TKR Shopping therapy too soon after rtkr(9/11/20)

Thanks for the information on the tight bands. It seems odd that my surgeon claims he has never heard anyone describe them before. Also the PT seems to think they are unusual. But I know there are far more people here that have experienced them.

I never had pain in the back of my thigh above the knee after surgery but I am experiencing it now and when I got my bike out to ride it, there is significant pain in that area. They rest of the knee and surrounding area has no pain. I did fall going upstairs 3 weeks ago. I went to the surgeon and he checked it all out and took xrays. No damage, just soft tissue sprain. Perhaps this pain is from the fall. It just felt like I tried to bend it farther than my rom when I fell. My current rom is is 110. It had been 120 when I was going to PT.

Is there anything besides icing that I can do to stop the pain in the back of my leg? Should I take it easy and wait for healing before I try riding the bike again or do I need to stretch out my hamstring? I am just about 8 months since my knee replacement.
 
I’m sorry you fell recently. You might have some swelling which has reduced your ROM a bit, and you may still be sore from that fall. Sometimes it can take much longer than we expect, to recover from an injury.

Are you taking any pain relievers for this pain? That would probably help. I would also take it easy for a while until things settle down.
 
I have not been taking pain relievers as I have kidney and liver issues so don't want to make them worse. Also. I was told by ortho if you mask the pain you may push your knee too hard and prolong the recovery.
 
Hi ~ I had surgery recently for broken femur, the break just above TKR from 4 years ago, and my thigh is often stiff and painful when I walk (not painful enough to take narcotic pain med). My p.t. has me putting heat on my thigh alternating with cold, depending on the situation. I will put a hot pack under my thigh and a cold pack on top if I've been standing or walking a lot, possibly causing inflammation.
Recently I've started taking 2 extra strength Tylenols, twice a day (sometimes just at bedtime).
 
I was told by ortho if you mask the pain you may push your knee too hard and prolong the recovery.
That's the kind of Ortho we wish everyone had! You are blessed to have him.
 
Also. I was told by ortho if you mask the pain you may push your knee too hard and prolong the recovery.
That's wise advice when it comes to PT, but there's no need to spend the rest of your day in pain.

I have not been taking pain relievers as I have kidney and liver issues so don't want to make them worse.
You're wise to be thinking of this, but I'm sure your own doctor can suggest how much pain relief and what sort of medication it would be safe for you to take.
 
After my RTKR in June 2019, I experienced the usual stuff during my recovery: pain, stiffness, trouble sleeping, the blues, etc. But, I did my gentle home PT, iced, rested, and accepted pampering from my loved ones. One of my most fun things to do is to dance to the live music played by my son-in-law's band. By mid-September 2019 (3 months post-op) I was walking without a cane and I thought I was ready for dancing. I WAS WRONG! Even though I "gently" danced to only 2 songs, I woke up the next day with a throbbing, swollen, achy knee. Rest, elevation, and ice got my knee under control. I was really worried that I'd set back my recovery by dancing to those 2 songs. And, yet, I so NEEDED the joy and release that dancing brings me mentally.
Fast-forward 2 years and I am now just 3-weeks post-op from my LTKR. Because of COVID, my next chance to enjoy my son-in-law's band won't be until early August. I will learn from my RTKR and I will not go out on the dance floor. Instead, my chair will be my dance floor.
 
Right, Monarch! Time and patience wins the race. In a year’s time you’ll be able to jitterbug :dancy:
 
Last edited:
I am now 20 months post op rtkr. The tightness in soft tissue above and below my knee is 1/2 wide and goes across the front of my leg. At times, it is so tight it cuts into my leg. The way I describe it is a brace that is way too tight on my knee. Anyone know how to relieve this tightness?
 
Hi @Beas27 and welcome back.

That "tight band" feeling is very common. Here's an article about it:

Is this a new sensation for you? Something that has come on recently? Or is it the continue of tightness you had earlier in your recovery? Have you discussed it with your surgeon?

Tell us a bit more about what you are experiencing and we will try to help.
 
Have you done anything different that might have flared up your knee? 20 months is pretty long out to be having this feeling. Have you contacted your OS?
 
This feeling has been constant since shortly after my surgery. I always feel it from the moment I get up in the am until I fall asleep. It does get tighter after standing in one place for more than 5 minutes or a long walk.

I have talked to my surgeon several times about it. The last time he said it's a soft tissue issue and no surgeon is going to open it up. He wants me to have a nerve block. That doesn't make sense to me
 
I think it's time for you to search for another surgeon, one that has no contact with your current OS. The new surgeon should specialize in revisions. They deal with problem knees and will know what to look for in yours. Your current doctor sounds pretty callous about it and you need someone who will research your chronic problem. Good luck.
 
I agree, I think a second opinion is a good idea. I’ve had 2 second opinions. Not that they’ve helped me, but at least I had 2 other opinions, other than my surgeon. I learned from my second one that he won’t even do the procedure I had. I thought that was interesting.
 
I am waiting ( 3 weeks already) for an okay to see a different surgeon that my pcp contacted for me. I guess not many give second opinions. How did you find surgeon willing to do second opinion? Meanwhile, I have a kinesiologist working on my knee.
 
How did you find surgeon willing to do second opinion?
I expect that revision specialists do this routinely, since almost by definition they are fixing problems associated with surgeries performed by other surgeons.
 
I just called the office of a revision surgeon that I was interested in and explained my issue. But, this was 3 and 4 years ago when it was easier to get appointments. These days it seems to be much harder.
 

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
65,167
Messages
1,596,863
BoneSmarties
39,356
Latest member
JanieMarie
Recent bookmarks
0
Back
Top Bottom