TKR LTKR 10 August 2022 possum_here’s journey through recovery.

[Jamie]

@possum_here … sorry to hear that this recovery is maybe not going as smoothly as your 2013 TKR. That does happen sometimes as each joint has its own unique personality. But it does sound like you’re working through the challenges and it’s still highly likely that everything will resolve with additional time. The most difficult thing will be to try and be patient and not push so hard in trying to normalize that it results in unneeded pain or swelling.

With both my knees, it took me at least a year to get that full ROM so that getting in and out of the car was a smooth maneuver. Both knees have excellent flex now (around 125), so you have plenty of room to improve.

As for the pain on top of your foot, what did the doctors tell you when you had it scanned? Did they give you any reason for the pain? It is a bit odd for it to hurt like this 6 months after surgery if it was just twisted or somehow injured during the procedure.

 

[possum_here]

@possum_here … sorry to hear that this recovery is maybe not going as smoothly as your 2013 TKR. That does happen sometimes as each joint has its own unique personality. But it does sound like you’re working through the challenges and it’s still highly likely that everything will resolve with additional time. The most difficult thing will be to try and be patient and not push so hard in trying to normalize that it results in unneeded pain or swelling.

With both my knees, it took me at least a year to get that full ROM so that getting in and out of the car was a smooth maneuver. Both knees have excellent flex now (around 125), so you have plenty of room to improve.

As for the pain on top of your foot, what did the doctors tell you when you had it scanned? Did they give you any reason for the pain? It is a bit odd for it to hurt like this 6 months after surgery if it was just twisted or somehow injured during the procedure.

The Ortho was debating to send me to another ortho who just specialises in feet.

I told him the issue was there after my TKR the foot was so swollen and throbbed. When I was up and walking the foot honestly felt like I had dropped a brick on it.

There was considerable swelling and my foot was bruised for wks.

Nothing showed on the scan or xrays.

I noticed my foot was turning in which it did not do prior to the surgery. So I felt he had over compensated with his alignment in the knee.

Ambulating or my gait has altered and I am very aware I am not walking the same as before.

As for the car, it is hard but I do remember my previous knee took a good 12 months to just one day it was all good.

 

[Jamie]

I do think you need to see a different orthopedist. But I believe, since this started immediately after your TKR, that you see a knee surgeon who specializes in revisions. It’s not to say you need one, but these are the doctors that see problem cases and know how to fix them. If the implant or balancing your knee was not done properly, a good revision specialist will be able to diagnose that and give you options. Something does sound wrong because of what you’re describing.

Please let us know how things go.

 

[WFD]

I noticed my foot was turning in which it did not do prior to the surgery.

@possum_here , there is a website called ‘YourOrthoMD’ run by an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Gorczynski, which has many useful articles. One, on anterior knee pain, notes that patients who have undergone TKR may have developed weak muscles - hip flexors, abductors, and the external rotators. He notes that

This can result in abnormal gait mechanics, abnormal rotation of the femur when weight bearing, and abnormal patellofemoral mechanics.

I have undergone four surgeries since October 2020 and have had a very slow recovery with a great deal of pain in my ankle, shin, and knee. After reading this article I realized that I was walking abnormally with the foot on my surgical leg turned to the inside,eventually causing severe shin and ankle pain and tendonitis. The muscles in my surgical leg have atrophied considerably since my first surgery in 2020.

I started the exercises he recommended as well as some others and also started forcing myself to walk with my foot rotated externally, as I had my whole life before, and since then have gradually but consistently improved, with the shin and ankle pain now mostly gone.

Is it possible that this has happened to you? You might read the article and see if the symptoms ring true for you. This is something a PT might also be able to evaluate.

Good luck.

 

[Jamie]

Good suggestion, @WFD, based on your positive experience with this website. Thank you.