Recovery from Multiple Surgeries

Posted by ssbionicknee @ssbionicknee, May 18, 2019

I have OA and both knees were in bad shape. I had a right TKR last May 2018 and recovery from that went well.In August 2018, I fell because of my weak left knee. I then had to have shoulder surgery in October 2018 to repair a torn bicep and 3 torn tendons in my right shoulder. I found that recovery to be much more painful and I still have pain in my bicep muscle. I scheduled my left TKR for this coming August 2019. Then I took another fall as I was walking down the stairs in March 2019. My weak left knee gave out again and I ended up jamming my shoulder into my neck, which I am in physical therapy for, at the moment. (My insurance only allows me to work on one body part at a time in PT.) I also have two partially torn rotator cuffs in my left shoulder as a result of that fall. The shoulder surgeon says that the tears will not heal and that I need to have surgery to repair them after my left TKR. So, in less than a year and a half, I will have had 3 major surgeries and a 4th within two years. Needless to say, this has taken a toll on my body. I am anemic, have a B12 deficiency, tire very easily, and see a pain management doctor for chronic pain. I have also signed up for a low impact water class, that helps with range of motion, strengthening, and balance which really wears me out and leaves me sore. I have several questions. Has anyone else had this many surgeries in such a short period of time and will I ever fully heal after all that. I have been out of work for over a year and am working on getting disability.I was turned down and have just gotten a lawyer. I am on long term leave of absence from work. My shoulder surgeon wrote me a note saying "no full work duty until further evaluation." Work wants to know when my next appointment is and I don't have one, because I have to wait until I have my knee surgery. How do I give work an answer to that question? It is also just me and I have had to rely a lot on friends for help. Friends were awesome the first surgery, less enthusiastic the second surgery, and now it is to the point I don't want people to ask how I am because there is too much going on and I am getting embarrassed to give any other answer than "fine." I am getting to a point where I feel like I have no one to talk to that understands and am a touch overwhelmed.

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@ssbionicknee I am so sorry for what you are going through. That sure is a lot to deal with. I'm glad you are doing water classes, they really are helpful for the things you mention. I hope as time goes on with them you will be less sore afterward.

I really have no answers for you, you have a very complex situation, and I doubt that many people have had to go through so many surgeries in such a short period of time. If you must give an answer to your employee I would insist on an appointment with your doctor, or for him/her to at least write an explanation that you can give to work.

Try to stay positive. I know it must be difficult at times but I firmly believe that a good attitude really helps. I wish I could be more helpful, and hopefully, someone here will be able to, but as I said, not many have had such a complex history.
JK

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