1. < Joint Replacements

One knee replacement and will never have another one!

Posted by mabfp3 @mabfp3, 4 days ago

Hello to all of my fellow knee sufferers! I had a TKR in 2020. I had a very rough time after the surgery…..allergies to pain meds etc and had to only take Tylenol! PT for six months following surgery. My knee (right) is still painful and stiff, even after the replacement. I had this done at a top Boston hospital with a surgeon that came highly recommended. However, his answer to me with all of this pain and stiffness is “It will never be the knee that God gave you.” Oh, great!!! My left knee is bad but I could never go through this surgery again. I have had cortisone shots to the left knee which are no longer working and recently received three gel shots, which did not help. Both of my knees are so painful! Should I seek out a dr who deals with pain? I don’t know what else to do. Other than these knee issues, I am in good health and am 75 years old (although, other than these knees, I don’t feel like I am 75!!!!). Any suggestions or help would be deeply appreciated! I have tried knee braces, creams, ointments, Voltaran, Advil, Tylenol etc. Nothng has helped!!! Thank you, in advance, for any input! MaryAnn from Boston

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mabfp3 | @mabfp3 | 2 days ago
In reply to @rocksister "Hello, I joined this forum for information as I'm approaching the inevitable decision of having a..." + (show)
@rocksister

Hello, I joined this forum for information as I'm approaching the inevitable decision of having a TKR. Having already been through the worst pain of my life with a torn meniscus, TKR is the only option according to my ortho. I'm grateful to have a place to read about others' experiences. Pain and recovery are uppermost in my mind, and that's different for everyone. Pain meds are not prescribed here except in extreme cases, so I'd like to know how you have managed pain, and how soon you were required to walk. Thank you for sharing your stories.

Jump to this post

Hello Rocksister, If at all possible, I would hold off for as long as you can on having a TKR. Before consenting to this major surgery with your ortho, I would get a second and third opinion. If you decide to go down that road, you need to know how excruciating the pain can be, especially without pain meds. Unfortunately, I could not take the prescribed pain meds because I broke out in a rash, along with vomiting, to a couple of the meds. I could only take Tylenol, and I have to be honest with you…….the pain was BAD! I had to use a walker in my house to get around and it was very painful. PT services came into my house for the first few weeks but I had a hard time doing their exercises because of the intense pain. It is important to begin moving the knee as soon as possible so that scar tissue will not build up, but it was very difficult for me. I felt depressed and I had no appetite, so I lost 18 pounds in those first few weeks at home. I was able to get to outside therapy about six weeks after surgery, and I got a wonderful PT! I continued to see her twice a week for six months and she really helped me to build up supporting muscles for my knee. However, the replaced knee isn’t all that great……still stiffness and weakness. On how soon that I was required to walk, it was the *next day* after the surgery!!! I truly was in agony and I had an older woman who was a PT at the hospital making me walk and do stairs. She had no sympathy for the pain that I had (she should have retired long before!) and had me in tears. Truly, this was NOT ME!!! As painful as my left knee is currently, I just cannot go through it again. I am trying another cortisone shot next week, and if it doesn’t help, I just rely on Advil, Voltaren cream and Extra Strength Tylenol. I am also making an effort to strengthen my glutes, my quads and my calves to support the left knee. I wish you all the best, but I would definitely get a second opinion. MaryAnn from Boston

REPLY
1 reply
lindielulu | @lindielulu | 2 days ago
In reply to @mabfp3 "What type of glute exercises did the PT recommend? I use a couple of machines at..." + (show)
@mabfp3

What type of glute exercises did the PT recommend? I use a couple of machines at the gym that I go to that say that they are for the glutes. I’d like to start concentrating more on glute exercises and see if it helps me. Thank you!

Jump to this post

This is the PT I watch on youtube. Here he explains why you should not work on your quads. He has a lot of videos with exercises. It's hard to explain the ones I do, maybe you can subscribe to his videos. Basically, anything that gets your glutes stronger, one is squeezing your butt cheeks. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7x7Ywo5tfE&t=162s

REPLY
1 reply
healthseeker77 | @healthseeker77 | 2 days ago
In reply to @lindielulu "It sounds unreal, doesn't it? I had so many doubts about the glutes program but I..." + (show)
@lindielulu

It sounds unreal, doesn't it? I had so many doubts about the glutes program but I was desperate. I didn't know about the calf muscles but I'll try that too. I rarely take pain meds and it's tylenol if I do. What kinds of natural herbs do you take? I tried taking turmeric but it didn't agree with my digestive system. I may try a smaller dose.

