TKR Still Disabled-That's How it Feels

[newlybionic]

I'm so sorry that you have to deal with the knee pain. I hope Jo can help you find someone to help you. That just doesn't look right to me.

 

[little red canoe]

Clearly a new doc is needed. That was my stance before surgery.. I suggest not worrying about offending the surgeon.

 

[Judlepip]

My original surgeon was Mr Jeer (I believe you knew of him @Josephine) and at the Horder I saw a Mr Butler-Manuel (actually a distant 'relative' of mine! [Niece's brother-in-law])

 

[Josephine]

Thanks @Jamie - I remember that now but it's a good confirmation of our 'only one recovery thread' policy in here as had we merged them, I would have checked back and seen it.

Parminder Jeer in the year April 2014- March 2015 did 238 TKRs and 14 revisions. This is a low number of revisions considering the number of primaries he's done which leads me to suppose that he only does his own and doesn't take referrals from other surgeons.
Peter Butler-Manuel in that year did 174 TKRs, 80 PKRs and 35 revisions which was a goodly amount but I would suspect he also doesn't take referrals.

However, I am shocked that Butler-Manuel declined to consider a revision given his experience and I'd love to know the reasons he gave for this. Do you know, Judles? Are you willing to seek another opinion? Are you willing to travel for it? If so, I'll do dome research and see what/who I can find.

 

[Jamie]

@Judlepip ... please consider Jo's offer to help you find someone else to take a look at your knee. I am serious when I say...NEVER give up!! I know it's tough, time consuming and frustrating to have to keep readdressing your knee problems with new people, but the rewards when you find the right doctor can be so worth it! Hang in there....I'm rooting for you!!!

 

[Judlepip]

@Josephine, I wonder if you'd give me more information on your recovery. For example, can you now get down onto the floor (should you wish to!) and having done so, can you get up again? Do you suffer any pain from your replacements? I find that I have grown accustomed to the, not dreadful, (possibly even minimal?), pain I have and my main problem (and complaint) is not being able to bend, get down, rise etc without significant help. The thought of starting the rounds again is certainly daunting and I feel too old and tired to undertake it. However, if I thought it might enable me to bend, get down and up again, I would be considering it. I cannot, simply cannot, (without calling for help) get up again should I be daft enough to sit on the floor! I have to use a disabled loo (loo for disabled!!) when out and about, as cannot rise from crouching (to wee) without the help of a rail. I do wonder if Mr Jeer managed to sever an important nerve/ligament in my thigh.

Mr Butler-Manuel (Adrian I thought?) wrote to my GP following my appointment with him and he said; 'She has a slight valgus deformity compared to the R side, but I consider this to be within normal limits. I have reassured her that there is no major problem with the knee replacement. I have strongly advised her against considering revision surgery.'

Mr Jerome Davidson Specialist Registrar to Prof Briggs, suggested a CT alignment scan to check rotation profile of the implant. However, he also said that 'even if we consider resurfacing of patella, assuming she has high signal on bone scan, this may or may not improve her symptoms'. This was in June 2015 and it was after that that I decided 'enough is enough'. On reading back over all my old letters, I think I still go with that - 'enough is enough'.

I am grateful to you all for your concern and interest, but unless further surgery would improve my bending etc as above, I really feel too old to go there! I have come to the opinion that pain is personal. What seems bad to me may well be insignificant to others. I can walk, mainly without a stick, and I can do my 'walk-aerobics', but less frequently. But, I would so like to do yoga and if I can get there, I'll take it!!

 

[Pumpkin]

I thought it might enable me to bend, get down and up again,

Judlepip,
Find a PT, trainer, anyone with training in movement education to show you how to get up and down off the floor, and sit to/from stand.

 

[tiptonits]

Mr Jerome Davidson Specialist Registrar to Prof Briggs, suggested a CT alignment scan to check rotation profile of the implant. However, he also said that 'even if we consider resurfacing of patella, assuming she has high signal on bone scan, this may or may not improve her symptoms'.

