Ann (USA)
9. Sept. 2024
I had total knee replacement (TKR) surgery on September 9, 2022, coincidentally on Arthrofibrosis Awareness Day. Unfortunately, my recovery has been a nightmare. I was assigned a pushy, aggressive, and untrained physical therapist, which only made things worse.
Note from the IAA: For privacy reasons, the name Ann used in this story is a pseudonym.
There was a resident, unmentored and inexperienced, who began forcefully cranking my knee during a session. When my knee wouldn’t bend any further, I asked her to stop, but she didn’t. I asked again, but she ignored me. I felt as though something had broken, but she denied it. Before that session, I had achieved 100 degrees of range of motion, two months post-surgery.
The next day, my knee was swollen, hot, and red
The next day, my knee was swollen, hot, and red, and I feared that blood was pooling around it. From that point on, my range of motion dropped to 40 degrees, and despite my protests, the physical therapist kept pushing me, causing intense anxiety and pain. I underwent lysis of adhesions, which helped restore another 40 to 45 degrees of motion. Thankfully, my extension was at 0 degrees, so that wasn’t an issue. But now, six months later, I still can't walk without a walker and rely on home care aides for daily activities.
I desperately need to see a specialist, but it's been a struggle. There’s one in the Southern California valley area who claims to be an expert in Arthrofibrosis, but he doesn’t accept Medicare or HMO. If I can get authorized, my insurance will cover it, but I’m facing resistance from Kaiser. They haven’t even started looking for an in-network specialist. My doctor simply told me to make an appointment with Ortho, which was incredibly frustrating.
The pain is relentless, and I’m at my wit's end. I can’t drive, and even with a walker, I can’t go for long walks. I’m hoping to find some guidance and support from others who might have been through this. What’s even more disheartening is that just before surgery, as I was getting the spinal anesthesia, my doctor admitted that I was his first and only arthrofibrosis patient. If I hadn't already been prepped for surgery, I would have insisted on finding a specialist.
I’m feeling completely overwhelmed and frustrated to the point of tears
During my follow-up visit a month after surgery, the doctor bluntly told me he was done with me and wouldn’t perform another surgery. He left everything up to Physical Therapy. And now, PT has discharged me for lack of progress. To top it off, my caregiver has quit and is moving to Texas. I’m feeling completely overwhelmed and frustrated to the point of tears.