10 months in pain, swelling worse than ever
Posted , 8 users are following.
I have done everything my surgeon told me to, did all the months of PT and home exercises. I still cannot walk down stairs normally. In September he told me to stop PT and home exercises as well and he said he said he would see me in December , my one year anniversary. In 2 days I was so swollen and stiff it was like I was losing what little I had gained.
I got a second opinion. The surgeon asked if I had had a physical o my knee since the surgery, I told him the other surgeon rarely touched it. He pressed o it, had me lift it bend it. Then all of a sudden he put one hand on top of the other and "cracked" my knee. It was so quick and forceful it shocked me. He never said he was going to do it, really scared me. I was so startled I didn't even ask why or what he did. He suggested trying to drain fluid from it. Taking blood work, nothing that sounded like it would explain why I was 10 months away from my surgery and still in so much pain. He wanted to see me in December.
The next day my knee felt different. It felt loose, the swelling came and went, I had spasms. It was and has been getting worse than it was before I saw him. I waited a week and called and told them I wanted to see him and get an xray. Has anyone ever had this done to their knee? I am afraid he really screwed it up. I see him Monday and wonder what to ask? What did you do? Why is my knee worse?
I do NOT want another surgery. Any ideas greatfully appreciated.
0 likes, 15 replies
lynda49844 purplerlover
Posted
I'm so sorry you're having these problems still. I would tell him exactly how it's been and ask him what he had hoped his action would achieve and what he thinks the problem could be. It sounds as if you need some tests to find out what is going on and, hopefully, he will arrange them. I understand your not wanting more surgery, but maybe it will take that to put things right. I understand many surgeons won't contemplate further surgery before the year is out, as it takes at least that to recover, but if it will put things right maybe it's something that will need to be done.
Let us know how you get on Monday.
purplerlover lynda49844
Posted
/ I saw the 2nd opinion surgeon today. I asked him why he did what he did with his hands on my knee. He said he was not trying to hurt me just check my knee. He took 3 x rays and said there was nothing wrong with my knee, nothing broken. He could not explain why my leg is almost as swollen as it was right after my surgery 10 months ago. That there was a little fluid. He said "This is your new life, get used it it". This is NOT my new life . I REFUSE to get USED to it. He told me I could do water exercises, go back to physical therapy. Whatever I wanted to. I told him I had several vein procedures before my TKR and did he think they could have caused my problems? He said he really didn't know that much about it.
The Cardiologist that I saw once told me my blood was pooling in my feet and not going back up my leg. So he did a Radio Frequency Oblation , Left leg Ultra sound
Venus Insufficiency used needles to stop the flow of blood and re route. Every time he stuck me with a needle it really hurt. Then he decided I needed a Verithina procedure to put some kind of cement in the veins. It FAILED. Every time he placed a needle in my leg it spasmed. 20 tries then he aborted the procedure.
He wanted to do more but I was done with him. Surgery was a month later. I wonder if what he did caused my knee /leg to be so swollen and painful. Long story short I stopped over to a friends house that had her TKR after I did and had a full recovery. She took one look at my knee and said something is seriously wrong with your knee. l mentioned about the vein procedures and she told me her daughter had had one of the same treatments on both legs the same day and both her legs hurt and swell like mine. The daughter saw another Dr. and discovered she has Lymphedema!!!!!!!! There is nothing she can do to prove it but that's happened to her after her vein procedure. Does anyone think my surgeon did something that caused this to happen to me??? What causes Lymphedema??? Her daughter gets a massage once every 2 weeks, does water therapy and exercises, she said really helps. What kind of Dr. would I even see that could diagnose me? Anyone here have anything they can share about Lymphedema??? Thanks so much for reading my lengthy note.
lynda49844 purplerlover
Posted
That's terrible care in my experience purplelover. What kind of doctor doesn't realise that amount if swelling is wrong? Lymphodema is caused by a compromised lymphatic system creating fluid retention in the tissues. Having had lymph nodes removed for breast cancer surgery it's something I have to be careful of and many of my fellow cancer patients suffer from it.
Lymphatic drainage is very good I believe and compression sleeves. Here's a link to our NHS site:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Lymphoedema/
I hope you find something to help and relieve your symptoms. Good luck.
lynda49844
Posted
There is some info on this site under Oedema, but not a forum, although there are plenty of forums out there if you search.
