Knee Infection* TKR Infection 2 Years Out

[TKRsharon]

HI @ Murphy2013
I sent several emails back and forth to his office yesterday to find out what his reasons were for not giving me the script. The responses I got were that he does not prescribe them and finally she told me she's " just relaying information" from the doctor. It is very frustrating! I am going to ask my GP today if he will give me a script. If not, I will buy one out of pocket, which seems so unreasonable since my insurance covers it. My OS is a brute and I can not stand him! As soon as I am healed, I am going to find another OS.

 

[TKRsharon]

@TinAB My last PT was about a week ago and I decided not to go back until I am strong enough and healed enough to work on strength. I did ask about working on gait and was told that was not necessary! I do not like how my leg "clunks" forward when I walk and have to make a conscious effort to place my foot correctly and walk with longer strides. At that time my ROM was 113 degrees and almost 0. I take walks around the house and when we had a couple of nice days with no ice, I walked outside. Doing heel slides and working on quads, nothing crazy. Yes, I am still sore and have pain, but I feel I am in MUCH better shape than after a PT session. I hope I am making a good decision. How are you doing? Thank you for sharing your recovery with me. Be well

 

[Jockette]

I do not like how my leg "clunks" forward when I walk and have to make a conscious effort to place my foot correctly and walk with longer strides.

The clunk is very common and may go away in time, or at least get less noticeable. I’m sure it’s very annoying! I did not have that with my partial.
Here’s an article about the clicking:
https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/clicking-clunking-knee-joint-after-surgery.13534/

I didn’t do anything more than try to walk heel to toe, and I didn’t do that consistently in the early days, and as I healed my gait sorted itself out. I know longer strides are recommended, and works for others, but I had trouble doing that.

Your ROM is coming along fine and your quad strength will return as you heal and are able to do more. I had no PT after 8 weeks, and the last 4 of those weeks I only went twice and didn’t do everything they told me. The gentle exercises you are doing now are fine. Don’t stress about doing too much or too little. As long as your knee gets movement, you’ll heal fine, but it’s going to take a while. Complete healing takes an average of a year.

 

[sistersinhim]

Yes, I am still sore and have pain, but I feel I am in MUCH better shape than after a PT session. I hope I am making a good decision.

You are doing just fine without PT. Those of us who never took any PT or did extra exercises know that a person can recovery just fine with doing them. Enjoy your new knee and treat it like you love it.

 

[FCBayern]

Add me to the list of those that did VERY little PT and just let activities of daily life be my rehab @TKRsharon. I couldn't be happier with my shiny custom after market hip!

 

[Bon Pecheur]

I took a more hybrid approach. I am 4 weeks out and just started formal PT today. Prior to that I iced, elevated, and walked, walked, and walked. I am lucky to have a PT who's philosophy is challenge yourself but not to the point of pain. I really think it comes down to listening to your own body and one size PT doesn't fit all.

 

[TKRsharon]

@Bon Pecheur -Thank you for sharing your experience so far. I hope you are healing and doing better each day.

 

[TKRsharon]

I had a few days where I felt things were getting better. It is 3:47 am and I am in so much pain. I had a rough day too and I elevated and iced all day, with a few short walks in between. Saturday was the same. I am not sure what I did to cause his setback - I thought maybe the weather? I guess his can happen without a clear explanation? I continue to take Tylenol around the clock. I actually had a glimmer of hope that things would get better, but now I am back to where I was. It is hard to discuss with anyone as I cry so easily and feel so defeated. I am just at the 12 week mark and wonder if I will ever be ok and happy. I see the doctor next week but I do not think he will be of much help. I am considering finding another OS if someone will see me after surgery, I need reassurance that I am on a path to healing. I am sorry to complain but this has been so difficult and I feel lost.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Recovery is a roller coaster ride, and 12 weeks is early days (yes I know, it feels like an eternity).

You will recover with time. Rest, Ice & Elevation will help, but to coin a cliche time is the great healer. You ARE on a path to healing.

