PFR-Knee pain-Who has had this?

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Here are my two cents for whatever they may be worth.  I can at least appreciate the doc saying he does not want to cause further harm.  That is not necessarily a bad thing.  I had an OS tell me there was no more he could do for me surgically and I could respect that.  I kept searching and seeking other opinions until I found and OS that I believed could help me. 

It may not be a bad idea to seek out pain management to at least make an attempt to get the pain more controlled.  Chronic pain is not easy to deal with and it wears you down.  Even if all that it succeeds in doing is masking the pain, at least that part will be one less hurdle to struggle with.  You also need to be realistic about the kinds of meds that control your pain.  I think there are few that really want to take strong narcotics, but sometimes that is what will make the pain manageable.  There are issues with other providers when you take them too.  You get labeled quite often and dismissed sometimes, but you much do what is right to control YOUR pain.  Not the pain some else thinks you have.  In the meantime I would do as you said and check into a teaching hospital or other OSs and get other opinions.  It can take a while to find the right one.  I have had some luck with a couple OTC braces, not ideal but they are helpful.  Maybe a PT can reccommend one?  I have had docs in the past dead against braces of any kind, so...it happens.  Keep researching it.

I have found personally on any funtionality questionaires that you be very honest in reporting things you can do.  For example if there is a question about being able to climb stairs don't leave it at a Yes check mark, explain that yes I can but I avoid them whenever possible and when I use them I have terrible pain and cannot properly go foot over foot... I think you get the idea.  You really have to point out the limiitations. Make sure you indicate what you cannot do as well.  If walking from a parking lot causes lots of pain make sure to say so.  I think we tend to be too positive on these things and they get a skewed idea of our true functional level.

Being in a lot of pain is difficult.  Quality of life becomes compromised and we need to fight for it. I hope this helps.  Good luck in your search.

Milly

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

Milly that you for the recommendations.  When I fill out surveys or talk to a doctor or nurse I always tell them what I am going through, my pains, issues, concerns, limitations, etc.  That has not helped with the doctors up here.

As for the new OS yesterday he contradicted himself.  He said most of his work is knee revision.  Yet he tells me he would not do my revision because of the chance of infection (because I have an implant).  So he will open other people up and work on their replacements, and risk infection, and my problem is a no go.  And he made comments about my 2005 replacements.  He said he would not operate on me in 2005.  Yet he did not view one x-ray of my knees from 2005.  He had no idea what my knees were like in 2005.  (My wife was telling me that after the surgery, 2005, the OS came out and talked to her and said the damage was much worse than expected).  The new doctor said the last 3 operations were not needed.

What was amazing he did not take an x-ray of my knees.  The one x-ray he put up was on from Jan 2012 (two and a half months ago).  And it was the strait of view.  If you looked at my x-rays, the same view, in June 2011 they would look the same.  The one view that was needed was, and is, the sunset view.  He did not look at that one.  He did not have a new sunset and compare the two x-rays.

As for pain management I will not, outright refuse, the heavy drugs.  I will not be drugged out of my mind.  I will not become addicted, a junkie.  I want to be able to know if I did some more damage to my knee.  If you are drugged up you can not feel this.

What is interesting last year at this time my knee x-ray did not show the issue.  By April and May the knee cap started to move (mall-tracking of the knee).  I believe that my left knee is in the same spot as my right knee.  I feel in the next 2 months there will be changes.  My left knee is proceeding at about the same rate as my right knee. 

Next week I have some time off of work.  I will be contacting research hospitals and seeing what can be done.  Unfortunately I have to cross one off the list before I get started.  The OS I went to yesterday trains doctors at one research hospital.  Bummer.

I have no problem with a doctor not operating.  Give me important information and let me be informed.  No x-rays, crazy assertions, and an excuse that means I will never operate on you is not what I waited an hour and half for.  You could have done this in 5 minutes.

