Knee Replacement Failure - Need total reconstruction

@jeffkirc There are quite a few doctors who use the Conformis knee. If you google Conformis there will be a link to which doctors do it. Since I go to Boston for most of my medical care (I live about 55 miles north in NH), it was an easy choice to use Dr. Fitz since he is one of the developers of the knee. They do scan your knee. I know it is more costly than other knees but it was paid for in full. I really love Dr. Fitz too, he is very caring and diligent, just not “warm and fuzzy”.

Yep, I have a “minimally displaced fracture of the greater trochanter, L femur”, and yes, it really is very painful. I had been so excited and looking forward to my son’s wedding in CO in a few weeks but this has really put a damper on it. I am not looking forward to the flight at all. 🙁

I’m working on not feeling sorry for myself, there are so many worse problems I could have, but it’s interference with a very special week does have me down.
JK

@jeffkirc There are quite a few doctors who use the Conformis knee. If you google Conformis there will be a link to which doctors do it. Since I go to Boston for most of my medical care (I live about 55 miles north in NH), it was an easy choice to use Dr. Fitz since he is one of the developers of the knee. They do scan your knee. I know it is more costly than other knees but it was paid for in full. I really love Dr. Fitz too, he is very caring and diligent, just not “warm and fuzzy”.

Yep, I have a “minimally displaced fracture of the greater trochanter, L femur”, and yes, it really is very painful. I had been so excited and looking forward to my son’s wedding in CO in a few weeks but this has really put a damper on it. I am not looking forward to the flight at all. 🙁

I’m working on not feeling sorry for myself, there are so many worse problems I could have, but it’s interference with a very special week does have me down.
JK

I hope you can stay as positive as possible through this next chapter in your life. Cheers, Jeff

JK @contentandwell, It seems like when it rains it pours. I am so sorry to hear about your fracture and pain. It would be inconvenient at any time but especially when it interferes with your son's wedding. Is there a possibility of wearing some sort of brace to prevent any further problems and hopefully reduce the pain some if you are able to travel with it?

@jeffkirc Thanks, Jeff. I am working very hard at staying positive. I hardly slept last night due to pain so this morning I was pretty down and couldn't imagine myself doing the trek to CO but it is tolerable right now, thanks to some meds. I hope the doctor will re-prescribe, they are so overly cautious now.

@ellerbracke That is what I am concerned, the plane and then the activities out there -- a family barbecue at my son's house on Thursday night, a big rehearsal dinner and reception on Friday night (that I have arranged and am paying for so I certainly want to be present), a women's brunch with hair being done at my son's home on Saturday morning and then the wedding on Saturday night. Our plans are to take a red-eye home on Tuesday night, we wanted to do some sightseeing but at this point, I think I may look into changing our flights. Even if we have a penalty it would be somewhat offset by not having the expense of a hotel room.
I think the extent of the injury probably has more to do with my bone density than anything else, although my husband says I went down really hard so it may just be that. I broke a vertebra when I was in my 50s and they immediately thought it must be due to my bones being weak but when they did a density scan they were great but I had not gone through menopause at that time. Another one I went down hard on, on concrete steps. This accident happened, ironically, due to extreme pain in my other leg from sciatica! The pain was so intense that I passed out or probably it was a presyncope episode. Now that leg doesn't hurt at all! I hate not exercising, I feel like my hard work is going down the tubes now. I feel like a slug.

@debbraw Thanks. The doctors have not said much about the pain. The strange thing is that when I went to the ER last Tuesday they kept asking me about my level of pain (1 to 10) and when I was lying on the bed it was negligible but last night it was very bad as it was this morning, even just lying in bed. I hope I haven't done anything to make things worse. They said with this type of fracture since it's not weight-bearing, that I could do whatever I am comfortable with. Right now I am not feeling very comfortable with that and I may try to get in to see the doctor again, or possibly go the Boston to see a different ortho. I would be handling this so much better if not for the timing. I don't dare tell my son that there is some possibility that I may not be able to go, and I don't even want to admit that to myself. I know if I don't go that my husband won't either and he's my son's best man!
JK

Oh @contentandwell - I cannot imagine the stress you are going through. I think I would definitely see the doctor again - or a different ortho if you are more comfortable with that. I was a little surprised that they were actually going to let you fly with a fracture. I believe I'd want to really talk it over with the doctor. You've probably done that, but I know for sure that they don't won't you to fly for 6 - 12 weeks after a joint replacement. Sending you good wishes - fingers crossed.

@jeffkirc Thanks, Jeff. I am working very hard at staying positive. I hardly slept last night due to pain so this morning I was pretty down and couldn't imagine myself doing the trek to CO but it is tolerable right now, thanks to some meds. I hope the doctor will re-prescribe, they are so overly cautious now.

@ellerbracke That is what I am concerned, the plane and then the activities out there -- a family barbecue at my son's house on Thursday night, a big rehearsal dinner and reception on Friday night (that I have arranged and am paying for so I certainly want to be present), a women's brunch with hair being done at my son's home on Saturday morning and then the wedding on Saturday night. Our plans are to take a red-eye home on Tuesday night, we wanted to do some sightseeing but at this point, I think I may look into changing our flights. Even if we have a penalty it would be somewhat offset by not having the expense of a hotel room.
I think the extent of the injury probably has more to do with my bone density than anything else, although my husband says I went down really hard so it may just be that. I broke a vertebra when I was in my 50s and they immediately thought it must be due to my bones being weak but when they did a density scan they were great but I had not gone through menopause at that time. Another one I went down hard on, on concrete steps. This accident happened, ironically, due to extreme pain in my other leg from sciatica! The pain was so intense that I passed out or probably it was a presyncope episode. Now that leg doesn't hurt at all! I hate not exercising, I feel like my hard work is going down the tubes now. I feel like a slug.

@debbraw Thanks. The doctors have not said much about the pain. The strange thing is that when I went to the ER last Tuesday they kept asking me about my level of pain (1 to 10) and when I was lying on the bed it was negligible but last night it was very bad as it was this morning, even just lying in bed. I hope I haven't done anything to make things worse. They said with this type of fracture since it's not weight-bearing, that I could do whatever I am comfortable with. Right now I am not feeling very comfortable with that and I may try to get in to see the doctor again, or possibly go the Boston to see a different ortho. I would be handling this so much better if not for the timing. I don't dare tell my son that there is some possibility that I may not be able to go, and I don't even want to admit that to myself. I know if I don't go that my husband won't either and he's my son's best man!
JK

@contentandwell, I hurt for you. I wonder if this is made more difficult for your body because of the transplant medications that you have to take.

@merpreb Since there is nothing they do for this type of fracture neither ortho suggested not flying. Maybe they just knew that I’m a determined mother and almost nothing would hold me back.

I am think about returning to the doctor but I don’t who to see. The doctor here in Manchester has excellent credentials but if surgery was necessary I do not want to go into that hospital again. I would be far more comfortable going to Boston but that could take a while to get an appointment, plus I don’t know who I would choose.

A friend brought dinner for us over tonight and there’s definitely enough for a couple of nights so that’s a big help.
JK