TKR Clickity Clack-My Knee Talks Back

[limpy7]

I am noticing that my knee clicks. It happens when I extend it just before me heel hits the ground, and it does it quite a bit. Is this OK? It started before I went back to my teaching job last week. I took it easy today, but by Friday night I was QUITE sore. I even took pain medication because I absolutely could not sleep. It's all the stairs I think. There are 24 in a flight. Plus, everyone is so impressed with the way I walk now (including my former students), that I don't want to give in and use the elevator a lot. My husband said to just use the elevator. There is enough pressure in education, and I don't need to add to the list of expectations. I think I like his thinking!

 

[speccybecky]

Maybe you do need to use elevator for a bit. Being back to work is a lot extra for it to cope with at first then gradually cut down on using it. My knee also clicks and clunks ... It's a bit disconcerting!

 

[referee54]

That clicking sound is normal---mine did it in stereo due to my BTKR. Remember, your soft tissue was replaced by plastic and metal, and there will be some noises. Mine seemed to dissipate over time---either I got used to it or my surrounding muscles got stronger and quieted the noise. Don't worry about it at all; it is all part of what goes on after a TKR.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

:iagree: Same for me. Clicking still there (8 months out) but much reduced, and continuing to decline.

 

[maryo52]

I think my knee makes those noises more when it's swollen. For a while a few months ago it seemed I went "click," "clack" and "clunk" all day long. Almost comical.

 

[Missus B]

I too work in a school, and am 9 weeks out from my tkr, and promised myself this year would NOT involve stairs...please take it easy on yourself and use the elevator! You will be glad you did, as your body won't complain as much. You don't need to impress anyone. You want this knee to last as long as it's able, right? I sure do. Teaching means you are already on your feet more than many other jobs, so give yourself a break!

 

[referee54]

I don't honestly know if we become de-sensitized to the noise or if it disappears---anyway, I either do not pay attention to it or the noise is gone. Anyway, I wouldn't worry any about it.

 

[limpy7]

The noise doesn't bother me at all. I just wanted to make sure my knee was okay. Except for evacuation, I won't be using the elevator. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge.

 

[kneeper]

It's ok to use the elevator for a while, or for some trips. I was reassured by Jo and the bonesmarties when I was at your stage that it wasn't "wimping out" when I went back to school. So I used the elevator at least for some of my trips up and down at first. That did help.

 

[RestAssured]

When I was teaching I used the elevator and didn't think twice about it! That's why they have it.

 

[limpy7]

Tonight as I climbed my stairs here at home, my knee was not painful at all. It's amazing what a weekend of rest will do! Tomorrow for sure I will use the elevator at school. This knee is bossy, but I love it!

 

[Josephine]

I always use the lift (elevator). What's the big deal?

 

[Janet2012]

I'm with you, Josephine, save the knees for something else. Hmm, I wonder if there will be a time when I will use the stairs without thinking about it.

 

[referee54]

Tonight as I climbed my stairs here at home, my knee was not painful at all. It's amazing what a weekend of rest will do! Tomorrow for sure I will use the elevator at school. This knee is bossy, but I love it!

The knee, at least for a while, is in charge! It will let you know when it is ready to the reigns back over to you!

 

[omybones]

yer it can be annoying..click..click..click...my develped at 3 months post op knee replacement, after i started riding the bike..everyone just tells me to " stop the worry an get on with it"...so i will...guess its still early days......just another hurdle to overcome....

 

[PhoenixS]

I called the noise accompanied by sharp pain "Snappy". It defied diagnosis, and it still pops over the base of my femur, only now, 1 year post-revision, it isn't as painful. My other, non-TKR knee is now crunching when I bend it. I guess I just have noisy knees! I thin that the plastic/metal combo would be expected to clickity clack! I love the title of your thread! You are a poet and don't know it!!!

 

[referee54]

I haven't noticed any noise from my knees---I guess that I just am not aware of it anymore.

 

[Celle]

At 13 months after surgery, my TKR knee still clicks and clunks. It doesn't hurt. I think it's the plastic spacer moving across the metal (or vice versa).

I am often wandering around the house in the night (light sleeper, mild insomnia). My two cats sleep snuggled up together on top of the dryer in the laundry at night. No matter how I try to tiptoe past the room where they are sleeping, the cats always hear my knee clicking and then they start to cry to be let out so they can socialise. It takes quite a while for everyone to settle down again!

 

[Josephine]

I think it's the plastic spacer moving across the metal

Not exactly! What is happening is that your bones always tapped against one another but were covered in nice shock-absorbing cartilage so you were unaware of it. Now you have metal and hard plastic so the noise is just them 'kissing' as you move! At 3 years out, I can still make mine clunk on command, mostly when I turn over in bed!