Severe Pain after 2nd TKR

Posted by ssbionicknee @ssbionicknee, Sep 8, 2019

I had a right TKR in May of 2018 and it was painful, but tolerable. Physical Therapy seemed to go fairly smoothly. In August of 2019, I had my left TKR and am having a horrible time controlling the pain and Physical therapy is not going near as smoothly. I went to PT last Friday and was in extreme pain afterward. I was up all night. I had sharp pains inside the wound, extreme sensitivity to touch on the inside of my knee, what felt like spasms in the back of the knee and the knee was very sensitive to anything touching it. I had to keep it still and iced all day Saturday in order to get the pain under control. I know I need to do my exercises, but am afraid of triggering the pain again. I have heard that no 2 knee replacements are the same, but this one seems to be really bad. Is this normal? I have to find a happy medium when doing physical therapy. Any thoughts or suggestions?

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@damewocane

Sadly, I've been through it all,TKR, MUA ,hours of painful PT with only 68 degree bend( 2018) Now 2019 New ortho Dr , revision, hours of painful Pt, hip replacement, MUA,more screaming ,crying PT still only 68 degrees-finally went to pain management specialist-exploring the possibility that this is all emanating from L3 and L4 nerve damage- MRI and Emg next...omg

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Thanks for asking Debra, I'm quite sad and so frustrated -groundhog day over and over! This tuesday MRI-a piece of cake, however the 10 of October is the EMG- apparently , if I can stand it, a 4 hr ordeal- Any one experienced this?

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@damewocane

Thanks for asking Debra, I'm quite sad and so frustrated -groundhog day over and over! This tuesday MRI-a piece of cake, however the 10 of October is the EMG- apparently , if I can stand it, a 4 hr ordeal- Any one experienced this?

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Hi @damewocane - I haven't had an EMG but I'm going to share some information that @johnbishop posted. He may be able to add some information - and maybe others who have experienced this.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/emg/about/pac-20393913?_ga=2.147873911.170155776.1569448063-1531702906.1512411564

I hope it goes well for you. Will you keep me posted?

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@ssbionicknee

@contentandwell JK, I would like to know the name of the procedure if it is not to hard to look up. I have also heard that dry needling can help. I am not sure about that though. I've heard it hurts and then I've heard it does not hurt. Thank you!!

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@ssbionicknee I just went back onto the portal to check what the message had called it. It was "lysis of adhesions". You can ask your doctor if that would be an option for your problem. I don't know much about all of this so perhaps it is not always an option. I decided to just stay with the flex I have, it's good enough even if it is not where I had hoped to be.

@damewocane That's interesting that your problem may be from spinal nerve damage. How did the nerves there get damaged, from a fall? I hope you are able to get relief with the pain management specialist and that with that relief you will be able to improve your flex. Good luck with the EMG, I have never even heard of that before so I just checked out the lin that @debbraw sent. I hope you don't have to stay as still as you do for an MRI. I didn't see any mention of that. I will be looking forward to hearing how it all goes.
JK

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@damewocane

Thanks for asking Debra, I'm quite sad and so frustrated -groundhog day over and over! This tuesday MRI-a piece of cake, however the 10 of October is the EMG- apparently , if I can stand it, a 4 hr ordeal- Any one experienced this?

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@damewocane
Here is another video from @john bishop.

I think you will handle this well. Breathe deeply. Consciously relax your body. There were only a couple of the probes that rocked my cradle. Have a lovely sleep.

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@contentandwell

@ssbionicknee I just went back onto the portal to check what the message had called it. It was "lysis of adhesions". You can ask your doctor if that would be an option for your problem. I don't know much about all of this so perhaps it is not always an option. I decided to just stay with the flex I have, it's good enough even if it is not where I had hoped to be.

@damewocane That's interesting that your problem may be from spinal nerve damage. How did the nerves there get damaged, from a fall? I hope you are able to get relief with the pain management specialist and that with that relief you will be able to improve your flex. Good luck with the EMG, I have never even heard of that before so I just checked out the lin that @debbraw sent. I hope you don't have to stay as still as you do for an MRI. I didn't see any mention of that. I will be looking forward to hearing how it all goes.
JK

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This is the wildest thing ever. No idea what is next... all I've known for the past two years 2 years is PAIN- I was mugged and beaten unconcoious with broken and cracked lower spine vertebrae when in my late 20s- -I was young and strong and healed quickly. Never had any further problems... Now 25 some years ...Maybe an answer and a horrible repercussion.

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@debbraw

Hi @damewocane - I haven't had an EMG but I'm going to share some information that @johnbishop posted. He may be able to add some information - and maybe others who have experienced this.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/emg/about/pac-20393913?_ga=2.147873911.170155776.1569448063-1531702906.1512411564

I hope it goes well for you. Will you keep me posted?

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Yes- thank You all for your input-This Is my head therapy!

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@damewocane

This is the wildest thing ever. No idea what is next... all I've known for the past two years 2 years is PAIN- I was mugged and beaten unconcoious with broken and cracked lower spine vertebrae when in my late 20s- -I was young and strong and healed quickly. Never had any further problems... Now 25 some years ...Maybe an answer and a horrible repercussion.

