| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Some of you may remember my accident last summer and the fact that they had to install a plate with screws to stabilize my tibia while it healed. Unfortunately, that plate was not titanium, but surgical steel and I've been having a reaction to it (fortunately not severe) ever since. After a year I was told it could be removed. Since I already lost last summer to surgery, I waited until after I got back from Biketoberfest to have it removed. Son of a BITCH but my leg hurts worse now than when it was installed. I spoke to a friend's stepson today who happens to be an orthopedist and he explained why. It's not like those seven screws holding the plate in place can be unscrewed... after a year the bone had pretty much grown around them. He said they actually have to tear them out and in his words: it's all rather barbaric. At least once this heals it should be all over... | ||
| Ourdee |
Ahrg, makes me cringe brother. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. That has to be miserable. I hope things start to get better soon. | ||
| Pwnzor |
I got to observe a knee replacement from a surgical gallery some years ago. Brutal does not even begin to describe it. I saw those screws going in, and the old knee being hacked out. Heal fast brother. | ||
| Crusty |
When my ankle got crushed, I had a nice titanium plate and seven screws holding everything together. After about six months, one of the screws started backing out and was putting pressure on a nerve, so the Orthopedic Surgeon removed all the hardware, before the nerve got damaged. I guess I could say something like hang in there, it'll get better, but I know just how much it sucks at present. It will get better though and the memory of the pain will dim. Until you hear about somebody else going through it; then you'll remember it in detail. Just take the pain meds and when it's time to do the Physical Therapy, don't skimp on the exercises. I know what you're going through. | ||
| 86129squids |
When bone heals, it gets stronger. In the meantime, do what's necessary. Ow. My first Basenji had only been with me about 2.5 weeks when he pretended to be a cat and fell 10 feet into a rose bush, compound fracturing his right leg at the elbow. The military could make a sonic weapon out of a Basenji screaming, trust me. He required a titanium pin to put it all back together, had a brilliant veterinary orthopedist. Years later the pin started interfering with a nerve pathway, had to be taken out. Feelin ya, by proxy. Get better soon. | ||
| Kmbuell |
Just met with my Ortho surgeon last Monday. Decided to leave the plate on my elbow unless I start to see / feel any issues. It’s a 7” SS plate with 6 screws. He told me that it’s not worth the chances that another surgery would bring plus we has a conversation about what pain level to expect. He was up front that it would likely be more painful than going in the first time. As has been said, do the PT, hurts but heals much faster and stronger. Good luck! | ||
| Jaimec |
I had fully planned on leaving it in until I learned it was surgical steel and NOT titanium. Thanks to the nickel in the alloy, the swelling never completely went away and the area was still tender to the touch. I was afraid of what might've been going on where I COULDN'T see, so I figured it was just better to get it out. Before they installed the plate, they had asked me if I had any allergies, and I was thinking "Medication/Food" so I said "No." I hadn't worn glasses in YEARS and completely forgot about my reaction to the nickel in the stainless steel frames I used to wear. I do wear a watch with a stainless steel band, but the watch doesn't stay in one place, it's constantly sliding around up and down my wrist, unlike glasses that stayed pretty much in one place. The watch band has never proven to be a problem. | ||
| Sifo |
I worked with a lady who's husband had both knees replaced at the same time. He had a reaction to the metal knees, and they both got infected. Damn near killed him. They had to take the knees out and were dealing with the infection for over a year. I quite working there before that story ended, so I don't know where it went from there. Hard to imagine sitting around with your knees cut out of your legs for over a year! I would guess that recovery from that situation is going to be a bitch under the best of circumstances from there. | ||
| Ourdee |
I've had a knee go septic due to gout. An infected joint is nothing to play with. First course of some expensive antibiotic didn't touch it. No gain on it for about a month. Not worth the risk. | ||
| Sifo |
