Please can anyone help me.

Oh my dear sweet friend, Becky
HOOORAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY....to you. They finally got it right this time
after all you have been through I am so HAPPY for you. You were always in my
thoughts and prayers. Going back to college would be wonderful for you.
You have so much wonderful spirit and have helped me many times when
I felt like giving up.

If you go back to college see if you can study what is wrong with the 1% of
us that fell through the cracks and no one cares.

I guess I will be like this the rest of my life...but maybe someday I will wake
up and there will be the light at the end of the tunnel.

You take care and dont ever leave the forum
You are our inspiration and I wish you the VERY BEST.
Your still in my thoughts and prayers.

Love ya, Vicki

I am in a similar situation. I am 51 and had RTKR in Dec 2007 and a revision in 2008. Life is miserable and I wish I had never done it. My knee is constantly swollen and the pain is as bad as it was with the arthritis before the surgery. I do not have enough range of motion to walk a flight of stairs and I can't even walk my dog because it is too painful. My ability to work at my job is compromised. I can barely walk and when I do, I have a pronounced limp. I tried to go back to the ortho for help, but I can't get in to see him. I only get his P.A. who told me there is nothing more they can do for me and not to come back.

I was very active before the knee replacement and now I can barely walk. I was not one of those bad, lazy patients - I did everything I was told to do and did physical therapy at least 3 x week for over a year - it was like having a second job. Now all I can do is go to work in pain, do a portion of my job (I have had to delegate the part that requires significant activity) and go home to recover to do it again the next day. My boss told me that they are becomming impatient with my inability to perform the job tasks and any hope of promotion is gone. It's all very depressing.

Dear Vicki: I wanted to answer some of your questions. Yes, I am fortunate now that I can sleep at night thanks to Tylenol PM or Advil PM. I don't have to take it every night but it does help. The problem is getting into a comfortable position to sleep. I do have trouble standing or even sitting for any length of time. I had my surgery after my husband and I both retired and hoped to travel. Well, that did not happen. You do get bitter and depressed because this was something we had worked for all our lives.
The good old hot water bottle is my best friend. It relaxes those muscles and I use it every night.
I do not like ice and I do not have swelling anymore at this point. By the end of the day my back
is killing me too because of the unnatural way I have to walk. I use a cane except in the house where I know where all the walls and furniture are in case I may fall. The other day I ran into a lady that I had been to PT with when we had our knee's done. She did so well and told me that last year she had the other knee done and is doing well again. From the way she walks you would never know she had a problem. I only had my right knee done and will NEVER have the other one done. I will just sit in a wheelchair if it comes to that. I just went to a new OS and he told me that because this is such a rare condition that no money or time is spent in researching this and those of us that it happens to will just fall through the cracks! At least he was honest. This forum is a great way to vent. You know what they say, if life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

Hi Eleanor, thank you so much for replying to my question.

The calcification you have sounds exactly what I have. I have never ever been able
to drive again since I had the knees done. They are both so stiff I cannot acclerate
or brake if I had too. I cannot get in that situation. I can hardly get in and out of the
car. I just cannot bend my knees much.

I bought me a small scooter we carry in the back of the car. It is a small one and just
fits me...so when I go anywhere my hubby can get it out of the car trunk with one hand
and put the seat on and battery in and I am ready to go. This is the only way I can get
around now. As far as the inside of the house, I am back to using my cane. It hurts me
to ride in the car very long.

I cry alot because no one knows until they have been thru this pain 24/7. Sounds like you
know exactly what I am talking about. Can you stand at the stove and cook ??
I cannot stand at the stove and my kitchen is carpeted. I am trying to hang in there but
it isnt easy. I hate going to bed and I hate getting up in the morning due to the pain both
times and during the day. I still take pain meds and guess I will always have too. Do you use
any ice or heat to help you ?? Can you sleep all night?? I go to bed about midnite and wake up
about 2 am ...in so much pain. Did you have both knees done at the same time ??
I did and sure wish I hadnt.

Again thank you so much for replying to me. If you think of anything at all to help please
let me know. I JUST WANT MY LIFE BACK and sure you do too.
Lots of Hugs and Prayers, Vlc Vicki

Hi All,
It has been awhile since I have been on the forum but I check it everyday.

I have major problems and wonder if anyone else has had anything like this.

I had my BKTR on May 06...yes 3 years ago. Mine didnt turn out like everyone elses did.
I have been in constant pain since Nov 06. I have very many health problems, Fibromyalgia,
Diabetes Type 2, Neuropathy, Arthritis. I have been checked out by many specialists and
was told the surgery should never been done in the first place because of some of my health
problems...these people dont heal well. Thats me. !! I went to see my OS in Oct. and he even
admitted looking back we should never have done the surgeries. He is lucky he is still walking around.
He also came highly recommended and most all the people he has done came by with flying colors.
I have been on pain meds for almost 2 years now not just for the knees but mostly the knees.
Now all the sudden I have something on the outside of both my knees. Not the inside. I cannot sleep
on either side of my knees and am in constant pain all night. I ice but I think that maybe causing them
to be stiff. I use moist heat..and it seems to do better. I just cannot walk after all these years. Cant
tell ice or heat does anything.

I was told it could be ARTHROFIBROSIS...which I know I have major SCAR TISSUE around each knee
cap. All the specialists I have seen said DO NOT let anyone open the knees back up. The SCAR TISSUE will come back so fast ...it will be alot worse. I am just heart sick. This surgeon has ruined my LIFE for GOOD. I almost died on the table when I had the BKTR done in May 06 and they had a
terrible time bringing me back. So...I know arthrofibrosis is major scarring around the knees after BKTR. Only 1 to 17% get this condition. Has anyone else had a problem like this ?? I am now back walkng with my cane. I still do my exercises here at home and always have. It hurts it I do and hurts if I
dont. MY LIFE IS A LIVING HELL RIGHT NOW. Even my cardiologist said he has never seen anyone have so much trouble with the BKTR. I am coming here today to see if any of you can please help me and if you have had any type condition like this. Sweet Becky, I know you are out there and hope and pray you are doing well. Finally got it right this time.

You all are in my thoughts and prayers daily. I JUST NEED MY LIFE BACK.....and cant seem to get it back. Believe me I have been to so many specialists in knee replacements.
Please Please can anyone help me here. Surgery IS NOT an OPTION.

Hugs and prayers to you all, Vlc Vicki