Connect
← Return to Spacer replacement 4 years after TKR
Discussion
Spacer replacement 4 years after TKR
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Oct 9 11:08pm | Replies (116)Comment receiving replies
I had the spacer replaced 10 months after TKR because it was too thin and causing pain and me to hyper-extend. I did not find the recovery much less worst than TKR. I really do not want to ever do it again though it still seems too thin but I can deal with it. It has almost been 5 months since revision and I still have balance and pain issues, especially when standing more than 5 minutes.
something for everyone considering surgery:
After revision I wept for two days from pain because none of the opioids (oxy, dilaudid, others given in hospital) worked on me and the surgeon was completely dismissive. Come to find out that in certain individuals who take particular anti-depressants- in my case, Wellbutrin- opioids may not help with pain. Just be aware of this. I cannot believe the two dismissive and condescending doctors didn't know this. I sent them both two med school research articles on the topic. I do not use alcohol or drugs. I ended up taking regular Tylenol which helped some. good luck to everyone. I hope your surgeries go well.
Replies to "I had the spacer replaced 10 months after TKR because it was too thin and causing..."
Can I ask what kind of pain have you experienced during this recovery. I’m two years out from tkr and just had a spacer change 2 weeks ago. I didn’t expect it to be so painful at times and still hard to stand in place for more than a few minutes. It’s weird like my knee feels stiff but then when doing a heel slide or small bending I still feel popping in certain positions feels like it’s shifting like before I had this done. I do have swelling of some fluid in the knee but doctor said it should dissipate. It was checked during surgery for correct size and doesn’t hyperextend anymore feels stable it’s just the certain positions the weird feelings freak me out. maybe it’s just me not giving this the time it needs and being inpatient. I’ve been through so much between both of my knees in the past two years especially this one that was just got revised. The original surgeon from august 2023 put too small a spacer 7mm and it was not right the whole time, it shifted, caused me pain and was unstable and hyperextending very very early on like weeks I knew it wasn’t right so it was nothing I did. The new surgeon put in a 14 mm spacer
Connect
@bambiwallace - I had a left tkr in October 2024. I’ll need a spacer changed as soon as I can be scheduled. During my recoveries of joint replacements, I felt no relief from oxycodone and I, too, take Wellbutrin. Tramadol seemed to help, however. Did you find an effective alternative in your research?