Swelling and stiffness, 3 years after total knee replacement

Posted by bengalady @bengalady, Oct 9, 2019

I had knee replacement 3 years ago. It is worse than previous knee pain, and getting worse as more time goes by. My surgeon (in another state) says everything normal based on X-ray. Ortho doc here says the same, and said I’m having pain and he referred me to pain clinic for possible nerve block. I want to know WHY am I having pain, although I didn’t call it pain. ROM is 100. They can’t see everything on X-ray. I want an MRI. Want to go for second opinion. Should I tell new doc I’m there for second opinion, I don’t think that’s necessary......I think that would cause some bias, ie they would just say same thing.
Has this happened to anyone ? Thoughts ?
TIA

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mpirruccel | @mpirruccel | Feb 17 8:23pm

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!!

terry002 | @terry002 | Feb 18 10:32am

In reply to @mpirruccel "My story is that I had a TKR August 2021. Still dealing with lateral pain on..." + (show)

Medical massage to stretch the muscles and eliminate swelling, cupping to get rid of adhesions has worked great for me. My surgeon never recommended it and I’m glad I saw a medical masseuse trained in lymphatic drainage and cupping. I’m 8 months out and I finally am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. pT is great initially but it doesn’t help everything also my primary doctor told me to go to gym and do the 30 min circuit training and little by little it has made me stronger and feel better no impact exercises were great

ezas123 | @ezas123 | Feb 19 7:27am

In reply to @mpirruccel "My story is that I had a TKR August 2021. Still dealing with lateral pain on..." + (show)

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

annekaz52 | @annekaz52 | Feb 20 9:54am

In reply to @ezas123 "I hear you short story I had knee replacement one year later was getting same knee..." + (show)

Thank you for sharing your story.

snoony2 | @snoony2 | Feb 20 10:28am

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

snoony2 | @snoony2 | Feb 20 10:29am

In reply to @snoony2 "I had knee replacement more than 3 yrs ago. My knee has continued to bother me...." + (show)

Side comment: My knee replacement was done in a former state

ezas123 | @ezas123 | Feb 20 1:48pm

In reply to @snoony2 "I had knee replacement more than 3 yrs ago. My knee has continued to bother me...." + (show)

All we can do is keep trying … hopefully this helps give you some relief ….. I am always reading and willing to try new things therapies to get rid of tightness short of surgery that is because I am done with that ….i do hope you find relief

snoony2 | @snoony2 | Feb 20 5:10pm

Thank you

soprano2 | @soprano2 | Feb 26 7:25pm

In reply to @contentandwell "@gardeningjunkie Many people have great success with stem cells. It is not 100% successful though and..." + (show)

I’ve had PRP—worked for a while. But my regenerative medicine doc told me stem cell therapy is on hold by the FDA. 😞

soprano2 | @soprano2 | Feb 26 7:32pm

In reply to @gardeningjunkie "Could you be allergic to the implant? If allergic I imagine there would be inflamation in..." + (show)

@gardeningjunkie

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..

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I also have a lot of allergies. Eg, I’m allergic to the rooster protein in the knee injections they gave me. I’m allergic to adhesive tape. I’ve been worried about allergic reactions to the cement and the metals (I can’t wear any earrings). What was the allergy test you had? Was it to all metals and the cement?

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