Surgery

I wanted to provide an update on my recovery from a revision of knee replacement surgery.

Having any surgery when you have Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) carries with it a risk of increased pain and the spread of symptoms. This risk has been lessened by good management by my pain management specialist, the orthopaedic surgeon and the anaesthetist. Coupled with the excellent care I received in ICU there appears to have been no spread. The CRPS pain I am experiencing at the moment could have occurred without having undergone surgery.

As you know since having my left hip replacement in January I dislocated this joint twice. Both times carrying out very innocuous movements. I was also having trouble with mobility (much pain resulting in being able to only walk very short distances) which I was blaming on the CRPS. At one point a wheelchair was suggested but I dismissed this without too much thought as I think that would have given me an easy out.

I am my own worst enemy in this regard as any ache or pain affecting the left side of my body gets blamed on CRPS.

When I mentioned the increased pain and instability in my knee to the orthopaedic surgeon he did not dismiss my comments and started an investigation. He found that there were some issues (read concerning issues)with the alignment of the original knee replacement which resulted in the CRPS thirteen years ago. This misalignment was causing quite serious instability making mobilising somewhat difficult (read very painful) and some sort of issue with my patella.

So approaching surgery given what I had experienced in the last 13 years raised a degree of trepidation and fear.

So back to day 9 and the exaggerated level of pain. What I am experiencing is the post-operative pain of knee replacement surgery......even though they call it revision it involves opening up the original site, removing some bits, realigning some bits, replacing some bits and putting in new bits. So the pain is expected but nowhere near as bad as I experienced when the original knee replacement was carried out. Whilst the pain is elevated today and I have needed double painkillers I am confident that it will settle once the swelling and stiffness subsides. I am doing physiotherapy-managed exercises bearing in mind the need to be aware of the possibility of impact on the hip joint.....a little complex the physio said. lol

In terms of increased stability of the joint, I think this has been successful and I don't feel that my knee is about to collapse when I am walking as it was 10 days ago. I am hoping that what the surgeon has done will prevent any further dislocations....only time will tell. He said to me the day after surgery "I have done enough to stabilise what was a tricky joint" my response was "I hope you have because I am not certain I will let you have another go" He did remind me that my right knee was replaced some 20 years ago and we would talk about this in the future. I am not sure of life the expectancy of a knee replacement. As Miss Sophie says "Grandmother you will have to just google that"

Yesterday I did a fair bit of walking - up and down the verandahs and perhaps I have overdone it a bit who knows. I even was thinking that I would go to Book Club on Monday......reassessed that thought today and we will see what tomorrow brings. I have an appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon's nurse tomorrow morning to have the wound checked and hopefully all the dressings removed.

I wanted to explain all this to those who have been following the posts to let you know:

1. Yes I am in pain which is a mixture of post-surgical and CRPS pain

2. The stability in my knee has improved greatly at this point - I am thinking that with the physio intervention, it can only get better.

3. It is not hurting as much to mobilise as it was pre-surgery even considering point number 1 and it is only day 9

4. I am receiving absolutely A1 gold standard care from Terry

Thanks for all the wishes of love and support

Cheers Anne

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