TKR Pain 12 months after TKR

[marinemec2004]

Anyone suffering chronic pain to the front of their knee 12 months after TKR.
I have never had a pain free day or night -never ! since having my right knee replaced. Pain and discomfort when walking, sleeping, sitting down etc etc.
Had the op private at the Spire in warrington. I transferred back onto the NHS as it was costing me a fortune paying to see the consultant . Have also paid for Physio. No improvement at all.
Last saw a consultant on NHS in november last year. He took an x-ray. Because the x-ray was " mechanically sound" his words, he just said its " early days" and it will settle down.
Its now 12 months and it has definitely NOT settled down. I have finally got an appointment with a consultant on the NHS and it is the same consultant who performed my TKR.
Tried a variety of painkillers -nothing works so stopped taking them.I just put up with the pain. At a loss here as to what has happened.

 

[Layla]

Hello and welcome to BoneSmart. Thanks for joining us! I wish it was under better circumstances.
I am sorry you're struggling with pain one year post op. Please give us the date of your TKR so we're able to create a signature for you.

It is difficult know what may be causing the pain without much history over the past year activity wise. Is it pain, or more of a discomfort or constant awareness of your knee? How would you rate the intensity on a scale of 1-10? Also in Physio, how long did you attend and did the therapy feel like it aggravated your knee more than it helped?

I hope that your appointment with the consultant is soon, and provides some clues to what may be causing the ongoing pain. If you haven't tried icing, in addition to the pain meds, please consider that, it will help with any of the inflammation involved. I wish you the best and lots of comfort as you await your appointment.
@marinemec2004

 

[Rain Dancer]

I’m sorry that you still have constant pain and understand the frustration and depression that this causes. I hope that the consultant orders tests that will show what is going on with the soft tissue in your knee, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

So many knee issues can’t be diagnosed by X-rays because they are static images and don’t show what is happening when the knee goes through its full range of motion. In my case, the implant was impinging on the popliteus tendon during flexion. This didn’t show up in an X-ray or MRI but would have been discovered during a dynamic ultrasound. I self-diagnosed the issue because I searched the forum for lateral knee pain and someone had posted a relevant journal article that described the pain I was feeling. This forum has a wealth of information, and I encourage you to search it.

I hope that you get answers soon.

 

[marinemec2004]

Hi, Thanks for the reply.
Saw my consultant. He reckons the pain is caused by either nerves or a slight overhang of the new plastic spacer.
I am on a 6 week course of Pregabalin. Two tablets a day.
They are very strong.
Third day in, pain has receded, but not gone away.
See my consultant again in 6 weeks.

 

[Anniemof]

@marinemec2004, Sorry to hear you've been in pain so long. If the Pregabbalin doesn't help much will your surgeon have to change the spacer? xx

 

[marinemec2004]

Hi Anniemof. Yes, so he says. However, there is no way I am having any more surgery. Revision TKR seemingly is more complex than the original TKR and the failure rate is quite high. I am going to live out the rest of my life with this. I am 65 in September, retire in September 2024. I will put up with the pain.

 

[Anniemof]

This is one hell of a surgery and recovery. Like you I had my surgery private on the NHS. I'm still at physio there and I'm 4 months P/O on Saturday. I have to admit I'm worried about how much this is costing. I hpoe the NHS pays for a package of care not per visit. I hope you get some help from the meds, nerve pain is horrible.

 

[marinemec2004]

Pain tablets not working. Consultant suggests revision surgery. I will not consider this.
Heard too many horror stories, will live with the pain.
Turn 65 in September

 

[Anniemof]

@marinemec2004 Sorry your Pregabalin has not worked, Have you had any scans of the knee? you mentioned xray. Also can they just remove the spacer and replace it with a smallerr/ thinner one?
I would be like you, I could not consider having this surgery again or the other knee doing, now I'm only 41/2 months, maybe I'll feel different as time progresses.
I hope you get some answers x

 

[Layla]

Hello marinemec2004
I am sorry for the discomfort and pain you're dealing with. Please understand that there are successful revisions, you'll find many such accounts right here on BoneSmart. Naturally, it's your choice, but given you are only 64 and may live for many more years, it is sad to think of you living in pain if there's another option.

Please provide us with the exact date of your surgery and which knee was replaced. The information is helpful for those reading and commenting to be able to take a quick glance at how far along you are in the process. With retirement quickly approaching, I wish you comfort and all the best.
@marinemec2004

 

[skygirl]

I've had 5 surgeries on one knee and may be heading for another revision. I'm a very active person and have a very physical job. Honestly, I would and will not accept living the rest of my life in pain (I'm 64) even though i have a very high pain tolerance. I will make sure they get it right as I've read and talked with so many people that have had successful outcomes from revision surgery. Maybe you can find another doctor that specializes in knee revision surgery that will give you confidence in their ability to fix your knee. I pray you find comfort.

 

[YogaLesley]

@marinemec2004 , I am so sorry to hear about the ongoing pain you are in. Your consultant also suggested nerve pain which I experienced for a long time after my THRs. I was on amitriptyline for quite a while and that does seem to help -it certainly helped me sleep at night. It might be worth trying that but bear in mind that pain medication for nerve pain takes a while, several weeks, to really take effect in the system. I am now over a year from my second THR which has caused more problems than the first and I don't notice it so much now. Off painkillers except occasional paracetamol. I do hope things improve for you. A life of endless pain is not a good prospect.