Jump to this post

I take Turmeric (200mg) and Boswellia serrata (100 mg)
UC-II (40mg) BioPerrine ( 5 mg). I have been taking these herbs since 2017 and they were keeping my right knee relatively pain free until I had a bike accident in Sept 2023. I broke my left forearm and fractured my left tibia right where it joins with my partial artificial knee.
Both of these breaks healed well but I was not allowed to take any supplements while I was in the hospital and I had to hop on my right leg/knee since my left leg was in a non weight bearing brace for six weeks while it healed.
During that time of hopping and not taking any supplements my right knee became very painful. That is when I talked to the orthopedic surgeon who said I could not have knee surgery until I got clearance from my cardiologist. The cardiologist would not clear me for elective surgery due to abnormal EKG results so I needed to find an alternative to TKR. I had PRP injections in January this year and as soon as I was
cleared for exercise the PT had me strengthening my glutes and calf muscles as well as resuming my supplements. So now my right knee is considerably less painful - but still not as pain free as my left knee which has the partial knee replacement.
I hope you can find a program that works for you to relieve your pain.

REPLY
2 replies
mabfp3 | @mabfp3 | 1 day ago
In reply to @lindielulu "This is the PT I watch on youtube. Here he explains why you should not work..." + (show)
@lindielulu

This is the PT I watch on youtube. Here he explains why you should not work on your quads. He has a lot of videos with exercises. It's hard to explain the ones I do, maybe you can subscribe to his videos. Basically, anything that gets your glutes stronger, one is squeezing your butt cheeks. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7x7Ywo5tfE&t=162s

Jump to this post

Thank you so much!

REPLY
1 reply
mabfp3 | @mabfp3 | 1 day ago
In reply to @healthseeker77 "I take Turmeric (200mg) and Boswellia serrata (100 mg) UC-II (40mg) BioPerrine ( 5 mg). I..." + (show)
@healthseeker77

I take Turmeric (200mg) and Boswellia serrata (100 mg)
UC-II (40mg) BioPerrine ( 5 mg). I have been taking these herbs since 2017 and they were keeping my right knee relatively pain free until I had a bike accident in Sept 2023. I broke my left forearm and fractured my left tibia right where it joins with my partial artificial knee.
Both of these breaks healed well but I was not allowed to take any supplements while I was in the hospital and I had to hop on my right leg/knee since my left leg was in a non weight bearing brace for six weeks while it healed.
During that time of hopping and not taking any supplements my right knee became very painful. That is when I talked to the orthopedic surgeon who said I could not have knee surgery until I got clearance from my cardiologist. The cardiologist would not clear me for elective surgery due to abnormal EKG results so I needed to find an alternative to TKR. I had PRP injections in January this year and as soon as I was
cleared for exercise the PT had me strengthening my glutes and calf muscles as well as resuming my supplements. So now my right knee is considerably less painful - but still not as pain free as my left knee which has the partial knee replacement.
I hope you can find a program that works for you to relieve your pain.

Jump to this post

Thank you very much for your input! I am so sorry for all that you have been through! I do take Tumeric, and it has BioPerrine in it, but I wrote down those other two supplements and will look for them and give them a try. I am also going to work on strengthening my glutes and calf muscles every other day. So glad that your right knee is now less painful. Honestly, knee pain is just so debilitating! Thanks again!

REPLY
healthseeker77 | @healthseeker77 | 1 day ago
In reply to @mabfp3 "Thank you so much!" + (show)
@mabfp3

Thank you so much!

Jump to this post

Mabfp3,
Thanks for the video link. I have watched the El Paso PT in the past and he is very good. Here is another PT that shows Calf exercises to reduce knee pain ( around 4 min. into video)

REPLY
1 reply
lindielulu | @lindielulu | 1 day ago
In reply to @mabfp3 "My PT also concentrated on the quads also, so that is what I have been trying..." + (show)
@mabfp3

My PT also concentrated on the quads also, so that is what I have been trying to do. Maybe the glute exercises would be more beneficial.

