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Don't listen to anyone about YOUR body.

Posted , 14 users are following.

shirley87815
shirley87815

I had a TKR in June of 2008. From the beginning, I knew that something was wrong. I had unexplained pain in the outer leg of the replacement knee.  The nurse on one of these forums told me to "Suck it up and put in the work" in PT.  I did, but it got worse.  I then started experiencing numbness in the area.  Still, I was told on the forum that I was just being too critical.  I talked to my doctor who said it was a therapy problem, and the therapist said they could do nothing more, to see the doctor.  After going around in circleS listening to this forum nurse, I gave up and learned to deal with it.  I quit therapy and stopped seeing that doctor.  Then in 2012 I needed surgery on my thumbs.  I went to see another Ortho Surgeon, and loved this man.  I asked him about the knee problem and he took an xray, which the other doctor never did after surgery.  He showed me the film.  Proof was obvious, the replacement was too big for my leg.  I still have pain, and I still have numbness, but at least I know I am no idiot.  So PLEASE!!!! Listen to your own body and take advise from these forum with a grain of salt.

0 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • patsyrose
    patsyrose shirley87815

    Posted

    Re Veronica's comment regarding bespoke knees: I had a bespoke knee in Sept, but I am having far more problems with this knee than my other one which was a standard small one.  An x-Ray has proved that it is perfectly aligned and my consultant thinks that my problem (and pain) is excess scar tissue.  As we've said, every knee is different.

    Patsy

  • mary0606
    mary0606 shirley87815

    Posted

    I can assure you all that all joint replacements come in different sizes.

    be it hips knees whatever.

    when I worked in theatre we had a trolley full of varying different joints screws etc...each piece comes with an ID number which is attached to your operating theatre notes. And usually the surgeon keeps the others for his notes.

    the problem arised zwhen I had to have a revision of a shoulder all my notes had been destroyed as they were over 15 years old.so my new surgeon had to go in blind.

  • paul57039
    paul57039 shirley87815

    Posted

    Hi all, Just on the subject of joint replacement sizes, in Oz we have aprogram call RPA which is about a hospital in Sydney and whenever the show replacement joint operations there are always trays of each  component in size order for the surgeon to choose from. It is up to him to choose the right one!

    Regards Paul.

    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 paul57039

      Posted

      when I had my original tkr the surgeon asked my permission to have the factory rep in surgery so he could have him as a consultant. I always suspected they were heading out for lunch and golf as soon as they could get rid of me.
  • sarndra
    sarndra shirley87815

    Posted

    I recently had bilateral TKR's & so far everything going well.  Yes, usual problems with bending, tiredness, stairs etc, but really glad to have had them done as I can now walk without pain.  Saw my surgeon at 6 weeks & he was extremely happy with my progress & instead of seeing him at 3 mths will see him at 6 mths unless any problems before.  I also have to have an x-ray before I see him. to check every thing OK. It is so sad to hear stories like yours. Good luck.
  • mary0606
    mary0606 shirley87815

    Posted

    Paul, once the OS has determined the size, it is then collected by the scout and then it's checked by the head nurse and OS before the box is opened...

    I think all surgeons get remuneration from using certain joints.

    • paul57039
      paul57039 mary0606

      Posted

      Perhaps they had them all lined up for good television. I won't see my surgeon for about 3 years so I can't ask him.  smile
  • Dotty_Lotty
    Dotty_Lotty shirley87815

    Posted

    here here ! If I had listened to my first consultant I too would be going round in circles. I knew something was desperately wrong ( Like you I know my own body) I then actually paid privately for a scan after being told like you to "suck it up" and it was immediately obvious I was in serious trouble I had an emergency tkr within days (at a different clinic) anyone reading this please  please do not give up, make yourself heard and i do know how hard this can be but I also know what can happen if you dont , best wishes
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