1st comment is I think these people on this site are some of the kindest, most helpful human beings I have ever come across. Judlepip needs help and she has obviously turned to the right group of people. You guys are saints.
2nd comment: @Judlepip: at the end of this comment is what I would give much consideration to as you make your decision. That doctor says "...resurfacing of patella.... this may or may not improve her symptoms"; to me your symptoms sound severe enough to give this chance a very serious consideration. If I could not get up and down on my own without a great deal of pain - I would not stop until they fixed it. I definitely would not live the rest of my life like that. I urge you to keep trying until you get out of the pain you are in. Good luck to you, Judlepip. And I do not care if you are 95 or 105 - you do not deserve to live a life of pain.

 

[Josephine]

at the end of this comment is what I would give much consideration to as you make your decision. That doctor says "...resurfacing of patella.... this may or may not improve her symptoms"; to me your symptoms sound severe enough to give this chance a very serious consideration.

@tiptonits This will most certainly NOT improve her symptoms as this is not her problem. She has a seriously malaligned leg, you can see that from the photo that Jamie posted earlier.

Josephine, for example, can you now get down onto the floor (should you wish to!) and having done so, can you get up again?

No I cannot as superficially the skin on my knees is too sore and painful. I'm not enough of a masochist to even try!

Do you suffer any pain from your replacements?

From the replacements, none at all.

However, if I thought it (a revision) might enable me to bend, get down and up again, I would be considering it.

No-one can outright promise you that, I'm afraid.

I do wonder if Mr Jeer managed to sever an important nerve/ligament in my thigh.

That's not even a possibility. Your symptoms would be quite different such as a dropped foot or a dead area in your leg.

I do think you owe yourself at least one more opinion. A specialist registrar is not one whose opinion I would take to be the definitive, end of conversation opinion. He's not TKR specialist. I would have wanted to see the man himself!

 

[tiptonits]

@tiptonits This will most certainly NOT improve her symptoms as this is not her problem. She has a seriously malaligned leg, you can see that from the photo that Jamie posted earlier.

My sincerest apologies.

 

[Jamie]

@Judlepip.....I do hope you'll let Jo recommend someone else to talk to....someone who is really an expert in these matters. Even if you have to drive a bit, I would think the peace of mind of knowing real options would be helpful for you.

I have to tell you that I can get down on the floor and back up. It's not always too pretty because of my hip joints and the fact that I'm overweight. But the leg strength and knee flexibility are there. Like Jo says, there are no guarantees. It's a decision you have to make for yourself. But to me it's better to have ALL the facts before trying to decide.

Just ask and I'm sure Jo will give you a name or two to contact.

 

[Judlepip]

Hello all. I've been in London for a delightful break - on my own overnight in club (Union Jack Club) and just general relaxation. However, this means that I haven't been able to see your kind comments until now. I listen and hear all that you wisely say. I'm debating!

P.S. @Josephine. I too would have preferred to see the man himself and I actually asked - but no, I was allocated the Registrar - very qualified and extremely nice however.

 

[Celle]

@Judlepip
I'm sorry you've had such a long, hard journey.

Don't give up, though. You're too young to give up because you feel old. I'm the same age as you and I wouldn't accept being told nothing can be done.

My mother had her second TKR when she was 85 and it gave her back enough mobility to do the things she wanted to, without pain.

 

[Josephine]

I too would have preferred to see the man himself and I actually asked - but no, I was allocated the Registrar - very qualified and extremely nice however.

I actually had the same treatment. I wanted to see Prof Briggs about something (can't even remember what it was now! Must have been really important!) but I only got to see the Reg. As nice and as experienced as they are, they're still not the head honcho! That's the shame about the RNOH - the bosses are all too busy doing admin work or giving talks all over the place to do clinics.

Let me know if you want me to sus out someone for you.