 

[TKRsharon]

@Roy Gardiner Thanks Roy for the encouragement. I have to ask though, do you think it's "normal" at 12 weeks to still have such pain and tightness crop up? My friends all seem so surprised that I am having difficulty at this point, and I have to admit, at times, ( a lot), it makes me feel like there is something wrong with me. I know this is not easily answered, but will I ever be ok and NOT have to think about my leg and how everything will affect it? Thank you for your time.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

My friends all seem so surprised that I am having difficulty at this point

How many of them are (a) people who have had a TKR (b) orthopaedic surgeons (c) qualified physiotherapists?

Thought not.

it makes me feel like there is something wrong with me

With whom?

 

[Jockette]

My friends all seem so surprised that I am having difficulty at this point, and I have to admit, at times, ( a lot), it makes me feel like there is something wrong with me.

I can so relate to this as I felt the same way in my recovery. I live in a 55+ community and there have been many knee replacements before me. People must really forget what their recoveries were like because some people made me feel like a failure. I have a rather sensitive personality, so it doesn’t take much to defeat me, especially with those inevitable post op blues raging.

I had a partial and believed that I would have the “quicker/easier” recovery I had heard about, which didn’t happen, so it was a double whammy!

My whole first year was difficult with set backs and poor ROM, and worry and stress over the difficulty and poor ROM. It was a vicious cycle.

It’s been almost 4 years now, and I have healed and gotten on with my life. My ROM is way better than it was that first year. So, try really hard not to worry, it’s really going to be ok.

 

[sistersinhim]

It's amazing how many people will comment on our replacement recovery and they've never had one. There is nothing else like this recovery. For me, it was worse than childbirth because the intense pain for the knee recovery lasted weeks not just hours.

Try not to listen to people who discourage you and let their comments just go in one ear and out the other. Everybody's knee is different and thus their recovery is different. Up and down pain is normal for at least 6 months. It will become less intense, of course, but your knee will let you know that it is still healing.

 

[Jockette]

It's amazing how many people will comment on our replacement recovery and they've never had one.

My problem was the comments were coming from those who’d had a TKR, so they should have been more compassionate.

 

[TKRsharon]

Thank you @Jockette and @sistersinhim for the reassurance. I will try not to let it get to me. Like you Jockette, I am also sensitive and take it all to heart. And yes, most of these people never had TKR surgery, (which can not even compare to childbirth!) I had a better day today, but am always waiting for the other "shoe" to drop.Compassion is something more people need to practice. I also can not stand when people feel compelled to tell you their horror stories or the stories of people they know. People should just listen and if they want, ask if there is anything you can do to help.But mean it.

 

[TKRsharon]

@Roy Gardiner Most, if not all have NOT had the surgery!

 

[Jockette]

I think the stress from other people, including my medical team, was the worse part of my recovery.

 

[sistersinhim]

I think the stress from other people, including my medical team, was the worse part of my recovery.

Having been blessed with having a surgeon that wasn't concerned with my ROM or whether or not I took PT, I wasn't stressed out there. What got to me was people telling me I had to do my exercises or asked if I was doing them. I'd just smile and nod my head.

I believe the majority of the people don't know what to say so they say what they think will encourage you. Little do they know that it works the opposite way.

I had a better day today, but am always waiting for the other "shoe" to drop.

The key to not letting that other shoe drop is to not overdo it on those days that you are feeling better, thus creating your own pain. Just do a little bit more and see how your knee reacts.

 

[TKRsharon]

@Jockette Most times I can't figure out what I did that would cause the pain and swelling. I try to balance my activities. If I run into Trader Joe's for 10 minutes, I won't take an additional walk. But on that day, I was in agony at night. Maybe carrying the package did me in? Hope there is a day when I won't have to critically analyze very step I take. Leg is very tight today. I have not been to PT in 2 weeks. I am tempted to go just to check ROM even though I know that is not necessary.


I hope everyone is doing well. I love reading your stories and hopefully I can help with my experiences as I have been helped.

 

[sistersinhim]

Maybe carrying the package did me in? Hope there is a day when I won't have to critically analyze every step I take.

Yes, adding the extra weight while you are walking will definitely anger your knee. I found that out the hard way. Everything will be a trial and error as you heal, but the day will come when you won't have to worry about every little thing you do!