4 Mths 6 Days Since Revision

Posted , 8 users are following.

Hello everyone.... I enjoy reading everyone's progress and hope that those who aren't doing as well as they hope, continue to push on and do your exercises. It's been a bit over 4mths since my revision and my knee at times feels sideways! My PT coach (who I had with my first op as well as my revision) told me that my knee will never feel the same. I can honestly say that my knee has never stopped hurting since the 1st op in Sept of 2015. I have learned to grin and bear the pain and move on. I work full time and I must say I am a bit conscience of my not walking "totally proper" yet but my co-workers are cool and tell me when I am limpling (which we all know is easy to do when you are tired). I am now going down the stairs foot over foot ("properly") half-way. My husband is awesome and tells me when I do things "not the right way" and sometimes I cry cause this op has totally changed my life! My family physician thought I was depressed when I went for my physical on Tues of this week cause I cried when he asked how I was doing. I just feel overwhelmed sometimes because I can't be as active as I was. It sucks! I know it will take a year or two to heal - and with me having a revision 5mths to the day of my pkr, I know the healing will take longer. I am so encourgaged by reading everyone's posts. With the way the world is today, I should feel lucky that I have my leg and I am able to walk - even if I don't walk "properly"... Take care guys....xo

 

1 like, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Deb

    Im sorry to hear you're having such a difficult time. I am 8 weeks post op (TKR), and can really identify with what you say (though in general so far, things have not been so bad for me). Lots of 'official' info eg from the NHS here in the UK, or online from hospitals etc, implies that 'most people should be walking without AIDS / driving / back at work etc, etc, in what I now find to be completely unrealistic times. It will take me months and months yet to get anywhere near independent! Why do they mislead us like this, I wonder??? It's no wonder we get depressed ( or low in mood, as my doc put it).

    Like you I have found this site invaluable, otherwise I would think it was just me struggling! It will take much longer than expected, Deb, but we should and will all improve over time.

    Sending you hugs and wishing you well x

  • Posted

    I'm 90 days post op for a LTKR.  The first month was very painful; would rather have had another kidney stone. Since then it's been getting better all the time.  With PT, I went from -14/+84 to -1/+128 (almost straight and bent beyond the goal of +120).  It's just that I'm a rehab freak (hip replacement, back fusion, both shoulders) and I take it very seriously regardless of the pain.  There is a GREAT site out there called BoneSmart which deals with hip and knee issues both pre and post op.  It's there that I talked to lots of people and got all the warnings about TKR recovery.  Honestly, I wasn't prepared for the intensity of the pain for weeks (opioids don't work on me) but I did realize that I would not be able to rehab the knee totally for 6 months to a year.  I accepted that and forgot about the rest.  No depression...I just keep doing the work necessary and turn my attention elsewhere.  Yes, it's still a bit swollen and feels stiff but those symptoms should subside in time. It is what it is.

    My biggest problem is that walking "funny" (compensating for the pain both pre and post op) locked up my SI joints in my hips pinching my sciatic nerve.  So now it's chiropractor and ice until the sciatica goes away.  Just know that limping and walking abnormally will eventually throw something in your hips and/or back out of alignment.  Be prepared if this happens.  A good chiro can help...even the surgeon recommended it.  Steroid shots, celebrex and ibuprophin did nothing.  Gotta get realigned.

    One more thing...  Don't judge yourself by anyone else's progress.  You are you and are different from everyone else.  Find your sweet spot and do the work.  You will not see progress day to day...you see it month to month.  Journal it if you have to.  Just keep up the good work and it will pay off.  No judgment = no depression.

    • Posted

      Hello Chico: Your words of wisdom really hit me and thanks for them! Progress month to month is a great goal!
    • Posted

      It's like losing weight...NEVER get on the scale every day...just once a week.  Great phrase someone told me long, long ago: "No excuses.  Do the work."  The results will take care of themselves.  Find what works right for you that helps you move forward.  Everyone's different.  Do it your way...but get there.  I've had a hip replaced, four fused vertebrae, two shoulder operations (one each side), four knee scopes (two each side) and know a LTKR.  NOTHING stops me from getting back my full range of morion.  In every case, the end result was that it felt like it never happened.  That's how I'm approaching my knee this time.  Want the joy?  Do the work...and don't get down on yourself.  There are ups and downs...this is NOT a linear path upward.  Just be you...
  • Posted

    Hi Deb,

    I am so sorry to hear that you are having such a rough time right now. I am 6wks. After my PKR, and Thankfully, doing really well. I went back to work Fulltime this week, and feel pretty good, only taking meds at night & using ice.