I find it hard when a doctor who can't help you just writes you off and doesn't refer you to someone who can help. Where are you? Do you have a family doctor who could refer you to the right kind of specialist or for the correct treatment to help?
roberta73387 purplerlover
Posted
it's kind of like a war cry, "bend that knee". i'm sick of it. i am doing the best i can. everyone heals at their own pace. it also depends on how many challenges you face ...the first few weeks i was so constipated i could hardly walk, i could bearly sit. my apt is an obstacle course, not set hp for ease of navigation but no one is tossing out compliments on my navigation skills. i cant go shopping so
have to settle for what i get. it doesn't seem to matter anyway. believe me, life will go on around you. the people who said they would be there for you wont. they arent there doing fhe work. you cant will the laundry piling up to wash itself. my daughter-in-law has a big job with the county in elderly services, loosely translated as long as the one needing services aren't in your own family. my granddaughter has been raised to please herself...after all she just be looking at the next president of the US. i will get through this and plan a family holiday gathering because thats the only scene my family is comfortable seeing me.ike i said, i'm doing the best i can...
jane41470 purplerlover
Posted
Roberta, I am totally with you there on the constipation. I am now 4+ months after rtkr and seem to be doing ok, but the constipation at the beginning was horrible. I started thinking maybe i had hemorrhoids, or a blockage - or anything. It was more than distressing at times. I did have a laxative which I was prescribed pre-op to take the night before the op if I needed, so I used this post-op on a few occasions when it all became to stressful and painful.
So sorry to realise that you are struggling with this alone. I really have to count my many blessings that my 3 children - the furthest away is an hour's car ride - are all so considerate of both my and my husband's health and general well-being. My one daughter slept the night with me after the op - the other daughter has a young baby and my son- well, I wouldn't have expected him to do that. My husband stayed the second night and then I went home. Both daughters came on different days and cooked though I cooked and froze plenty of meals beforehand. My son came just to spend time and be with me for a while. I guess I am very lucky. I certainly wish you all the best.
roberta73387 jane41470
Posted
Sounds like you have wonderful family. I'm speechless. NY area is the birthplace of new millennial thinking. My granddaughter races pro. All their money is tied up in toy hauler, quads, equipment fun fun and did I mention FUN? She gestured before the surgery she would be over to do laundry, change sheets...nice thought. Unfortunately it interferes with field hockey and school work. As you probably guessed she is almost 18 and only child...born on Moms 40th birthday. My son waits around for instructions for this mother daughter duo. they were in Ashtabula OH when I had my surgery and as I write this they are pulling out of Virgina headed for Busco Beach raceway in NC. My 52 y/o son is here on and off. Thank God
the PT's have him pumped I should be ready for Boston Marathon by next week. And he believes that fake world everyone seems to be bragging about for themselves. One thing is for sure, when I am able ...I will. Take care, this has been thoroughly enlightening experience!
karen14697 purplerlover
Posted
Cannot believe stool softeners were not suggested before and after surgery. My surgeon told me to take them every day after surgery-made a big difference! Something is wrong after 10 months if you cannot maneuver stairs. Stay on the doctor until you get some answers THEY arent living your life - you have to push them to find out whats wrong. I am 5 months post op and no issues. Played 18 holes of golf this week - not well but got around ok . BEST OF LUCK
karen14697 purplerlover
Posted
Cannot believe stool softeners were not suggested before and after surgery. My surgeon told me to take them every day after surgery-made a big difference! Something is wrong after 10 months if you cannot maneuver stairs. Stay on the doctor until you get some answers THEY arent living your life - you have to push them to find out whats wrong. I am 5 months post op and no issues. Played 18 holes of golf this week - not well but got around ok . BEST OF LUCK
karen14697 purplerlover
Posted
Cannot believe stool softeners were not suggested before and after surgery. My surgeon told me to take them every day after surgery-made a big difference! Something is wrong after 10 months if you cannot maneuver stairs. Stay on the doctor until you get some answers THEY arent living your life - you have to push them to find out whats wrong. I am 5 months post op and no issues. Played 18 holes of golf this week - not well but got around ok . BEST OF LUCK
jean02698 purplerlover
Posted
Purple lover. It has been 10 months since my first LTKR and 12 days since my second LTKR. The knee put in last year was removed, knee cap was reattached and muscles loosed and tightened. I was in the hospital for 6 days. To ensure that i wouldnt be constipated i was given a laxative daily and stool softners.....i will be on these for another week. You should also try stool suppositories. The surgeon who did my 2ND LTKR was an expert in revision surgery. I too didnt want more surgery but i wanted to be able to walk without pain and limping. Keep pushing for a solution.
roberta73387 jean02698
Posted
I'm not even thinking more surgery
just turned 3 wks out. All my bowel distress was due to opiates
jane41470 roberta73387
Posted
At three weeks I swore I'd never do the second knee. Now at 4+ months and a lot wiser after having read so much on this forum, I will contemplate it - if the tests show I really do need it, but much later next year.
jean02698 roberta73387
Posted
Roberta...my comments for more surgery was for purple lover however my comments on bowel distress were for you. This surgery i have had no problems because while I was in the hospital they gave me a mild laxative daily, meds to soften stools... also when I left the hospital i have 15 days prescription pills for stool softners to counteract the pain killers side effects of constipation. This has made a huge difference from previous surgeries.
jenn33 purplerlover
Posted
I`m so sorry to hear that...you sholud maybe go to see another doctor, or some private clinic?