Knee replacement blues

My spouse always said that maybe PT was pushing me too hard, and that I shouldn’t be exercising at home so much. I only was diligent following the surgeon’s orders. I wanted a good result. But I always regressed, nothing lasted. Scar tissue built up ( not talking about the incisional scar for the newbies; the fibrous tissue that wraps around everything inside your new joint making it quite difficult and painful to move. ) requiring an MUA. 5 months past all that now and I hope I don’t regress again. Everyday I work to keep my gains.
Am I building up more scar tissue? Is that why it feels so dang tight and difficult to going down stairs still?

Absolutely. I wonder if physicians are assuming the pt (patient) is not following through with PT (physical therapy). If U can get a 2nd opinion, do it. Is there a support group in your area where you can infoshare & network to find a doctor of othotics and/or another orthopedic surgeon? Is it possible for you to call to the US Mayo Clinic for advice? 877-858-0398 ... perhaps they have a contact in your country.

I hate to ask this question but have you gained weight? Check UR BMI ONLINE. Open a browser, type: check my BMI ...into the browser.

From 2012, when my knees began 2 give me trouble, Ive gained a ton of weight. My BMI is just low enough for the surgeon to have confidence that all will be fine. Im told by many physicians that Ive chosen the best to do my surgery. A lady in my complex was overweight by 70 pounds; my surgeon performed her surgery & she still has pain. Her pain is due to the fact that she is still 70 pounds overweight.

Please keep posting, your input is very valuable to all of us.

Hello, I have been with Mayo Connect since my April24 L TKR. I have participated in a few discussions now. Your documentary idea is a great one; as the message I have been trying to get across is that TKR is the ONLY thing surgeons offer for osteo knee pain. They have been doing the same surgery for 50 years with nothing new created the entire time. It is such an easy money maker for them and take no responsibility for the horridly long rehab with activity/life style compromises the patient must endure.

I have a laundry list of questions for my dr. tomorrow, thanks to all of you who contribute to these postings. Does Dr. D plan to use a tourniquet. Im watching a video on Youtube.com

Thanks for posting!

I Googled your, about doing too much exercising after surgery and could it cause damage. The answer I received was yes. On your browser, type the question... after knee surgery can you do too much exercising? I use Chrome as my browser. I've discovered that other browsers give different answers depending on who they survey. If you did more than was required of you by your doctor, then maybe you did too much exercising.

I'd like to respond to question about PT being too aggressive which I experienced and resulted in my TkR knee developing synovitis or angry knee syndrome. My leg became very swollen and extremely stiff so they told me to back off and I had to gingerly use a percussion massager and get messages to calm down my leg. If you google synovitis this is well discussed and I don't feel enough information about this is known.

I googled synovitis. This is what I found ... https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/synovitis - This comes from The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA There is a lot of information at the above included website including a cutaway showing you where the synovial membrane is located. Check it out.

If you are getting relief from current approach to helping you, I would stay with that regimine.

I didn't stumble, but I made the mistake of twisting my back getting up off the reclining sofa. I'm at month 7, and I've used 2 rounds of steroid packs for my back. I never had previous back problems. Now I am mostly getting around well without a cane, and I realize the walker and then the cane got me into the habit of walking bent over. Now that I'm walking without the cane things are improving more quickly. From what I've read, a lot of people go through months of swelling (I'm still swollen), feelings of stiffness, heaviness, and phantom pains. I felt like I had a stirrup under my foot and a stiff band over my knee for months! The feelings change every few weeks or more often. A week and more out I was regretting surgery. Now I'm glad I did it, even if I'm not feeling completely recovered.

My BMI is 23. I was in great health prior to replacement.i do not take any medications other than Tylenol and ibuprofen. I did physical therapy before, to build up strength.
Leaving on my first real trip soon, where I won’t be able to do my normal morning full routine of exercises, weights, bicycle… we shall see how that affects everything.
My knee works great walking these days ( going on 8 months). It’s just the stiffness, slow-to/start, going down stairs and regressing the minute I stop my routine… we shall see.