Bonnie,
@RunA42K
I stayed up all night reading your thread! Could not put it down. Your journey easily ranks up there as one of the most inspiring of all time. Your “ tag line” says it all - you are truly an example of a “ Never give up” attitude in living your best possible life.
One thing has not been clear to me as I approached near the end of your postings: do you credit most of your difficulties previously ( repeated scar tissue , etc.) to a metal allergy and is your last revision successful because of a specialized implant that addressed your allergy ?
Or do you attribute it to the water therapy mostly?
Or maybe both of the above as well as that amazing attitude of “ not settling”.
Would you feel free to say the name of your last surgeon and if he is also in Texas? I am in Pittsburgh, but I swear st this point I am ready to go just about anywhere if I can get a revision that will help me this time.
Also : how do you personally come down on the place of physical therapy in recuperation? What is “ too much” and what is “ too little”.
Would be very interested in your answers!
And CONGRATULATIONS on a job well done!
Kathy0427
@Kathy0427 Hello Kathy, please forgive my late reply, as I have not been on Bonesmart for quite some time...but that means that I am doing well and just living life. I am sure by now that you’ve addressed any issues with a new doctor and it is too late for any help from mine but if it does help anyone else out there I thought I should answer you albeit late.
I credit most of my difficulties due to the metal allergy. The scar tissue growth was off the charts when I had nickel replacements and then of course every time I’d have another surgery that would spur more scar tissue growth. Kinda like the dog chasing it’s tail.
Water therapy helped me tremendously early on when traditional Physical Therapy left me stuck and not going any further but even with water therapy my knee eventually has settled in with only 90 degrees ROM and sometimes I have to push to get to 90, but I can do it.
My surgeons name is Dr. Robin Goytia with Texas Orthopedic Hospital here in Houston, Texas. I have met many people over time since 2015 who were having significant problems and referred them to Dr. Goytia, and they’ve had surgery performed by him with good outcomes. He fixes problems!!
I still deal with the leg length difference that I was given with my 1st revision. Hip aching, back hurting, buying shoes one size too big so I can wear a lift inside the left shoe, and if the shoe is not deep enough it hurts by big toenail. But I am doing the best that I can with what I have got and it is not in my nature to ever give up.
I will keep doing 1/2 marathons as long as I am able. Since the last revision in 2015 I’ve done about 10 1/2 marathons and one full marathon (my 25th). I have another to do on January 19, 2020. My biggest fear in life is falling down on my TKR knee because if my knee does not bend, will I break my femur or tear off my quad muscle? I try to be as careful as I can during my races.
I have an OS who I see for my real knee. He told me a year ago that no doubt I’d need it replaced in 10 years or less. He’s done snyvisc injections on that knee and PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) and that has given me new life. It works!! I find that using a CBD balm topically on both of my knees does wonders.
I guess that if I end up with another knee replacement then you will see me on here all the time again!
@Jamie, thank you for opening up my thread again. I’ll try and do better with checking in.
Love to all my old friends on here and to the new friends that I have not met just yet! ♥