Posted , 12 users are following.
Hi, I was just wondering when other people were going for TKR surgery were they told by the surgeon the failure statistics or risks involved ?
Replies appreciate
Rose
0 likes, 39 replies
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robert61422 rosemary63666
Posted
Yes, the surgeon went over them very quickly, everything up to and including death.
Plus you have to sign a surgery consent that also lists everything that could possibly go wrong.
rosemary63666 robert61422
Posted
I'm sure I signed a form but I wasn't explained what was written in the form....or asked to read it before I signed it.... I just signed it for consent to be operated on...I was shown the prosthesis they would be implanting alright, just wish I was told then what I know now....ie 1 in 5 wish they never had it done, me being one of them, and I'm one of the 10% who is no better off after having it done...I'm worse now than before...I'm so cross and angry, my life is on hold and have been in pain since the day I got it done...June 2018 ....I need it done again he told me as my knee is loose...I don't understand, does this mean the prosthesis wasn't fitted properly....it didn't just get loose because the pain is there since day 1.....
Rose
purplerlover rosemary63666
Posted
Rose, will you have the same surgeon do it again? I would get a 2nd opinion. You should not have had to suffer so long. Did you have PT, deep tissue massage. What did he tell you when you saw him or called in to report it was no better. I do not think I would trust him. Basically after my surgery my surgeon was like a car salesman. He did the surgery, got his money and was done with me. I was only give 5mg of Norco. Nothing else for the pain. It was major surgery and this is what he deems enough for pain. I know you have to do the home exercises the PT gives you. I am just starting week 10. My knee has been numb, swollen, stiff and extremely painful. The PT is great. But it still swells and I can't get my leg straight. If I ice, walk, bike it all causes swelling. If not for icing and the ice machine I would have given up long ago. I also have Diabetes and Fibromyalgia which I am told cause you to heal slower. Have not had one day without pain of some kind. Please let us know what you do. Hang in there, we are all in the boat.
rosemary63666 purplerlover
Posted
Hi purplelover, thank you for your interest in my dilemma, it helps to know somebody cares because I feel so let down after this shocking experience.
The surgeon has retired that did my operation....I only saw him once since he did the TKR which was 5 weeks after the op....he had a look at the x-ray and said he'd see me in 4 months time which would have been November 2018...he was standing up at the door to see me out so I had to squeeze in 2 questions while out in the corridor ....1 was about the numbness and the other was about the swelling....he made me feel I was insignificant, anyway I wasn't called back in november, or December so I rang his secretary to ask why she made some excuse about him retiring...my after care is almost non existent....she got me an appointment for following week...I feel like I was abandoned, so the replacement surgeon told me the reason I am still in pain is because my implant is loose...I can't believe it...I'm sorry to hear you are having issues too, I hope your gp has given you more pain relief. I also have diabetes. It's still early days for you, 10 weeks is not long, I know it feels like forever, this major operation is so slow and has taken months of living away from us...keep in touch....I'm waiting for my medical records and then I'm going for second opinion
Rose
kathy63770 rosemary63666
Posted
I was not. As a matter of fact, the surgery was explained to me as being relatively easy. My experience was far from that. 11 weeks out and still dealing with stiffness that makes it difficult to walk correctly. Physical therapy 3 times a week up until this week...I changed it to 2 times now.
But no information given to me in advance about failure or risks.
Guest kathy63770
Posted
Agreed. My dr told me I would be fine to return to work in 3-4 weeks, and made it sound like this would be basically a piece of cake. NOT! I am still angry with him at 7 months post, and am having some issues with the knee. I will not be recommending this dr to anyone based on his follow-up care. My family dr called the knee doctor's behavior "medical abandonment."
rosemary63666 kathy63770
Posted
Same here Kathy, I was telling him I have a cousin who found the pain excruciating after operation, and he just passed it off....it's not like that now he said.
davidjk22 Guest
Posted
Some people are fine to return to work in 3-4 weeks, but only on Fantasy Island. In the real world where we live it takes much longer.
kathy63770 davidjk22
Posted
I do believe that some progress much faster than I am progressing. I expected a 6 week recovery....or close to a recovery, and was sadly mistaken. I can pretty much do normal every day activities like shop...clean...cook. But walking any long distance isn't possible yet without stiffness and a limp. Hoping I continue to slowly improve each week. This has been a long journey.
rosemary63666 Guest
Posted
Alimarie you sound like me and my story....7 months ago I got mine done....to hear him say last week I need it done again....anyone would think it was a bad hair cut I got and just a matter of fact get it done again! Just like that....😡
davidjk22 kathy63770
Posted
I have had 2 TKRs first 20 years ago other knee 18½ years ago. I was back working full time 6 months with each knee. No problems since and still ok. It can be a long process but it is worth it.
Guest rosemary63666
Posted
GRRRR! I've been hopping mad at my surgeon, so much so that I asked to see the physician assistant rather than him. I have seen another surgeon in a larger city that specializes in TKR problems and revisions, but so far - he says as long as I'm making progress, we won't consider a revision. I do not intend to allow the first surgeon to ever touch me again.
I'm so sorry you are having to go through this again!
rosemary63666 Guest
Posted
Alimarie you TKR was same time as me then ( last June )I'm waiting for my medical records and then I'm going for second opinion. Your 2nd surgeon sounds good, he didn't rush in to send you for a revision,
Best of luck with your progress
Rose.
lynda49844 rosemary63666
Posted
Yes, my surgeon told me and the hospital had a video on its website that nearly put me off having the surgery!
I was told that there was a 1% chance of infection, the possibility of a fracture, nerve damage or damage to a blood vessel that in a worse case scenario could lead to amputation although extremely rare. . I was also told about 15% of patients consider themselves no better off after surgery and of those 5% wish they'd never had it done.
I still went ahead!
rosemary63666 lynda49844
Posted
Fair play to you Lynda, if I was told that I wouldn't have had it done. I take it you have no problems after.. that's great
lynda49844 rosemary63666
Posted
It's still early days for me, just over 5 weeks. i was told it would be very painful, could expect to be walking short distances in 6 weeks, which I am - around 20-30 mins, should be able to do most of my previous activities by 3 months, although could take longer and 12 months for a full recovery. Physio starts next week so that should be fun and we'll see how we go from there.
My decision to proceed was helped in that I knew several people who had already had it done successfully. I'm sorry to,hear of your issues. Loose components do happen. Did they use cement or was it a cementless replacement? Maybe too much bone was drilled out?
rosemary63666 lynda49844
Posted
Lynda I don't know if cement or not was used, I wasn't told anything like that...I live in Ireland are you in America? I bet you have much better health care than we have here .
lynda49844 rosemary63666
Posted
No, I'm in England, but lucky to live near an orthopaedic centre of excellence. It's not my local hospital, but all elective ortho surgical procedures are carried out there now. I haven't seen my surgeon since I saw him in theatre. Intensivists, specialist nurses and physios looked after us post-op and I've been able to contact a discharge team for any queries since leaving hospital. I have my post op review in 2 weeks at my local hospital where my surgeon is based.
A word of advice - ask how many knee replacements and revisions your next surgeon has done in the past 3 years and what the success rate is in both cases. Try to find a surgeon who averages around at least 100 replacements a year. I'm sorry you're having such problems and wish you a successful outcome.
rosemary63666 lynda49844
Posted
Thank you so much Lynda for advice and kindness
Rose