TKR TRKR 10/13/23 - Moving Forward with Many Detours

[Jockette]

I fell last year and landed hard on my PKR leg. Granted, I was almost 6 years post op, not 5 months like you, but in my case, it was all soft tissue soreness. I did have a lot of pain, swelling, and bruising. (and due to swelling I lost a lot of ROM!) I waited about a week and a half before I went to an Ortho urgent care facility for X-rays, which were fine. I saw an Ortho surgeon a couple of weeks after that and no tests were ordered, or needed. It took 2 months before I was generally back to normal. These injuries can take quite a while to heal, so be prepared for that possibility. I’m sorry this happened to you.

 

[dubloosh]

I fell last year and landed hard on my PKR leg. Granted, I was almost 6 years post op, not 5 months like you, but in my case, it was all soft tissue soreness. I did have a lot of pain, swelling, and bruising. (and due to swelling I lost a lot of ROM!) I waited about a week and a half before I went to an Ortho urgent care facility for X-rays, which were fine. I saw an Ortho surgeon a couple of weeks after that and no tests were ordered, or needed. It took 2 months before I was generally back to normal. These injuries can take quite a while to heal, so be prepared for that possibility. I’m sorry this happened to you.

Thank you. I'm sorry you were injured and glad your PKR was intact. Thank you for sharing your painful experience. I'd thought about going to Urgent Care yet it's farther than the hospital, and I wanted to document this for building management. He hit my left knee, the good one. I feel pain in that leg’s quad muscle when I do leg lifts. You’re right, it's probably muscular and will take time to settle. I don’t think it needs an MRI and am grateful no skin was broken. I'm a mess this morning. Odd thing is, I know him. He's disabled and fell numerous times, he and his wife said, so last winter I began helping them around the house for pay. I stopped after a few weeks as it was affecting my knee, which had started to become more painful. Doing my best to walk heel toe, heel toe.

 

[MSuki]

The same accident could have felt completely different had he been apologetic and concerned. Sorry this happened and that this guy was such a jerk about it. I see people walking backwards not looking but on a scooter he can really hurt someone. You will need to rest more and take care of yourself until this heals.

 

[dubloosh]

Monday, Monday. Thank you for your support and suggestions and for sharing your experiences,

Today the op knee is the good one. No steps for a while; I feel humbled. My surgeon replied and said it could be a strain. I'll wait it out and hope it resolves on its own. It's been two months since the PT session, and the patella on my op knee isn't hurting as much. Wish I'd never seen the MRI report. Tomorrow is the new surgeon, who may want to see the other knee; I'll tell him it happened at an earlier time and is healing. Sitting here typing I'd never know the left leg was rammed and am very grateful it missed my knee.

 

[dubloosh]

The same accident could have felt completely different had he been apologetic and concerned. Sorry this happened and that this guy was such a jerk about it. I see people walking backwards not looking but on a scooter he can really hurt someone. You will need to rest more and take care of yourself until this heals.

Thank you. I was thinking the same. Scooters have brakes. I'm glad other people were there to see and hear what happened.

 

[Layla]

I am so sorry to read of your accident. It is extra sad that your neighbor reacted in such a negative way given the support you've offered him in the past. That had to be hurtful in addition to the physical pain you're dealing with. I do hope the pain resolves soon and I wish you all the best for your visit with the surgeon tomorrow.
Happy Monday!
@dubloosh

 

[dubloosh]

I am so sorry to read of your accident. It is extra sad that your neighbor reacted in such a negative way given the support you've offered him in the past. That had to be hurtful in addition to the physical pain you're dealing with. I do hope the pain resolves soon and I wish you all the best for your visit with the surgeon tomorrow.
Happy Monday!
@dubloosh

Thank you so much. I didn't expect his reaction. We'll see what if anything the management says. I was wondering if I should keep the appointment as he may ask to see my other knee, which is pretty colorful. My current surgeon said it could be a strain. Should I see him or ask the new surgeon about it?

 

[Layla]

As long as you already have an appointment with the new surgeon tomorrow, ask him about it and see what he says, then go from there. I have the impression your current surgeon isn't too concerned if all he said was that he suspects it's a strain and to wait it out. Let us know how your appointment goes tomorrow.
@dubloosh

 

[Jamie]

I agree with Layla that it’s best to keep your appointment. No reason to delay the idea of a second opinion and it may even be helpful for him to have a look at your injured leg, bruises and all.

It may be possible that this man has some cognitive issues that enter into this situation. Inappropriate responses like he had (especially to someone he actually knows on a personal basis) can be a part of dementia. I’m not saying this is the case, but it could be something to consider in how you react to his comments and behavior. It sounds like he shouldn’t be out and about on that scooter without a companion to remind him of proper scooter etiquette. Backing into an elevator is the way to do it….always.

 

[dubloosh]

@Layla and @Jamie You're both right that I should keep the appointment. I shall. He may want records from the hospital as he's with another group and may offer treatment (PT) for both the op knee and the injured one. I’ll certainly post about the appointment afterward.

The man is an attorney, I think a retired judge, and lives with his wife of 60-some years. They're in their 80s; she uses a cane and no longer drives. That he said "I have trouble making turns" is no excuse. There is etiquette in using mobility aides. Hopefully management will handle that part. I understand about inappropriate responses; my late parents had varying stages of dementia as they aged. Though I fell and was injured it could have been worse. I'm grateful it wasn't. Maybe the comfrey will work on this knee, too. Going to try it.

