Well I tried to go without the TKR on the left leg but it has progressed beyond the pain I had in the right knee. The whole leg is off the pain scale. 2 Percosets just to take the edge off. I told the Ortho doc to get the process going. The knee will be CT scanned and built on a 3D model. Pretty high tech rather then
An off the shelf appliance. Takes 4-6 weeks to make one. Recovery is suppose to be easier and faster. Conformis makes the knee.
Ive been aprehensive because the right side was no picnic. I saw Elvis twice in the recovery room. They jump started me and blamed sleep apnea. I hit the pain med pump too many times and ran out. All they would give me was tylenol. I was literally screaming in pain :-( Finally I feel the knee just wasnt a good fit since i cant hike, climb, kneel,run...
I pray for a better experience with this go around.
Positive thoughts for a successful surgery and as-fast-possible recovery.
Sorry to hear about the knee problems. Let us know how it goes for you.
Glad to hear you are going for it, Shovelhead. Meds that can be avoided are no way to live. Just ask Elvis if you have the unfortunate opportunity to see him again.
Todays implants are amazing things. How long has it been since your last?
Hi Shovelhead -- Sorry to hear what you've been going through. We trust that soon you will be able to get back to the quality of life and activity levels you had before the knee problems. Best regards to you and your upcoming surgery.
By-the-way, I recently had a DNA test from >> [a href="https://www.23andme.com"]23andMe[/a] << and from the results I learned (amongst other things) that there is a genetic trait that corresponds to how individuals cope with pain. I learned for instance I'm genetically predisposed to being sensitive to pain.
I'm genetically predisposed to avoid pain! :)
Seriously, though, arthritis pain can take away quality of life. I got to meet Shovelhead at the South Carolina meetup and got an idea of what he is facing.
Good luck with the custom implant and I hope things go smoothly.
Charliem has been going through this with both knees. He has said very little, except we know he does not enjoy physical therapy and that pain meds are wonderful. Perhaps his experience is more typical. Charlie, are things going fairly smoothly for you?
Quote from: @leslie" timestamp="1433101580" source="/post/11807/threadCharliem has been going through this with both knees. He has said very little, except we know he does not enjoy physical therapy and that pain meds are wonderful. Perhaps his experience is more typical. Charlie, are things going fairly smoothly for you?
[font size="3"]Leslie et al,
I'm in the third week of recovery after the second surgery. The operation went well and I only spent one night in the hospital. I began physical [strike]torture[/strike] therapy the next week and it's going well too. A lot of pain, but I know what to expect this time and how to help the therapy work. If this one goes as well as the last one I'll be in good shape in about eight more weeks. I was biking 4+ miles a day ten weeks after the first surgery. I'll have stiffness and aches for two years, but it's better than the wheel chair alternative. Plans for two quick trips and the long fall trip are well under way.
BTW I PM'd Dave with encouragement and I know we all wish him well. Camp On!
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Hang in there, Bella needs you to be able to fetch sticks and to drive.
You guys are making me feel good about my RA. 98% of the time I feel fine, as long as I'm motionless. I can shuffle along ok as long as I'm careful to keep my knees bent. If the coffee pot is filled to the top, it hurts my wrist to pick it up to pour. All minor problems compared to what ya'll are going thru. Good luck and I hope all the bionic stuff works out. Modern technology is incredible.
[quote source="/post/11765/thread" timestamp="1433037366" author="@shovelhead"]Well I tried to go without the TKR on the left leg but it has progressed beyond the pain I had in the right knee. The whole leg is off the pain scale. 2 Percosets just to take the edge off. I told the Ortho doc to get the process going. The knee will be CT scanned and built on a 3D model. Pretty high tech rather then
An off the shelf appliance. Takes 4-6 weeks to make one. Recovery is suppose to be easier and faster. Conformis makes the knee.
Ive been aprehensive because the right side was no picnic. I saw Elvis twice in the recovery room. They jump started me and blamed sleep apnea. I hit the pain med pump too many times and ran out. All they would give me was tylenol. I was literally screaming in pain :-( Finally I feel the knee just wasnt a good fit since i cant hike, climb, kneel,run...
I pray for a better experience with this go around.
[/quote]Once you get through this ordeal, Shovelhead, AND YOU WILL with God's help and those who love you, consider checking out 'recumbent trikes'. It'll give you a new lease on life and a leash for Bella to join you. We've met so many great folks riding who have had TKR and more, including avid RVers.
So, keep paddlin', Shovelhead, especially if you hear banjo music! ;) We be praying for ya in Jaw jaw!
Well 'm home for a second time. We did the TKR as planned on 8/26. I was home on 8/27. Doing OK a then it happened. I lost all appetite. Was real nausea going for 4 days. Did not get to any of the barfing but could not eat. My pain management went into a spiral and pain was off the scale . Tuesday morning with bad pain I went into some sort of panic mode with heart palpitations not able to breath my neighbor called 911. I get into ER with serious dehydration and they run me thru the mill for heart failure. The heart is OK and finally last night they sent me home again. I feel on track again but glad I'll never do a TKR . Its not the TKR per se it could be any operation because I cant tolerate pain and pain meds. Oh also right at the go the nerve block didnt work they tried twice. Something with me and pain, nerve anesthesia , and cant tolerate the morphine type pain meds.
Quote from: @shovelhead" source="/post/14840/thread" timestamp="1441351725Well 'm home for a second time. We did the TKR as planned on 8/26. I was home on 8/27. Doing OK a then it happened. I lost all appetite. Was real nausea going for 4 days. Did not get to any of the barfing but could not eat. My pain management went into a spiral and pain was off the scale . Tuesday morning with bad pain I went into some sort of panic mode with heart palpitations not able to breath my neighbor called 911. I get into ER with serious dehydration and they run me thru the mill for heart failure. The heart is OK and finally last night they sent me home again. I feel on track again but glad I'll never do a TKR . Its not the TKR per se it could be any operation because I cant tolerate pain and pain meds. Oh also right at the go the nerve block didnt work they tried twice. Something with me and pain, nerve anesthesia , and cant tolerate the morphine type pain meds.
You've got a good neighbor there. I am wondering if a pain specialist could help you. I have a similar response to pain meds. Basically, I can't keep them down. And nerve blocks don't work on me, either.
4 years ago, I broke my wrist. X-rays, cat scan showed something more than just a break. Dr. said he had never seen cancer in this location before. 2 hour surgery lasted 5 hours. They cleaned out my wrist and built me a new one. Lab report said no cancer, but the cells were irregular.
Pain was terrible. My best pain relief came from either heat or ice, heat when I had a feeling like cramping, ice when it was a bone deep ache.
Physical therapy is next. Your therapist might also help with pain control. Shovelhead, I can feel your pain.
[font size="3"]Shovelhead,
I'm sorry you had such a bad time, but I'm glad you're through it. I hope you recover, but remember it will take time. My surgeon said I will feel pain for two years, and then one day, it will magically be gone. I'm 6 1/2 months after my first and 3 1/2 months after my second. I can walk several miles without much trouble, a complete improvement compared to preop. Biking 4+ miles is easy. All in all it's better than the alternative wheel chair or powered scooter.
I thought of you when I saw a 3D printing display emphasizing medical applications at the Tampa Museum of Science. They're making all sorts of replacement body parts.
Good luck and fast recovery to you. I hope you can quickly return to the CL roadways. Keep us posted.
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