Jump to this post

The PT on youtube said that most PTs do concentrate on the quads and he said that actually puts more pressure on the knees and makes things worse. I have been working on my glutes for about 3 months now and see a lot of improvement and less pain. Here is the PT I follow on youtube. He has many videos. I am sold on strengthening glutes and not quads. If you are preparing for surgery then quads need to be strengthened because they are going to cut that muscle. Most doctors do not emphasize working the glutes, but it sure has helped me. Here is the link:

REPLY
1 reply
lindielulu | @lindielulu | 1 day ago
In reply to @healthseeker77 "Mabfp3, Thanks for the video link. I have watched the El Paso PT in the past..." + (show)
@healthseeker77

Mabfp3,
Thanks for the video link. I have watched the El Paso PT in the past and he is very good. Here is another PT that shows Calf exercises to reduce knee pain ( around 4 min. into video)

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for that link. I will definitely check him out and put him on my subscription list.

REPLY
lindielulu | @lindielulu | 1 day ago
In reply to @healthseeker77 "I take Turmeric (200mg) and Boswellia serrata (100 mg) UC-II (40mg) BioPerrine ( 5 mg). I..." + (show)
@healthseeker77

I take Turmeric (200mg) and Boswellia serrata (100 mg)
UC-II (40mg) BioPerrine ( 5 mg). I have been taking these herbs since 2017 and they were keeping my right knee relatively pain free until I had a bike accident in Sept 2023. I broke my left forearm and fractured my left tibia right where it joins with my partial artificial knee.
Both of these breaks healed well but I was not allowed to take any supplements while I was in the hospital and I had to hop on my right leg/knee since my left leg was in a non weight bearing brace for six weeks while it healed.
During that time of hopping and not taking any supplements my right knee became very painful. That is when I talked to the orthopedic surgeon who said I could not have knee surgery until I got clearance from my cardiologist. The cardiologist would not clear me for elective surgery due to abnormal EKG results so I needed to find an alternative to TKR. I had PRP injections in January this year and as soon as I was
cleared for exercise the PT had me strengthening my glutes and calf muscles as well as resuming my supplements. So now my right knee is considerably less painful - but still not as pain free as my left knee which has the partial knee replacement.
I hope you can find a program that works for you to relieve your pain.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much, it took me a while to find your response. I will order those today. I have a boatload of supplements and have spent a fortune on them but I had never heard of Boswellia serrata (100 mg) ,UC-II (40mg) and BioPerrine ( 5 mg). I have terrible GERD and the Turmeric was very hard on me but I think it was a stronger amount. I'm going to try your routine. Another thing I saw on another PT was the way I walk was not the best. I tend to put a lot of my weight on my heels and he said to walk almost as if you are sneaking up on something, I think he said "walking lightly". It does seem to help but old habits die hard and I have to constantly remind myself to do that. Can't wait to try your supplements.

REPLY
georgieb51 | @georgieb51 | 1 day ago
In reply to @mabfp3 "Hello Rocksister, If at all possible, I would hold off for as long as you can..." + (show)
@mabfp3

Hello Rocksister, If at all possible, I would hold off for as long as you can on having a TKR. Before consenting to this major surgery with your ortho, I would get a second and third opinion. If you decide to go down that road, you need to know how excruciating the pain can be, especially without pain meds. Unfortunately, I could not take the prescribed pain meds because I broke out in a rash, along with vomiting, to a couple of the meds. I could only take Tylenol, and I have to be honest with you…….the pain was BAD! I had to use a walker in my house to get around and it was very painful. PT services came into my house for the first few weeks but I had a hard time doing their exercises because of the intense pain. It is important to begin moving the knee as soon as possible so that scar tissue will not build up, but it was very difficult for me. I felt depressed and I had no appetite, so I lost 18 pounds in those first few weeks at home. I was able to get to outside therapy about six weeks after surgery, and I got a wonderful PT! I continued to see her twice a week for six months and she really helped me to build up supporting muscles for my knee. However, the replaced knee isn’t all that great……still stiffness and weakness. On how soon that I was required to walk, it was the *next day* after the surgery!!! I truly was in agony and I had an older woman who was a PT at the hospital making me walk and do stairs. She had no sympathy for the pain that I had (she should have retired long before!) and had me in tears. Truly, this was NOT ME!!! As painful as my left knee is currently, I just cannot go through it again. I am trying another cortisone shot next week, and if it doesn’t help, I just rely on Advil, Voltaren cream and Extra Strength Tylenol. I am also making an effort to strengthen my glutes, my quads and my calves to support the left knee. I wish you all the best, but I would definitely get a second opinion. MaryAnn from Boston

Jump to this post

I just watched about two hours of videos here. I think the fellow is onto something that I have never considered before , but it makes sense to have you muscles in balance. I too had focussed on quads but had to back off due to pain. Now I know why. Starting with glutes is important..

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