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I had tkr 6/24/2014 today date is 3/4/2016, I have not been able to bend my knee since day one

Posted , 8 users are following.

denise62920
denise62920

I have been explainin for the last year if the pain and not being able to raise my leg up, doctor saying it's scar tissue but I know it's not I explained that I think my knee cap was not properly place back, finally I had a ultrasound done and it's confirm that knee cap is not sitting in the right place, all this time all the pain and now waiting to see what they plan on doing, my surgery left without explain why he left the practice I really feel it had something to do with the 8 surgery he performed the morning of my surgery, because 6 are having the same problem I am and 2 did well. I am just ready to do the things I once could do. My new doctor is discussing that I have my knee cap resurface due to the surgery did not do it while he was on my knee the first time. I guess what I am asking what should I do as far as my first doctor mistake.

0 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

  • mark455
    mark455 denise62920

    Posted

    Hi Denise its hard to prove a Dr made a mistake. You said 6 out of 8 pts. currently have the same problem às you do? Have the other people sought legal help or had their knees repaired? There is strength in numbers. I personally had the same trouble as your talking about and I ended up with a revision on that knee my 3rd new knee. Wishing you the best and good luck.
  • Oldfatguy1
    Oldfatguy1 denise62920

    Posted

    In the US it would be a solid medical malpractice suit if they were sure they could get just one Dr that would verify the error. First things first and that would be getting the knee fixed properly so you are out of pain. The other surgeon should be reported through whatever agency governs that in your area. That way he could be put under some sort of supervision or have some restrictions placed on him until he can otherwise be dealt with.

    You come first and all the rest can wait

    • mark455
      mark455 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      Hello Mr oldfat guy. Someone suggested I talk to you about joint problem's, I'm on my 12th joint replacement, have you had to have revisions to your joint replacements? How does someone here contact another patient without doing it in open forum? If I don't get a chance to talk to you good luck.
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 mark455

      Posted

      In the upper right hand corner is the little email envelope of the person you want to contact. From there you can send a private message. Yeas I've had a revision and then had the revision replaced due to a staph infection
  • sueisobel
    sueisobel denise62920

    Posted

    Unless you have absolute proof and paperwork and x-rays and a witness who was in hte operating theatre at the time, there is not a lot that can be done. You can put your complaint to the ombudman or even the Medical Council, but at the end of the day, if the surgeon is penalised all; it will just be aslap on the wrist. My advice is to get the remdial work done and put everything else behind you.

    ​(The other thing that could have happened is if you did not do your initial physio properly, your quads would not be strong enough to lift your leg and the tendon holding your knee cap in place would not be able to align properly)

    ​No point depressing yourself on the historical, concentrate on the future.

    ​

    (I know I sound unsympathetic, but have been in quite a few situations whereby a "misdiagose" has happened and only by keeping on going back to the doctors (mine is like a terrier) did I get the proper treatment, I once saw a consultant, who without sending me for an xray said I'd pulled a muscle and to go to physio, transpired after a lot of painful exercises I had broken my shoulder blade!) Yes it was down on my notes and yes there was a nurse in the room at the time, but there was nothing I could do.  When you think about it, this is all minor compared with the more serious diagnoses that go on all around the world.  Wishing you well

  • veronica91735
    veronica91735 denise62920

    Posted

    I feel for you. I too needed an ultrasound to prove that my knee cap was misaligned - but when opened up for the revision, the whole prosthisis was found to be mechanically loose, & would never have worked. I am 18 weeks post revision & it's a long hard slog. I'm 17 months into it so far from the primary TKR to now - you have suffered longer. Go with a surgeon that you trust & for what they recommend. I felt that knowing I had had problems, they look after you better! I was the last of 9 having TKR's in Oct 2014 - he didn't even start me until 6.30pm, & had been operating since 8am - but it is impossible to aportion blame (in my case) - you however, have a number of people in the same boat. Get it fixed, then see what you can all do about the surgeon!
    • denise62920
      denise62920 veronica91735

