Progress report, Day 36

I've waited a while to post this because I needed time to deal with the information. I had my follow-up appointment on May 9. It was disappointing.

Because my pain and swelling wasn't well controlled, I haven't reached the flexion that I need in order to be released back to work. Instead I've been sent to intensive outpatient physical therapy in order to try and reach the 90-110 degree flexion. This means that I'm at physical therapy three times a week often for over an hour, and I'm working very hard at home on the exercises that build strength and flexion.

This shouldn't have happened. I complained to the doctor's office that my pain wasn't well controlled. The home health nurse and the home health physical therapist complained to the doctor's office that my pain wasn't well controlled. For some reason the doctor's office kept reducing my pain medication instead of finding an option that would help me. There wasn't a day that I didn't begin or end in tears from the pain of this knee replacement. For weeks I've been in agony. I was told that the pain would be less than I was experiencing before the surgery. Unfortunately this isn't true for me and I'm in so much more pain than before.

While the doctor agreed that this situation was bullshit (his word), I can't help but wonder why his nurses were allowed to continually reduce medication when the home health nurses, therapists, and I all called to report that I was suffering.

Its hard to remain confident in my doctor when I've been allowed to suffer so much for so long without reason. Even though he did give me a new medication with the instructions to take it right before physical therapy and when I exercise.

If I don't reach the 90-110 degree flexion by May 30, I'll be sent for a manipulation under anesthesia. this is where the doctor will put me under and then manipulate the leg until the scar tissue is stretched and broken and the leg can bend. The dangers include a broken leg.

This lack of progress is incredibly disappointing. The work that I've put into this knee through the years so far has contributed nothing to my recovery. I work to the point of nauseating agony every day only to be told its not enough. So far I've only achieved 70 degrees flexion.

Time is running out and I'm not sure how confident I am in my doctor if I do have to have a manipulation under anesthesia.