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@damewocane oh my goodness, how horrifying. It must have left you very paranoid when you were out alone, and given you nightmares too I would think. It’s amazing how things that happened years prior can come back and give us problems as we age. I am so sorry that you have had to deal with this.
JK

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@lynnwade54

Sorry I wasn't finished. I then had a MUA on Feb.27,2019 to get the knee to bend, I went back to PT the therapist said it was still hard to bend but we were going to work on it. I went to PT 3 X week as well as did home exercise that didn't seem to work I stayed in constant pain from day one. I was then schedule to have a 2nd surgery on the same knee on May 21, 2019. I had to start the process all over again home PT as well as out PT once again I was inconstant pain everyday. My knee is still very swollen it has never gone down from the 1st surgery in Jan. Last month my PT text my surgeon and told him that something didn't seem right and that he needs to sch. an appointment for me to come in before the week is out. I went in they did an x-ray which he said looked good he also wanted me to have some blood work done. When my blood work came back he called me in telling me that my blood work was abnormal. I'm thinking now what. My surgeon said he wanted to draw some fluid out of my knee to have it tested for infection, Lupus (he did say something else he was looking for but I can't remember right now). I will get the results in two weeks (from this past Wed). I have been in so much pain when I stand it feels as though my leg is breaking, I can't move until it comes together, sometimes it feels as though it is going to give out on me. My right knee is just as bad as the left was and it gives out too, I have have almost lost my balance several times and different individuals have had to catch me. I am terrified of the thought of having to have more surgery on this knee or and especially on my right (partially good knee) I walk with a cane daily for stability. I'm sorry for babbling on, but this sometimes can be depressing. Have anyone ever experienced anything like this.

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I was diagnosed with Osteonecrosis 2015. Cortisone injections only lasted about 4 weeks. January 2016 I had my first TKR. I Exercised regularly with a PT and at home. Pain got so bad I had MUA July 2016. That did not help and my bend was practically non-existent. I was referred to a different Consultant. August 2018 I had a revision. My bend was slightly better but not 100%. I still had pain on weight bearing but I kept up my regular exercises. My balance was not good and I had a few falls. One 3months after my op and because I was on blood thinners my leg was purple. I had a fall August 2019 and fell on my TKR and landed on my face luckily on grass but I ended up with slight concussion and whiplash and a headache for two weeks. I phoned my GP who said that my knee was obviously suffering from trauma and to wait and see if the pain improved after a couple of months. A year has now passed and with COVID it is difficult to get an appointment with my GP. My pain is getting worse and leg gives way now and again which is frightening. I can’t go out without my husband’s support. I am at the end of my tether. Only appointment I can get from my local surgery is a telephone consultation. Can I request a scan to find if there is any damage done to the implant. I am 78 and can’t go on like this much longer. I need answers soon. Can anyone give me advice.

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@auxiliary

I was diagnosed with Osteonecrosis 2015. Cortisone injections only lasted about 4 weeks. January 2016 I had my first TKR. I Exercised regularly with a PT and at home. Pain got so bad I had MUA July 2016. That did not help and my bend was practically non-existent. I was referred to a different Consultant. August 2018 I had a revision. My bend was slightly better but not 100%. I still had pain on weight bearing but I kept up my regular exercises. My balance was not good and I had a few falls. One 3months after my op and because I was on blood thinners my leg was purple. I had a fall August 2019 and fell on my TKR and landed on my face luckily on grass but I ended up with slight concussion and whiplash and a headache for two weeks. I phoned my GP who said that my knee was obviously suffering from trauma and to wait and see if the pain improved after a couple of months. A year has now passed and with COVID it is difficult to get an appointment with my GP. My pain is getting worse and leg gives way now and again which is frightening. I can’t go out without my husband’s support. I am at the end of my tether. Only appointment I can get from my local surgery is a telephone consultation. Can I request a scan to find if there is any damage done to the implant. I am 78 and can’t go on like this much longer. I need answers soon. Can anyone give me advice.

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Hello @auxiliary, Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry to hear you have not been able to get any relief from the pain. I know I don't like the let's wait and see answer from doctors either. If it were me and I was having severe pain after falling and it keeps getting worse, I would request that my doctor setup an X-ray and possibly MRI. Here's an article that discusses the topic.

8 Most Common Knee Injuries from Falling: https://www.healthline.com/health/8-most-common-knee-injuries-from-falling#knee-injuries

If your doctor is not responsive, are you able to seek a second opinion with an orthopedic specialist?

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@auxiliary

I was diagnosed with Osteonecrosis 2015. Cortisone injections only lasted about 4 weeks. January 2016 I had my first TKR. I Exercised regularly with a PT and at home. Pain got so bad I had MUA July 2016. That did not help and my bend was practically non-existent. I was referred to a different Consultant. August 2018 I had a revision. My bend was slightly better but not 100%. I still had pain on weight bearing but I kept up my regular exercises. My balance was not good and I had a few falls. One 3months after my op and because I was on blood thinners my leg was purple. I had a fall August 2019 and fell on my TKR and landed on my face luckily on grass but I ended up with slight concussion and whiplash and a headache for two weeks. I phoned my GP who said that my knee was obviously suffering from trauma and to wait and see if the pain improved after a couple of months. A year has now passed and with COVID it is difficult to get an appointment with my GP. My pain is getting worse and leg gives way now and again which is frightening. I can’t go out without my husband’s support. I am at the end of my tether. Only appointment I can get from my local surgery is a telephone consultation. Can I request a scan to find if there is any damage done to the implant. I am 78 and can’t go on like this much longer. I need answers soon. Can anyone give me advice.

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@auxiliary Have you spoken to your orthopedic surgeon about this, rather than your GP? I presume that you are on Medicare so you wouldn't even need a referral to see the surgeon and that doctor is the one who can best deal with this. I'm surprised that your GP didn't just tell you to call the other doctor.

I hope you do see a specialist and get some results that will help you. It's miserable to have constant pan.
JK

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