Spacer replacement 4 years after TKR

I am sorry you have to go through so much to get your knee back. I hope a second opinion will bring new light to your situation.

I got a TKR 2 years ago and have been in pain from the start and have been to 5 different doctors trying to find a solution apart from a total knee replacement. All they could offer was a total replacement. I knew there had to be an alternative. I was to the point where I was just going to put up with the pain…until my knee began locking where I couldn’t extend my knee, had severe pain and I couldn’t put weight on it. I finally found a doctor who suggested replacing the spacer because the one they used was too thin. Honestly, I’m giddy with excitement! No one ever even suggested that!

I can really relate to what you’re going through! It’s been 2 years since my TKR and I thought if one more doctor looked at me, shrugged their shoulders and said, “I don’t know what the problem is,” I’d lose my mind. It was that or I was told the TKR failed and I needed to start over. The thought of doing that gave me so much anxiety that I had decided to just live with the fact I was in more pain than before I had the surgery. That is until my knee started locking. I finally (after seeing 5 different doctors) found someone who suggested the spacer my original doctor used was too thin. Not one of the other doctors ever suggested that as a possibility. Finally hope! Meeting with the surgeon in two weeks to discuss moving forward with the spacer replacement.

Did you have scar tissue removal along with the spacer surgery? How was that recovery if you did. Anticipating such a measure - am at 16 weeks post term/8 weeks manipulation. Scar tissue very thick affecting ROM.

Not a fan of surgery either…I’ve had way too many…but also not a fan of doing a repeat TKR. That was what at least 4 different surgeons told me. I was ready to just live with the pain until the knee started locking…like something was getting caught in the joint. I finally found a surgeon who suggested the spacer replacement…a much better alternative…I hope.

To all those who have replied, I understand. I am seeing doctors and universally they are saying "start over". I got a second opinion before the spacer revision and he also recommended changing the spacer. I went back him 8 months later and he said the same thing - "start over". He gave me a steroid shot which helped and drew some fluid to check for infection. It was clear. The second doctor is running tests and trying to find the cause for the failure. He says we can't fix it unless we know what is wrong. If we can't figure out what is wrong then it is "start over". He says 3 things can usually cause this problem - infection, a loose part, or soft tissue. A blood test and bone scan were negative. He then aspirated the knee. This time the fluid was cloudy and there was some blood. That fluid is being tested now. I may have an infection or possibly gout - yes gout. I am hoping it is gout but that is too easy lol. If it is infection then that is terrible but so is my knee at this point. All of this is to say that spacer sounded like the right way to go. But in the end I am worse than the original TKR. It is not terrible pain but it is more pain limiting me and a problem. I also hope to limp my way to a better place but I am not sure at this point that is possible. I get results this week and I will see another doctor next month. I am not going to rush into anything. I wish that the original doctor would have thought of testing before even suggesting the spacer. There are surgeons and there are doctors I guess.

Thanks for posting this. I’m too having the same problem.

So I’m having a similar situation. However, I find when I bend my knee it’s painful. And also, I can move like the joint from side to side. You can hear the clicking it pops all the time when I’m walking. Trying to decide if I should have the spacer fixed, I too like you don’t wanna have surgeries needlessly. I just wonder if it’s worth getting fixed

Please keep us updated because I’m too exploring the same thing. I’m curious how long the recovery is. It is really disappointing. When you just start to feel normal and you have to think about another surgery.

Unfortunately, it looks like if I do anything it will be a revision. It seems the doctor didn’t take into account that I had osteopenia and used the implant where the bone was supposed to attach to the implant. Apparently the extra space was caused by the implant sinking into the bone so the doctor doesn’t feel like the spacer will correct the instability. Also, the recovery is the same as an entire replacement. She feels replacing it with an implant that is attached with bone cement will correct things.