Rating for scars due to total knee replacement

[Rhodesia]

I'm going up to Eugene, Oregon  to be seen by a private Dr. for a C&P exam for my total left knee replacement Scar which is 15 inches long and 1/2 inch wide and there has been Constance pain on the scar itself since the surgery on june 4th 2018 I have been given Morphine to deal with the pain I'm on my third prescription since June 2018 from the scar, this is my second knee replacement on the same knee and this time I had 72 staples to close up the incision.  I have been reading on here that most of the exams people have been given a rating of 0% I hate to travel 200 miles for a 10 minute C&P exam for my post surgery scar and get a 0% rating. Plus I was sent a DBQ form to fill out myself and give it to the examiner, but the questions are written as if the Doctor was performing his view of the exam I find that odd, and they did tell me on the phone I'm to fill it out all the Doctor is going to do is evaluate my total knee replacement scars. The place the Veterans Choice contracted is called QTC Medical Services. I have been told NOT to bring any medical documentation, photographs or any medical reports, concerning my second total knee replacement surgery The Dr. has access to the VA files from what they told me over the phone.

Edited December 10, 2018 by Rhodesia

[broncovet]

Dont miss this, or other C and P exams.  It wont come out well for you if you miss the exam.  You should be able to get travel pay round trip.  I think its about 41.5 cents per mile, so that should be a little over $160 for your trouble.  

[Rhodesia]

2 hours ago, broncovet said:

Dont miss this, or other C and P exams.  It wont come out well for you if you miss the exam.  You should be able to get travel pay round trip.  I think its about 41.5 cents per mile, so that should be a little over $160 for your trouble.  

Thank you I leave this morning I will keep you posted how the exam went, but I find it odd that I have to fill out my own DBQ exam. Also as a side note the VSO asked the VA to reconsider my 100% temp for the 13 month for my second total knee replacement  under 38 CFR 4.30 as a second claim. I have not heard anything on that issue or anything that was posted in the bank account. the VSO said I should receive retro back pay from June 4th 2018. that's IF they approve it. All she said was just keep checking your bank account because you can never tell when they will post it. 

[Rhodesia]

13 hours ago, broncovet said:

Dont miss this, or other C and P exams.  It wont come out well for you if you miss the exam.  You should be able to get travel pay round trip.  I think its about 41.5 cents per mile, so that should be a little over $160 for your trouble.  

Ok made it to the exam spent about 45 minutes in there he had my file up from the VA on his computer I guess the VA can do these now send your file just about anywhere. He was doing allot of typing and asking questions, then he evaluated my 15 inch scar and asked questions why I had to have a second knee replacement and so forth. wanted to know if I'm having any pain from the scars and are they intermittent or constant showed him my last 3 prescriptions for Morphine prescription for the pain, and do I have troubles sleeping because of the knee replacement due to the post surgery scars. in the end he did tell me that he concurred that I have a second knee replacement or a TKA as they call it and issues with the post surgery scars, he did tell me that he found 4 scars from past knee surgerys  Hopefully I will get a rating for the scars and not end up with o% like some vets have been getting after their knee replacement. 

Edited December 12, 2018 by Rhodesia

[broncovet]

It sounds like your TKR is service connected, so it boils down to symptoms, and how persistent you are at fighting VA for what you deserve.  

I had a TKR about six weeks ago, and, of course there is a long scar.  I do feel occassional pain, but the pain level is more of an "ache" (soreness) from the surgery, AND, of course, the pain from physical therapy.  

In order to increase the ROM, the physical therapist basically bends the knee where it does not want to be bent.  The PT pain, however, goes away fairly quickly and actually feels better a few hours after PT.  

There are 2 issues here:  Your health and compensation.  Take these IN THIS order, not the reverse, putting compensation above your health.  

It concerns me you are on morphine this long after surgery...I suspect there is something wrong somewhere.  

On Dec. 20, I will go for my 2 month post surgical xrays, where the surgeon checks to make sure the knee is place and working where it belongs and that nothing has gone wrong with my recovery.  I have a very reputable TKR VA surgeon, and this is my first TKR.  

It sounds like you have had some kind of a "revision" surgery which could be caused by 2 different things:

1.  You could have done things you should not have done, such as overstessing an artificial knee, by doing things like jumping on a trampoline or other knee stressing activities that injured your replaced knee.  An artifical knee is "not as good" as the one you were born with, and wont take the stresses your original knee would.  

2.  Either a defective knee device, or, some type of impropery surgery.  

     If the knee revision was due to a defective knee or improper surgury, you may have an 1151 claim if both surgeries performed at VA.  Berta is very adamant that you can recieve benefits under 1151 IN ADDITION TO "regular" service connected injuries.  

