Revision TKR Relief...Not what I expected<

[Josephine]

Does that also go for the knees? Just walking would be enough for now?

oops! Sorry - shouldn't do things in a hurry! SomehowI had the notion your were a hippy! Ignore that comment please. It's not quite the same for knees. You do need to do a few heel slides to encourage flexion but that's about all.

 

[2014knees]

I am almost 6 months out since bilateral TKR and I still have some pain, achiness and slight swelling. Should I be off all pain relievers by now except for over the counter meds?

My OS declined refilling Tramadol because he said at this point, Tylenol, Ibuprofen etc. should be enough. I have to take a lot of that stuff to ease the pain and when I do need to take a Tramadol I can still function taking it and it seems to give me better relief. I don't take it every day just as needed.

Just wondering if others are still having pain that requires stronger meds after 6 months from BTKR. Thanks

 

[referee54]

I am almost 6 months out since Bi-Lateral TKR and I still have some pain, achiness and slight swelling.

After my BTKR, I still had some slight swelling, a little bit of pain, ans some stiffness from time to time---I would say that I was at 80%-85% at that time. It was not until I hit the eight month mark that I really began to feel fairly close to all normal again.

I was off of the prescription pain meds then and was just taking the OTC stuff.

Are you still icing, elevating, and resting? I was still doing that for about seven months from time to time.

 

[2014knees]

When I have over done it I will ice and elevate. That is when I take the Tramadol because it seems to work better than the OTC stuff.

 

[referee54]

When I have over done it I will ice and elevate.

There were times then that I simply gave my new knees a break and iced and elevated. It felt good and it seemed to help.

 

[2014knees]

I am 14 months out since BTKR and have issue with knees feeling as though they lock while standing for very brief periods. I have to slowly move my knee and it feels like it pops back into place.
Doc told me today that I may have scar tissue that may need to be removed. Has anyone else had issues with this?
I was hoping after more than a year since SX I would be leaping over tall buildings!!! Ain't gonna happen!

 

[Pumpkin]

Sorry to hear you are having trouble with excessive scar tissue. This happens to a small percentage of people after TKR, I will tag some members who had scar tissue removed.
@RunA42K , just had her scar tissue removed last week. @Dhare63 had scar tissue removed a couple years ago.
@skigirl , also had scar tissue removed a couple of years ago.
Suggest you seek a second opinion, with a revision specialist, they have the most experience with troubled knees to help confirm your diagnosis, or maybe have other options for you.
Good Luck, keep us posted on how you are doing,

 

[skigirl]

I had an open lysis of adhesions which was painful for three or four days. The worst part was that the rehab had to be so long. If you exercises on a hot, inflamed knee, it helps the scar tissue grow back. So, everything was gentle, gentle, gentle.

 

[skigirl]

When I first went back to work, I found that support hose helped to prevent swelling. I tried some "queen sized" ones because I did not want them to be tight and they fell down past my hips. The worst part was that the top of my thighs were squeezed up from the bottom and I felt like I had a basketball there!!! I threw them in the waste basket and got some that were my size---don't buy them big!!!

 

[2014knees]

Hi Josephine,
I'm hoping you might can give me some advice.

After only 4 years, and knees being very loose and unstable, I had a left knee revision on January 3, 2018. When doctor opened up knee he said the poly was only 5mm thick and should have been at least 10mm so that is the only thing he replaced.
The pain I was having before surgery is worse now then it was before the surgery. It hurts the most during the night waking me up several times. Pain sometimes run down toward foot and all the way up to hip.

At six week check-up I told the doctor about the pain and he said to give it a few more weeks, to take ibuprofen and Tylenol and he thinks it will get better. It is getting worse.

Should I talk to doctor about doing a total revision, get a second opinion or just try to tough it out for awhile longer? I haven't had a good nights sleep in months.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Brenda Miller (2014knees)

 

[SusieShoes]

Hi Brenda. What a miserable time you’re having! I’ll tag @Josephine for you. Maybe she will have some insight as to what you should do about your poor knee.

 

[2014knees]

Thank you Susie, I will take any advice I can get since I don't know what to expect after a partial revision.
Mine are also the DePuy Attune.

 

[sistersinhim]

I would see another OS that has no contact with your current OS. Was your knee ever right or was it always loose and unstable? Four years seems to be a short time for the spacer to wear out. But, let's see what Josephine has to say about it.

 

[Jaycey]

@2014knees You will notice I merged your most recent thread with your original recovery thread. This way Josephine will have all your history in one place so that she can advise you. If you would like to change the thread title please let me know.

 

[Josephine]

knees being very loose and unstable

Can you explain your experiences here in more detail?

When doctor opened up knee he said the poly was only 5mm thick and should have been at least 10mm so that is the only thing he replaced.

Well it's not unheard of for the poly to wear like that.

Pain sometimes run down toward foot and all the way up to hip.

Now that's a worry. I can't think of any problem in the knee that would refer pain to that extent.
Can you tell me where you pain is using this chart?

At six week check-up I told the doctor about the pain and he said to give it a few more weeks, to take ibuprofen and Tylenol and he thinks it will get better. It is getting worse.

Well he would say something like that at 6 weeks. But it's not very helpful for you, is it?

 

[2014knees]

Josephine,
Over the past 4 years my knees have popped, really loud, and and my left knee would feel like it was going to float out from under me and sometimes if I stood in one place too long it would lock up and I would have to move it around and it felt like it would pop back into place. Left knee has never felt quite right. Still had problems going up and down stairs. It always felt like it was going to get to the bottom before the rest of me did.

The doctor I went to specializes in knee revisions and he said the knees should not be as loose as mine was. When he moved them around it felt as if they were not attached to anything. Scary feeling! I was experiencing pain on the left knee mostly when I was laying down and the pain would wake me up. And it is still hurting at night even more.

He said the poly was not worn, it just wasn't thick enough. He said the appliance was secure so he chose to go with just replacing the poly with 10mm. He said it's the same in my right knee and I am scheduled to have it done in May.

The pain on LF3 and LF4 hurts the most from C,D,E, but at times the pain will go down my shin and up my thigh. On LB4 and LB3 it seems to stay right around the C, D, E area.

 

[Josephine]

He said the poly was not worn, it just wasn't thick enough. He said the appliance was secure so he chose to go with just replacing the poly with 10mm. He said it's the same in my right knee and I am scheduled to have it done in May.

Oh I see! I read your comment as meaning it was worn! So he just fitted you with the wrong sized spacers then? Naughty boy! He should have tested that immediately after the wound was closed and before he took you off the table. No excuse for that error.

The pain areas you have indicated are very much in keeping with needing a bigger insert. I think you to get the other one done.

 

[2014knees]

I need to clarify, he was Not the doctor that did my knee replacements in 2014.

If I had this pain before the revision why am I still having pain worse than I did before?

Did you mean to say I Should have my right one done?

Thanks for taking the time to offer me some help and answer my many questions.

 

[Josephine]

he was Not the doctor that did my knee replacements in 2014.

Oh dear! I got it wrong again!

If I had this pain before the revision why am I still having pain worse than I did before?

Well you are only 9 weeks out yet. It's not at all uncommon to be experiencing pain.

Did you mean to say I Should have my right one done?

Yes I'm afraid I did.

I'd really like to offer you some structured advice but in order to do that, I also need to ask you some questions. Are you willing for me to do that?

 

[2014knees]

Yes Josephine, I will answer questions for you.