Take care...and enjoy the weather,
Mr. F

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

I hear what you are saying.  Frusterating to say the least.  I would have expected an OS to take or order new x-rays myself, so agree with you there - get a whole new set before you see me.  As for pain meds, if you take them as directed and with a docs supervision most will not become a junkie; your body gets used to them like many meds and a controlled taper needs to be done.  Same thing with many other drugs; there are quite a few you should not stop.  You are not a junkie the body just does not adjust well to having certain things taken away abruptly is all.  I can understand the concern with for sure.  Any powerful drug needs respect.  You are right that the drugs cover the pain, but amount of pain is not always a good indicator for amount of damage.  I would not want to be over medicated either.  It's tricky thing.  It is also quite discouraging to feel like you wasted your time.  Each doc has their own protocol and opinion.  Have you had TKRs or just partial replacements I cannot remember?  I know many docs won't touch anything after a couple revisions with TKRs.

Good luck with your research.  It is so hard to find the right OS especially when you are a "difficult" or non standard case.  Not having the quality of life you want to have can be a real downer.

Milly

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

Good to hear from you Milly.  I am not saying everyone on pain pills/pain killers are junkies.  I am saying what the medical companies who make the pills put in chemical combinations, if you are not careful, can make you addicted to the medications.  If you take 1 to 2 cycles you need to stay on the meds for 30-60 days or go through withdrawals.  (Similar to being a junkie).  I have had to many doctors prescribe heavily narcotic (opium or morphine based...or synthetic opium or morphine).  I refuse to take these.

On a happier note...yesterday we modified the water bottle launder.  We traded out the connectors (air tight...not loosing air pressure now) and enlarged the straps that keep the bottle on the end of the launcher (again keeping in more air pressure).  Much better launches.  More air pressure is being kept in the bottle.  We got soaked when the bottle launches.  (It was in the mid 50s yesterday).

This week the weather has been fantastic.  In the 70s and 80s, sunny, and a slight breeze.  Now that it is the weekend its in the low 50s, overcast, and raining.  This week the weather is in the 40s and 50s.  I finally have time off and the weather is going to be overcast, windy, and cold.  I just wish we would have better weather for this upcoming week.

We are hoping to go to the local park, this time with my wife, and launch the water bottle.  This time we will get video of the launches.  We are waiting to see if the rain goes away.

Well that is all for now.  Get out and have some fun with the family.  Take care,

Mr.F

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Sounds like the water rocket project is a great success. Too bad the soaking part had to be on such a cold day!  Would be great fun on a hot summer day.  Seems like the poor weather days fall most on days off of work.  Not sure how that works, but seems to be the case.  Have fun with the water rockets.  Hope the knees are behaving enough to really enjoy the family time.

Milly

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,
Well I have some time off.  So today has to be cold, windy, and overcast (could still rain).  Tomorrow will be sunny, but colder.  So I was looking forward to shorts, or jeans, and t-shirt weather.  I guess I will just get jeans.

My son and I wanted to go to the local park and video the water bottle so family and friends can see it.  We will have to wait until this weekend to get the video.  I will be going to my son's school on Friday to show off the bottle launcher.  We have to present what we did and why we built this.

So I am sitting in a chair with a heating pad.  I am nice and warm.  I can hear the wind outside.  We are going out soon so I am not looking forward to driving. 

Loving my time off, relaxing, playing on my iPad, and looking into swapping my cell phone so I can create a wireless hotspot.  I want to be able to take my iPad out and use it without having to purchase a wireless hotspot.  (Not looking forward to $50 a month bill, without taxes, for 24 months).

Well that is all for now...Take care,
Mr. F

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Enjoy your time off!  Even if it is not shorts weather yet!  Have fun with the presentation, sounds like fun.  Kids seem to really love stuff like that.

I like the idea of the cell phone as a WiFi spot.  Watch the data charges though, I've heard that it can run up a bill, but I may be thinking of just a phone data plan.  I stick to using my Nook at Barnes and Noble right now, I'll admit I am to cheap to get a smart phone at the moment.

Milly

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

As always good to hear from you Milly.  With connecting my iPad to my cell phone I am hitting some hurdles.  I went into a cell phone store and talked to a sales rep.  The company I have has a $15 a month plan (cuts you off once you hit your limit, so no overages).  I like this.  My problem is that I have 5 months left on my plan. So I need to go on line and find the phone I want and bring it into a store.  This way th cell phone company will activate it.  I will add the shot spot feature.  Then I am good to go.

