Revision TKR Totally recovered at last!

[Josephine]

When my OS did my revision he said he found pieces of cement free floating in the knee as well as the poorly tracking patella.

Well if he did find fragments of free cement in your knee, he left them there! Same with the patellar tracking.

He also said I had a lot of scar tissue.

Hmm .... US surgeons and PTs are so quick to call anything and everything 'scar tissue' but I very much doubt it.

I was wondering if I would be more likely to have scar tissue with this surgery.

I doubt it.

Do I need to do something post op this time?

Yes, NO EXERCISING!!

Was the scar tissue caused by the extra cement and the patella?

Of course not!

 

[Wanttobebiking]

Glad to hear things are improving. You sound good given what you have been through. Just think, in a couple of days the first week will be behind you! Hoping it is mostly if not all uphill from here!

 

[newlybionic]

@Josephine The OS that did my revision was NOT the original OS. I'm trying to do a few exercises but very slowly and only a few at a time. I'm trying to get a handle on controlling the pain and nausea first. I've almost have it under control. I'm definitely in a much better place this time than I was after the first surgery.

 

[Josephine]

I'm trying to do a few exercises but very slowly and only a few at a time.

No, not even that much!

 

[Glamg1979]

@smarttoys that is how it is done here in Florida, home of the former pill mills. Hubby did the inform me that he could pick up my Rx as long as he has ID. But Mayo Clinic will not mail to pharmacy. Guess it depends what on where you live and how accommodating your Dr is.

 

[momweb]

Marian, sounds like you are making small strides. Sorry about your headache which I hope goes away soon. It's so hard to feel better when the head hurts. Try and have a decent weekend. Thinking about you.

 

[skigirl]

I had my doctor mail the scripts to me. That way I did not have to pick them up. You still have to take them to the pharmacy, but no will have to drive an hour to get them this way.

 

[skigirl]

My doctor told me that if you exercise a swollen and inflamed (hot to the touch) knee, you will be more likely for the scar tissue to grow again. I was really careful after my second surgery---I did leg lifts, heel slides, clam shells, but I was very gentle and careful until the knee was not swollen. Then, I began to work or regaining strength. I ended up with a very good rom, so I think you are doing well. Gentle is the operative word, be nice to yourself right now and walk, do gentle stretching and most of all elevate to get rid of the swelling.

Elevating your leg to control swelling and pain
Using ice

 

[Glamg1979]

So happy you are doing better than the first time around, that is definitely good news!
I finally am starting to calm down and feeling ready for 2nd surgery.

 

[newlybionic]

@Glamg1979 Im sure you will do very well. We all know so much more the second time around. I wanted to laugh when the second day out from surgery the PT was already threatening a MUA. So silly! I know to be in charge of my own therapy this time.
My 3 girls and my 2 sons-in-law will be coming out for Easter dinner. I'm feeling ok but I just am eating bland foods so I don't take any chances. I really would love a big salad but since I'm on Coumadin that's something I'm not supposed to have as well as my favorite vegetable spinach. O well. It's only a couple of weeks.

 

[KarriB]

Enjoy your family Sunday, even though you can't enjoy dinner. You're right, it is just a few weeks and think if how you'll be feeling in a few weeks.

 

[newlybionic]

I want to wish everyone a ice Easter Sunday. Thanks to all your well wishes and prayers I can't believe how well I'm doing compared to my last surgery even though this was a bit tougher and longer surgery. My pain is fairly under control and I do have a bit of nausea but not too bad. The Zofran is helping. I'm still in search of the elusive poop fairy but I haven't found him as of yet. I'm sure he'll make his presence known soon. After tomorrow I'll be on my own. I'm not very worried about that. Supposedly the home health company wants to come out 5 days a week until 4/13 when I go back to my OS for my first check up. I don't think that's going to happen if anyone even touches my knee. They have to do blood work on Monday and Thursday for the blood thinner so I'm only held to that.

 

[KarriB]

Have you tried Miralax yet?
Have a wonderful Easter, Marian, with your girls gathered round! So happy to hear you're feeling better.

 

[Glamg1979]

Happy Easter Marian! I am so glad to hear you are doing better this time. I echo KarriB's suggestion of MiraLax. It works in a big way!!! They gave it to me twice in the hospital and tried to cancel PT because of my 5 hurried trips to the bathroom . Wow......make sure your path to the bathroom is clear!

 

[newlybionic]

I didn't have any miralax but I used a dose of exlax and late Saturday night made a visit to my house! O the little things that mean so much to me. I'm taking stool softeners twice a day too. PT came today and I LOVE her! We did some easy exercises and walked around my house. My shin is hurting a lot and my hamstrings are very tight. At the end of my session she actually gave me a massage that helped to make my entire leg so much better. She tried some very gentle stretches. She said I look about 0 and 90 already!!! I was 5 and 95 before the revision. She had to check my blood for my warfarin dose and my doctor's office called me 5 minutes after she called in the result. All I can say is WOW to everything. The hospital also called me and answered any questions I had and asked for any suggestions I had. The hospital only has 25 to 30 beds and they are all ortho. If I ever need my other knee done in the future I wouldn't even be worried about having it done there. May everyone else have a good experience with their surgery.

 

[sistersinhim]

What a wonderful report! All the prayers worked! Take your time and heal yourself on your knee's schedule.

 

[JLP]

My shin is also periodically sore. I have a very long stem too, at least halfway down my tibia. Mine was not a revision, I had avascular necrosis and the dead bone could not be removed so the long post was necessary. The pain in my shin comes and goes but it does seem to lessening up a bit.

 

[newlybionic]

@JLP I had pain in my shin last time too even though it was a regular length stem. This time it is bothering almost all the way down. It's night a really sharp pain usually but a dull throbbing one. I know it will eventually lessen. I'm a week out and I've already am starting to walk and forgetting my walker!

 

[MezRebuilt]

With my health I'm on a lot of medication 3 of which are controlled drugs. I was the opposite because I've become so used to them and I know addicted even taking the doses prescribed. It is something I want to address at times I'm not sure if it's meds or physical pain I'm suffering maybe both.
I was thinking that @newlybionic if you couldn't take them orally one of the thugs that got me back on my feet after two years being bedridden was fentanyl patches that I change every 72hrs. Absorbed through skin.

I do hope that during your time back at work that during your 10 hrs you will be able to rest your knee at some point good luck I know depression only too well and pain is something that helps induce it.
Good luck and at least you can Come home and log into friends and fellow post ops in the same boat.

 

[newlybionic]

@MezRebuilt I saw both my psychologist and my psychiatrist shortly before my revision. My psychiatrist allows me to text her whenever I need her and I can leave a message for my psychologist and he will get back to me within 24 hours. I am also on other meds that make some pain meds less effective but all my doctors understand what I may need. I was so very lucky that even my short term disability was approved for 75% of my pay up until June 18th! It wasn't clear at first whether I would get it. If I keep going the way I am I might even be able to go back to work part time earlier in June. I don't even have to worry about it right now. Thanks for the info about the patches.