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Excruciating pain on weight bearing 10 years after TKR

Posted by cboden51 @cboden51, Feb 26 11:50am

My TKR was 10 years ago. Last November I started having a slight feeling of giving at either the top or bottom of the knee followed by excruciating pain on weight bearing that is relieved only by sitting down - sometimes just for a minute. I literally cannot walk on it for more than a couple of steps before feeling like I m going to faint. Has occurred 8 more times. At other times there is pain on either the medial or lateral side that eventually goes away. mRI does not show any problem with the joint. Ideas?

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swarring16 | @swarring16 | Mar 2 4:14pm

Have you found anything yet? After my husband's TKR he had more pain than before the surgery. I think it has turned into PN. His doctors did a MRI, EMG, blood tests, etc. His doctors keep calling him an anomaly. However, I keep telling him, he is not an alien, someone has gone through it. He has had to drink heavily and smoke cannabis to sleep at night. Someone help!

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1 reply
cboden51 | @cboden51 | Mar 2 5:00pm
In reply to @swarring16 "Have you found anything yet? After my husband's TKR he had more pain than before the..." + (show)
@swarring16

Have you found anything yet? After my husband's TKR he had more pain than before the surgery. I think it has turned into PN. His doctors did a MRI, EMG, blood tests, etc. His doctors keep calling him an anomaly. However, I keep telling him, he is not an alien, someone has gone through it. He has had to drink heavily and smoke cannabis to sleep at night. Someone help!

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I am so sorry to hear about your husband's ordeal.
Mine is very different as my TKR was 10 years ago and I had a seamless recovery afterwards and absolutely no problems until recently. I saw a different Dr. who feels I have instability causing the pain and he is recommending revision of the entire joint. I should clarify - other than when this occurs the joint is pain free - just that this is happening more frequently and without any warning.

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kb2014 | @kb2014 | Mar 2 11:57pm

I am requesting input for myself. I had 2 total knee replacements in 2010. I still have about 90 degrees flexion and extension. I saw a new ortho last fall who suggested a revision might need to be done. He ordered PT but due to cost I did do. I started doing my own exercises. Put each leg on steps and bend knees. I can now also bend down on both knees while standing close to ground. Is a revision a risk for unnecessary surgery ? It is more extensive than TKR. I am 64 married with 2 dogs that I walk daily. I have been able to stop naproxen use as well. I am concerned about the need for this.

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2 replies
morkat | @morkat | Mar 3 7:35am

Maybe it is a nerve. They are pesky.

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cboden51 | @cboden51 | Mar 3 8:05am
In reply to @kb2014 "I am requesting input for myself. I had 2 total knee replacements in 2010. I still..." + (show)
@kb2014

I am requesting input for myself. I had 2 total knee replacements in 2010. I still have about 90 degrees flexion and extension. I saw a new ortho last fall who suggested a revision might need to be done. He ordered PT but due to cost I did do. I started doing my own exercises. Put each leg on steps and bend knees. I can now also bend down on both knees while standing close to ground. Is a revision a risk for unnecessary surgery ? It is more extensive than TKR. I am 64 married with 2 dogs that I walk daily. I have been able to stop naproxen use as well. I am concerned about the need for this.

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If the only issue is the lack of ROM I would definitely continue working on gaining that back

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ddsack | @ddsack | Mar 4 10:46am
In reply to @kb2014 "I am requesting input for myself. I had 2 total knee replacements in 2010. I still..." + (show)
@kb2014

I am requesting input for myself. I had 2 total knee replacements in 2010. I still have about 90 degrees flexion and extension. I saw a new ortho last fall who suggested a revision might need to be done. He ordered PT but due to cost I did do. I started doing my own exercises. Put each leg on steps and bend knees. I can now also bend down on both knees while standing close to ground. Is a revision a risk for unnecessary surgery ? It is more extensive than TKR. I am 64 married with 2 dogs that I walk daily. I have been able to stop naproxen use as well. I am concerned about the need for this.

Jump to this post

@kb2014 If you can walk and bend without pain, I would not get a revision at this point. It sounds like you had to manage your own PT, so keep working on further bends and stretches as you are doing now. I'm not sure that you could be guaranteed different results with a revision. If both legs now have the same degree of bend and feeling, ask what would the surgeon would do differently to have better results? Were you able to get early PT right after your surgeries? The best results for good flex angles are for intense movement therapy in the first few weeks after surgery. Once the knee has healed, it is harder to add degrees.

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1 reply
kb2014 | @kb2014 | Mar 7 12:09am
In reply to @ddsack "@kb2014 If you can walk and bend without pain, I would not get a revision at..." + (show)
@ddsack

@kb2014 If you can walk and bend without pain, I would not get a revision at this point. It sounds like you had to manage your own PT, so keep working on further bends and stretches as you are doing now. I'm not sure that you could be guaranteed different results with a revision. If both legs now have the same degree of bend and feeling, ask what would the surgeon would do differently to have better results? Were you able to get early PT right after your surgeries? The best results for good flex angles are for intense movement therapy in the first few weeks after surgery. Once the knee has healed, it is harder to add degrees.

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Yes. Had extensive PT after both knee replacements. I do have pain now but is manageable. Thank you

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