Recurrent Hemarthrosis after TKR (14 months post op)

[missyc]

Hi everyone,
It's been a very long time since I've been on the forum. Which isn't necessarily great news. I had my BTKR last August (2008) and my progress has been extremely slow. Finally, my doc has started blaming it (in a very nice, non-blamey way) on my activity level. Which I'll admit is very high. I'm also fairly stubborn and tend to forge ahead despite limping and being in pain.

Which is, I guess, why I had no idea that I'd developed an apparently rare post TKR complication called Recurrent Hemarthrosis. As I understand it, something (likely scar tissue but I don't know??) is causing spontaneous bleeding in one of my knees. That knee also has a lot of scar tissue floating around, so both things seem to require a scope.

I also had patellar clunk syndrome, which developed about 5 months post-op and also required a scope. Same knee.

Not trying to scare anyone -- both things are rare and easily fixed (I hope?).

My questions are: is there any relation between these two syndromes? And, does anyone have any further info on/experience with recurrent hemarthrosis?

And finally, b/c of the bleeding I can't take naproxen anymore and I can't get cortisone shots. I'm super inflamed (at my last appt. my doc loosened some scar tissue and it's been pretty bad ever since), my scope isn't for another 6 weeks, and I'm wondering what I can do!! I'm allowed to take Tylenol but it isn't helping much and I'm a little scared of it. My "good" knee is now starting to act up...

Any advice appreciated. Sorry to be a downer -- it's not really as bad as all that, just kind of dismaying.

Thanks very much and happy halloween!!

Melissa

 

[JudyS]

Melissa I have no experience or advice on those medical conditions.
But how about some more potent pain meds that tylenol? Being in pain sure doesn't help anything.
So are you not allowed any activity at all?
I'm kind of in the same boat with surgery Dec 11th. Six weeks.
I'm sure Jo will get on at some point and give you the medical info.
Hang in there
judy

 

[Jamie]

Oh, Melissa.....I'm so sorry to hear what you've been going through. Your situation is not something I'm familiar with, although there may be one forum member who has something similar going on with one of her knees.

Jo should be online soon, but she has been having some knee problems herself and not feeling well lately. So if her response takes a bit, that is why.

I hope you are following your doctor's orders at this point. I wonder if it's possible for you to take Celebrex for the inflammation. You might ask if it has not been discussed.

 

[Surfsister]

Acupuncture may help. I turned to it after my surgery. I've also gone to a sport massage therapist to work on the scar tissue. Both the acupuncture and the massage (which I still go to in an effort to break up scar tissue) helped me immensely. You might want to look into both.

 

[Josephine]

That's a bummer, Missy. I'm so sorry you had this happen.

But honestly, unless you've been running marathons or something, I really don't see how activity can be responsible for this. (But I could be wrong)

Has he checked your blood for signs of infection?

As for pain meds, ask your GP for something like Ultram or Ultracet.

 

[missyc]

Thanks everyone for the always helpful posts and support and advice. If I get any more info on this condition that would be relevant to the group I'll post it. Meantime, I'm hanging in there until my scope on 12/8.

Melissa