surgeon and his team - well, it's probably just something minor, but he probably didn't think to tell the person who phoned you what it was about. Try not to spend your weekend worrying about it.
We've all had joints replaced, so we understand. You can come here and let off steam as much as you like. We'll listen, and give you virtual hug.
As for the surgeon and his team - well, it's probably just something minor, but he probably didn't think to tell the person who phoned you what it was about. Try not to spend your weekend worrying about it.
Macknit
graduate
@sondrals , I haven't checked on you in a while....I'm sorry you're going through the tough issues right now...on top of the OS office leaving no details. Unbelievable!!!
This is the place to gripe and whine. I find it very doubtful that the OS office would make a judgment about your mental state...being a trained counselor I know that several assessments are used and not just one....there is usually an entire battery of tests used to even think about mental state. And it is done by psychologists, psychiatrists and/or trained counselors...not an Orthopedic office. They have other skills!!! Sheesh...
Try to ignore any of the hurtful comments, remember that relationships take a LOT of work, but always believe in yourself...you are cared for by many of us here on BS.
Maybe try some major distractions this weekend to get through the anxiety of "what if"! Like binge watching comedy...laughter is great medicine, or one of your favorites...moving every so often for your recovery of course
Hang in there! You'll be in my positive thoughts and prayers over the next few days!
This is the place to gripe and whine. I find it very doubtful that the OS office would make a judgment about your mental state...being a trained counselor I know that several assessments are used and not just one....there is usually an entire battery of tests used to even think about mental state. And it is done by psychologists, psychiatrists and/or trained counselors...not an Orthopedic office. They have other skills!!! Sheesh...
Try to ignore any of the hurtful comments, remember that relationships take a LOT of work, but always believe in yourself...you are cared for by many of us here on BS.
Maybe try some major distractions this weekend to get through the anxiety of "what if"! Like binge watching comedy...laughter is great medicine, or one of your favorites...moving every so often for your recovery of course
Hang in there! You'll be in my positive thoughts and prayers over the next few days!
sondrals
graduate
@jaybird57 me too. Now she keeps asking me if I’m mad and wants to come to my appointment Monday. I told her no.
In other news.... I picked up marbles with my toes in PT yesterday
I’m having this weird “my foot is disconnected from my leg” feeling in my left leg so we are working on getting my foot responding better. It’s kind of hard to explain but I want to walk on my heel on that foot and I tend to stand with my toes on that foot in the air. The downside, now that I’m conscious of it and putting my toes down when I stand and walk, my middle toe is sore like someone carpet burned it.
In other news.... I picked up marbles with my toes in PT yesterday
I’m having this weird “my foot is disconnected from my leg” feeling in my left leg so we are working on getting my foot responding better. It’s kind of hard to explain but I want to walk on my heel on that foot and I tend to stand with my toes on that foot in the air. The downside, now that I’m conscious of it and putting my toes down when I stand and walk, my middle toe is sore like someone carpet burned it.
It's high time she stopped treating you like a child and allowed you to be the sensible adult we know you are.
Would it help if you stop telling her about your appointments etc?
Sara61
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Unless someone has experienced a surgery of this kind and in your case 2 so close together they have no idea what is going on, maybe ask your mum & bf to watch a video maybe then they might be a little more understanding and more sympathetic.
Neither of my sister's showed me any sympathy nor interest in my healing process their attitude was based on a misconception that one would be running around & back to normal within a couple of weeks, I now don't bother telling them how I feel or even discuss my knee with them. So sometimes one need to learn to ignore what others think - maybe try telling your Mom less maybe then she might take more interest.
Sending Virtual hugs
and I hope you sort your gait out soon as a sore toe is very painful and little things like trying to rub it is hard as we have to bend the knees to reach 
our tootsies
Neither of my sister's showed me any sympathy nor interest in my healing process their attitude was based on a misconception that one would be running around & back to normal within a couple of weeks, I now don't bother telling them how I feel or even discuss my knee with them. So sometimes one need to learn to ignore what others think - maybe try telling your Mom less maybe then she might take more interest.
Sending Virtual hugs
and I hope you sort your gait out soon as a sore toe is very painful and little things like trying to rub it is hard as we have to bend the knees to reach our tootsies sondrals
graduate
I woke up this morning to both hips screaming at me. I took half a muscle relaxer and went back to bed. It helped a bit but they still kind of hurt. I think my across town trip in the snowstorm last night might be the culprit. But I neeeeded nachos lol
Trying to take it easy today but I did manage to strip the bed, wash all the bedding and remake it. Was it easy? No, but I did it! Took a little longer than it would normally but that’s ok. Plus I did two other loads of laundry. So now I’m hanging out with my feet’s up icing my knees. I’m just happy I can do something and feel a little bit useful.
