Depressed

Posted , 16 users are following.

Keep busy as hard as it may seem, especially if you are in pain. I've been depressed since I've been in so much pain for about a month now. However been in pain for almost 3 mo. Everyday pain since surgery. Pain level 8. I refuse to let the pain win. I force my self to stay motivated no matter how much I hurt.. I can see why we get depressed for me my life has been taken away. I would never do replacement again. Huge mistake. I am worse than I was before..

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  • Posted

    There is nothing about a TKR that is easy well okay one thing  when they put you to sleep to do the surgery. Once you wake up it will be an uphill battle before you feel human again. I have had 5 replacements on the same knee and on June 18th will # 6. One things is certain every single time I have had a TKR  it hurts there is no getting around it. If anyone knows what its like to be miserable for weeks and months its me I get it. I wish the Dr.s would be a little more forthcoming about what to expect pain wise. Maybe I am a glutton for punishment but as bad as post op pain is the pain leading up to point of surgery is not fun either. By giving your pain in 8 I know what that is like but I look at the pain scale a little differently. On the 1 to 10 scale ( this is just how I look at it ) if I was at a 10 to me that would mean a horrible car crash or a major accident something that could cause me to lose my life - my version of a 10. The pain you feel right after surgery example being you finally get to your room and in comes the therapist and you have to get up and walk to the door and back to your bed that is to me an 8 or 9. When I am in severe pain from overdoing it when my knee is more swollen then normal I can hardly walk I will give that a 7 everyday pain for me is a 5 sometimes a 6. Not everyone will agree with me but that is how I look at the pain scale. Pain sucks I get it but the worst thing is to do nothing when I am in lots of pain I ice and elevate. By using ice it helps with swelling and reduces the pain level. I believe if it was not for pain meds ice is the next best thing. It really bugs me that I have to have another surgery but it bugs me even more that the pain I am dealing with currently in my knee is getting worse both stink. I wish I never knew anything about knee pain and how did I start with a torn meniscus to where I am at now. Patience is key to getting thru this exercising building the muscles back up one day the pain will ease up your knee will feel better but it takes time. 

    Take care and if nothing else in less then 3 weeks I will be complaining of how I feel then you can remind me of everything.

    • Posted

      Nwf, has your ortho ever suggested "iovera" prior to knee surgery? Apparently, it provides pain relief and or reduces the amount of narcotics post surgery. It freezes the nerves for 2-3 months while they go thru the process of regenerating. I saw my ortho yesterday for possible loosening of my implant (19 months post TKR), numbness and pain L. knee and he brought iovera up. I am now going thru the routine work up scheduled to check for infection via lab work, bone scan, and EMG to see if there is nerve entrapment.

      Also, did you ever say why you have had so many previous TKR revisions on the same knee? Bad luck, (I know you said infections and loosening of implant), bad doctors? I don't understand why so many? What could they have done to prevent so many revisions?

    • Posted

      I have never heard of that?? Prior to finally getting somewhere with a fresh Dr. I went to a Pain Specialist and tried to get a nerve block. The trial went great but when they did the actual block nothing. The one good thing they suggested I see a different Ortho Dr. I really wish I could give you an answer? The Dr.s I have had are all good I did my research. There is a stupid saying " S**t Happens " I know its dumb I agree but I really do not know. Sometimes I have felt it was my fault maybe I was expecting too much or not willing to live with pain?? I have been told it does happen not often but it does happen. Hopefully this will be it the Dr. does a lot of surgeries for cancer patients who have lost bone tissue due to their disease. For what its worth he has been very thorough as far as what needs to be done in my case. He has ruled out infection ( THANK GOD !!!!!!!!!! ) and he saw the current implant was not put in properly misaligned so hopefully this time will be a winner??  

    • Posted

      Okay so why 6 I thought a knee replacement was supposed to last 10 to 20 years why are you getting so many even if you was 50 60 70 80 90
    • Posted

      Hi Michelle,

      i wondered the same thing.  I struggled with knee pain for years before they we’re replaced.  I’d have check ups with Surgeons etc and they do tell me I’m too young at 47 to have them done.  They’d say that the replacement lasts around 10 yrs or maybe longer and the op would only be done twice at the most.  That it was better to wait till I was older for that reason.  I told them I’d rather be able to enjoy the new knees in my 50’s rather than wait till I was too old.  I suppose though, if there’s a fault, problem etc, they would reoperate.  6 new knees though!!!😮 unheard of until now.  Imagine the tens of thousands they cost to replace.  