When I worked downtown Chicago, a co-worker used to deal with gout. Never knew much about it until then. There was a sub place withing walking distance from work that had the best meatball subs I've ever had. He said they were sure to give him a bout of gout, but said they were worth it. They were good meatball subs! Wish I remembered the name of that place. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I'm surprised that implants are still done with steel; my titanium rods and (most of the) screws are still in place after 11 years, with no real issues other than being a walking barometer. About a year after the surgery though, there were two screws installed laterally above my left knee, holding the bottom of the rod into my femur. I'd started driving again by that point, though, and working the clutch pedal sent my quad muscles twanging across the screw heads, so the doc removed them. It was literally 3 hours of prep, for 3 minutes on the table. Nick, nick with a scalpel (2- 1/4" incisions), and zip, zip with a surgical Dewalt to pull them out. Backed out just like wood screws. Hell...they LOOK like wood screws - self-tapping tips, coarse thread, and a T27 torx head. They look like shiny decking screws! I don't remember the post-removal being bad, other than having to waterproof-wrap my knee when I showered for the first week afterwards. Incisions that went into bone marrow, they get a little worried about keeping clean... | ||
| Jaimec |
From the photos I have, these screws went clean through my bone and some even poked out the other side.  | ||
| Jaimec |
My cynical nature says it's because steel is cheaper than titanium... | ||
| Kmbuell |
In my case I was told it’s much easier to shape in the surgical center than Ti. Don’t know for sure, but I have screws that look like they come through too. | ||
| Jaimec |
I've a friend who recently retired who was a trauma surgeon. I had asked her if it was normal for the screws to poke through to the other side. She'd told me that it isn't "normal" but it isn't uncommon either. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Mine went through. Size across your leg, just above the knee. Interior to anterior, not front to back. My screws were 3" long. There's not 3" of hard material there. | ||
| Aesquire |
One of the many jobs I didn't get was machinist for a surgical unit, modifying metal & plastic bits to fit, while the patient was on the table sometimes. Out of the milling machine, plunged into degreaser, rinsed in a modified Eye Flood booth, then put, dripping wet, into a portable autoclave to be sterilized on the way to the OR. I did get the tour. As to the pain. I understand & suggest caution in living while on opiates. I dunno about you, but they make me dumb. I get off them as soon as I can, post surgery. From a month after the first knee replacement, to a week after the second. I may get dumb, but I can learn. I recall asking the nurse when I could drive, 2 weeks after surgery. She looked at me like I'm an idiot. "You can't drive, you're on opiates!". uh. duh. I knew this stuff 2 weeks ago. 'nuff said. It's best you got the irritation removed, good call. | ||
| Jaimec |
So far I've been able to avoid taking the percoset prescription I've been given. My wife is a chronic pain sufferer, so I gave them to her. The ibuprofen has been enough to keep the edge off. When the plate was initially installed, I didn't need to take anything at all though. Maybe it's true what they say: "No brain, no pain..." | ||
| Crusty |
When I had my broken ankle, the Docs also prescribed Percs, but I found they really put me out in space and didn't help with the pain. 800 mg. Ibuprofen did more to relieve the pain than the percs did. The other thing about the Percs was that I didn't like the high. I was way out in space, but I felt completely straight. I would say things that made no sense whatsoever. My brain was very short circuited. It was not a very good feeling. I hope you start feeling better quickly. | ||
| Jaimec |
I've only ever used one narcotic in my life and that would be codeine. Back when I was growing up, it was in cough syrup, and I still occasionally get a prescription for cough syrup with codeine when I have a bad cough; it's the ONLY thing that works. OTC cough medicines do NOTHING, complete waste of money. Another time I had a painful infection in my arm and my doctor prescribed Tylenol with codeine. It worked because my arm didn't hurt when I was SOUND ASLEEP. I'd take a tablet, and fall asleep for six hours. Wake up in pain, take another tablet, and fall asleep again. Worked wonderfully! | ||
| Ourdee |
I hate codeine. Makes me want to puke. For the cough and with out codeine, try the original Fisherman's Friend. It will numb your throat. I put half of one between the cheek and gum and fall asleep with out a cough. | ||
| Jaimec |
Heard from the surgeon today and they said it was okay to remove the brace. I don't know why I had it. They didn't give me a brace when they installed the metal, not sure why they made me wear it after they removed it. Any way, I can walk normally again! | ||
| Aesquire |
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| Ourdee |
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| 86129squids |
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| Jaimec |
If I could walk that way I wouldn't need the talcum powder. | ||
| Ratbuell |
What hump? | ||
| Ourdee |
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| Tootal |
Good to hear it's getting better. I vote for Ibuprofen too. I was taking 500mg after my ankle surgery. They gave me "good" stuff but I hated it. Constipation sucks!! I got off that within a week, didn't seem to do much for pain. What they told you about stainless and titanium is true. Stainless is soft and compared to titanium is easily machined. I've worked with both and there's a huge difference. I only have a single titanium plate and two screws holding my shattered heel together. If it wasn't such a huge deal to take them out I would. The good thing is it can only get better from here! |