Trying to take it easy today but I did manage to strip the bed, wash all the bedding and remake it. Was it easy? No, but I did it! Took a little longer than it would normally but that’s ok. Plus I did two other loads of laundry. So now I’m hanging out with my feet’s up icing my knees. I’m just happy I can do something and feel a little bit useful.
loneshark64
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“Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.“ -Yogi Berra
“You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.” ~ Arnold Glasow
“You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.” ~ Arnold Glasow
Macknit
graduate
Ha! 
Most of this recovery I have been craving Nachos too!! Maybe because it's Super Bowl today??? My two favorite go-to's have been peanut butter and banana on a wonderful cranberry walnut wheat toast and the neighborhood Brewery's beer cheese and black bean nachos!!! It's sounds like my pregnancy cravings....must be because of the baby knee!
You are useful, even when you don't lift a finger...(see my rant in my thread about Human Beings vs. human doings!) We are not what we do or accomplish, we are the essence of being!
Most of this recovery I have been craving Nachos too!! Maybe because it's Super Bowl today??? My two favorite go-to's have been peanut butter and banana on a wonderful cranberry walnut wheat toast and the neighborhood Brewery's beer cheese and black bean nachos!!! It's sounds like my pregnancy cravings....must be because of the baby knee! You are useful, even when you don't lift a finger...(see my rant in my thread about Human Beings vs. human doings!) We are not what we do or accomplish, we are the essence of being!
sondrals
graduate
My boyfriend works at a pizza place and they have nachos with pulled pork and bbq sauce it sounds weird but they are so good! My go to has been peanut butter toast with honey on whole wheat seeded bread. And fruit, for some reason fruit tastes amazing! Needless to say I’ve put on some weight lol. Back to working on that, I’d lost almost 100lbs and I’ve gained about 20, 10 per knee I keep claiming it’s the weight of the prosthetic knee.
We’ve been sleeping in the same bed (king sized) but under separate covers. Yesterday I finally made the bed back into one big bed. Of course last night our dog decided she needed to sleep under the covers then stepped on my ankle when she plowed her way out because she was too hot. At least it wasn’t one of my knees!
I keep claiming it’s the weight of the prosthetic knee.We’ve been sleeping in the same bed (king sized) but under separate covers. Yesterday I finally made the bed back into one big bed. Of course last night our dog decided she needed to sleep under the covers then stepped on my ankle when she plowed her way out because she was too hot. At least it wasn’t one of my knees!
Macknit
graduate
Yes, I've had those too at a different local grill...they are amazing!!!
I hope your hips get better, I went through some hip issues right around my 5-6 week point. As with so many things in this recovery there is a flare up and then it subsides, I have no clue what I did to help...
!
I'm glad your knees were out of the way of your dog's tunneling out of a hot bed
I hope your hips get better, I went through some hip issues right around my 5-6 week point. As with so many things in this recovery there is a flare up and then it subsides, I have no clue what I did to help...
!
I'm glad your knees were out of the way of your dog's tunneling out of a hot bed
LD of Michigan
graduate
My appetite remains a bit wonky post surgery. More often than not, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. I just don't want as much as I put on my plate.
Not so bad problem though as I've needed to reduce my portions...
... but I don't want the nausea feeling that happens still a bit. I just want a lifestyle of balanced food intake with exercise drinking enough water. Working at it.
Not so bad problem though as I've needed to reduce my portions...
... but I don't want the nausea feeling that happens still a bit. I just want a lifestyle of balanced food intake with exercise drinking enough water. Working at it.sondrals
graduate
@LD of Michigan my appetite is still all over the place. I keep craving things I’d not normally eat. I sadly woke up from surgery ravenous and it’s never stopped lol
@Helizabug uhm I still haven’t gotten down on the floor, I’m afraid I won’t be able to get up! I’d probably be stuck there forever lol.
Sitting waiting on my OS to come in and see me, he’s a half hour late. His assistant did come in and talk to me, apparently my left leg is a little looser than they’d like but they still think it’s my muscles sooo waiting on the boss to come verify. *sigh*
@Helizabug uhm I still haven’t gotten down on the floor, I’m afraid I won’t be able to get up! I’d probably be stuck there forever lol.
Sitting waiting on my OS to come in and see me, he’s a half hour late. His assistant did come in and talk to me, apparently my left leg is a little looser than they’d like but they still think it’s my muscles sooo waiting on the boss to come verify. *sigh*
sondrals
graduate
So my OS says my ligaments didn’t tighten up enough and they’d like to go back in and put a larger spacer in. I definitely have too much lateral movement in my knee. Kind of freaked out about the whole thing
So that's why your surgeon wanted to see you. That's not as bad as some of the things I'm sure you were thinking. 
