Total knee replacement problems

Posted by daynaj @daynaj, Aug 6 4:12pm

I am really hoping someone can help. I had a total knee replacement 3 years ago (age 48) due to a motorcycle accident in my teens. I am in more pain than I was before. My knee constantly feels like there is an ace bandage wrapped around it. It is very tight, stiff, and painful. I did all of the PT and still can't straighten my knee any further than I could before. I have been back to my doctor twice about this problem and have gone to see a different doctor, and they both tell me some patients just don't do so well with knee replacements. This can't be the only answer! I am 51 years old and struggle to accept the fact that I will have to deal with this for the rest of my life. I have very tiny bones. I had a disc replaced in my neck and had to go back in 2 weeks later to have it replaced with a specially ordered disc because the smallest one this particular manufacturer makes was too big for me. It makes me think this might be the issue with my knee as well. Any advice?

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salliesallie | @salliesallie | Aug 17 10:56am

In reply to @ezas123 "I had tkr few years ago now but … but first time I had tkr I..." + (show)

please tell me... what is MUA

catheem | @catheem | Aug 17 11:17am

In reply to @salliesallie "please tell me... what is MUA" + (show)

Manipulation under anesthesia. I thought it was mostly done to the scar tissue area that was preventing range of motion.

ezas123 | @ezas123 | Aug 18 4:22am

In reply to @salliesallie "please tell me... what is MUA" + (show)

Mua is when they put you under anesthesia and force your leg into flexion …. Yes it’s used to break scar tissue….i had mua after first tkr for me did not help because I had wrong size knee to start ….it does cause swelling and pain and afterwards you have to do therapy everyday for a week … mua is a very difficult procedure it takes time to work through so don’t expect 120 right after surgery …. They get it there but usually can’t maintain it will take time and exercise and patience……there is videos out there they you can watch to help you … good luck hope this answer’s some of your questions

healthtalk | @healthtalk | Aug 18 8:09am

I am having similar problem
After two and half year of surgery i have tightness and sharp pain in the lower part of knee cap. I believe insert size is nit correct. Surgeons think Xray does not show that
Exact words by surgeons
Learn to live with pain.
I am in more pain and less range of motion and more stiffness than i was before surgery

daynaj | @daynaj | Aug 18 10:12am

In reply to @healthtalk "I am having similar problem After two and half year of surgery i have tightness and..." + (show)

Every word of what you said is exactly what I have dealt with and currently experiencing. Basically I just have to live with it according to the doctors.

lj1952 | @lj1952 | Aug 19 9:31am

I am never *not* aware of the new knee. I'm aways aware of it as something I need to take care with. It's limiting in many ways--I used to do yoga, but there are poses that I can no longer do. I have morning stiffness every day and often when I've held the knee in the same position for an extended time, say, an hour or 45 minutes. When I think back on it, I can't remember the pain that caused me to give the go-ahead for the TKR. I had a recent fall (fractured my left humeral head; I fractured the right shoulder much worse last September), and I worry that the fall might've hurt my new knee. My physical therapist (for my shoulder and back) tells me, though, that if my new knee had anything wrong with it, I'd certainly know about it. I'm just always aware of the knee as a not-natural joint. It just feels artificial--I'm conscious of it in a way that I'm not conscious of my other, natural knee.

cathymw | @cathymw | Aug 19 10:29am

I am 4 days post MUA. Doing all my exercises +3x/day, icing, elevating, ice marching through night with knee in extension, on my back.

Already felt the anterior right pain in knee that I’ve had. Had to try MUA first before any discussion of potential over sizing of components as casually mentioned at my 6 week.

Aggressive PT daily for up to 10 days. We shall see. I’m certainly doing all that I’m to be doing. No way will I accept just live with pain or knee function less than what I had initially.

It sure has been a trip though. Expense, stress on relationships ( though very supportive spouse)… it’s hard to have a life when entire life is wrapped around the perfect time to stretch , exercise, pain control, ice…Really thought I’d be further along by week 12.
I was pretty healthy, 11,000 steps daily average. Just arthritic knees. My other knee reminds be daily not to ignore it…

I appreciate this forum and hearing your stories. It helps.

lonna66 | @lonna66 | Aug 20 6:46am

Maybe you are allergic to to the metal…I was and now I have ceramic and am so much better!

cathymw | @cathymw | Aug 20 9:56am

In reply to @lj1952 "I am never *not* aware of the new knee. I'm aways aware of it as something..." + (show)

How old is your knee?

lj1952 | @lj1952 | Aug 20 10:20am

In reply to @cathymw "How old is your knee?" + (show)

Hi--my knee is 3 years old in October 2024. I have a cementless implant. On the whole, I've been happy with the function of it, but there is the morning stiffness with some pain upon getting out of bed. And it hurts some other times, unpredictably. Not enough to make me wish that I hadn't had the knee replacement surgery, however. Thank you for asking!