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TKR Two Years Later
I was told I would go home day after surgery but I couldn’t even move my toes for three days. When my toes moved I was immediately shipped out of hospital to rehab at 3 o’clock in the morning. Strange? I thought so. They also told my daughter she couldn’t see me or visit as I told them so. Her name was clearly on my paper signed by me. Because if that, my daughter didn’t talk to me or visit me In rehab 2 weeks and progressed to a point. Went home two days early as Covid was becoming a heavy hitter. Had rehab at home but that had to stop as he was working FT in a nursing home. When Covid settled and I was able to go back to physical therapy I went to a place close by for several months. We reached a point where I felt therapy was done. I can walk up and down stairs only one at a time. I limp, have nerve pain, and can’t walk around the block.m or get in my car easily. I’m thankful I can walk but so afraid to have left knee done. It’s like 50/50. Chance to resume what you consider normal activities or learn to live with the pain you’re left with. Just to let you all with problems post surgery that it is normal to a point to have been left with problems but keep seeking help for the pain and making connections here. God bless us everyone!
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All I want to do is to be able to walk without the pain, numbness and being off balance. Hubby doesn't undestand that I juse my rollator because with just the cane I feel I am going to pitch forward, backward and hae to grab the wall, counter etc. Riding in the car is painful so I have been pretty much no where for a year.
When I had the 1st surgery and needed more pain pills, called the office and it took them 3 DAYS to get back to me! And that was not even over a weekend.
when I asked for therapy to help me with my balance and getting moving again, the surgeon refused saying he wanted to "save the therapy for my next knee". That I should go home and just practice walking with the cane.
I believe I have been mistreated in the first surgery as the "mistake in alignment" showed up the first time they tried to get me out of bed. When I tried to walk the calf and knee were not under the thigh area! Nurse keptme trying to walk with walker and it was painful andd scarey as the leg wasn't straight...I don't mean slightly off, but totally off on the side. Surgeon didn't come an see me until next day. Then there was the click clack that would happen before my leg popped out of line again. I suffered with that for 3-4 months as he kept telling me that it would straighten out, scar tissue would hold the knee cap in place etc.
When I had a bad surgeon ( I later filed a complaint against him and changed) who declined my request for PT, I got my primary provider to refer me.
By the way, I agree with your decision to use the rollator, and so will most PT's - using a cane correctly is very difficult, and can often make your walking even more "lopsided".
Have you tried getting a referral for PT from your doc?
Sue
Good idea. My GP helped me greatly get some sleep after the 1st operation. My impression was that he was not pleased with what he was hearig but you know how it goes with doctors as the surgeon practices in the same hospital.
He is now helping me start with some ideas and creams to help with the tingling, nerve pain (which the surgeon either never answers or tells me it will take time - but how long?) GP even told us that this nerve pain may never go away but we are starting low and building up to the heavy duty pills, if needed. The GP was so concerned about me after he heard what had happened to me, that he personally called me after the second surgery to check on how I was doing!
And you are right about gait. Even with the rollator and when I do use the cane, hubby sys my gait is off. I believe that is just adding stress and pain to the other bad knee.