My knee isn't healing after surgery, what next?!


Question: I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee on January 8th. I have been home from work since then. My problem is that the pain is getting worse instead of better, and my surgeon keeps telling me I am "right on target." Everytime I see him, he moves my expected return to work date further away. At first he said 2/20, then 3/1, and now he is saying 5/1, but he isn't prescribing any pt or meds. He says that recovery is 4 months, and I think that since I am at the half-way point I should feel better, not worse. He tells me to walk 15 minutes 4 times a day, but if I try that, I can't walk at all the next day because of pain and swelling. He ignores that. should I continue to do what he says, and hope for the best, or do you think I should get another opinion? I have to be able to work normally by May 1st because I have to fill in for my office manager who is due to have a baby on May 10th. if I am not back to work on time, I could lose my job. What should i do?


Answers: I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee on January 8th. I have been home from work since then. My problem is that the pain is getting worse instead of better, and my surgeon keeps telling me I am "right on target." Everytime I see him, he moves my expected return to work date further away. At first he said 2/20, then 3/1, and now he is saying 5/1, but he isn't prescribing any pt or meds. He says that recovery is 4 months, and I think that since I am at the half-way point I should feel better, not worse. He tells me to walk 15 minutes 4 times a day, but if I try that, I can't walk at all the next day because of pain and swelling. He ignores that. should I continue to do what he says, and hope for the best, or do you think I should get another opinion? I have to be able to work normally by May 1st because I have to fill in for my office manager who is due to have a baby on May 10th. if I am not back to work on time, I could lose my job. What should i do?

In most cases, recorvery from a simple arthroscopy is fairly quick, I have had athletes returning to compeition in as little as 10 days post-op. However, this can vary widely depending on what was done. If your meniscus was repaired, four or five months is not out of the question. Depending on the exact nature of your work it can vary. If you work mainly at a desk job, you should be able to return to work now.

I think it's time that you seek another opinion. Talk with your insurance company and see who they will cover. I would suggest getting your second opinion from someone outside of your current orthopedic surgeon's practice. Practice partners tend to stick up for each other, and it will get you no where. If you live close to a large teaching hospital, they would be your best option. Teaching hospitals allow you to be seen by multiple doctors in the same day, and they can offer better solutions than the average doctor can.

When you go to the second opinion, make sure you take a copy of your current chart, which should include both office notes and surgical notes. You should also take along any x-rays and other imaging studies you may have had, although many doctors do prefer to take new a-rays.

Another option would be to consult with a physical therapist. In many states physical therapists have direct access, which means a patient does not need a referral from a doctor to be under the care of a PT. Your insurance may not cover it at first. However, your PT may be able to convince your orthopedic surgeon that physical therapy would improve your condition, and then your insurance would definitly cover it.

Also please keep in mind that by refusing to prescribe pain med's you could potentially file a complaint against him with the AMA or state medical board. Pain is a very really symptom and doctors are responsible for making sure that it is under contol.

sue the quack

take your pain meds and tough it out.

read and apply http://www.helium.com/tm/148271 it's the only effective option.

You didn't mention if your receiving physio and by now you certainly should be. They will be able to put you thru the range of motion and set you up with exercises that with time "should" help reduce the pain or if need be communicate with your doctor/surgeon suspected problems or any other interests as they are normally the first professional team to witness issues you are having.

I'm 4 weeks postop right now, but can't really comment on what you should be feeling or doing with your knee as mine is compounded with MANY leg damages and an IM nail due to a MVA 14 months ago. But I received a req for physio 3 weeks postop for my knee.

Good luck & make sure to educate yourself well regarding both the procedure you had as well as the reason you had it and ask lots of educated questions and concerns of your surgeon.





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