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

[dubloosh]

Time will be the best thing to take care of that crinkling sound. It’s pretty typical with knees. Don’t try to exercise it away. It’s just your soft tissues readjusting themselves after surgery.

Oh dear, then I made it worse. Today it's 23 degrees Farenheit in New York, and my knees are feeling it. Thank you @Jamie for telling me as I thought it was scar tissue returning. The knee is very stiff, and I feel fibers moving when I bend my knee. I have an appointment with a different surgeon next week to get his thoughts. I reread comments here and am icing and resting. It's frustrating.

 

[Jamie]

I don’t necessarily think you made things worse. You’re still in the early stages of your recovery from the November procedure. You’re going to have various aches and pains that pop up. Try not to worry about something that appears. Sometimes these pains just ARE. They don’t have an automatic cause and effect with something you do. What I wanted you to do was not worry about a pain that appears unless it stays for several days or gets worse. Otherwise you’ll go crazy trying to figure out why something hurts all of a sudden. Unless you do some different level of activity, you can probably chalk these pains up to “just recovery.”

 

[mendogal]

I agree 100% with Jamie. Don't assume everything is a problem.

A little gentle massage IF it helps. It's really easy to overdo something, when it's really just a tiny bit that's therapeutic.

 

[Layla]

Hi dubloosh,
I understand that it can be unsettling when we feel new aches and pains especially after all you've been through with your knee. It's been a lot and your body is still healing. Some discomfort is to be expected as your body heals and adjusts, without it being anything serious. If it brings you peace of mind to communicate with a physician, then that's what you need to do. Healing isn't always a straight line. I feel you're doing great and your body is stronger than you think it is. I agree that unless a new pain increases in frequency, or intensity, I'd try to ignore it, within reason of course, until the next new one comes....and goes, and so on and so on, I'm saying this because it seems to be the way it goes so often. It did for me anyway.
Wishing you a peaceful evening.
@dubloosh

 

[dubloosh]

I'll try to be patient @Jamie and @mendogal as everything is magnified. I have too much time on my hands after being busy for the past two weeks and shall try to relax. Promise.

A bit of good news is I emailed my primary doctor about the leg tingling. She suggested it may due to the medrol pack and fluid gain. I'm three pounds heavier, and my Merrell slides are a bit more snug; hopefully that will reverse after tomorrow (last day).

 

[dubloosh]

Hi @Layla it's everything. Thank you for saying what you did though I'm not doing well. I'm going to search for others who have had scar tissue removal after a knee replacement. Both knee and back are affecting my mobility and mood; the prednisone (last day tomorrow) is not helping.

Please tell me why my recovery is starting over. I don't understand this. My knee was replaced 16 months ago, and scar tissue was removed three months ago. Recovery should be progressing, not starting over. I feel scar tissue is forming again and want to prevent that from happening.

I'm not sure what you mean about bringing me peace of mind to speak with a physician about my back and apologize for saying it feels like you're mocking me. This is serious and needs attention.

Re knee, I was active prior to knee replacement and had a bumpy year, then came through. Were it not for pain walking down steps, which made me wince and tiptoe, then I'd not have had this second procedure.

 

[Layla]

Hi again dubloosh,
I am sorry you're not doing well, truly, and that my suggestion came across that way to you. It was absolutely not my intention. I am sure the ongoing discomfort, pain and uncertainty in relation to your knee and back is disheartening. It does affect our mood when we're in pain. I only mentioned seeing a physician because I genuinely care about your well being and thought it might help bring you some reassurance. Your concerns are valid and I just want you to feel at ease.
Wishing you comfort.
@dubloosh

 

[Jamie]

The “starting over” means that you had another major surgery on your knee just 3 months ago. That resets a recovery clock - maybe not back to the beginning, but it certainly makes a difference.

It’s true that your implant was done 16 months ago, but the scar tissue removal meant lots of additional trauma to your soft tissue. Many times that can be even more difficult to recover from than cutting bones. It’s important to keep this in mind when considering what’s ahead in terms of time for your body and your knee. Plus, your back problems enter into the equation as well. You will gradually get better with some time. With both my knees, I didn’t start to feel like myself again until I was about 6 months out. And I didn’t have the complications of back problems like you have.

Are there any things you enjoy that you can do to keep your mind off your knee? Things such as reading, watching specials or movies on television, visiting with family or friends, volunteering one day a week somewhere that interested you, writing your life story, signing up for some free online classes…..there are almost endless possibilities to keep your busy without taxing your recovering knee.