     If you had a good knee device, and good surgery, as long as you did "as directed", you should not be needing morphine from a June surgery, IMHO.   I think there is "something wrong" that you need morphine.  

     I had TKR on Oct. 20, and my pain level ranges from 1 to about 5.  The 5 is usually during and the next couple hours after Physical Therapy.  Mostly, my pain level ranges 1 to 3 out of 10, with 10 being the worst.  As I type this, my pain level is "virtually zero".  That is, I have almost no pain at all except when exercising the knee especially when I do my own physical therapy, to increase the range of motion.  

Do you have knee swelling, and, if so, are you treating it with ice?  You should be if you have knee swelling.  

      

[Buck52]

broncovet

could it be from what this veteran tells the Dr about his after surgery knee pain ?

I mean some people can't tolerate pain of any level , if they hurt  say about a 5 or 6 level and actually tell the Dr a 10   Sounds like he has a compassionate Dr  Unlike most VA DR's now days,

I do agree after this long he should be getting better and taken off the morphine.

something may have happen to his  Knee replacement during rehab maybe he needs to let the Dr know this if it was? 

[Rhodesia]

4 hours ago, broncovet said:

It sounds like your TKR is service connected, so it boils down to symptoms, and how persistent you are at fighting VA for what you deserve.  

I had a TKR about six weeks ago, and, of course there is a long scar.  I do feel occassional pain, but the pain level is more of an "ache" (soreness) from the surgery, AND, of course, the pain from physical therapy.  

In order to increase the ROM, the physical therapist basically bends the knee where it does not want to be bent.  The PT pain, however, goes away fairly quickly and actually feels better a few hours after PT.  

There are 2 issues here:  Your health and compensation.  Take these IN THIS order, not the reverse, putting compensation above your health.  

It concerns me you are on morphine this long after surgery...I suspect there is something wrong somewhere.  

On Dec. 20, I will go for my 2 month post surgical xrays, where the surgeon checks to make sure the knee is place and working where it belongs and that nothing has gone wrong with my recovery.  I have a very reputable TKR VA surgeon, and this is my first TKR.  

It sounds like you have had some kind of a "revision" surgery which could be caused by 2 different things:

1.  You could have done things you should not have done, such as overstessing an artificial knee, by doing things like jumping on a trampoline or other knee stressing activities that injured your replaced knee.  An artifical knee is "not as good" as the one you were born with, and wont take the stresses your original knee would.  

2.  Either a defective knee device, or, some type of impropery surgery.  

     If the knee revision was due to a defective knee or improper surgury, you may have an 1151 claim if both surgeries performed at VA.  Berta is very adamant that you can recieve benefits under 1151 IN ADDITION TO "regular" service connected injuries.  

     If you had a good knee device, and good surgery, as long as you did "as directed", you should not be needing morphine from a June surgery, IMHO.   I think there is "something wrong" that you need morphine.  

     I had TKR on Oct. 20, and my pain level ranges from 1 to about 5.  The 5 is usually during and the next couple hours after Physical Therapy.  Mostly, my pain level ranges 1 to 3 out of 10, with 10 being the worst.  As I type this, my pain level is "virtually zero".  That is, I have almost no pain at all except when exercising the knee especially when I do my own physical therapy, to increase the range of motion.  

Do you have knee swelling, and, if so, are you treating it with ice?  You should be if you have knee swelling.  

      

I had a total knee replacement revision due to a serious fall which ended up replacement of the whole knee again that why I'm still having issues I'm on my 3rd physical therapy for my knee since June and the pain level is around 6 to 7 and I have issues sleeping at knight due to the knee. The surgeon said if the therapy does not work then he will need to replace the spacer that is between the knee to give it more support. as for the morphine I can't take the other pain killers I get sick so that's why I'm on Morphine. Their are times that I'm bleeding inside under the scar when going through therapy my scar is 15 inches long and 1/2 inches wide. as for the 100% temp for the second knee replacement I was still denied again the VSO does not under stand why because I'm suppose to get it but they keep telling her that you only get one 100% temp for service connected injury that involves in a surgery she submitted a claim to have the VA reconsider the 100% but don't get my hopes up, she is trying to research why the VA has change there reg's under 38 CFR 4.30. for a knee revision. I hope I won't be rated 0% for my scar like most veterans are complaining I say this because the VA took back my old scars serviced connected from 2010 I was awarded 20% now I get nothing.

Edited December 12, 2018 by Rhodesia