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

[dubloosh]

You're right @EalingGran and thank you for sharing your experience. I was instructed to do half squats, then realized my knee was over my toes, putting pressure on the joint. This was at the end of December. I still feel the effects, though I'm unsure if I feel it more because there's less swelling.

Today I saw my surgeon to discuss the patellar tendonosis indication per the MRI. He said it's the bone, and I reiterated the MRI report findings. I'm not happy he contradicted the diagnosis and am seeing another surgeon for a second opinion this afternoon. He also said riding a recumbent bike, which I do not have and use my neighbor's, is preferable to walking. This I don't understand.

On a positive note, I'm hopeful the comfrey salve will help and wish I'd thought of it sooner. I'll post after using it as it may help others.

Happy President's Day!

 

[WFD]

He also said riding a recumbent bike, which I do not have and use my neighbor's, is preferable to walking. This I don't understand.

When you are using the recumbent bike, your bodyweight is supported by the seat and not by your legs (as in walking). This allows you to have gentle motion with little or no force applied to your recovering knee. Many people here use exercise bikes with the resistance set to zero for this very reason.

 

[dubloosh]

Hi, I'm very disappointed. The second surgeon kept telling me "I don't know" when I asked how to treat this, what might have caused it, etc. He said it's not bone, PT is supposed to hurt and that it did a good job by breaking up the scar tissue as I have a good bend (it was good before I started outpatient PT) and that it might be infection. He told me he'd never order an MRI so soon after surgery and asked why I started PT nearly two months post op. I told him I had MRSA early on so Dr. Oh told me to hold off PT until after it heals. He had no answers except to say "I didn't do the surgery" and "I wasn't there." Seems like he didn't want to offer any help. I'm open to all suggestions. If it patellar tendonosis, then I'd like to know how to treat it. Another observation is I took Tylenol two hours ago, and it doesn't seem to relieve it today. Adding: I asked my PCP what she thinks about a blood test to rule out infection. That was an odd suggestion from the second surgeon as my knee is not warm or swollen, and if I did have an infection, then my soon-to-be-six-years-old hip would be affected. Thank you in advance.

 

[dubloosh]

Today's the day: comfrey salve is on the way. I feel like a child waiting for a birthday gift and hope if works as well for me as it did for mom. My surgeon advised no more PT, other surgeon had no answers. This afternoon I have a second interview for a part time job and errands this morning so the icing and elevating (and heat) will come later. Wishing you a happy Tuesday!

Later today: Amazon delivered the comfrey salve, and I applied it to my knee. This was about half an hour ago. I hope it works as well as it did for mom.

 

[dubloosh]

Wow, let me know if that comfrey salve works. I am willing to try just about anything to help with knee pain!

Good morning, and yes it did. It arrived yesterday and has three ingredients - dried organic comfrey leaves, avocado oil and beeswax. II used it twice (after dinner and before I sent to sleep) on the most painful parts of my leg, which are the area to the right of my incision, below my incision and behind my knee when I bend (tendons or ligaments). This morning I did leg slides easily, and the areas where I put it were pain free. My knee is stiff this morning; that's unrelated. I used it again just now as it says use up to four times each day. Hope you feel better.

 

[dubloosh]

Hi hi from frost-on-cars New York. The comfrey oil arrived yesterday and has three ingredients - dried organic comfrey leaves, avocado oil and beeswax. I used it twice yesterday and once this morning; the areas where I used it are pain free. Leg slides were easy, too. I had a brownie yesterday though I'd been doing my best to avoid gluten. That may be why my knee is stiff. Re the second opinion surgeon, I realized though he's in a different practice he knows my surgeon and said he sees him at the hospital so that was my error. Would you suggest I find another surgeon whose practice is unrelated to the other two and who operates at a different hospital? There are few choices as many medical groups combined under larger medical systems. Thank you in advance.

 

[mendogal]

Oh yes! We definitely recommend totally unconnected doctors.

 

[dubloosh]

Oh yes! We definitely recommend totally unconnected doctors.

