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8 wks post tkr

Posted , 7 users are following.

dawn01588
dawn01588

I am 8 wks po tkr on my left knee, had some complications like a blot clot and bad infection at first and didn't start pt until I was almost 2 wks po. Pt is going good and I'm walking pretty much without any aids, driving and only taking pain meds for therapy. I drive a truck for a living and I'm almost positive my surgeon is going to release me when I go to see him on the 31st. He will not give me anymore pain meds and had a problem giving me the last ones on the 4th of December. My surgery was on November 3rd. My bend is at 100% finally after all the problems I've had and I don't feel I should be released yet.

0 likes, 23 replies

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  • sueisobel
    sueisobel dawn01588

    Posted

    Ouch.... There is no way you can drive a truck so soon. You will put back everything good that you have achieved.  If you are stuck, can you take paracetamol or other over the counter help.  Invest in a good knee brace; the ones that are made from neoprene, with metal braces down the sides. This will add padding around your knee and ease the vibrations from driving   There are also sports ice packs, they come in a gel like state until you need them (you just bend them and they turn into an ice pack, just put them in boiling water later to turn them back to their gel form)

    just one afterthought, do you think your surgeon won't prescribe pills because you are going back to driving? ( it would be remiss of him to provide painkillers that could potentially make you drowsy). He is there to help you whether or not you are going back to work, he should understand you have no choice but to go back to work. Sometimes pharmacists can be good at giving advice if all else fails.

    wishing you all the very best and hope you find something supportive  to help you

    • dawn01588
      dawn01588 sueisobel

      Posted

      The surgeon won't prescribe pills because he thinks I should be over the pain already. When I first went to him for surgery he told me I'd be back to work after 8 wks. Plus in the area I'm in there's alot of prescription drug abuse. I've thought about going to the pain clinic a couple towns over but haven't yet as most medicine makes me sick or a headache. Oh well guess I'll just deal with it.
    • sueisobel
      sueisobel dawn01588

      Posted

      Jeez, what century was he born in. 8 weeks after a broken bone; yes!  Please go to the pain clinic, they are there to sort out what meds you can and cannot take, they should also work out a course of exercises and also support you.  Please don't just deal with it as you will end up getting depressed.  It sounds like you have to work, but please make sure you have support and a back up plan in place.  Forget substance abuse, you have had a serious procedure done, you need the meds to get you through the pain (there are plenty of drugs out there than you can take, it is a matter of finding the right ones).  Go and see the pain clinic, hopefully it is a group of specialists (each in their own field) with a consultant to advise you (a sort of co-ordinator).
    • dawn01588
      dawn01588 sueisobel

      Posted

      Yep I ha e to work even tho I applied for disability I very highly doubt if I'll get it. I'm almost broke now so if I do get released it could be a good thing. I'm planning on calling my boss in the morning to see if there are other options I can do versus going right back into driving and am also calling the pain clinic too. Thanks for the suggestions
    • sueisobel
      sueisobel dawn01588

      Posted

      I am rusty regarding US employment law, but here's hoping your boss is sympathetic and give you a desk job. Your pay should not be affected.  You should not be fired. It's not as if you are not willing to work. If you HAVE to drive, is your vehicle automatic or manual? If automatic, then do short haul and wear that brace.  Support the whole leg as much as possible as it is the vibration of the road more than anything that does the damage. Sometimes working will distract your mind away from the pain. If there is a chance of full recovery, you may have difficulty claiming disability, unless you are signed up to Medicare. Can your doctor not point you in the right direction, with where you can claim benefits. You certainly need a medical person on your side.  The pain clinic should be able to help as well.  It is not funny to be fighting pain on your own, everyway you turn seems to be a brick wall.  Don't give up! Some medics like nothing better than patients who give up, it saves them money, shifts their responsibility.  If OFG is reading in, he should be more able to  give you words of wisdom as he is US based 
  • irish_linda
    irish_linda dawn01588

    Posted

    not sure where you live but surely you could go to your own doctor for meds . here in ireland the surgeons are like that they think your over the op so toddle off now and dont bother me with pain !!! they are complete pr**ks  sorry but it makes me mad ..hopefully you have a great doctor that you go to for your general health and he will sort you with pain meds .i must say that i would have been lost without my doctor he was so good to me go and get meds and dont take NO FOR AN ANSWER  good luck
    • dawn01588
      dawn01588 irish_linda

      Posted

      My own personal doctor is the one that gave me ibuprofen she won't do anything with out the surgeons approval. I'm in the state of Tennessee. But I'm gonna call the doctors office on Monday and see what I can do. Thanks everyone for all the replies..
  • irish_linda
    irish_linda dawn01588

    Posted

    oh dawn thats not great is it .surgeons have some cheek your pain should be ok !!!! my god where do these surgeons come from ,they are suposed to be caring profession !!!!  just because you dont fit into his little boxes . im so mad !!! and your doctor is poor to say the least .im so sorry for you ,change your doctor and get one that has a heart ! you have been through a huge op and your not ready to work thats for sure .i do hope things work out for you
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