      Best of of luck to all recipients.

      Sue xx

    • Posted

      yes I was told the same thing 10 to 20 and June 18th will be my 6th one. Looking back I had problems with loosening with the 3rd which led to the 4th but then I had an infection the 5th should have been okay but it was not aligned properly so here I am at # 6. As far as replacement I saw the bill for # 5 before insurance paid their part it was approx. 225K. now X 5 then add all the other surgeries I have had on the knee the total would be pretty high!!  My 1st was in my 40's and I think the real problem I use to do electrical work and use to be overweight. Climbing up and down ladders kneeling on concrete all day everyday did my knee in. If I had the opportunity to do it over I would have never done electrical work but anyway. 

    • Posted

      nwf, I was wondering if each time they revise your knee implant, does your leg get shorter because of the bone they have to remove? I'm in a catch 22 because I am mildly allergic to the bone cement and I did not want to chance it in the implant. I am very allergic to adhesives and my skin turns red and itches. I have to be careful about what shoes I wear because the glue underneath the leather insoles cause my feet to break out in a rash and itch like crazy!!!

    • Posted

      Never had that problem I was however worried but this Dr. that is going to do my surgery said you can get implants to fit no matter what size length etc its not an issue. In fact he should me a picture of someone that had the entire femur as well as the knee. It was pretty amazing but also kind of gross as well. So I am not worried about the one leg being shorter then the other. 
    • Posted

      As I explained to Sue when  replied to her this did not strt off with an infection in the knee at all.

      It started off as a urinary tract infection which then spread to my knee. My consultant said that if you have had a joint replaced and you get an infection anywhere in your body, if the infection is going to spread it will most likely spread to the replaced joint regardless of how long ago the joint was replaced.

      I think that is the answer basically.

      Sarah

  • Posted

    Michelle, I totally undersand.  I was 4 mths post op yesterday and my knee was hurting, swollen, hot to the touch all all day.  LIke it had just been operated on.  I am like you, NEVER have my other leg done an wish to hell I had not had this one done.  People that I know that have had TKR and are doing so well can't understand why Im having so much trouble.   Well, neither can I ?   Makes me wonder about the surgeon???

  • Posted

    Oh! Michelle it’s so hard at first. Have you seen your GP he/she may be able to help.  Y problem was and is I lost so much confidence,but if you met me you would be surprised as Iam usually the most confident loud person going ..having my hip replacement 2 1/2 years ago didn’t effect me like this! I became near to agriphobic then one day I thought NO you are not getting the better of me and hey ho!  I’m off,can you see your consultant again? You shouldn’t be at pain level 8 after 3 months

    i lay hope you are better soon

  • Posted

    I’m on my 4th week of tkr and I’m at a 5 in pain level everyday gets better I’m shopping driving doing house work watching my grandkids it’s a process it takes time and you must do your homework on the dr that’s doing the surgery plug the dr name in and read what the patients say about him ..I happened to have a great dr to do this surgery 

    ..but 9 months before that I had a different dr do the clean out of my knee but he did a horrible job I got a different dr for the knee replacement...I also had a paraesophageal hernia which my ENTIRE stomach slipped into my chest you what to talk abt pain try dealings with that dr had to pull my stomach out on my chest 160.000 surgery which I didn’t think I’d live through that but here I am DONT GIVE UP ON THAT KREE YOU HAVE TO WORK IT BUT DONT PUSH IT I had a physical therapy at my house for 2 wks and he said all you need it a slite pull you should be making more pain stretch but not hard

    • Posted

      A year?!?!?   Like you had pain for a year???    I am 4 mths post op and am about to lose my mind.  I feel like I have wasted 4 mths of my life!!  And see no light at the end of the tunnel
  • Posted

    I am 18 month’s post TKR. I remember feeling depressed, discouraged and disappointed. My pain seemed to be never ending. PT was agony.  I can say that it took a year to feel really good.  I can walk my 90 pound dog (actually he walks me) and resumed activities I never thought I would ever be able to do.  I urge you to speak to your doctor. Pain is a big issue with TKR. Your pain should be under control by now.  Being crippled with pain is no way to live.  If you are unhappy with your surgeon, get a new doctor.  Be an advocate for yourself.  Speak up! 

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