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Injury after TKR

Posted , 9 users are following.

MiXCSkier
MiXCSkier

I'm posting this as a new discussion (originally posted in "Athletic Activities after TKR"wink to share about knee injuries (falls, etc.) occurring after TKR.

I just broke my knee cap!

4 weeks post surgery– after working almost a full day, then going to the gym, I thought, well I’ll walk the dogs before icing, I’m doing so well, so, off we go.  I’m feeling a little sore, but that’s not unusual with TKR, right? 

Anyway, I’m just walking along and the dog's galloping around like usual, and veers over and bumps me right on the knee from the behind/side (really not even hard - he's not even a big dog).  Just as I say “no!” I feel the knee shift out of joint then back in, then a rush of pain. I collapse on the trail and scream and cry for a bit (I know I’m screwed and my TKR recovery is screwed).  

So, I broke my knee cap somehow.  The good news is my Knee Replacement parts and connections seem unaffected according to the xrays.  The bad news is 6 week recovery for the knee cap (after surgery to fix it), then I can get back to recovery from the TKR.

I”ll see my surgeon on Monday, to confirm or change the above ER diagnosis, and to schedule surgery.

Bitter.

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • MiXCSkier
    MiXCSkier

    Posted

    I'm worried that all that time in a cast or immobilizer to heal the knee cap will prevent me ever getting the ROM I will need to return to my pre-TKR (well pre- arthritis) activities!

    • laurel65763
      laurel65763 MiXCSkier

      Posted

      Sorry to hear this! Your knee will recover, it will just take a bit longer. Post op complications kept my knee flexed at -45 and I could not straighten or bear weight for 7 months. But with PT, massage therapy, JAS brace and determination  I am at zero extension and 125 flexion 11 months post op. I was in a wheelchair for almost 10 months so have to rebuild muscle and stamina. Today I walked in a pool for 45 minutes for the first time. 

      You can recover. Best wishes!

    • carol8104
      carol8104 laurel65763

      Posted

      So sorry for you.  I csnt walk in pool as it swells up the knee worse! Talk about frustration when you were active all of your life,  Depression is killing me feeling this way as I like being an independent person.  So then I have autoimmune disease so I thought it would help if I joined one of those sites.  On this site, at least you can discuss what you are doing to be better but that site was just for people who were taking medicine and how the medicine helped.  If you mentioned diet or exercise or essential oils you were using to feel better they thought you sold the stuff.  So now I joined an alternative medicine site.  When you have alot of health problems, mine was esonophenalic WBC  count was really low.  In my case it was caused from being allergic to the anesthetic they used for my knee surgery.  Do not only having a TKR, then I developed chronic diarrhea from the high WBC and the medication called Nucala was not approved by my health insurance as it cost $10,000.00.  So I went to an alternative medication doctor.  She put me on ginger root, curcumin and ashwandgha.  I also took basil, oregano, and paco’d arco essential oils. It totally wiped out the problem in two months and increased my IGg proteins doubling them.  This alone started to help me to feel and get better! But this website told me that you can’t tell people you take anything but the medicine (gammaglobulin) to get well, I was so sad as my insurance won’t pay for lots of medicine I need and here I was so happy that I was getting better w/o it and I was told you can’t tell people what you do to get well.  Ithad fuined my last two days.  I believe in living a healthy diet, no smoking, no drugs, no drinking and exercise to feel healthy and happy.  I have had to do this just to live as I have genetic defects so to be told we only talk about medicine and I worry daily when is insurance going to tell me no to my meds?  So when doctors treat me bad because they are not educated on how to help me when I am ill, it is disheartening.  So my TKR is only a part of my health issues and prevent me from getting better with other health issues.  The doctor should not have done the surgery!  Especially, if he can’t handle the complications of a TKR!
    • laurel65763
      laurel65763 carol8104

      Posted

      I also believe in detoxing body and environment. Boosting the immune system helps via nutrition, supplements, homeopathics, essential oils, guided imagery and science now proves energy can be measured in frequencies. The use of chemicals, preservatives, processed food, impure water, etc. affects the body, mind and spirit. Being housebound except for doctor appointments when someone would have to drive and push my wheelchair made me aware of the challenges disabilities create. I am grateful I am improving and hope that you find healthy solutions other than medications with side effects.
  • marilyn10235
    marilyn10235 MiXCSkier

    Posted

    Oh dear! Sorry to hear about your kneecap. It will put you back a bit in your recovery from TKR but never fear you will do it.

    I wish you well & good luck with impending (other) surgery!

    Marilyn 

    XX

  • carol8104
    carol8104 MiXCSkier

    Posted

    I am so sorry this has happened to you.  My whole TKR has been a disaster from day 1.  I have worked out, yoga and swimming and it just keeps swelling and my pain is unbearable at almost 4 months.  I am so over this! I have had two meniscus surgeries prior to this surgery and have suffered in pain for two years prior so I was hoping that the pain would be gone after surgery but it is not the case and hurts every minute of every day and night.  I have found some help with some OTC products online but I will never trust a surgeon again after this botched job.  Not too mention in a coma 7 days after surgery, overdosed with opioids, and now infection in the knee.  This doctor was supposed to be a top doctor here in McKinney TX but I was royally screwed by the doctor and his PA and staff!

    • laurel65763
      laurel65763 carol8104

      Posted

      I'm sorry to hear of your terrible experience! while we are not to compare our recovery as everyone is different, when healing is affected by lack of professionalism or caring there is just no reason for it to happen.

      I had emphasized an allergy to chlorhexidine, it was in my records, on the chart and I told the staff preop. When I read my post op medical records, I discovered they had scrubbed my leg with chlorhexidine! As a retired RN I realize mistakes happen, but I have to wonder if that was why I had post op complications and 11 months later am only starting to walk with crutches. 

      I wish you the the best in your recovery. Next knee I am finding a doctor and hospital from personal recommendations and getting allergy tests to the glues and dressings they use so I can avoid complications. 

    • MiXCSkier
      MiXCSkier carol8104

      Posted

      Wow that sounds really awful! TKR is supposed to rid you of arthritis pain but I guess you trade one for the other in some cases. My Dr. said success rate is 80% full recovery, but those 20% of folks with complications sure have a rough time!
  • Wicca1971
    Wicca1971 MiXCSkier

    Posted

    Omg! I am so so sorry. That sucks, I mean really truly sucks! I work at an animal hospital and always get so nervous around the dogs. Always afraid a dog is going to trip me up or try to bite me and I can't move away quick enough because of the tkr. Hope your recovery is quick and you can get back to recovering from your TKR.

  • Neizie
    Neizie MiXCSkier

    Posted

    How discouraging for you! I can't imagine. You were doing well and you will again.

    Best wishes.

  • sarah87162
    sarah87162 MiXCSkier

    Posted

    Oh dear!

    Hope you manage to forgive your dog.

    Sarah

    • MiXCSkier
      MiXCSkier sarah87162

      Posted

      It wasn't his fault, I wear he didn't bump me hard. And he's been my "emotional support animal", laying with me on the couch and such.

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