Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Oh - okay. Nothing of that I said seems to ring a bell, then? Your reply made no reference to them whatsoever.
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Revision TKR How long is recovery???
- Thread starter MButler12
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MButler12
junior member
Sorry for such a long delay...I recently had an EMG done (which came back normal). My pain specialist is talking about doing a RFA to help block the pain. However, something new started this weekend. My knee now makes VERY loud and VERY painful crunching noises that everyone can hear. Both my PT and my pain specialist are worried that something is wrong, so I have to go in early next week for the surgeon to look me over. Does anyone know what could be causing this extremely painful crunching? Just one more thing for me to deal with I guess, but I totally feel like I've taken 10 steps back.
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I have a Velcro ripping sound from my knee. OS said it is scar tissue. Mine is uncomfortable. It does not really hurt.
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ladymax
junior member
Now that I'm more active I'm noticing the familar crunching and grinding that I had before surgery. I think its from the patella, and that wasn't replaced. It's somewhat painful, but not like you're describing. I hope you get some relief soon!
MButler12
junior member
The back of my patella was replaced but it hasn't tracked right at all. I got in on the 6th to see the surgeon again. In the mean time, my PT is stopping all activity that increases the crunching and popping. The only think I can do right now is ultrasound and e-stim. The pain has increased and so has my frustration. I thought that PKR was the answer to my prayers and now I'm just prying to find out what is causing all of the problems. I just want to be done and not rely on a cane to walk or meds to get me through the day and night. People say 31 is way too young to go through this but I disagree. I think ANY age is too young to go through this. Thank you all for the help. I don't know what I would do without the company of you all to lean on.
cjf1222
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Sorry you hurt so much. You ARE too young for all this but your statement about age is wise. It does sound like a tracking problem. I will be happy for you when you get a proper diagnosis. Sending good thoughts and hope your way.
MButler12
junior member
Thank you so much. I honestly would have given up a long time ago if I didn't have this community. I hope I get a proper diagnosis too. 3 surgeries later and, to still have problems, is not okay.
cjf1222
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Never, ever give up. Please know that this is fixable. Hugs.
Did you give Jo's suggestion to back off the exercises and therapy for 3 weeks a try? You might find things improving if you try this. If not, then it would tell you that something else is going on.
I really do think you need to get an appointment with a revision specialist to try and determine what is going on. These are the guys who see problems and are more likely to be able to find a solution.
There are times that partial knee replacements just don't get the job done. Has your surgeon discussed this possibility with you? I know that would not be what you want to hear, but the bottom line is that you want to get the pain to stop so you can use your knee without discomfort.
So sorry you are having to go through all this. I hope that it's just inflamed tissue and cutting back on the activity gets it right again.
I really do think you need to get an appointment with a revision specialist to try and determine what is going on. These are the guys who see problems and are more likely to be able to find a solution.
There are times that partial knee replacements just don't get the job done. Has your surgeon discussed this possibility with you? I know that would not be what you want to hear, but the bottom line is that you want to get the pain to stop so you can use your knee without discomfort.
So sorry you are having to go through all this. I hope that it's just inflamed tissue and cutting back on the activity gets it right again.
MButler12
junior member
Yes, I did try that but there was no luck with the reduction of pain. I went and saw the surgeon today and they are finally going to go in with a scope to see what is going on. I think the crunching has now become too loud and too severe for them to try to say that it might be due to something else. They told me today that they think that my prosthetic is either rubbing on the tissue and bone around the trochlea groove, or my femur is wore down. Either way, I am happy that I am finally getting to have this scope done. Hopefully now I will get the answers that I have so desperately been looking for. I should find out by the end of next week when the date is for the scope.
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MButler12
junior member
I go to the new surgeon this Thursday so I will be sure to post and let everyone know what the next step is going to be. I hope that we will know what to expect (the best and worse) from this scope. Whatever is going on, is causing the pain to dramatically increase almost at a weekly basis. Yesterday was so bad that (even with pain meds, muscle relaxer and anti-inflammatory meds) I almost couldn't walk. Each step was so painful.
cjf1222
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I'll be looking forward to hearing what he says and what he recommends to lessen pain before the scope.
MButler12
junior member
Hello again,
I saw the surgeon and a scope is booked for October 1st. The plan is to go in and clean out the scar tissue, remove torn cartilage, take a tissue sample to test for infection and then make sure the prosthetic is in the right place. Bad news is that if there is anything wrong with the prosthetic, they wont be able to fix it and it will have to be fixed during an additional surgery. I'm glad that they are finally going in to take a look, but it doesn't feel like it is soon enough. I have noticed that my depressive symptoms have gotten worse and my motivation (for anything) has decreased significantly. I have been taking Cymbalta 60mg 1 x day for the past 2 months. Is anyone else taking anything for depression (situational depression) and if yes, what are you taking? I am confused because I don't know if the increase in depressive symptoms is truly an increase or if it is just a side effect of the medication.
I saw the surgeon and a scope is booked for October 1st. The plan is to go in and clean out the scar tissue, remove torn cartilage, take a tissue sample to test for infection and then make sure the prosthetic is in the right place. Bad news is that if there is anything wrong with the prosthetic, they wont be able to fix it and it will have to be fixed during an additional surgery. I'm glad that they are finally going in to take a look, but it doesn't feel like it is soon enough. I have noticed that my depressive symptoms have gotten worse and my motivation (for anything) has decreased significantly. I have been taking Cymbalta 60mg 1 x day for the past 2 months. Is anyone else taking anything for depression (situational depression) and if yes, what are you taking? I am confused because I don't know if the increase in depressive symptoms is truly an increase or if it is just a side effect of the medication.
Well, it certainly could be a result of the meds, so please notify the doctor that prescribed the Cymbalta that this is happening. These meds are serious stuff and you don't want to take any negative changes in symptoms lightly.
Whichever it is, it's worth checking out with your doctor.
RedRider
senior
@MButler12 you've had quite an experience with your makoplasty, wow. Your story resonates particularly well with me since I'm scheduled for the same surgery in November (lateral PKR and patellofemoral inlay) and to be honest, makes me really nervous.
I'm only 2 years older than you and am very active as well (before I became limited by my knee of course). You've had a very unfortunate experience with your replacement and the thought of a similar scenario in my case sounds horrible.
Please keep us posted on your scope and the results. I'm curious to see what they find. It almost sounds like you have some sort of impingement, which can happen with bicompartmental procedures.
Best of luck to you!
MButler12
junior member
I am feeling at ease right now. I feel that, regardless of what I wake up to (after surgery) I will at least have an answer to what has been causing me so much pain for the past 6 months. The answer will either be that they are able to fix what was wrong, they can't fix what is wrong via scope and will need to schedule another surgery, or the pain that I have been in will just have to be managed from here on out with medication. Regardless of which one it will be, it will still be an answer and there will be no more wondering and not knowing. I really appreciate all of the support that I have received on here. I honestly don't think I could have made it through to this point with my head up, without everyone on here. I had my pre-op today and will find out tomorrow what time I go in on Wednesday. I will keep you all posted as soon as I get home.
