Revision TKR Sondrals’ Revision

[Celle]

I'm so glad I was able to help you. I know that getting through recovery is tough, even when you have good support and an uncomplicated recovery.

You're having an even more difficult time right now, but the important thing to know is that this won't last. Your DVT is going to resolve, your replaced knee is going to improve, and I'm almost certain your surgeon will replace your other knee.

I'm glad your own doctor was supportive, and getting those compression stockings that actually fit you was a great idea.

 

[Macknit]

I'm sorry you've had so much going on right now...and working full-time! Hang in there, get out during your day light hours (even for 15 minutes) and use basic deep breathing to relax in the moment. I have struggled with anxiety off and on for my entire life. When we hit those valleys it's easy to become overwhelmed. Sending positive thoughts and pryers your way!

My husband had his first DVT at 41 after several years of periodic leg pain, but the ultrasound not showing any clot!? Then he ended up with a pulmonary embolism!! Finally the blood work showed that he had 4 different clotting factors and so for the last 20 years he has been on Coumadin or Warfarin daily. Hopefully, yours is just due to the surgery and you will move quickly into a safe zone with your blood thinners!?

 

[sondrals]

I'm 41, I've never had any problems prior that I know of. I started back on my birth control pills about 3 weeks before this happened, so I'm kind wondering if that wasn't a contributing factor. I guess now I won't be able to take them at all, or at least they suggest I never take them again.

Today I'm pretty miserable, I hurt all over, my non-surgery leg is screaming because I'm no longer allowed to take ibuprofin, I can only take tylenol and it's not touching any of the pain what so ever.

My dr. gave me anti-anxiety meds but I went to pick them up and there's a huge red flag about increased risk of bleeding if you mix them with blood thinners. So now I don't know if I should take them at all, my dr. knew I was on the blood thinners and still gave me this but I don't want to assume it's ok without talking to him first.

My compression stockings make me miserable because they make my feet hot all the time and I hate having sweaty feet. They're also kind of slippery in my shoes and I have to really tighten up my shoes to get it to feel like my foot isn't sliding in there. I stuck another pair of socks over them but that just makes my foot even hotter. I'm about to cut the toes off them.

I'm glad today is Friday but honestly I don't have much to look forward to even if it is the weekend.

 

[sondrals]

Went to the store and did a little grocery shopping. Didn’t use my walker just pushed the cart and had my cane. My surgery leg felt pretty good but my other leg hates me now. I needed out of the house bad so it’s kinda worth it I think. Plus my bf was able to get the stuff to make moose enchiladas for dinner

 

[Celle]

I started back on my birth control pills about 3 weeks before this happened, so I'm kind wondering if that wasn't a contributing factor. I guess now I won't be able to take them at all, or at least they suggest I never take them again.

My dr. gave me anti-anxiety meds but I went to pick them up and there's a huge red flag about increased risk of bleeding if you mix them with blood thinners. So now I don't know if I should take them at all, my dr. knew I was on the blood thinners and still gave me this

I think you need to talk to your doctor about both these medication issues - as soon as possible.

 

[sondrals]

Well surgery is still scheduled for December 10th but I have quite a few hoops to jump through. Met with both my surgeon and his assistant today. They want me to have an ultrasound towards the end of November to check both legs and make sure my clot has resolved. If so, then they will switch my blood thinner a week before surgery and stop it a day prior then back on it after. My regular doctor apparently called my surgeon after I saw him last week and strongly suggested going forward if at all possible because of how bad my right knee is. But ultimately my health is #1 so it’s all dependent on that. To top everything off I tweaked my back this weekend so I’m beyond miserable. I went to my chiropractor today so I’m hoping that helps.

 

[Jockette]

 

[sondrals]

Got my ultrasound scheduled for November 25th, meet with my surgeon to discuss on the 27th. Skipped Pt this week and have gone to the chiropractor twice.

Found out not only did they do a replacement they did a lateral release which might explain the sore spot on the outside of my knee. Asked about my xrays because they look like my kneecap still isn’t really centered. They assure me “it’s in there and not going anywhere.” Guess I’m just a little paranoid.

Still pretty stressed out about the whole DVT thing. I also despise compression socks, they make my feet sweat and I hate sweaty feet. But I’m wearing them and ordered 2 more pairs from a company my PT recommended. They have short length which fits me better and doesn’t roll down.

able to walk to/from the bathroom at work without my cane as long as no one is watching. I get super self conscious when someone is. Still have a limp when I don’t use my cane but it's feeling stronger so hopefully that’s a good thing.

 

[Carole4815]

That's wonderful that you can walk short distances like that without your cane! What a wonderful milestone.

Also, compression socks that don't roll down sound like a very good find. Glad your kneecap is where it needs to be.

Sounds like things are looking up, at last.

 

[sondrals]

Not much new to report, still working on walking. It's getting easier but my hips are about 2 inches off from being level with my right leg being the way it is. So I have a hitch in my giddy-up.

Standing in one place is still difficult but if not for my right leg I feel I could do it a lot longer. Have been standing more to cook dinner and clean up after. Mostly my right leg starts bothering me before my surgery leg does.

I did go back to PT part time again, yesterday she taught me how to get up off the floor. She also had my kneel on my knee with a 3" foam pad under me. Talk about feeling weeeeeeird. Probably something I'd prefer not to do again anytime in the near future.

Still hate the compression socks, got fun colors, didn't make it much better, but at least I can have pink striped legs now.