Enjoying the 20 degree weather.  Sunny, breezy, and cool. 

Take care,
Mr. F

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

I am looking into mobile hotspots.  Is anybody using a hotspot?  What do you think about this?  If you are happy with your device and provider, please let me know what device you are using and your hotspot provider.

Thank you,
Mr.F

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

We the I have no idea what time of year it is strikes again.  Last week we had summer weather, this week its been in the 20-40 Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday through today its been 30s-50s, and tonight and tomorrow it is going to snow.  Wow talk about watching the weather.

Well today was the last day off for me.  At least it ended with a bang.  Or should I say a splash.  I went to my son's school and we showed off our water bottle launcher.  We had a short information session, explained our build, the successes and problems we encountered, and what we did to solve them.  Next it was out to the PE field.

We had 5 successful launches (that is all the water we had).  We all got drenched through the launches.  The kids had a blast chasing the water rocket.  At least it was 48 degrees outside (sunny and windy).  I finally have some video of the launches. 

We are going to try and get out this weekend for more launches, if the weather is in the upper 50s-60s.  So tonight and tomorrow I will be washing clothing.  (I figure about 5 loads of laundry).

Have a fun weekend and enjoy time with friends and family,

Mr. F

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

Well after having a "good" day the knees act up.  Not my knees.  My brother's eldest has knee issues.  Well I found out that she will be having her first operation on the 11th.  Now here's the kicker.  Her knee issues have the onset at the same age (and almost the same time as my issues came about).

My brother called today and we talked.  I mentioned certain things that impressed, and messed, with him.  She has the same problems as I had at her age.  Mal-tracking, bending issues, constant pain, and using a knee brace to help assist the knee. 

The doctor is going in to explore the knee and see what is going on in the knee.  I have a feeling of what the doctor will find.  Cartilage and a lateral release would be my guess.

Tale care and have a fun weekend...

Mr. F

PS...the temperature is dropping, and yes I am feeing this in my knees.  Let the fun begin.

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

So I ended my vacation time with my son and some of his friends.  On Sunday we went to the local elementary school to launch our water bottle rocket.  The weather was overcast, slight breeze, and cold.  I expected nobody to show up.  We did a test launch to make sure all systems were a go.  My sin played and ran around for awhile.  We started to launch the bottle when a student, and her father, showed up.  A few minutes later another student, his sister, and mother showed up.  We all had a blast.  We must have launched the empty soda bottle 18 times.  The kids got wet, we got drenched, and they had a great time.  After they ran around, played some games, and nobody wanted to leave.  (If all goes well we all will meet up this weekend to play again).

Work was good.  Slower day than normal.  Less time on my feet. Less up and down time.  So by mid-say my knees were still doing well.  After that lots of time on my feet and walking all over.  By the time I got home my knees were starting to hurt.  We went out to eat (local grocery store with hot foods).  On the way home I went to bend my left knee and POP.  The pain was, and is, unbelievable. 

When we got home I climb the steps, one at a time.  I took a shower.  And now I am in bed and EXTREME PAIN.  But according to my last two OSs I will just have to live with this.  I hope they are never in my position and have to deal with @ss like themselves. 

I hope your Monday afternoon was better than mine.  Take care,

Mr.F

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

The rockets were a success at least!   Too bad about the popping knee.  That really hurts!  Hope it is better.

Milly

[Mr.F]

Hello everybody,

The pain is worse...much worse.  There is new catching, cracking, and popping.  On top of this stiffness in the joint (this is new).  Thinking about, highly considering, going to the emergency room.  Waiting 10 minutes to see if the pain calms down. 

We are checking on line what hospitals to go to.  I called my insurance company.  Nobody answering the phones.  So I know 2 hospitals that are covered under my insurance.  I know people where I work have had, or have had family members, operated for knee issues at one of the hospitals.  So I know where I am going.

I refuse to call in one of the two OSs I have seen in the past 3-4 months.  I am hoping the hospital can recommend someone from outside this practice.

I will keep you posted.

Take care,
Mr. F

[TwoBadKneesUSA]

Darn!  Hope things are better now.  It's just a shame when you get the nothing can be done thing. Feel better.

Milly