Re: my second knee replacement

[Guest guest]

Gosh Devora I think its awful you have to fight for every bit of health care

you need.

It should be up to the medical people not insurance companies.

We aren't allowed home from a knee replacement until we hit 90 degrees.

Having said that we don't get home PT or nursing care for a replacement .

-- my second knee replacement

I am having my second minimally invasive TKR (with robotic arm by Dr Coon in

St Helena Ca) on July 20th. I had my left one done by him Dec 17 2010 and

it is stuck at a 95 degree bend, even after a MUA in February, but in April

it stopped hurting and I started noticing that my other bone on bone knee

was hurting badly. So I decided to go ahead with the surgery while I still

have a job and insurance. This time, I have 5 weeks off of work instead of

only 3. I also am better prepared since I know how difficult and painful it

will be. I am overjoyed that I have arranged to get home health PT, nursing

and OT on my insurance. I had used up all of my PT and Blue Shield wouldn't

budge and give me more for this surgery, but they will pay for the more

expensive home PT. Go figure? Now I am trying to get my doctor to allow me

2 nights in the hospital instead of just one. I have a 6 hour drive home

which turns into 8 hours with mandatory walking every hour. So I need the

second night to be prepared to get into the car. Seems that these days you

have to fight for everything you get in healthcare. Devora

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[Guest guest]

Hi Devora, I am amazed that you are only allowed one night in the hospital. I

stayed 4 in New York, and they would have let me stay another if I'd wanted to.

Do you get to go to rehab if you want to?

Also, 95 degrees is not too good. Do you have full extension? I certainly hope

you have better luck with your second knee.

All the best, Joan

________________________________

From: " maryanne.waspe1@... " <maryanne.waspe1@...>

Joint Replacement

Sent: Sun, June 26, 2011 4:23:54 AM

Subject: Re: my second knee replacement

Gosh Devora I think its awful you have to fight for every bit of health care

you need.

It should be up to the medical people not insurance companies.

We aren't allowed home from a knee replacement until we hit 90 degrees.

Having said that we don't get home PT or nursing care for a replacement .

-- my second knee replacement

I am having my second minimally invasive TKR (with robotic arm by Dr Coon in

St Helena Ca) on July 20th. I had my left one done by him Dec 17 2010 and

it is stuck at a 95 degree bend, even after a MUA in February, but in April

it stopped hurting and I started noticing that my other bone on bone knee

was hurting badly. So I decided to go ahead with the surgery while I still

have a job and insurance. This time, I have 5 weeks off of work instead of

only 3. I also am better prepared since I know how difficult and painful it

will be. I am overjoyed that I have arranged to get home health PT, nursing

and OT on my insurance. I had used up all of my PT and Blue Shield wouldn't

budge and give me more for this surgery, but they will pay for the more

expensive home PT. Go figure? Now I am trying to get my doctor to allow me

2 nights in the hospital instead of just one. I have a 6 hour drive home

which turns into 8 hours with mandatory walking every hour. So I need the

second night to be prepared to get into the car. Seems that these days you

have to fight for everything you get in healthcare. Devora

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

-

> Hi Devora, I am amazed that you are only allowed one night in the hospital.

I

> stayed 4 in New York, and they would have let me stay another if I'd wanted

to.

Dr Coon has this attitude that minimally invasive TKR is no big deal. I beg to

differ. In retrospect, I was annoyed that I could barely get into my vam when I

left the hospital. It is only because my arms are strong that I could lift

myself up into the seat. I agree that they should have let me stay until I had

90% bend. The trend in California seems to be same day or one night in the

hospital for many things.

> Do you get to go to rehab if you want to?

I have used up all my outpatient rehab, but my insurance will cover home health

rehab, OT, and nursing. That will work well for me. I ended up not taking my

drugs before PT since I needed to drive myself after the 11th day.

>

> Also, 95 degrees is not too good. Do you have full extension?

My extension is pretty good, maybe a couple of degrees off. Best of all my leg

is straight which helps my back on that side.

I certainly hope

> you have better luck with your second knee.All the best, Joan

Yes 95% sucks but the extreme pain which is present in my pre-op knee

is gone. I will always have a hard time getting in and out of the bathtub.

Stairs will always be a little slow. But I can ride my Terra Trike recumbent

trike and I can manage to get up off of the floor. I have a friend who teaches

yoga and has a 90% bend in her knee. Devora

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