Swelling and stiffness, 3 years after total knee replacement

My story is that I had a TKR August 2021. Still dealing with lateral pain on side of knee cap plus now have patellar tendinitis. Walking and swimming are particularly painful ☹️. This is 2 1/2 years later! The operating surgeon had no idea why I had lateral pain and recommended pain specialist. Had 2 genicular nerve procedures with zero result. He wants to install a peripheral nerve stimulator on my leg. Not for me! Tried acupuncture, myofascial release post op with no improvement. Had lidocaine injection for possible popliteal tendon involvement but no lasting improvement. Have seen two other orthopedic surgeons and both suggest a revision. That is a 4 hour surgery with longer rehab than original. I have decent ROM and ride my e bike with no lateral pain but pain over kneecap. Went back to original sports med doc and he reminded me that surgeons know joints, not soft tissue issues. To try a new PT and try Graston technique but hope it is not too late. Good luck everyone!!

My story is that I had a TKR August 2021. Still dealing with lateral pain on side of knee cap plus now have patellar tendinitis. Walking and swimming are particularly painful ☹️. This is 2 1/2 years later! The operating surgeon had no idea why I had lateral pain and recommended pain specialist. Had 2 genicular nerve procedures with zero result. He wants to install a peripheral nerve stimulator on my leg. Not for me! Tried acupuncture, myofascial release post op with no improvement. Had lidocaine injection for possible popliteal tendon involvement but no lasting improvement. Have seen two other orthopedic surgeons and both suggest a revision. That is a 4 hour surgery with longer rehab than original. I have decent ROM and ride my e bike with no lateral pain but pain over kneecap. Went back to original sports med doc and he reminded me that surgeons know joints, not soft tissue issues. To try a new PT and try Graston technique but hope it is not too late. Good luck everyone!!

I hear you short story I had knee replacement one year later was getting same knee done dr put in wrong size could not get much range of motion…. Now about little 2 years after both surgeries I am still tight …. But at least I have better range with right size knee …. I am like 105 just few degrees off extension …. I have been doing mfr since 7 months after first surgery I still do maintenance now , I also have done graston , cupping , pool …. I do gym 5 days a week do treadmill 2 miles a day ….. can’t do bike causes to much pain in my hips from arthritis…so that’s my story …….if I Can get rid of some of this tightness be awesome but I am not holding my breath at this point I think I will always have …. But I can say I have a good walking stride does not hurt my hip anymore …so grateful the Second dr. Not blowing me off ….good luck I want to say it gets better but sometimes it doesn’t but never too late to try things like graston , and mfr because brakes up scar tissue…. I still do booth …. Good luck

I had knee replacement more than 3 yrs ago. My knee has continued to bother me. An X-ray showed a slightly loose apparatus. I’m stiff with pain. I’m seeing a new pt person who is trying to strengthen my muscles. I just started so I’m not able to evaluate yet. I’m also starting aquatics, fingers crossed

I had knee replacement more than 3 yrs ago. My knee has continued to bother me. An X-ray showed a slightly loose apparatus. I’m stiff with pain. I’m seeing a new pt person who is trying to strengthen my muscles. I just started so I’m not able to evaluate yet. I’m also starting aquatics, fingers crossed

@gardeningjunkie Many people have great success with stem cells. It is not 100% successful though and very few insurances cover it, although I have no idea if Medicare does. If you are in pain though it’s worth a try if you can afford it.

I had a procedure done before I was on Medicare that my regular (BC-BS) would not pay for without a pre-authorization. Then they still rejected it and I had to fight for them to pay. The funny thing was that it is covered by Medicare, maybe because it was a kyphoplasty to repair a broken vertebra and that is more common in people who have osteoporosis, which I did not, at that time so even though regular insurance does not cover it maybe if your doctor will plead your case it will get covered.
JK

Could you be allergic to the implant? If allergic I imagine there would be inflamation in the area and do not know if that would show up in an xray.
Why I can't have a knee replacement- My ortho was ready to proceed with my knee replacement this spring but I insisted upon metal allergy and bone cement allergy testing first. He told me he hadn't had issues with rejection, but I am an allergic person and would rather proceed cautiously. I have Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD, and Patch Testing showed about 7 allergies out of 80 sites. I have multiple adhesive allergies but was never tested for the adhesive in bone cement. In my Patch Test Panel's I never have the metal panels run. I have known I react to nickle all my life. He ordered a blood tes stating this was more accurate than the Patch Test and I was told I must pay $600 up front as Medicare doesn't pay for this test. My blood test came back showing allergies to 5 metals, the bone cement was safe. He said there would not be one metal implant I could use; although not allergic to titanium, even titanium has traces of other metals I would react to. No problem as he could put in a ceramic coated implant so no metal would contact me and was ready to proceed. I did the homework on the "Gold" implant (called this as the ceramic is gold in color). Last year a class action lawsuit was filed as many have learned the bone cement won't adhere to the implant, moisture builds up between the ceramic coating and bone cement and the implant comes loose from the bone.I figure I am better off accepting the limitations I have now rather than risk rejection. I have a file with the exact name of this implant if interested I ill look it up.
I am appealing to Medicare to reimburse me for this blood test expense based upon my doctors "letter of necessity" because of my allergic history. Yet even if not reimbursed I am grateful for this test..