I have noticed some improvement, although Mr S said he hoped for more. Because he's retired from the surgical practice, he has referred me to another osteo surgeon.
Yanno, I am not looking forward to this, to have yet another doctor presume that I must be stuffing my face with ice cream and cake, sitting on my ass doing nothing.
Didn't sleep well. No matter what position I got in, the pain in my knee would wake me up. So, I was cranky from being tired. I had laid out my clothes last night, and quickly got cleaned up and dressed, and ready to go. I got the scaffold, and was going through the routine of putting in on,and tightening the straps in order. This is were 'shitty' came in. One of the clips snapped while I was tightening it.
(Insert bad words here) I took an unbroken clip from upper thigh strap, removed the broken clip and replaced it with the one I took off the top thigh strap. I then repositioned the velcro tab on the upper thigh strap, and pulled it tight, clove hitched it to where the clip was supposed to go, then pushed the velcro tab onto the strap. It worked, but was easily loosened.
Saw Dr B, the endocrinologist. It seems my thyroid hormone levels (T3 and T4) and uptake levels have normalized. He couldn't put me on the scale because of the scaffold, but I told him how I had been measured, and have lost 8cms (about 3.5 inches) from around my butt, same from around my waist, and 2.5 cms from around each thigh. Also my clothes are too big, and some that were too small I can wear.
Off to see Mr S, the osteopathic surgeon (retired from surgery, but still consulting and referring) and this is where my day got better. He read the MRI, layer by layer and the good news is I do NOT need any surgery. I will, however, need an ultrasound guided injection of cortisone under local anesthesia. Appointment has been made, but I have to wait a few weeks.
I spoke to Hayden regarding the scaffold/brace clip breaking. Even he said it shouldn't have. He took photo of broken clip, and the model of the brace on my leg. What he did really surprised me. There wasn't an extra clip in storage, but he did have some sample braces that Mr S had been given, AND he had a used one the he heartily recommended. I got the the used one on now, and my knee feel so much better. It's an above the knee, mid-calf and I can lock the brace to zero degree of bending, keeping it completely straight. The other 'sample' brace is a lockable one, but it is upper thigh to mid calf. If I need it, it's there to be used.
We now have a proper name for what is wrong: Functional Neurological Disorder. It's not all in my head, I'm not making it up.
FDN is as common as MS and Parkinson's with similar levels of disability and impairments with quality of life, but they don't involve the brain. FND with me presents with: weakness, sensory changes, movement disorders, seizures, gait and balance difficulties, chronic pain, sleep disturbances.
To put it bluntly, I'm a mess. But a fixable mess. After giving her the traumatic/stress filled* events I've had just in the past 5 years alone, it's a wonder my body didn't rebel earlier.
Having to be brutally honest about things goes against how I was raised. It was "If asked, don't tell". No joke. To discuss thing that I had kept deliberately buried, had me in tears. Not of shame of what happened, but shame for TELLING someone. Go figure!
*those in the know know what a shit storm it's been.
After a lengthy discussion, and some pointed questions, a course of action has been set up.
As it's not the brain, but nerve pain, I don't have to ditch other medication, but it will be shelved for a while.
For now, I am on a regimen of Lorazepam and magnesium. I might end up a bit groggy, or in need of a nap on occasion, but you know something, i can live with that.
Within an hour from taking the first dose, I noticed that the tingling and tightening feeling had faded, and two hours later, I took a nap. AND I didn't have an seizure/episode when I changed position or got up.
2nd dose will be later this afternoon. And if I sleep through the night, fine. If not, the next day take one lorazepam prior to going to sleep.
Will be on this protocol for 4 weeks.
After this, I will be seeing a counselor, along with the medication, because stress, lack of sleep, and a few other non-neurological/brain issues can cause dystonia.
Knee joint replacement is great. I managed to dodge a bullet when I caught pneumonia, as it's common for infections to spread from one area of the body to the joint replacement area.
The acute pain I've been having. Mr S said that since I was still experiencing pain from the knee replacement at the time, I didn't feel the damage/injury sustained on the anterior of my knee when we were T-boned. The pain of the surgery lessened, making the pain just under the knee cap causing me to gasp in pain if I stood in one place too long, or causing me to limp a lot first thing in the morning.
Tendinopathy, treatable, but painful. It's also the reason I get pain going across the top of my foot, just below shin. Treat the tendinopathy, and the ankle/foot issue *should* self resolve. Had ultrasound and TENS treatment. Also wearing compression tape under the knee, on top of the tendon.
Knee bend, unassisted, 125 degrees. 130 is considered perfect. 
Not too bad. Hayden was quite impressed (he was my Pre-Op physio). I see Matt the Torturer on Monday.
First off, ow. The exam to see if the 2nd SynVisc injection is working hurts like hell. Pull, push, bend, flex. Check to see if there is side to side movement. Even with the swelling I had on Sunday (furniture seats are 'fashionably' low to the floor. Kind of feels like squatting, instead of sitting.
Dr S said swelling is down, side to side movement is reduced. I told him how I sit when the knee starts feeling spongey (that means there is fluid building up again). And I've stopped trying to keep up with people who can walk faster. I can walk faster, for a while, but then I will pay for it big time the following week.
I go back and see Dr S in a month for another follow up.
Today was the first morning I didn't have to put the knee compresssion band on my right knee when I swung my legs out of bed. I was able to stand, and walk to the "TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN" room without holding the doorway for support. Also, my knee is more knee shaped, rather than a swollen mess.
I've also been walking, slowly, around the house, doing typical things, without the band on, too. Even managed my 'stair' exercises, although the last two did make my knee feel a bit rickety.
I will wear hinged brace when I know I will be doing a lot of walking to prevent another hyper-extension, which could negate the synovial injection.
Now, if I could only figure out what is causing my right leg, from just above the ankle, to about 6 inches up, from being tight to the point of cramping. I have done stretches, and it just won't unlock. I think that is causing more of a limp now then the knee! That, and the three hour walk around Fremantle yesterday.
