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Why so many problems after TKR?

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Appy

Appy

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Hi
As I get closer to the date of surgery, the number of posts of people have unsatisfactory results, prolonged problems, ect, I am left wondering how this applies to the statistics of around 85% or more satisfaction
I have no significant pain at the moment, just bowed legs that will get worse, and that , according to the x-rays, have a chance of a piece of bone breaking off. I walk with some discomfort, abnormal gait, but certainly not with any severe degree of pain
I am almost wondering whether to risk knee instability and continue doing what I enjoy-riding and looking after my horses for as long as possible, or risk the surgery and believe my life will actually be improved.
As you can all tell, I;m scared. Were my knees keeping me from sleeping, bothering me sitting or riding, I guess I would not have this quandry of dread, It is my mind, not my knees keeping me up at night.
When I had breast cancer, the choice was clear-surgery asp, supportive chemo, even with negative nodes and reconstructive surgery a year later
Never had the doubts I now have with this surgery.
The former was get er done attitude. Happened about same time of the year, and it was suggested i wait until after the holidays. My response was -are you kidding? This is cancer-get it out of me!'
 
Hi Appy. I can understand your concerns regarding TKR surgery. But remember that not all surgeries have complications. I had two TKR surgeries 4 months apart and only after the first surgery did I have a fluid build up (in the first week) that needed to be aspirated. After that all was well and my Physio did the trick to get the ROM and extension that I wanted. The second surgery was without incident. Prior to surgery, it was extremely painful to walk down a small incline or steps. Now I am like a teenager again (however cautiously). Think positively about the experience and I wish you all the best with your surgery.
Where are you located. I am in the Ottawa area (Kanata).
Cheers, Ross :thmb:
 
Hi SpotHOG

I am in the Calgary area. Grew up near London Ontario On a tobacco farm
(Tillsonburg )
Went to Med Tech training in Hamilton and did my practical at the Greater Niagara General Hospital
When Foothills Hospital in Calgary first opened up, I went there with some fellow lab tech to work for a year.
40 years later and I;m still here!
 
Small world Appy:
I lived in London for many years and went to Western (Electrical Engineering). My wife is also from London (Trained at Victoria Hospital Nursing). Many relatives in the area as well. Sister in Mitchel. When is your surgery scheduled?
Cheers, Ross
 
Appy, from what you describe I think the bigger risk is doing nothing and risking that your joints would deteriorate to the point that your knee replacements would be a whole lot more difficult to perform. Having knee replacement surgery will not limit your ability to ride and care for your horses. You'll have your recovery period, but once that is over you'll not have this weight hanging over you any more. You surely don't want to live your life dreading when something bad might happen to you, do you?

I don't know where you are doing your reading, but if it's here on the forum there are many, many success stories out there to dwell on instead of the folks who have had some sort of challenge in recovery. Please force yourself to read the success stories now that you are so close to surgery and you know you are anxious. You're not doing yourself any favors by dwelling on the small percentage of a chance for a problem.
 
Appy...Welcome to Bonesmart. I am 7 months post RTKR. I feel like in most cases people have remarkable improvement. I will not lie to you it is hard work...but the difference is unbelieveable. My left knee keeps giving me frequent reality checks about why I had the surgery to begin with. My R knee has had no problems except some clunking (that is because I need to work on my quad muscles). I am looking forward to getting my left knee done in January.

Incidentally, I too am a med tech. I am actually a microbiologist. Love it..been doing it for almost 40 years.
Barb
 
I've yet to experience any complications. Yes, the recovery is hard work, but so is life with a joint that's steadily degenerating. I'd do the TKR again in a heartbeat.

The left knee is the bionic one.



[Bonesmart.org] Why so many problems after TKR?
 
Appy, I am one of those that have been whineing about my recovery. I have an infected knee and in a couple of weeks I will have the implant removed and at some point down the road I will get a revison. Even after all I am going through I would still make the same decison. The percentage of those that have problems is few, almost all are successful. Think about how great your knee will fell when i'ts all over don't dwell on the few of us who have complications.

Mike
 
Hi, Appy,
Just a quick note -- my surgeon said that if I waited too long for surgery he would not have been able to do it. I had knock knees so I am not sure if that makes it more or less difficult. I plan on riding my horses in the spring, for sure. I'm originally from a small town south of Calgary, my mom had her knees done in Calgary, and she is doing incredibly well. She golfs, bowls, dances, swims, bicycles, camps -- she does much more than she ever did before her new knees. I'm still early on in my recovery but I'm doing really well according to the physio therapist.

Christine
BTKR, Oct. 16, 2009
 
Hi Appy,
I don't think there are so many problems after our various joint replacements.

Rather, that those who don't have any problems, don't go looking for forums for help they don't need, so they don't turn up here !

What is happening here, is those that need help come looking and find it at this forum, and once they've been helped, move on or stick around to do whatever they can do to help others.

Many good friendships are made as well. :D
 
Hi Abby hats only what you see on hear the good and some problems but think about the people not on here and who had the sugery nd dont get on a forum...........they have their sugery and just live there life................the amt of people getting knee replacements in alot...............and you never heard from them because they dont need the help its a good surgery you will see......you will just keep getting worse why would you want to do that to yourself get it done and over with and live your life..................goo luck to you try not to worry i mean we all worry but you cant let it take over you...........we are all here for you..............)..
 
