Pain/Popping/Swelling/Fluid

[Dean]

It has been 10 months after total knee replacement, had popping (each step, so load people can hear it) and swelling, pain down front of leg when going down stairs, so tender on left side above knee cap can not touch, first Dr. who did surgery said you need to live with it, went to a second, his first words were the Dr. who did it is a great Dr. and did not make a mistake, again I never said that.

Tests performed by second Dr., CT, shows swelling and excessive fluid, MRI also showed swelling and excessive fluid, non conclussive because of metal, Radiation injection, test run 3 hours after, it states it is hot, swelling and the body is trying ti fight a problem, this is the where it gets strange, Dr. gave me a cortisone shot, and took fluid to check for infection, came back clean, last visit he said I do not know what to do, maybe you should see another Dr., I asked is there a problem, his words again were Dr. number 1 did a great job, I have a major problem and can not get it fixed any idea's on how you can get a Dr. that actually wants to fix a problem.

 

[ship4]

Welcome Dean to BoneSmart!
I have a couple of questions. LTKR or RTKR?
Did you have cemented or cementless surgery?
How much have you exercised the quads since the operation?
Is your quadriceps (thigh) muscle strong or weak? If it is weak, the problem you are having is you need to strengthen this muscle in order for the button on the back side of the knee cap to slide well within the metal groove provided.
Clunking is a classic sign of a weak quadriceps muscle. Swelling is a sign the body is still healing. The excessive fluid most likely is from the swelling.
Do you ride a stationary bike?
Just wondering......

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the questions, I am unsure what a LTKR and RTKR are, or if it is cemented or not, reguarding muscel, I have had PT after surgery and just within the last 2 months of which the PT would not do any more, each time they would start PT they could watch it swell and hear it pop even on the Bike, they are advanced enough they used an ultrasound which shows Bone spurs and fluid, they contacted the Dr. of which at my appointment I asked if he had looked at the report he stated not interested. PT states as Dr. that my quads are almost developed the same between left and right leg, left being replaced knee, if I perform activies being on my feet you can watch my knee swell on the outside.

 

[Motherofmany]

So sorry dean for your pain and swelling. Sounds frustrating and painful. Don't know how to advise you, but I will be praying for you to find solutions.

LTKR = left total knee replacement
RTKR = right total knee replacement

Yours is LTKR

Hopefully Jo and Jamie will be on this post soon and give you some answers.

 

[Texas]

Dean was it your left knee LTKR or rigth knee RTKR total knee replacement. I would see a REVISION SPECIALIST... These tests are coming back not that great. I would want to know. And since these Drs only do fixer uppers for replacements. There will be no biase...Look them up...Dont sit with it hurting thats not right, been way to long...Please let us know how you are doing...

 

[Judles]

Welcome, Dean! Oh "great doctor!"....so great you need to get a 3rd opinion now! You've been through the ringer and all you want are answers! Are you able to do any(more) PT?? I hope you get these issues resolved! Demand answers! You3e entitled!!! My prayers are with you!

 

[ship4]

Dean,
LTKR = left total knee replacement
RTKR = right total knee replacement
BTKR = Bilateral or Both total knee replacement
I had my BTKR last year in June. I am one full year out from surgery.
I am wondering if your knee cap is not sliding smoothly. I had a lateral release done on each of my knees. It deals with the patella (knee cap) tendon. My knee caps slide smoothly within the joint. When you have a weak quad, you have a pop or clunk sound which means the knee cap is not sliding smoothly. Once your quads are firing at 100% this usually goes away unless you have a problem with how the knee cap slides in the groove.
I am sure Jo and Jamie will have lots to say.......

 

[Max Wallace]

Search your area and find a revision specialist. There is no excuse for you having these problems. It makes me so mad when DR. try to pass the buck instead of finding a solution.

Good luck!

Max

 

[Josephine]

Amen, Max!

Dean, welcome to BoneSmart. Hope we can guide you to getting some answers. We'll do our best.

It seems to me that you've fallen foul of the buddy system where one won't bad mouth his golfing buddy! Can you go to the next town or city to get another opinion? Almost a year is too long to be going with the problem.

Now this is just a guess as I obviously don't have access to any xrays or notes and I am not a doctor, but your description made me immediately think of a) either misplaced or badly positioned implants, b) a loose implant or c) an infection. Any of these needs to be dealt with.

As the others have said, hunt around for a surgeon who specialises in dealing with problems in TKRs, revision specialist is a term I coined but the centres should know what you mean by it, simply someone who specialises in revisions of knee replacements. But it's obvious that you need to go farther afield to find someone who's prepared to be unbiased.

 

[hollie9]

I second Jo and Max's opinions. Sounds like the two OSs are not going to step on each others' feet and you need another opinion from "outside".

Bone spurs....do you mean fragments of bone are seen within the knee joint? Or in another area not touched by the new knee? If there is debris in the joint it should have been cleaned out, and could cause problems like you describe.

I hope you find a Super OS that is in no way connected to these two docs.

Hollie

 

[JudyS]

Dean
I am so sorry all this is happening to you. Please find a revision specialist and get help. You do not need to live like this. Please let us know what is going on. We really do care.
judy:pray:

 

[Josephine]

This is a bone spur (yellow pointer) and the knee is mine!

 

[jayno]

Hang in there. Dean! You are not alone

 

[Dean]

Update, I have forund a surgeon who deals with problems, I have sent all my notes and test reports to him, waiting for a reply, he only takes certain cases. Thanks everyone for the help, I will let you know what is happening.

 

[Texas]

I sure hope he takes your and this can get straight soon.....Good Luck to you. Keep us posted!!!!!!!

 

[Josephine]

Best of luck with him, Dean.

 

[Jamie]

Good for you, Dean! We'll be waiting to hear how it goes.

 

[Dean]

Good news, I have been excepted for a review, appointment not until middle of August but at least I am in.

Thanks for the support and idea's, I will let you know what happens and where we are going with this.

 

[Jamie]

Great news, Dean!!! You know we'll be waiting to hear how it goes!

 

[Texas]

"You go Dean." Persistance pays off, and that shows it here...Good luck. Keep us posted !!!!!!!!!!!Great news.....