1. < Joint Replacements

Loose tibial 3 yrs after TKR

Posted by wa34937 @wa34937, Nov 21, 2023

Mid 70's female, typical chronic pain post TKR, knee has locked up. Revision MD says tibial component is loose, moving side to side causing loose joint and knee out of alignment. Recommends replacement of only the tibial (if we're lucky). No osteo, no infection, no reason why it loosened. Zimmer NextGen joint. What went wrong here, did the surgeon err?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

mpirruccel | @mpirruccel | Nov 22, 2023

I am 2 1/2 years out from tkr. Less than 6 months after surgery I felt clicking and lateral pain on outside of knee. Still there ☹️ No infection and latest doc, #5, has hinted at loosening. Pain all the time except when I bike ride. Can’t walk much at all and even swimming isn’t pain free. Am grateful I can ride my bike and now doing weights to help bones as weight bearing is too painful. Use lidocaine patches, taping and bio freeze to take the edge off. 50 mg Lyrica at night plus 10 mg melatonin to help with sleep. See doctor in a month to discuss latest bone scan. Keep posting on any progress. I keep reminding myself of what I can do, not what I can’t do. 😍

REPLY
rennk | @rennk | Jul 16 11:40am

4 open knee surgeries RK

2019 Root Repair to Meniscus - Dr. Josiah Duke - NC

2021 Partial KR RK – Dr. Ralph Liebelt – NC (now retired – retired just after my surgery)
2022 TKR RK - Dr. Paul Greenlaw
2022 MUA RK - Dr. Paul Greenlaw
2023 – Scar Tissue removal RK – lost flexion- scar tissue too large, had to open back up - Dr. Paul Greenlaw.
FEB 2024 severe pain presented behind RK, I presented to Dr. Greewlaw regarding pain. I requested an MRI scan of the back of my knee/leg – Greenlaw stated “no clear indication” MRI needed. He ordered MRI of my back due to thinking issue is from pinched nerve – finding = no impingement. I asked over and over for scan of my RK – Greenlaw refused – stated he could not help me any further – her referred me to Duke Health Ortho

I presented to Dr. Joseph Cline 2 weeks– he ordered CT Scan for 7/12/24 – I left there Friday 7/12/24 -I had the results same day – findings = suspected loosening of replacement at Femur where replacement connects to bone. I am currently waiting on a call from Cline’s office to determine next steps. My suspicion is another open surgery to repair/replace. Did I mention pain? Every step!!! Every Day!!! I am tired.

REPLY
1 reply
ezas123 | @ezas123 | Jul 17 6:35am

I feel for you I have had two surgeries on same knee so far … it is exhausting….i still have pain and tightness …. I am going for Ltt blood test trying to find answers …. I was going to the gym 5 days a week had to stop was hurting my other knee and I am not doing this again …. I am now doing a lot of stretching …. I know you have failing parts how about myofascial release it might help with some of the pain , because I am sure the tissue around the implant is inflamed so it may help calm it down …. I do myofascial it does help …. My daughter is into a lot of the natural healing for my birthday she gave me castor oil ….. she told me to put this on a pad put on my knee wear it will get deep into the tissue break up the scar tissue….so this is what I am doing now just started so let you know …. Good luck let me know how it goes

REPLY
1 reply
rennk | @rennk | Jul 17 7:38am
In reply to @ezas123 "I feel for you I have had two surgeries on same knee so far … it..." + (show)
@ezas123

I feel for you I have had two surgeries on same knee so far … it is exhausting….i still have pain and tightness …. I am going for Ltt blood test trying to find answers …. I was going to the gym 5 days a week had to stop was hurting my other knee and I am not doing this again …. I am now doing a lot of stretching …. I know you have failing parts how about myofascial release it might help with some of the pain , because I am sure the tissue around the implant is inflamed so it may help calm it down …. I do myofascial it does help …. My daughter is into a lot of the natural healing for my birthday she gave me castor oil ….. she told me to put this on a pad put on my knee wear it will get deep into the tissue break up the scar tissue….so this is what I am doing now just started so let you know …. Good luck let me know how it goes

Jump to this post

I have been in therapy for months. I go to a Wellness therapy, myofascial, cupping, dry needling etc. The sterotypical therapy is too agressive for my knee which has had to much trauma.
I keep pushing through, I despaetly need relief.

REPLY
boharley14 | @boharley14 | Jul 17 10:59am
In reply to @rennk "4 open knee surgeries RK 2019 Root Repair to Meniscus - Dr. Josiah Duke - NC..." + (show)
@rennk

4 open knee surgeries RK

2019 Root Repair to Meniscus - Dr. Josiah Duke - NC

2021 Partial KR RK – Dr. Ralph Liebelt – NC (now retired – retired just after my surgery)
2022 TKR RK - Dr. Paul Greenlaw
2022 MUA RK - Dr. Paul Greenlaw
2023 – Scar Tissue removal RK – lost flexion- scar tissue too large, had to open back up - Dr. Paul Greenlaw.
FEB 2024 severe pain presented behind RK, I presented to Dr. Greewlaw regarding pain. I requested an MRI scan of the back of my knee/leg – Greenlaw stated “no clear indication” MRI needed. He ordered MRI of my back due to thinking issue is from pinched nerve – finding = no impingement. I asked over and over for scan of my RK – Greenlaw refused – stated he could not help me any further – her referred me to Duke Health Ortho

I presented to Dr. Joseph Cline 2 weeks– he ordered CT Scan for 7/12/24 – I left there Friday 7/12/24 -I had the results same day – findings = suspected loosening of replacement at Femur where replacement connects to bone. I am currently waiting on a call from Cline’s office to determine next steps. My suspicion is another open surgery to repair/replace. Did I mention pain? Every step!!! Every Day!!! I am tired.

Jump to this post

I feel for you! Very frustrating when you know your body and the Dr says no to an MRI
I had similar issue - 5 Dr's, 2 MRI's - back and foot and the PT found the issue in the knee- bakers cyst
So tired of the run around
Seems the medical community is only getting worse with corporate take overs and buy outs by non- medical companies
Best of luck to you !

REPLY
1 reply
rennk | @rennk | Jul 17 1:00pm
In reply to @boharley14 "I feel for you! Very frustrating when you know your body and the Dr says no..." + (show)
@boharley14

I feel for you! Very frustrating when you know your body and the Dr says no to an MRI
I had similar issue - 5 Dr's, 2 MRI's - back and foot and the PT found the issue in the knee- bakers cyst
So tired of the run around
Seems the medical community is only getting worse with corporate take overs and buy outs by non- medical companies
Best of luck to you !

Jump to this post

Thank you so much! I have been throught alot in my life, but this has to be the most difficult to date. I have cried many many tears due to the pain. I keep pushing

REPLY
boharley14 | @boharley14 | Jul 17 1:18pm

I have had 6 knee surgeries to date on my knees and told the other day about getting TKR in one Not sure I want to go thru it and have it be worse than it is now
So that's why I read on here to hear others who have gone thru TKR

REPLY
1 reply
rennk | @rennk | Jul 18 11:56am
In reply to @boharley14 "I have had 6 knee surgeries to date on my knees and told the other day..." + (show)
@boharley14

I have had 6 knee surgeries to date on my knees and told the other day about getting TKR in one Not sure I want to go thru it and have it be worse than it is now
So that's why I read on here to hear others who have gone thru TKR

Jump to this post

IF you are in the pain that I am in and have been in you will stop at nothing to get it right. The daily struggle is REAL

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.