That was my mistake. The practice became part of the same hospital group, yet his replies of "I didn't do that" and "I wasn't there" seem immature. He didn't want to help me so why did he offer to see me in the first place? I fuond a surgeon from an unrelated hospital and am calling his office this morning.

 

[mendogal]

The affiliations and mergers DO change, sometimes without us being aware, so it's hard to keep track . I'm glad you're moving forward.

 

[dubloosh]

The affiliations and mergers DO change, sometimes without us being aware, so it's hard to keep track . I'm glad you're moving forward.

Thank you. Do surgeons mind if they're consulted after the fact? I'm going with the intent to switch surgeons as I'm seeking advice for a condition that's post op. Hopefully, he will see me. The diagnosis is odd as I'm not athletic, walk (not power walking) and never exerted except when vacuuming the apartment.

 

[mendogal]

Not a bit. They are accustomed to offering second opinions!
It's worth asking if this surgeon is a revision specialist, just in case a second procedure is recommended.

 

[dubloosh]

Not a bit. They are accustomed to offering second opinions!
It's worth asking if this surgeon is a revision specialist, just in case a second procedure is recommended.

His profile says he does; I'll ask him.

Forget what I said. His practice won't see anyone until one year after surgery by a surgeon outside the practice. Back to looking.

 

[Jockette]

His practice won't see anyone until one year after surgery by a surgeon outside the practice. Back to looking.

I’ve heard this is often the case. One reason is because often issues do resolve in time during the first year.

I‘m sorry, I can’t remember why you are looking for a second opinion so early in recovery. Could you please explain again?

 

[dubloosh]

His practice won't see anyone until one year after surgery by a surgeon outside the practice. Back to looking.

I’ve heard this is often the case. One reason is because often issues do resolve in time during the first year.

I‘m sorry, I can’t remember why you are looking for a second opinion so early in recovery. Could you please explain again?

Yes, I suddenly developed pain in my patella, and the MRI report (as interpreted) indicated patellar tendonosis.

New news: I have an appointment with an orthopedic knee surgeon at an unrelated practice on March 11. I chose the date as I need to reorder images; his office said call if the images come sooner. I left them at the other surgeon's office, and it's easier to have new ones sent to me. There is a small fee; however, the original request is good for six months. Hoping this surgeon has an answer and can offer a treatment plan.

 

[Jamie]

Glad you’ve made some progress on getting the the bottom of this problem. Good for you for staying assertive in your search for answers.

 

[dubloosh]

Glad you’ve made some progress on getting the the bottom of this problem. Good for you for staying assertive in your search for answers.

Thank you. After consideration I reached out to the customer relations department and left a message for the department manager of my surgeon's practice to contact me and for the radiologist's office to please contact me if possible. We shall see what happens next. I've always had to advocate for myself with one doctor or another and was a mama bear when I took care of my mom.

Adding: I've been reading other members' threads on the forum and an encouraged their surgeons suggest second opinions. Waiting to see what happens next with mine.

 

[dubloosh]

Please identify which knee you had replaced for the signature we create for you.

Hi, may I add a date to my signature, please? LTHR was March 14, 2018; had right basal thumb arthritis surgery November 5, 2020. Not sure if thumb counts here. Thanks, Janie

 

[sistersinhim]

I added your thumb surgery for you. It's a joint!

 

[dubloosh]

Thank you @sistersinhim . It was an experience unto itself.

 

[dubloosh]

Hope everyone's well this morning. I'm doing laundry and keeping busy, and because I was distracted I sat down in a too-low soft chair. Forgot to slide my op leg in front of me, which created a lot of fun in the outer part of the knee where it bends and the outside of my thigh. I'm icing it now. Comfrey salve seems to be helping as I've less hamstring and tendon pain until later in the day going into night. Yesterday afternoon I went to the library and put my cell phone on vibrate, and because I didn't hear it I missed a call from the hospital. I wonder if it was my surgeon as he operates Wednesdays and Fridays. There was no message. When I called back later, the operator told me it's the number that appears on outgoing calls. Suppose I'll find out soon enough.