Revision TKR Help, I'm going out of my mind

[locatr2]

I had a total knee replacement in June 2016. Within days of surgery I started have spasms/involuntary movements in my post-op leg. As many of us know this is SO painful. It starts at the foot and works its way up like a wave to your groin. I tried every known and unknown remedy to get them to go away. Nothing works and some nights they last for hours at a time. Mostly at night when I finally sit down to relax for the night. I have used my ice machine, heat, pain meds, muscle relaxers, pickle juice, tonic water, chiropractor, you get my point. I did find that adjustments and acupuncture seem to help slow the frequency of the spasms.

Anyhow, fast forward to 2017, my hardware had shifted in my post-op knee and in August 2017, I underwent revision surgery. Although this surgery was much better and the results are SO MUCH BETTER (I no longer had to walk up the steps like a little old lady, one at a time), I can know walk much better and without pain. However, the one remaining things is these spasms. I know that when I've over done it, when I haven't over done it, when it rains, when the sun is out, I know they will show up. The question is how long they will last this episode.

I see the chiropractor every 2-3 weeks and that seems to help a bit and spread out the episodes from 4-6 a week to 3-5 a week. But I am an almost 48 year old woman and this interferes with my life. My 2nd surgeon said that in his 30+ years of practicing he's never seen anything like this before. Am I a circus freak? Does this really not exist in other people?

The spasms occur in my surgical knee only. They seem to be like a wave that starts at my toes and goes up to my groin area. It is not restless leg syndrome and I am not having a one legged seizure. Is there anyone out that that has experienced this or has recommendations please share.

I am going out of my mind.

Thank you all for reading my story.

 

[Jockette]

Welcome to Bonesmart!

I don’t have what you do, but I have a unique, very uncomfortable issue in that when I put pants on, my surgical knee feels like something big and very hard swells up inside the knee, immediately. I dread the fall/winter coming since it’s so uncomfortable to wear pants.

I assume mine is a nerve issue. I don’t know what to do to make it better. My surgeon had no clue.

Hugs for both of us with undiagnosed issues.

I don’t have an answer for you but sometimes it helps to find someone else in a similar situation.

 

[katchmo]

Has your OS suggested a consult with another practitioner, such as a pain management specialists or a neuromuscular specialist? This sounds really awful and I hope you can find some relief.

 

[Jockette]

I am going to tag @Josephine
our forum director and nurse to address your concerns.

 

[Josephine]

Well first I'd really appreciate knowing the dates of your original surgery and your revision.
Second, what does the chiropractor do to you?

Third I'd really like to offer you some structured advice but in order to do that, I also need to ask you some questions. Are you willing for me to do that?

 

[dryheat]

Obviously no you are not a circus freak. This is very real and needs to be sorted out. I remember when I very first injured my knee and had arthroscopy- I told the dr- "there is something rubbing when i walk- and it feels like I got hit in the solar plexus- it is very unique but very painful"---he didn't believe me--he said"I took a good look and there is nothing in that area to cause anything like that"---yet- it did. I had another arthroscopy to find out what--(this was pre MRI days), nothing. It continued all the way from early 1980s to 2016 when I had the TKR--not one single dr could ever figure it out---after dozens of injections, dozens of courses of prednisone, and many many nsaid pills- nothing ever worked.

I slipped on a loading dock once--I was a mid level manager for a big company--probably 1990's and tore some cartilage in that knee and had no choice but to file an industrial claim. The dr did the arthroscopy and I asked him before--"please check this area---there is something very painful rubbing there" and he said 'oh no--no way"--like I was trying to get some kind of settlement---really? I just wanted him to look while he was in there- but he wouldn't even go there--so I know it can be frustrating. WHen the tkr was done- it finally went away. Now- I know that doesn't do anything to explain your situation- it doesn't help, it doesn't --except that I know from my own experience that things can and do happen that are unique- and are real, and just because some surgeon can't explain or find out why- doesn't mean its any less real. Just dont give up- and go see neurologist for a nerve conduction study or maybe something else- because obviously there is an explanation---good luck.

 

[Celle]

Hello @locatr2 - and

Please will you tell us the full dates of your knee replacements and which knee it is, so we can make a signature for you? Thank you.

Back in April this year, my husband had surgery to improve the blood flow to his left leg.
Since that, he has had shooting pains down the inside of his leg. He says they feel like lightning bolts that start at his groin and shoot right down to his heel and toes. They make his leg jerk.
The surgeon says that it is due to nerve damage and I'm wondering if your pain is from a similar cause.

The surgeon prescribed Gabapentin three times a day and that did improve the pain but unfortunately he suffered an uncommon side-effect from the Gabapantin and he had to stop taking it.