Replacing a spacer with a thicker one does mean opening up your knee again, but it's a relatively quick surgery and recovery won't be nearly as bad as recovery from the TKR. And it could make all the difference. You've been feeling that you can't trust this knee, and that's because of its lateral instability. The larger spacer will fix that.
And you'll be able to tell your mother (if you want to) that your surgeon found a genuine physical reason why this knee hasn't been recovering well - and you're not mad!
Replacing a spacer with a thicker one does mean opening up your knee again, but it's a relatively quick surgery and recovery won't be nearly as bad as recovery from the TKR. And it could make all the difference. You've been feeling that you can't trust this knee, and that's because of its lateral instability. The larger spacer will fix that.
And you'll be able to tell your mother (if you want to) that your surgeon found a genuine physical reason why this knee hasn't been recovering well - and you're not mad!
sondrals
graduate
No I was thinking they'd tell me the whole thing failed, which is way worse than this. However, I am disappointed and a little mad. I mean it does kind of prove I'm not coo-coo-coconuts like my mom thinks I am. I'm a little angry no one listened before now. Or maybe there was just really no way to know? I don't know. I don't want to have another surgery but my other option is to try to live with it the way it is. My OS said at almost 6 months it is probably what it's going to be stability wise. His strong recommendation is to replace the spacer to tighten everything up. I told him I needed some time to think about it, he said that is fine.
They offered a brace for in the meantime but my big fat thighs and smaller ankles made none of them fit right which means I'd never actually wear them because they'd annoy me. I could get a custom one but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to pay as much as they'd want for a custom one to only turn around and have surgery again.
He did say the recovery would be quicker, but they would be cutting me open again and therefore soft tissue swelling etc. He said I'd probably not have to stay overnight at the hospital either, which would be sort of nice. But I'd be out of work again for at least 2 weeks, then I could probably go back part time again. I've not talked to my boss, my coworker's husband is supposed to get his hip replaced at some point so I can't conflict with her needing to be off either.
Part of me just wants to get it done right now and over with but part of me wants to wait, though I have no idea what I'm waiting for. My right feels 100% stable albeit sore despite being only 8 weeks out. If my left felt like that I'd be off and running (not literally).
They offered a brace for in the meantime but my big fat thighs and smaller ankles made none of them fit right which means I'd never actually wear them because they'd annoy me. I could get a custom one but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to pay as much as they'd want for a custom one to only turn around and have surgery again.
He did say the recovery would be quicker, but they would be cutting me open again and therefore soft tissue swelling etc. He said I'd probably not have to stay overnight at the hospital either, which would be sort of nice. But I'd be out of work again for at least 2 weeks, then I could probably go back part time again. I've not talked to my boss, my coworker's husband is supposed to get his hip replaced at some point so I can't conflict with her needing to be off either.
Part of me just wants to get it done right now and over with but part of me wants to wait, though I have no idea what I'm waiting for. My right feels 100% stable albeit sore despite being only 8 weeks out. If my left felt like that I'd be off and running (not literally).
There really is no way of knowing, because sometimes, as your recovery progresses, your tendons do tighten up and your knee does become more stable, without the need for surgical intervention.
If you can possibly work out the timing, do have this done. It could make all the difference in the world.
sondrals
graduate
@Celle thanks, I'm glad there isn't really any way to know. That makes me feels somewhat better. Less like I've done something wrong. I like my surgeon and he's always been upfront with me and I REALLY like his assistant as well (despite the overall practice having some deficiencies on contacting people, which I let them have an earful about and got an apology).
I've only briefly told my bf what's going on because he's at work and can't really get away to talk. So I'll talk to him about it tonight. My boss has trial all week so while having mentioned it to him this morning we haven't really talked about it much.
Having a strong inclination to not even bother telling my mom. She's already expressed the opinion if something is wrong I shouldn't have to pay for surgery again and we all know that's not how things work. I'd rather not get into that fight with her.
In a way I'd rather get it done while it's winter still since I'm miserable anyways, why waste my summer recovering?! lol
I've only briefly told my bf what's going on because he's at work and can't really get away to talk. So I'll talk to him about it tonight. My boss has trial all week so while having mentioned it to him this morning we haven't really talked about it much.
Having a strong inclination to not even bother telling my mom. She's already expressed the opinion if something is wrong I shouldn't have to pay for surgery again and we all know that's not how things work. I'd rather not get into that fight with her.
In a way I'd rather get it done while it's winter still since I'm miserable anyways, why waste my summer recovering?! lol