      Posted

      I was the very first patient that morning of the 8 patient. From 7:30 am till about 9:45am. I went back 3 months later for a manipulation and clean up scar tissue, which he claims that he was able to been my knee all the way back, which I feel is a lie. Then after that months later he said it's nothing he could do and send me to pain management, which the tried several experiment, which none didn't help. Then I received a letter in the nail that he my surgery doctor was leaving the practice and that if we decide to continue coming to the office that he had two other brothers in the same practice that we could choose one of them to farther be seen by, we'll I had no other choice but to continue there because no other doctors would look at me. Let me back up, my first surgery doctor during my knee manipulation, their were another patient that was there to have the same thing done to her we found ound her surgery was the same day as mines and dame problem as mines she informed me that 4 others patient that had surgery the same day as our was in need of manipulation as us. She also told me when they took me back for my manipulation she could hear mean screaming to the top of my lungs she said she over heard the nurses saying my lord poor then, even under anastasia she was still feeling the pain, that the had to anastasia me some more. I don't remember anything from it know more than everything afterward. I wished I had gotten her name a number. Now I have the older brother looking to my care he also 9 months later tried manipulation and othroscopic and he went on to say that his baby brother which is the first surgery doctor would have people to believe he knows more the him and he been doing it for 28 years compared to his baby brother which has only been doing it for 10 years. He said at times he would suggest to his younger brother let the patient know that to prove that they knee been during the manipulation, he would have their knee tied back so as soon as they come thru from anastasia they would see that their knee could bebd, so I said I would like that very much myself, he said it would be very painful but that he would do it, so I am all excited about waking up to see that the manipulation had work, only to wake up and see that both legs was side beside one another. My wife question him as to why he didn't do it and he never could answer her no more than he was able to get it to bend, so I am just so sad because I am the youngest female out if 10 sibling and it just bothers me to a point that u feel like giving up at times. My regular family doctor said to me when I ask him to refured me to a new orthopedic specialist, he said ain't no one going to attempt to try and go behind my first doctor and I am learning no one isn't, that's not fair, I have the insurance that will pay 100 percent. I really need someone to help me.
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 denise62920

      Posted

      It really depends on where you wre, I guess. Seems like each area of every country does things differently. Here in the US insurance companies even state they will pay for 2nd opinions and 99% of the Dr's I've been around will suggest it if there is any questions or doubts. I have heard certain medical center's are somewhat reluctant to clean up another surgeons mess, but this is rare and circumstances are very involved.

      Where are you located

  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 denise62920

    Posted

    Sorry you and others are having this trouble.

    I had TKR 4 years ago and had an excellent consultant.

    Had my knee x rayed the day after the operation, and at finaldischarge appointment.

    Not sure what you could do in your situation.

    If you have to have another operation, just make sure you go to a different consultant.

    Take care and keep in touch

    Sarah

  • tom809
    tom809 denise62920

    Posted

    I would get 2nd. opinions from 2 different doctors who have a lot of experience in revision surgery and then follow the advice that seems best to you . Hopefully the 2 doctorr will agree in their recommendations. If not you will need to get a 3rd, opinion. It sounds like you have no choice but to have a revision done. 
    • denise62920
      denise62920 tom809

      Posted

      Yes, I don't so mind the revision it just that my hope is to be able to walk normal and pain free, the last dr. Is from Cleveland Clinic and he said we will discuss the resurface of the patella and go from there. It's like even though the first doctor didn't resurface it because of my age, I still need it done and I was 43 at the time now 45, not that much different I am not understanding.
  • tom809
    tom809 denise62920

    Posted

    I would think the Cleveland Clinic docs should be well qualified
  • sueisobel
    sueisobel denise62920

    Posted

    It is the scarring that is stopping you bending your knee.  You have not mentioned what type of physiotherapy you are undertaking.

