Bilateral TKR 2 years out and facing up to facts

[Ghostpipe]

I am still awaiting an appointment for a nuclear scan by a NHS hospital which one of my “second option” surgeons trusts to do a good job. Sadly, that can take months. Just want this over with!

 

[EalingGran]

Sorry to hear this.
Hope you hear soon. The uncertainty must be hard.

 

[2chains]

Fellow long hauler here @ 15 months. Sorry to hear you are still suffering with issues after all this time! For me I find it very frustrating trying to find answers as it is not an issue of not "trying" hard enough with exercises etc.

Sorry if I have missed it but I was wondering how the issue with the knee not tracking properly was diagnosed?

 

[Ghostpipe]

From an x ray taken from above the knee bent to 90 degrees, it’s very obvious from that view but not from the front of a straight leg, nor from the side of a slightly bent leg. Now that I know that, I can see the lump myself, over to one side. It also explains why I sometimes feel that a rod has been inserted through that side of the knee and it doesn’t want to bend, it’s the kneecap jamming on the implant.
Sorry that you are also having problems. I recognise that frustration that you mentioned. I’m on surgeon no. 4, who finally took me seriously and actually bothered to find the cause of my problems and not just assume that my quads needed more strengthening. I’m still awaiting a SPECT scan to discover whether the implants are rotated, as there was nothing wrong with my kneecap in my old knee!
I’ll find your thread and read it.

 

[Ayse]

@Ghostpipe , have you considered getting a test for metal sensitivities?

Two years of inconsistency, discomfort and downright pain, and I have finally faced up to it and been to see two knee specialists who do lots of revisions. Now I can see what is causing the issues.
“Good” knee, any weight on the bent knee hurts, eg sit-stand, stairs, squatting etc. I can live with that, albeit disappointed, because it functions well. Turns out that my patella is grinding on the implant, and I now have cysts on the patella. Solution, a patella button, which would have no guarantee of success, and perhaps should have been done at tkr time as it is not an easy procedure to do afterwards.
“Bad” knee, patella sitting on top of the lateral side of the implant instead instead of tracking in its groove. Grinding on the implant, ditto above, plus it jams up suddenly with exercise. Solution, possible revision, but two different opinions on approach. This knee has been a problem since day one, now I know why.
The alignment of both implants is off, but not massively so. Can see now why I have shin pain laterally with one and medially with other, ties in with the differing alignment errors.
Both surgeons want scans to ascertain whether there are rotational errors with implants, and to make an accurate diagnosis before recommending courses of action. This means flights, car hire for me.
I am dispirited, and wish that I had researched my os more thoroughly, although a friend of mine has a successful outcome on a bilateral by the same chap. Is this life changing procedure just down to good luck?

Sorry to hear you're going through this. I'm having similar problems. I reslly hope you get things fixed. Is the SPECT a rotational CT scan?

 

[Ghostpipe]

SPECT scan is a nuclear scan using special equipment which produces 3D pictures of tissue and bone. Hopefully my surgeon will find some way of fixing things without a revision after this.

I don’t have a metal allergy, because I had bilateral TKRs and one would be ok if my OS had resurfaced the patella.

Sorry to hear that you have problems too. It’s a comfort to know that others are in the same boat and to share experiences. And inspiring when someone finally achieves success after going through a tough time.