Hi Amberpep. Just read your message. Could your swollen ankle be because you are retaining water? I have the same problem. I'm on a water pill. Barbarabx

Hi there ..... that's what I wondered, but it's only 1 ankle, which seemed odd. My MD was not very helpful. And it only started after I broke that outside bone of my left foot 2x in a row. I want to see her again anyhow, because I was not at all satisfied with the results from my bloodwork ..... she did not test for Vit. D, T-3 or T-4, all of which have been low in the passed. I like her, but things are mounting up and I'm wondering.
abby

@amberpep Hi Abby: I think you are "right-on" to consider talking with your doctor again. I firmly believe in the power of being our own patient advocates! There is no one more interested in our health that we are. Make a list of these items that you would like to discuss with your doctor and ask for her help to alleviate your concerns and remember a second opinion is always wise, especially if it is with a specialist (perhaps a specialist who deals with bones, etc.) I wish you well as you take charge of your health care and seek answers that would be good for you. I am also tagging the moderator for the "Bone/Joint" group, @JustinMcClanahan. Teresa

Thanks Teresa ..... yes, I'm going to call next week for an appt. with her. This whole blood profile is sort of set up for the person who just takes everything at face value and doctor's word as the "final word." That's not me ..... I want more information. There are advantages to getting older .... I've found my voice!
abby

@amberpep Abby: I'm glad to hear that you have "found your voice." That is a benefit of maturing (I prefer that word to aging!). Keep in touch and let us know how your appointment goes and how you are doing! Teresa

@amberpep I know sometimes I just accept what the doctor says and then after I get out of the office I wish I had asked more. I hope your doctor would have given you a more complete explanation if you did ask, and I'm glad to hear you have another appointment with her to get more information. I am the same, "There are advantages to getting older .... I've found my voice!", in that. My PCP may not like that but too bad.
Also, it does sound like that ankle is retaining fluid. Is the lymphatic responsible for fluid and it's retention? If so maybe that's what she was saying.

It intrigued me that you are getting synvisc in a knee that has been replaced, I didn't think they ever did that with an artificial knee. I have the shots numerous times in my left knee, but not in my right knee which has been replaced. The irony there is that the replaced one hurts more than the one needing to be replaced. I have an appointment for that surgery in the beginning of May, with a different doctor for the left knee, but I may postpone it. I just do not feel ready for another surgery yet, after having had my liver transplant in the end of September, and right now my left knee is doing pretty well thanks to exercising a lot. As I understand if you exercise the supporting muscles in your thigh help a bad knee function better and it sure has with me. I was visibly limping last year but am not anymore.

Hi there ... I wondered about the synvisc too, but they had withdrawn so much fluid from the first TKR, that's when they did it. Obviously it didn't work because I had the revision 2 years later, and now my knee is really great. I have moved about 3-4 hours away from the doctor who did the surgery, and I'm seriously thinking that if I ever need the other one done, I will go back to him, go to the rehab. up there, and then come home to heal. I would be able to drive up there myself for the checkups as that would be my left knee then. Yes, the ankle swelling is from the lymphatic system, but why did it start since the TKR's? That's what I don't understand.
abby

@amberpep, Hmm, the fluid draw is very probably (very probably? is that a proper expression?) the reason for the synvisc. Synvisc has to be redone every 6 months or so but if they withdrew too much fluid I wonder if it would regenerate. Probably not, just like when the synovial fluid gets worn away, it's gone for good.

I had an appointment for surgery on my left knee on May 2 but I cancelled it today. I just cannot stand the thought of another recuperation after my liver transplant less than six months ago, plus all the exercise I am doing has really helped my knee by helping my surrounding muscles. I had a pronounced limp but do not anymore. I guess I am gunshy too since my right knee, the one already replaced, is more of a problem now than the left knee.

I can totally understand wanting to return to the same doctor with whom you are so happy, I would do the same I think. I have such good luck with the doctors at MGH that I am even considering changing my PCP to one down there -- it's an hour away with no traffic but during the day we give the drive two hours.

That's an interesting question, about why the swelling started after the surgery. I hope you find an answer to that and let us know. I am curious too.

So happy to hear that your knee is great though, that must be such a relief.

Hi there .... you said "MGH" .....You wouldn't by any chance mean Montgomery General Hospital Medstar would you? That's where I had my knee done in Olney, MD.
abby

@amberpep, No, I am in New England and for us in New England MGH is Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. It just never occurred to me that there might be other MGHs! I live in NH and so many people up here assume that the big city hospitals like MGH are cold and uncaring but I have found just the opposite. They have been positively wonderful there. If I lived closer I would go there for my PCP too, but during the day the commute can take two hours with traffic. As it is I go there for my Barrett's Esophagus, and I go to a doctor at a "partner hospital" for ortho.

JK