 

[Jockette]

may offer treatment (PT) for both the op knee and the injured one.

I didn’t need any PT after my fall, and the recovery that followed it. I rested it, iced (only a little as I really don‘t icing ) and elevated, a lot, and did my ADLs as I was able, and did more as I healed. The ortho I saw after the fall never even suggested PT.

 

[dubloosh]

may offer treatment (PT) for both the op knee and the injured one.

I didn’t need any PT after my fall, and the recovery that followed it. I rested it, iced (only a little as I really don‘t icing ) and elevated, a lot, and did my ADLs as I was able, and did more as I healed. The ortho I saw after the fall never even suggested PT.

That's good to know as right know I can barely lift my left leg to walk. Ice makes it sting so I have heat on it now. You were right, too, that bruises can appear later; my knee is very colorful now. Pain has moved up to a few inches below where my leg meets my torso. I thought I was doing OK today and don't know why my thigh hurts when my knee took the brunt of that bleeping scooter. I'm surprised my surgeon showed little interest and am going to ask him a simple question about heat or ice and what to do. There is a process for terminating a patient that includes referring the patient for continuing care, especially in early post op recovery.

 

[Jockette]

don't know why my thigh hurts when my knee took the brunt of that bleeping scooter.

Your whole leg, and probably your whole body, felt the jolt. My pain increased each day for the first few days. I was concerned about a minor fracture. When my son was in high school he got slammed into a padded gym wall, playing basketball, and broke the smaller of the 2 bones in his lower leg. Because it was not the bigger bone, he was still able to walk on it, though painfully, which is why we didn’t suspect a break. So, this is what I thought might have happened to me when I fell. My swelling took quite a while to go down, and the bruises lasted for weeks.

 

[Jamie]

Many times insurance gurus recommend that you never sign off on any injury documents for a while because they know that the results can take a week or more to materialize. I think Jockette is right that you may continue to experience changes in pain levels and locations.

 

[dubloosh]

don't know why my thigh hurts when my knee took the brunt of that bleeping scooter.

Your whole leg, and probably your whole body, felt the jolt. My pain increased each day for the first few days. I was concerned about a minor fracture. When my son was in high school he got slammed into a padded gym wall, playing basketball, and broke the smaller of the 2 bones in his lower leg. Because it was not the bigger bone, he was still able to walk on it, though painfully, which is why we didn’t suspect a break. So, this is what I thought might have happened to me when I fell. My swelling took quite a while to go down, and the bruises lasted for weeks.

I'm sorry that happened to your son. Good thing he didn't break his femur. All pain is internal. Boy, I haven't given my op knee a thought today. I'm sure this will hurt for a long time.

 

[dubloosh]

Many times insurance gurus recommend that you never sign off on any injury documents for a while because they know that the results can take a week or more to materialize. I think Jockette is right that you may continue to experience changes in pain levels and locations.

I agree. It's tricky walking so I don't waddle or limp. Tomorrow's another good day to stay home and finish the online defensive driving course while elevating my leg. Surgeon appointment at 11 a.m.

 

[dubloosh]

Good morning and good news this morning. Though it's raining and damp, and my op knee is swollen, I did leg slides easily and felt no pain in my hamstrings. No pain at the bottom of my kneecap, either. I wonder if stopping PT helped and if maybe my surgeon was right. Still, the patellar tendonosis indicated on the MRI report worries me. I'll post again after I see the new surgeon.

Adding: left leg (the one hit by the runaway motorized scooter) is less painful today, and the waddle is gone.

 

[dubloosh]

Terrific visit with this surgeon. I'd taken OTC pain meds at 7 a.m., and they were still working when I saw him. He asked my pain level; it was about 4 to 5. I bent my op knee, and he said I have good ROM and measured it: 117. My xrays from early January and the MRI from end of January look good; he discussed the inflammation present in the MRI. My surgeon told me there would be inflammation yet didn't explain the patellar tendonosis. He did and said it's simply inflammation, thus the reason for stopping PT. My surgeon was right, and I made a fuss for nothing. I thought patellar tendonosis needed treatment; he said no, it needs rest. He asked me to lift the op leg and said I have weak quads, then gave me a prescription for PT to strengthen them. He also praised my surgeon's skills and said the implant is perfect. It's been suggested I do not need to tell my surgeon about this visit. Since I agree with resuming PT, and especially if I plan to switch doctors, then I want to be honest. If my surgeon doesn't agree about PT, he said he'd be happy to care for me. While he said he doesn't know my surgeon, he's heard the name.

 

[Jamie]

It’s certainly your choice whether you talk about the second opinion appointment with your current surgeon. Do what feels most comfortable for you. I’m glad to hear the second surgeon was willing to accept you as a patient. I’d say do some thinking about which doctor is the best fit for you and go with that. Glad to hear things are better today.

 

[dubloosh]

It’s certainly your choice whether you talk about the second opinion appointment with your current surgeon. Do what feels most comfortable for you. I’m glad to hear the second surgeon was willing to accept you as a patient. I’d say do some thinking about which doctor is the best fit for you and go with that. Glad to hear things are better today.

Thank you. I emailed my surgeon, who called me tonight. I told him about the visit and PT, and he explained about quads and weakness. My legs do not buckle, I can walk straight (he asks to see how I walk), and said PT would do more harm than good now. After a setback my knee feels like it did in early January prior to starting PT. You're right about giving this a lot of thought.