Nearly The Bionic Woman » Knee replacement

Traveling Knee Replacement

Christina — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:12:57 +0000

Actually, it’s the revision to the replacement that went oh so wrong. I think that it could have been worse however, that couple inches of scar tissue inside wasn’t helping my yoga, I mean flight attendant, career. Kind of weird when one flight attendant asks the pilots to carry her bags down the stairs and the other asks to carry her down the stairs!

It has been two months and I am looking forward to going back to work so I thought taking a flight would be a good idea to see how I do. I was thinking something closer but I suppose why not Switzerland? I would just be sitting down at home or doing exercises that I can easily do from my seat on the airplane. Thank goodness for Thera-bands.

Physical Therapy Issue 2

Christina — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:27:47 +0000

I am not as happy with today’s physical therapy as Monday’s. Perhaps it’s because I had the weekend off to rest before Monday’s appointment but I went down two degrees today to 123. The problem I think is that my hamstring behind my leg was so tight that if felt like someone was ripping the back out of my leg if I bent it too far.

When I was on my back lifting my leg up for a count of three times 30, I used the opportunity to work on my abs. Control your stomach while lifting your shoulders off of the ground and hold as you lift your leg. Very good burn!

I still have my goal of getting back to work by Valentine’s Day so that I can complete my yearly testing on the 15th and overnight in Cancun, Mexico later that week. We’ll see. That’s not that far away and I am still terrified to go down the stairs unassisted. What happens if I do not get the jet bridge that day or a pilot that is not going to carry my bags down the stairs? I suppose I could just throw the bag down first or leave it at home all together. Or, Not.

Please keep me in your prayers as I keep you in mine and have a great week.

Physical Therapy edition 1

Christina — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:01:53 +0000

I went to physical therapy on Wednesday, exactly one day after one week and surprisingly, it went well. I hadn’t really had that much pain the first week after the surgery while I was in an immobilizer. It could also be the two Vicodin that I took about half an hour before therapy. My bend was good for not using it all week and it actually felt amazing to get it out of that contraption. I was at around 92degrees bend.

Then, the drugs wore off!

I haven’t had physical therapy since then and it’s now Monday. I will be coming here three times a week for 4 weeks. I have been doing my exercises at home though and I am in some real pain now, Ugh! I hate this part. At least this time around, I know that either I endure and suffer through the pain NOW or for the rest of my life, including no child’s pose for me. I am so hoping that I can do that pose again.

Today was my second time with Rick and he was very impressed with my will. I reached 117degrees of bend today! Woo Hoo! My knee still hurts and burns like crazy and it feels bruised in more than one area. I am guessing that’s where they removed the scar tissue. Not sure but I know I have to keep going and ice is my friend.

Next appointment, Wednesday….

Tuesdays Knee Revision Surgery

Christina — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:49:22 +0000

Hell World!

I am so sorry that I have not been updating anyone who cares about my knee. (insert laugh here) I think that on top of the surgery, there is something going on around here. First my husband was up all night with vomiting, then a day later the boy and yet a day later me and now him again. I told him to please not be offended but I planned on spending more time downstairs until this demon exits the house!

Please pray for him so that he feels better soon.

As far as the knee, it’s going much better than I expected so far. Of course, I do not start physical therapy until the 13th so check back then. The knee revision was outpatient so, no chance to check out the food at Good Samaritan. I am in some pain but again, not like I imagined. I think that it’s mostly the incision. When I went to the follow up appointment, Dr. Snyder asked if I wanted to see pictures of what he took out. Uh, yeah! Gross and cool all at the same time. Two large chunks that he claimed to be about an inch or so each. He did shave off part of the bone that was protruding and the rest scar tissue. Hopefully once I can take off this immobilizer and bend my knee, I will have a better bend than I have had in over a year.

I wish that I could have gotten a copy of the pics to put here on the blog for you or better yet, the one of me attempting to try on some things I got at the V.S. Semi Annual Sale. Now that’s Hot! Oh, not really.

I will write back after physical therapy!

Knee Replacement Gone Bad Update

Christina — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:19:21 +0000

Hello World.

I am so excited that the Cleveland Clinic in Florida finally faxed over all of the paperwork that my physician here in Ohio needed to treat me. So, what this means is that next Wednesday I have a follow up appointment to discuss my knee pain.

One thing that doc asked me last time was if my ears are bothered my my earrings. As a matter of fact, I cannot wear anything but pure gold or they become totally infected. I found out that it’s the nickle that is in even lower grades of gold. Sterling silver is an alloy so it shouldn’t affect allergy sufferers. The crazy thing is that I just found out that there is even trace amounts of nickle in whole wheat and all canned goods not to mention the water we drink and air we breath! Nickle and gluten?? That’s something to think about.

Of course, silly me, I thought that since it has hurt so bad for over a year that Dr. Snider could just take it out and replace it with his own. Not so easy as it sounds. This is called Knee Revision surgery and involves actually removing the replacement parts and then adding new parts. After reading the actual surgery and risks, I think that I would be happy if the surgeon could simply do something with what is already there.

But, to what extent should we go? One option is to start with a skin allergy test. If that comes back positive, then a blood allergy test would be next. Or, the surgeon could simply go in and personally see the issue which may also be caused by my ligament catching on part of the prosthesis. He can also check first hand for infection and allergic reaction by taking an actual culture from the site of the pain itself. I think that I have decided on the last option because I really do have little patience and want this figured out asap!

I am just thankful to have been introduced to someone that is willing to take on this project and that comes so highly recommended. I learned a very valuable and painful lesson, not that there is anything wrong with the original surgeon except that it didn’t work out for me. Don’t pick a doctor for something so serious based on the fact of location alone.

When I find out more next week about what’s next, I will keep you informed. Meanwhile, you can read about knee revision surgery here.

Update On The Knee Replacement Gone Bad

Christina — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:49:55 +0000

I am not sure what exactly is going on in there (my knee that is) however it hurts. All of the time. Okay, perhaps when I first get up and haven’t walked on it for hours, it doesn’t hurt. As soon as it starts to move or I go up and downstairs, which I have at home and work, [insert accent here] forget about it. It even hurts if I stretch.

It feels as if someone is stabbing me in various places in my knee and I cannot bend it all the way so it is very difficult to get down on the floor with my child or bend down to see something low unless I find a way to sit on the floor. This is extremely difficult if I need to pick up something from the ground.

Luckily, I have an appointment with what I consider to be an amazing surgeon, Dr. Mark Snyder, part of Wellington Orthopedic Group in Cincinnati Ohio. I like to brag about him after I flew with another flight attendant who is in better shape than I am after he replaced both of her knees.

The knee that Dr. Snyder showed me is nothing like the one that is in there now. I was doing the Euflexxa injections in the other knee and I thought it was working well however, even that knee really hurts again. Ugh! I will have to bring that up during my next appointment too.

I’ll let you know more as soon as I do.