    By manipulating your knee all that happens is you are in an induced state of relaxation, and your knee is forced to bend.  The surgeons are not really interested once they have operated on you.  Sounds hard, but that is their only remit.  The next stage is either physio or pain management, who not only help you cope with the pain, but suggest other ways of helping you out of your situation (there are other non invasive means of helping you bend your knee). If you are in pain you must take your meds otherwise it will be a never-ending circle of stiffness and pain. By ridding yourself of the pain, your brain is more able to cope with you trying to bend your knee

    • mark455
      mark455 sueisobel

      Posted

      I've had my knee freeze up after surgery and I was put under so the Dr could bend my leg, all went pretty well, and yes take your pain medication as directed so you can stay ahead of the pain. Good luck
  • Sickofpain
    Sickofpain denise62920

    Posted

    I am 2.5 years out from both knees 4 months apart. Severe front. Knee pain. They have no idea but I can't sit for more than an hour.

    i can swim two miles, kickass at Pilates, walk on my hands had 100% flexion few days after surgery. Knee bend great. 

    Pall that said, how in the world did your knee Doctor not catch that before you left the operating table. Right after they put the I plant in the moved your knee around bend it, supposed to test it before they stitch you up.

    i am beyond p*ssed off at my knee Doctor for ignoring my "I can't sit comments for 8 months without severe pain coming on. 

    But your issues, how did so many let that go on for so long. No way you had scar tissue the first 45 days. They don't even start rubbing out the knee scar until then. 

    We we are the opposite my knees bend beautifully. But I never remember to bend them. So now other issues. 

    Good odd luck on your recovery. They just did a bone scan 4 months ago to make sure the implants were okay.

    it is not my damn knees unless they can talk to each other and the pain starts at the same time and escalates.  Apparently the fact the pain is in the front of the knees is the issue nobody can figure out, as my life falls apart.

    i am on here as somebody has to have this. I am wY past desperate. 

     

    • mark455
      mark455 Sickofpain

      Posted

      I know what you mean by saying your desperate, I've been living with a torn quadricep tendon since getting a revision on my left knee, I have been complaining of severe pain in my left knee since 08/2014 my surgeon looked everywhere except my knee, I had MRSA infection in my left hip so my Dr thought the pain was coming from that when that got better my Dr thought the pain in my knee was coming from my back as I had nerve damage down my leg and into my foot from bad disk in my back I had the disk removed and spacer's put in their place then they fused my spine in a 12 hour operation as I healed up from the back surgery I still am having severe pain in my left me in the front part of it my knee, I also have to lift my leg up to get into the car and if I'm driving one of our vehicles that has a clutch I have to lift my leg up to put my foot on the clutch pedal and when I walk my foot doesn't sit straight out in front of me when I walk it's off to the side when I put my foot down causing me to slip and fall March 22nd I'm having my quadricep surgery to fix the tear. My Dr looked at my knee and noticed I have a big dent in my leg above my kneecap so he orders a MRI the MRI confirmed the quadricep tear but it took from August 2014 to now to figure it out so I know what you mean by feeling desperate good good luck I hope you find somebody that will help you.
    • denise62920
      denise62920 mark455

      Posted

      I ask my doctor to order an mri but he said a mri want show but black marks because of the prosthetic knee I have is that true or did he lie again to me.
    • sueisobel
      sueisobel Sickofpain

      Posted

      If you are so far advanced that you can jump through hoops, but cannot sit, does that mean you have issues in bending easily. If that is so, you need to work on your tendons, they go across and hold your knee cap in place
    • tom809
      tom809 denise62920

      Posted

      No that is correct. You can not do an MRI  where there is metal. I would look into the possibility of nerve involvement.
    • Oldfatguy1
      Oldfatguy1 Sickofpain

      Posted

      Have the looked at the possibility of pinched nerves coming out of the spine. After one of my surgeries I had tremendous pain and difficulty in getting my hip to cooperate with my leg. After an MRI, a series of spinal injections did wonders.
    • tom809
      tom809 Oldfatguy1

      Posted

      I was thinking more of nerve entrapment around the knee. It's rare but often over looked. Entrapment of the peroneal nerve around the lateral side of the knee can cause dysfunction of the nerve which doe not create the classical foot drop (inability to lift foot up when walking) and numbness between the first and second toes but can cause vague numbness over the lateral superior part of the calf and a lot of lateral knee pain.
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