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Chronic pain after TKR

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Posted 3/21/2009 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. I am a 46 yo white female who had a total knee replacement done in June of 2006. The doctor put in the wrong size knee joint and I had to have another TKR done in December of 2006. Since that time I have had constant pain. I have gone to physical therapy, acupuncurist, massage therapy, neurologist, and pain management doctors. They currently have me on Norco and Motrin. One of the doctors wants me to start on Pristiq now. I had tried Cymbalta but couldnt tolerate it. Anyone have any luck with Pristiq helping their pain? I am starting to get depressed and I just can't imagine having to live the rest of my life the way I am now. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone.
Posted 3/21/2009 3:22 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Diggsy,

How awful for you, I had Bilateral TKR in June and July of 2006.  I am so sorry for your situation.  I am on Norco and Tizanidine for CP from Cervical Fusion. The initial ruptures caused permanent nerve damage, was on Neurontin the Lyrica....had a SEVERE reaction to Lyrica, so pain level stays around 5 to 8 on a good day.... Not familiar with Pristiq...but you will find someone here who will offer help.

WELCOME again!

XXOO
Patti

Posted 3/21/2009 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Diggsy,

Hi. Step aboard. Oh, I'll bet you're in pain.

Your doctor is not giving you very good medicine for a surgery like you had. I
don't know why doctors are this way - I just don't know.

I hope you will find a Pain Doctor. You will get some help there.

What does your primary care doctor say about your pain? Or did your primary care
doctor do the surgery?

Chronic pain just wears on you. In time, medical science will come up with something.
In time ... but not now. Can we wait?

Pamela

Oh ... I just reread your letter. I believe it's time you try ANOTHER pain management
doctor. There are some pain doctors who will help you with the pain. There are
others who undertreat you. I believe you just hit the wrong ones on the wrong days.

I've been to all the modalites you've been to. TWICE. I've spent just about all
my money and they never helped me. My pain doctor does as well as the law
will allow, but still I'm not doing good. I may need a surgery (or something)
Posted 3/21/2009 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Diggsy,
Welcome to our chronic pain "family". So sorry that there's another person with pain, but as others will tell you, you have found a great place for support, venting, and a little crazy fun now and then.

I'm not familiar with pristiq, but I'm sure others will be along who are. Have you been legally compensated for your doctor's error? I only ask that hoping that you have good resources for you to get the best help out there for pain. You'll see from our stories it can take a long time, and even a lot of travel, to find a good pain management doctor. But there are other aspects to this, as you mention, like having to accept the changes to our lives. We have a few really deep topics going on in the first couple of pages about how CP affects our identity, and relationships, and I see you already posted to one. We're all struggling with the layers this brings to our life, but fortunately we've found common ground here with others who understand.

We also have a little virtual fun from time to time, the current thread being the "time to fly" one. We get a little crazy there (family friendly, of course), travel around in virtual bodies and do all the things we wish we could do, I guess, in our real bodies but can't. Sometimes you just have to pretend for awhile.

Anyway, feel free to jump in anywhere. And keep learning and searching for the best pain management resources you can find for yourself.

PaLady
Posted 3/22/2009 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for the encouragement, that always helps!! I did see an attorney who said I would probably "lose" all my money by trying to take this doctor to court because he is known as "the best in our area." So I didnt pursue it any further until.... recently after I had been thru all of the things I listed and still no better. This attorney was WAY better, the only problem is apparently there is a 2 year time limit and I was at two years and one month. If anyone knows of a way around that, I would definitely look into it. I am going to see the Pain doc on Tuesday and then the second ortho surgeon I went to that found the problem originally in two weeks. Depending on what he says, I may end up going to the University of Chicago Hospital for another opinion. Like I said, with all the technology and medical breakthroughs we have in  our country, you would think someone could help us all better!! Thanks again everyone!!

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