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Revision TKR After years wearing a knee brace, doctor may be able to fix my knee!

Really interesting information. I’m glad you can tell the difference. Maybe the pain won’t come with PT. Let’s hope so.
 
Hello, hopefully my new question will be seen. It is kind of unrelated to thee original post. I am trying to get off of the pain meds (Tramadol) due to headaches and other issues. I have always used Advil with no issues. My step daughter told me that Advil will damage your liver and not to take it. Has anyone ever experienced liver issues that were associated with taking Advil? Nothing else really works for pain except lots of icing.
 
I take ibuprofen daily for all my arthritis issues, and have for a while, and so far I haven’t had a problem, though the potential is there. I usually eat something with each dose.

I weighed the pros and cons of an NSAID and made the decision that I was comfortable with.
 
Have you tried taking Tylenol, (acetaminophen). Many find that it helps them better after surgery.
 
Unfortunately most drugs (OTC & RX) have undesirable side effects. I believe NSAIDs pose more of a GI bleeding risk and Tylenol poses more liver side effects. I take 2000-3000mg of extra strength Tylenol every day for pain. Benefit has to outweigh the risk which is why I stopped taking NSAIDs orally.
 
Hello, it has been a year since posting here. I was hoping not to have to ask for advise again. My last knee replacement revision done on 2/7 was very successful considering it was a very complicated surgery. Bonesart recommended one of the best surgeons in the area and I am so grateful for that. Unfortunately recently I have felt instability and saw the doctor who said that my LCL has loosened. All other ligaments seem to be fine. He is recommending PT and he adjusted my knee brace and told me to wear it at all times. He feels he can fix this with surgery but wanted to see if PT and bracing could improve it. He is trying to avoid more surgery as this knee seems to react with lots of scarring after each and this may be increasing the stretching of the ligaments. Has anyone else had this problem? If so what was the final solution that worked. Thanks.
 
@Cjackso21
Sorry to hear your LCL has loosened and you may need further surgery.
Has your surgeon mentioned PRP injections? The science is not complete, but it is something you might want to research.

I stretched out my LCL and other ligaments after my TKR and needed a revision, I was given a hinged revision knee to substitute for my injured ligaments.
 
I can’t believe you also had the same problem. Thanks for the PRP idea. I have heard of that for tendinitis, which I have had but now think it was all related to the instability. My original surgeon that was randomly chosen when we moved to the Phoenix area, was going to use a hinged knee but Bonesmart found out he did not have the experience a revision specialist should. Dr. Chow felt it was too aggressive and he was able to do the surgery without it. What do you think the odds of PT and the brace and possibly PRP are to fix this? I need to schedule surgery fairly soon if it does not improve as he is booked out to the end of Jan and would hate to hobble around for too long as I feel it is not improving and might be getting worse as I use it. Frustrating as it was doing great but now it is limiting my activities quite a bit. Thanks!
 
Yuck yuck yuck, I'm so sorry your going through this. My knee's and I have been through multiple surgeries together - its never fun, but always necessary.

Wish I had something helpful to share with you but I don't. I will say at my last revision my surgeon was in there 6.5 hours. He mixed my red blood cells with the cement and I can say my knee feels stable. He also said my healing would take at least 18-24 months because of all the work the knee's been through. I'm still icing and elevating. Its tight and sore, but stable. Hopefully time will be on your side.
 
Hello,
I have been using this forum for years now and I have been trying to help others with my experiences and what has worked for me. Now I am asking for advice. I had my 6th revision (TKR) last February which was the best by far but it seems my ligament (LCL) has stretched and needs to be fixed. Also having my left done at the same time to add a prosthetic knee cap added as they took it out a few years ago due to deterioration. Has anyone else had either of these issues or procedures? If so what is the recovery like? Thanks.
 
Having had way too many surgeries on the same knee end of month will be 20, this will also be the 7th TKR on the same knee Did have a partial Rev. last Dec. My issues while not exactly like your are in part due to my LCL. My surgeon told me considering the amount of surgeries I have had its not capable of the stability it once had. As it stands now my knee gives out at least once a day sometimes more ( not fun )because of this along with increased pain and swelling this next surgery they will replace the last prosthetic with a hinged knee replacement.
Wish I could say yes the recovery is no big deal however at least in my case the past few surgeries recovery has been a year. I have been told where your pain level is at after a year post op is more then likely where it will stay. Due to the amount of surgeries the odds of ever being pain free are pretty small at least for me.
 
I am so sorry you have had so many surgeries! But it is nice to know that we can commiserate together. I am scheduled for 1/22/21 for LCL repair of some sort on my right and prosthetic knee cap on left. I will have to say that my last right knee revision on 2/7 was by far the easiest despite the many surgeries. I am convinced the robotics and the. surgeon are why. My pain is mainly just when I use my knee too much without my brace or if my brace loosens. If your knee is giving out like that I would recommend a brace, the right one too. I found that all of my previous braces were not correct. If you need info on what is, let me know. It is a pain to wear all of the time but definitely works to eliminate pain and increase stability.
 
Unfortunately with me a brace causes more pain. I have a decent amount of swelling on the left side its to the point any pressure causes pain. I will admit if I did not have the swelling a brace would help. The surgeon told me given the amount of surgeries my LCL is shot and the hinged knee is my best option. It may not eliminate all of the pain and swelling but it should help, he did mention stability will not be an issue. Of course along with some good there is always not so good in my case taking out the femoral component is going to be difficult. The bone has to be split in order to aid in getting out the implant. Fun times ahead!!
 
Hello,
It has been awhile. But I am now in the final stages of getting ready for my bilateral knee revisions for next Friday. I have been told that they will do a “poly swap” for my right. I thought they were going to also add some sort of lattice structure for scar tissue to grow to aid in stability due to my loosened ligament. Pre-op did not have that in the description. Hope they are doing everything they can! Left knee should be simple as they also said in pre-op. Any advice for before and after surgery is welcome!
 
I know you already have these but here's a refresher for you.

The following are our basic guidelines and should help get you started. As you read more on other members' recovery threads, you’ll get a better perspective of what to expect and what not to do, especially regarding PT.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines

1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now; they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:
rest​
ice​
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​
3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.
4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these
5. Here is a week-by-week guide for Activity progression for TKRs


The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in a majority of BoneSmart's forums, we ask that each member have only one recovery thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review history before providing advice.
 
Is your surgery on the 15th or the 22nd? I will add it to your signature for you.
 
Was supposed to be 1/22 but was just canceled due to COVID.... I guess that gives me time to discuss with the doctor about my questions. But always good to have Bonesmart advice. Thanks!
 
Finally I am scheduled again! New date is now. 5/14 for my bilateral revision. Doc. said way overdue as my stretched ligaments are causing hip, back and other issues. But I just started a new job and time off will be at a minimum. Hoping to rent a scooter. They will clean up my left and add a prosthetic knee cap on left and a poly insert, and lattice to support ligaments. If anyone has had either please let me know how recovery went. Doc. said it should be way easier than TKR but wanted to get others opinions too. Thanks!
 
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