It is major surgery, and it just takes time and persistence to get back to where you want to be. The more bowed your legs become, the more work to get to where you want to be with your "new normal". Like you, my knees did not hurt much when I was not moving them, but I am so thankful I had them replaced. I cannot even explain the contrast between my unstable old knees and these new, strong, stable, functional knees. You don't even realize (at least I didn't) all the adaptations you have made to cope with your bad knees until you don't have bad knees anymore. My surgeries were both very, very successful. I had a problem with pain, and at first I wondered why I had done this, but now I feel so, so, so, so much better. I have hung around here far longer than most, so I can tell you there are many, many people that we have known that have moved on and don't check in too often (if at all) any more. I am going to try and stick around because this forum is so helpful to people as they approach this very nerve wracking major, major surgery. I guess it is the teacher in me; I feel like I can make a difference to others by passing on what I know.
 
Linda, I am thankful you are willing to stay with BoneSmart and talk to others who are approaching surgery. Words from someone who has been there are SO VERY valuable. I think your experience is very typical and I, too, believe that Appy will be happy with new knees very soon.
 
Hello Appy

I was a bit like you - I was putting up with the pain when walking, and the pain wasn't too bad when I was still, although my left knee in particular was certainly out of alignment and I could not touch my feet together. I had decided not to go back to the doctor for years with my knees, as I didn't fancy having any operations.

However, I was forced into having something done, and this could happen to you, and it's not nice! One morning, luckily the last day of a two week's holiday, I got out of bed and something gave way in one of my knees. It was absolute agony, and I couldn't put any weight on it. I had to be carried to our coach, and every time we stopped at a service station during the eight hour journey home, my husband had to go and find a wheelchair so that I could get to the facilities.

When I got home, I had to get to the doctor, who then referred me to the orthopaedic department at our local hospital. I had an x-ray which showed I had a problem. This was followed by an arthroscopy when three enormous (to me) pieces of bone-like stuff, about the size of small walnuts, were removed. (I've got them in a little jar!!! :hehe: ) They were osteophytes, pieces of bone that my body had produced to make up for other bits worn away over the years by my bone-on-bone problem (I had meniscotomies many years ago, due to sports injuries, and had torn cartilages removed in both knees). One osteophyte in particular broken off and had jammed itself into the joint, and was causing the excruciating pain - I'd never had such pain, not even giving birth!! I could not put any weight on that leg, and it was stuck in a bent position, even when they adminstered the anaesthetic! Another broken-off osteophyte had worked its way to just under the skin above my knee - I could feel it there.

The end result was I was told that I NEEDED a TKR as soon as possible, as the leg was getting quite bent, and the operation is apparently much more difficult if that is the case. In my case, I actually needed two TKRs, and I had them done six months apart.

I now have two lovely straight legs, and I can touch my ankles and feet together for the first time in years. The knees are really strong, and I feel very confident on them. I can even squat without the awful crunching feeling and sound!

It is hard work after the operation, but I have not found it particularly painful. I still need to work on my quads and must discipline myself to do some more exercise. We don't get it over here unless there is a particular problem. I walk a lot, and can do so many things I couldn't do before.

I would definitely recommend the operation. As others have said, it's generally only those with problems who use forums. I found this one when I was bored waiting for my second TKR, and everyone is so friendly and helpful. Over the past few months I haven't been on the forum much as I'm just getting on with my life. I've been on lots of holidays, most fairly active with lots of walking, although I'm not a sporty person so I haven't done anything really challenging.

Please keep posting so that we can hear how you get on, and the best of luck for your operations.
 
Boy, Val....that truly tells the story, doesn't it! There is nothing like hearing it from someone who has been there. I'm so thankful you are now on the other side.
 
I had my knee done in March. I've been able to get about and do pretty much what I want for months now. Most people have a pretty good recovery, just like I was fortunate to do.
 
I think the main problem with knee replacement is people are not prepared for how long the recovery actually is. They told me 4-6 weeks when the reality is 4-6 months....or more. The thing is....had I not had the surgery....my knee would have gotten progressively worse....now it is getting progressively better....slowly.
 
Appy

As one who waited too long to have mine replaced, do it sooner or later. By waiting the only thing I did was increase the damage to the knee and make it harder to recapture lost ROM. Because of a previous bone graft, I did have a minor fracture caused by the surgery but it did not cause many problems, just a bit slower getting started as I had to be only 50% weight bearing for a month.

Yes they could be some problems and there will be bumps along the way but recapturing your life and doing things like being able to cook a dinner for friends without pain is sure worth it.

Simon
 
Earlier this year, the behind the scenes gurus on BS decided to publish a series of articles on Google (?) which I was asked to approve. They are not medical chaps so scanned the net for info from other sites. I was horrified when they came up with the following

THR: The average short-term recovery time for a total hip replacement is 2-4 weeks. :doh:
TKR: The average short-term recovery time for a total knee replacement is 4-6 weeks. :doh:

I had them change that to 4-6 and 6-12 respectively. Trouble is, there is a lot of info out there that says that and it's totally wrong, misleading and asking for the average patient to be frustrated and fearful of their apparent lack of progress.

Moral of the story - don't believe everything you read on the internet!
 
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