OP
OP
Titianlady
post-grad
United StatesHello all my wonderful friends. I went to the surgeon yesterday. Come to find out he put a different implant in my left leg..a new model. He is still working out the fine tuning on it..wonderful..I am a lab rat!!!
Needless to say, I am furious. I was never consulted, my permission was not given, and I would never have known if I did not notice the difference in implant shape and style on my x-rays. I noticed that the femoral component is thick at the top.i mentioned that to my husband. I feel it is a flaw in the design as
I am one of three patients that are having an issue with extra tissue at the top of the femoral component that seems to be either getting in the way, or caught in the component. The surgeon says the other two patients have PCL replacing implants, and I am the first to have the issue that has a PCL sparing one.
He also said that each implant design can require certain things that are done when they are put in, and he now realizes that with this one, trimming away excess fat pad at the top of the knee, which is normal to be there, may be needed when he installs this one. Women have tendency to have a bit more normally than men. He said that does bother him as we are designed to have it, and he hates to remove anything that should be there, but that may be needed with future patients!! I am astounded and sooo mad, disappointed, and depressed with the whole thing.
My knee gets slightly 'stuck' when I bend or extend. It doesn't keep me from bendin ( 148 degrees and 0) but it poses a problem when I walk as when it gets to that certain point when I walk, when it uncatches it pitches the knee forward a touch and if I'm not careful, I trip, and it looks terrible as I limp!
The surgeon gave me a cortisone injection and asked to give it 6 more weeks to see if the problem resolves itself. He said when the rest of the internal swelling goes down, it may just be fine. He also said that I could have had a bit of a bleeder in the knee that caused some scar tissue, or tissue thickening.
If its not better in 6 weeks, he will go in arthroscopically to have a look and remove what he has too.
He also asked it he could video me before the surgery..to show them the issue with the catching and how just pulling upward slightly on the tissue at the top of the knee resolves the problem completely, so he can get it to the implant designer! I can't believe it.
All my blood levels were normal..no infection. The only thing that was a bit high was the inflammatory markers..30 is normal, mine were 38, so no problem. That is normal so soon after surgery.
The cortisone injection has made me feel a bit better, but I still feel that something is in the way at the top of the knee. The movement is stiff at this point.
Needless to say, I am not a happy camper..an implant I knew nothing about, not telling me, and now having to face a fine tune.
Thank you all my wonderful, wonderful friends for your understanding and prayers..I don't know what I would do without you all.
I didn't want to post for a while as I felt so downhearted, and I want to be able to GIVE to the wonderful members here, not just take and complain. I also don't want to scare those who may be newbies with gloom and doom!!
So, now that I at least have a bit of an explanation, I feel much better, and can give the encouragement to everyone that they have given me.
Did I tell you all how special you all are? Well, you all are priceless, and I luv you all my friends.
Needless to say, I am furious. I was never consulted, my permission was not given, and I would never have known if I did not notice the difference in implant shape and style on my x-rays. I noticed that the femoral component is thick at the top.i mentioned that to my husband. I feel it is a flaw in the design as
I am one of three patients that are having an issue with extra tissue at the top of the femoral component that seems to be either getting in the way, or caught in the component. The surgeon says the other two patients have PCL replacing implants, and I am the first to have the issue that has a PCL sparing one.
He also said that each implant design can require certain things that are done when they are put in, and he now realizes that with this one, trimming away excess fat pad at the top of the knee, which is normal to be there, may be needed when he installs this one. Women have tendency to have a bit more normally than men. He said that does bother him as we are designed to have it, and he hates to remove anything that should be there, but that may be needed with future patients!! I am astounded and sooo mad, disappointed, and depressed with the whole thing.
My knee gets slightly 'stuck' when I bend or extend. It doesn't keep me from bendin ( 148 degrees and 0) but it poses a problem when I walk as when it gets to that certain point when I walk, when it uncatches it pitches the knee forward a touch and if I'm not careful, I trip, and it looks terrible as I limp!
The surgeon gave me a cortisone injection and asked to give it 6 more weeks to see if the problem resolves itself. He said when the rest of the internal swelling goes down, it may just be fine. He also said that I could have had a bit of a bleeder in the knee that caused some scar tissue, or tissue thickening.
If its not better in 6 weeks, he will go in arthroscopically to have a look and remove what he has too.
He also asked it he could video me before the surgery..to show them the issue with the catching and how just pulling upward slightly on the tissue at the top of the knee resolves the problem completely, so he can get it to the implant designer! I can't believe it.
All my blood levels were normal..no infection. The only thing that was a bit high was the inflammatory markers..30 is normal, mine were 38, so no problem. That is normal so soon after surgery.
The cortisone injection has made me feel a bit better, but I still feel that something is in the way at the top of the knee. The movement is stiff at this point.
Needless to say, I am not a happy camper..an implant I knew nothing about, not telling me, and now having to face a fine tune.
Thank you all my wonderful, wonderful friends for your understanding and prayers..I don't know what I would do without you all.
I didn't want to post for a while as I felt so downhearted, and I want to be able to GIVE to the wonderful members here, not just take and complain. I also don't want to scare those who may be newbies with gloom and doom!!
So, now that I at least have a bit of an explanation, I feel much better, and can give the encouragement to everyone that they have given me.
Did I tell you all how special you all are? Well, you all are priceless, and I luv you all my friends.
Then smile sweetly and wait for his reply! I will bet you he will definitely be willing to absorb ALL costs!
, but not with this news. I am so sorry you have to go
& would much rather hear from you
I don't mean to sound so bossy.
I said, well Amy, it is very difficult to get a thesis of 10 pages with15 references to make sense when you are taking pain meds. I explained that I till has som from surgery! 
Do you know whether this implant is even approved for use? (don't you have to be informed if you are being part of a trial?) - as this would give me serious concerns that insurance might not cover further treatment for an "experimental procedure"