    I hope to get back to bowling by the end of the month.

    I encourage you to keep the open communication with your Dr., PT., and family.

    I hope you will better really soon.

    Take care and continue to keep us posted on your recovery.

    Continue your Therapy and try to Enjoy your new knees.

    XO

  • Posted

    How very positive and uplifting 😃 I too had trouble when walking my and family would often walk behind me to check out if I was limping we used to have a good laugh about it wondering what passers by were thinking!! I didn't actually take ownership as such of my leg until about 9/10 months after tkr and then it slowly started to feel as though it was part of me
    • Posted

      Chris: Are you walking properly now? It's my goal to a least work without a limp (which I can do, IF I concentrate!)
    • Posted

      Am at 12 mths first tkr now and no limp!! Unless I get very tired or do too much. Thought I'd never walk normally again, it takes so long for nerve endings ect to heal, I found the sooner I decided 'this is my leg now's the sooner things got better. Good luck honey bun 😃
  • Posted

    I'm now 7 months+ revision of TKR. It feels much better than the 1st time around, but I have accepted I will never be "me" again. This week is a bad one, as it feels so very stiff, BUT - last week we went away & I walked & walked & walked, so I think I overdid it. I have a new goal - I asked for a Fitbit for an anniversary present. I've been wearing it since the 4th June, & yesterday it pinged to tell me I'd walked a marathon in the last 7 days - yes - a whole 26 miles! Could I have done that at 4 months - never - could I have done it at 5 months post revision - I very much doubt it. This black thing on my wrist is actually the proof that I am improving, ay my own rate, but it's now a challenge to improve week by week! I've also lost 4lbs, so maybe set yourself a goal too? - Veronica
    • Posted

      Hello Veronica, So...you've been through a revison as well. Not fun, huh? I cried for a day when I heard I had to have a revison. May I ask why you had to have it?
    • Posted

      It was misaligned - I knew something was very, very wrong, the pain was unbearable & I couldn't excercise - but no-one believed me. It took my excellent GP to complain, then at 4 months an ultrasound (the consultant told me straight away even though I was supposed to wait to see the surgeon for the results). I changed surgeons/consultants, & had to wait the full year to make sure the bone was OK to take the removal & 2nd prosthesis. The surgeon told me after the op. (4 & a half hours) that is was "mechanically loose" & that could have caused it to be misaligned - but I firmly believe it was put in wrong. How would you feel if your surgeon has been caught for drink driving 5 days after your operation? It made the national papers & lots was made about the fact a hip-flask was found in the car as well as empty & full bottle of whiskey (hip - orthopedic surgeon etc etc). I am over the pain now, but I will, never, ever forget it.
    • Posted

      Hi Veronica

      You have had a dreadful time! I can relate to what you are saying... Mine was misaligned too, it only showed up on  a CT scan when I had a second opinion. I had nearly 12 months of dreadful pain and the original surgeon telling me nothing was wrong! I am sure it was put in wrongly, likewise my kneecap was resurfaced and a problem showed up with that too, but at the revision he said he couldn't do much to it as there would be too much bone loss... We have been unlucky, so fingers crossed things will be better this time! Catherine 

  • Posted

    Hello Deb

    i am sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. I can really identify with what you have been through. Like you I had a revision, it was done 4 months ago. I had a TKR 16 months ago, they kept telling me it was all fine, and only when I got a second opinion and asked for a CT scan they saw it was misaligned and there were problems with rotation,, basically it was very unstable. I also developed synovitis as a result ( hideous!) It was a year of severe pain and immobility for me. The whole thing had to be taken out 4 months ago ( I was scared as I also have weak bones!) and redone. I now have a new knee joint which has long metal rods in my femur and tibia to stabilise it. I am ( or was!) a fit 62 year old, was walking/ jogging and skiing up until a few years ago, so unused to being unfit...also met my new partner only 3 years ago....!!! I was fit then too!!! 

    I am a very positive person and live in hope it will improve.! I am still in daily pain and can't walk far at all, still on medication, and doing all my physio as instructed. I have been told  by my consultant that it takes a year or more second time around , so that's what I am hoping for. 

    Stay strong and positive, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, sometimes it just takes longer to get there! 

    Catherine 

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