Painful hardware after HTO, help!

[2soreknees]

I had an HTO on my right leg in November 06.  I have been having pain right over the hardware and occasionally bruises.  My OS says it is the tendon rubbing on the hardware.  We tried cortisone shots in the tendon which worked for a while but now the pain is back worse then ever.  It only hurts when I move the leg...ha, ha, in other words, all the time.  My OS says my only option is hardware removal.  He says it will be a similar recovery time as the original surgery because the bone has to heal where the screws are.  This worries me because the last surgery was such a long recovery.  Any body else have this problem?  Any words of wisdom?

Tery

[cat]

I didn't have an HTO but am sporting some hardware from an intertrochanteric osteotmy.


Lovely, huh? Definitely NOT comfy. I can SO relate. I have the pain, occasional bruising, and SNAPPING too. The snapping is literally a "pain in the b*tt."

My OS said the recovery for removal would be about 4 mos. I dont' think it will take that long. I feel pretty much 'recovered' 8 mos after the original surgery that was supposed to take a year to get over, the hardware being a limiting factor.

How long do you think it will take for you to recover? Won't it be worth it if you feel so much better afterwards- well, maybe not immediately afterwards but eventually??

I'm looking forward to saying ta ta to my extra bits and pieces.
  cat

[2soreknees]

Hi Cat.
Wow you do have some hardware!  Mine is not quite that large just 4 screws and a big "plate".    I have scheduled the surgery for August 5.  I am so tired of being in pain I'm just going to get it over with.  The recovery will be long...probably six weeks NWB on crutches with lots of PT.  when are you going to get yours done?

Tery

[cat]

I have a tentative date in Jan. My DH has offered to get his screw driver out but I think I'll wait even though Jan seems a far away.

Wow, 6 weeks of NWB for hardware removal? I don't think I'll have that restriction. My OS led me to believe that I'll only need crutches because I will be sore.

Will you have an overnight hospital stay?
  cat 

[2soreknees]

Thanks for the reply:

Yes, I will be in the hospital for 2-3 days.  THe NWB is because he will be doing a bone graft and it needs time to heal...
My doc is wonderful but he definitely is cautious.  This will be surgery #6 so we know each other pretty well - I trust his judgement but truly hope I will not be on crutches that long!  The worst part is that I will not be able to drive!!! 
Can't believe you have to wait until January- that is a long wait.  Are you in the U.S.?

Tery

[cat]

You're having a bone graft? I thought it was just a hardware removal.

Yes, I am in the US. I could have my metal removed in Oct. That would put me at one year post op but Jan works better for me. I will have someone then to watch my younger kids while I'm away.
 

[Mandy]

Wow guys, guess I'll be hanging onto my hardware as long as I can!   I just had my HTO, but my body hated my screws from my TTT, can't imagine how much it'll love the plate and four screws that are now there....

[kr8ivemind]

I had my HTO 8 weeks ago. Since I have been walking on the leg, I'm having more pain around the hardware. Jokingly, my OS told me that if I was 60lbs heavier, I probably wouldn't be feeling it because of the extra body fat in the area. Then he quickly said, I do not want you to gain 60lbs, but would like to see me lose about 30.

[cat]

Mandy,
Does your hardware make it difficult for you to be in one postition for long?

sr8ivemind,
LOL, was your OS worried you might take him up on that x-tra 60?
 

[kr8ivemind]

No - he knew that I knew he was just joking. I just laughed at him. He has a really good sense of humor. He has been telling me the past year that I need to "remove junk from the trunk".

- Mimi

[2soreknees]

Cat

The hardware he used has piece that is the same width as the opening he made. Kind of looks like a plug... When he takes it out the bone will need to grow about 3 cm. to fill it in - that is where he will put the bone graft.  He also says that the screw holes also have to heal.  He will also scope my knee which means he will find scar tissue and if my guess is right a meniscus tear.  It is never simple when you get inside my knees.  At least I know I'm not alone.  Hurray for Knee Geeks!

Tery

[Mandy]

hey Cat~

I've noticed that as hard as I try, I can only lay on my right side for a few minutes.  Left side is ok as long as I have my non operative leg ahead of the post op one.  I just want to be able to cuddle up into a ball!!!  One step at a time!

~Mandy

[casey2291]

Hi,
I've been thinking lately about having my hardware removed.  I am now about 9 months post op and now that I am starting to increase my activity, my screws are starting to hurt.  When I first discussed having an HTO with my OS, he seemed to indicate the the hardware removal was a piece of cake and that I could be weight bearing right away and would be on crutches for about 2 weeks.  From what I am reading here, the removal sounds more complex??  I was thinking that maybe I would need a few days of of work and that would be it.  Can anyone who has had their screws removed comment on the recovery?  I was also told that if my hardware was removed that I would have a bigger scar that what I already have (about 6 inches).  Did anyone's OS say how big the scar would be from screw removal? thanks! 

[2soreknees]

Casey

For my HTO I have more that screws, I have a plate.  Yes my doctor told me the scar will be bigger - at this point I don't care.  The pain is intolerable and I am taking too many pain meds to get through the day.  I knew that the removal was going to happen because eventually I will have a knee replacement and the hardware would have to be removed before that would be possible.  It's just coming up a little earlier that I expected.
 
I think there must be different ways of doing the HTO and hardware.  If your screws are really painful your OS will probably do an X-Ray to make sure they have gotten loose. (Mine are just where he put them).  I am scheduled for my surgery on AUG. 5.  I will do a few postings afterwards, once I become coherent again.

Tery

[casey2291]

Hi  Tery,

I also have a plate and 2 pins along with my screws.  Good luck with your hardware removal surgery!!  I just emailed my OS on Friday to discuss the possibility of getting mine out.  Let me know how things go for you.