Gotta take the pup for her shots tonight and this will be the first time at the vet since we had my boy put down so I look for that to be difficult emotionally.

Mostly I feel like I am in a holding pattern which is sort of depressing.

 

[newlybionic]

Hang in there. Your ultrasound is coming up on a couple of weeks and hopefully you get the go ahead for your right knee to be replaced. I know it's hard waiting but the time will hopefully go by quickly for you.

 

[sondrals]

@newlybionic - thanks, I'm trying. I'm just so frustrated with my progress. I really thought I'd be "all better by now."

I never expected to have one knee done let alone end up having to have both. I fight with being angry over no one ever listening to me before now, when it's too late to really do anything but replace them and feeling lucky I even have a chance to have them done.

 

[sistersinhim]

I fight with being angry over no one ever listening to me before now, when it's too late to really do anything but replace them and feeling lucky I even have a chance to have them done.

I went through that, too. When I was in my late 20s I was told I'd eventually have to have TKRs, that I'd have to be in my late 50s-60s before I could have them done. I went through 11 knee surgeries before my replacement. If they had replaced them before I'd had a lot of this surgery would I be better off? Who knows. What matters is now. Now, I can do things I hadn't been able to do for a long time, so I'm better off. Now, is what counts, not what ifs.

 

[luvcats]

It's getting easier but my hips are about 2 inches off from being level with my right leg being the way it is. So I have a hitch in my giddy-up.

I had a big problem with that between surgeries. I felt like I was walking like a zombie. lol

Standing in one place is still difficult but if not for my right leg I feel I could do it a lot longer.

I spent the time between surgeries perfecting my 'Flamingo Pose'. Not actually standing on one foot, but certainly putting almost all my body weight on the fixed one.

You might try some Gold Bond powder on your feet under the compression socks to help the sweaty feeling.

 

[sondrals]

I felt like I was walking like a zombie.

I feel like I have zombie leg when I first stand up. It's like it takes a second for my brain to recognize it's still there. We call it alien leg syndrome.

Not actually standing on one foot, but certainly putting almost all my body weight on the fixed one.

Weird thing is i STILL don't trust my surgery leg to put ALL my weight on it, so I spend a lot of time shifting back and forth and mini-pacing around. It works but people in line with me hate me I'm sure.

You might try some Gold Bond powder on your feet under the compression socks to help the sweaty feeling.

Thanks, I did try that, it worked for like an hour. A year ago I switched to one specific type of sock because my feet sweat so badly all the time, and it's really helped me not have wet feet all the time. They were the only socks that kept my feet dry. I'm tempted to cut the foot out of the compression stockings and just wear my normal socks but I'm a little afraid I'll end up with fat foot as a result.

 

[sondrals]

So how long until the swelling really goes away?

I can't decide if my legs are just fat (they are), if the ibuprofen I was taking for my right leg was inadvertently taking the swelling out of my surgery leg, or if my compression stockings are pushing the swelling up my leg into my knee.

It's not horrifically swelled or anything, it's just kind of a noticeable feeling lately.

 

[luvcats]

I'm tempted to cut the foot out of the compression stockings and just wear my normal socks but I'm a little afraid I'll end up with fat foot as a result.

Oh, yeah, don't do that. I did that for a different reason and it was a horrible mistake. Plus without the finishing details, the stockings roll like nobody's business giving a nice solid rubber band effect.

i STILL don't trust my surgery leg to put ALL my weight on it

Isn't that weird? I spend so much time freaking out because 'straight' felt like hyperextension to me after so many years of not-straight. Have you tried doing some focused exercises on that

She also had my kneel on my knee with a 3" foam pad under me.

I'm pretty sure that this is absolutely not recommended so soon after surgery. But have you done balance training with the gel pad? That might help you with the emotional part of learning to trust the new knee.

I find that the visible difference between having the compression stockings on my fat legs to the knee, makes my knees look even huge-er. lol Even before surgery came in to play. I've been wearing compression stockings for years to moderate swelling issues. So while there may still be swelling as well, it might just be compression vs not.

 

[Sara61]

@Sondra I couldn't wait to get out of my full length compression stockings stockings but fast forward 4 days and I have reverted to using my old half leg stocking it really helps with the swelling.
My stockings have an opening at the toes so I always wear them with mini socks - they were prescribed when I had varicose vein surgery - ask your pharmacy as they are quite comfy to wear have them in flesh colour so not too noticeable either under jeans gives the leg a nice shape too
I have been told that the reason the toes are open is so that it is possible to wear flip flops in the hotter months

 

[sondrals]

I'm pretty sure that this is absolutely not recommended so soon after surgery.

yeah. I won’t be doing it again but it was in response to my request to learn how to get up off the floor. There’s gotta be a better way than that though.

But have you done balance training with the gel pad?

I have been doing balance training on a bosu ball and this platform thing that tips back and forth. It’s helped some.

I find that the visible difference between having the compression stockings on my fat legs to the knee, makes my knees look even huge-er.

yeah my knee looks huger, maybe because my calf is smaller looking from the compression?? It’s weird though because I didn’t think I had much swelling in my lower legs, maybe I was wrong

 

[sondrals]

@Sara61 i think I might try to find toeless ones. I despise my toes being too hot, I actually think they company I ordered from has them but I thought these would be easier. Turns out I end up wearing my shortie socks over them anyways because I don’t like how slick they are