 

[Jamie]

How are things going, @dubloosh? I hope things have improved a bit for you. Do you think the Medrol pack helped?

 

[dubloosh]

Hi @Layla and @Jamie, I understand what you are saying and appreciate your help and concern.

Things are going well, so this is frustrating, I'm planning an alumni event from my community college in April (four-year school is at another time), and made a new friend working early voting two weeks ago. I've a day trip planned to an antique store that moved upstate from my area and may have some job interviews.

And there's the high school reunion and the crush and dancing. I miss dancing.

The April event will be an evening of mostly standing; hopefully, more healing will happen. The medrol pack had side effects yet I finished all six days. It didn't touch my back. Not sure why the lateral side of my knee is tight. Maybe that's part of healing.

Positive news is after this past Wednesday's MRI, a helpful tech arranged for me to pick up the images today. I look forward to learning about nonsurgical options first at next week's appointment. And feeling better!

 

[EalingGran]

The April event will be an evening of mostly standing; hopefully, more healing will happen.

Standing was the toughest thing for me.
I would go early and try to collar a bar stool!

 

[sistersinhim]

Not sure why the lateral side of my knee is tight. Maybe that's part of healing.

It is possible that your surgeon did a lateral release during your surgery to help normalize your tracking. I had lingering medial pain. I ordered my surgical report from the hospital and read that my doctor had done a medial release. That explained that aggravating pain I had.
Lateral Release Explained

 

[Layla]

Sounds like you're a busy little bee, dubloosh! Lots of fun activity, or planning going on.
Spring will be here soon and for those of us dealing with colder temps, we'll be able to break free from Winter's chokehold. I can't wait!
Glad to read you'll be looking into some non surgical options for your back at your appointment next week. I wish you only the best. Please keep us posted and have a nice weekend!
@dubloosh

 

[dubloosh]

Not sure why the lateral side of my knee is tight. Maybe that's part of healing.

It is possible that your surgeon did a lateral release during your surgery to help normalize your tracking. I had lingering medial pain. I ordered my surgical report from the hospital and read that my doctor had done a medial release. That explained that aggravating pain I had.
Lateral Release Explained

I'm sorry you had pain, too. This is new as I didn't have it prior to the scar tissue removal. I thought my knee was tracking as it should. Wonder why surgeons keep information from us. How did you relieve the pain?

 

[dubloosh]

Hi @Layla and @sistersinhim and @EalingGran. I'm not cut out for winter and am doing my best to keep busy. Thank you for the suggestion about lateral release. As I've asked him so many questions I can write a book, I framed it as seeking information to discount knee pain from back pain. Years ago there was a commercial for Syms department store with the tagline, "An educated consumer is our best customer."

Quick update: no lateral release per surgeon.

Later today I'm driving around town to take pictures of areas and storefronts that have changed since our high school class graduation. Many have moved away, and we're aiming to build a sense of community prior to the September reunion.

Happy Saturday!

 

[Jockette]

Later today I'm driving around town to take pictures of areas and storefronts that have changed since our high school class graduation. Many have moved away, and we're aiming to build a sense of community prior to the September reunion.

This sounds like fun!

 

[Layla]

Hi dubloosh,
I'm not a fan of Winter either, so I get it!
Safe travels while you're out and about taking pics today!
@dubloosh

 

[Jamie]

@Dubloosh….glad you’re getting out to document some things before your reunion. That sounds like a great project and it will make a lot of people happy to see the work you put in.

Have you had any physical therapy for the pain in your back? If not or if it’s not been recent, you might discuss that with your doctor. Unfortunately back pain can put your whole body out of alignment as it tries to compensate for the pain. Often this can take the form of an altered gait, which could be why you’re experiencing unusual pain in your knee. When your gait is off, it can put pressure and strain on muscles and ligaments that aren’t working as they should. This too is something that can be addressed and improved with the right therapist. Sometimes you have to look to find that person, but it can be well worth it.

 

[sistersinhim]

How did you relieve the pain?

Time. Once I found out the cause, I just ignored it the best I could. I had already had 2 lateral releases during the years and knew that it took time for that tendon to heal.

I suggest you order your surgical report. They are quite interesting and can tell you a lot about your surgery day.

 

[EalingGran]

Have a look at my pilates teacher's free back classes on YouTube ( Google Katja pilates). This is what I do most days to deal with my spinal stenosis and lumbar arthritis.