Truth about Total Knee Replacements

@zaydez

What have you done already to address this issue?

@mphaddican
Dr. Jimmy Chow. He is based in Phoenix and does his procedures out of an outpatient facility attached to the Abrazo Scottsdale Hospital. He used a mini midvastus method and did a plastic surgery close. He has a national/international practice. He replaced my left hip about three years ago and I also had no post surgery pain then.

I, too, am one of the 25% with continuing pain after 7 months. Having more pain after surgery than before is hard to live with without bitterness. Knee surgeon only says "Each patient is different". He finally 'dismissed' me and referred me to a pain management doctor. Next week I am to get a genicular nerve block. I'm told if that works (I feel no pain), a follow up 'radio frequency ablation of the nerves' will be scheduled. Basically this is killing my nerve cells. I'm told it lasts from 2 months to a year. So this is my future? returning every few months to kill my nerve cells when they grow back. Sad.
I asked the original surgeon for an MRI because I think something is wrong with the apparatus. My knee curves in more than original knee and most of the pain begins at tibial component area. I still have inflammation and the right knee area is visibly larger than left knee area (from inflammation or is apparatus too big?). He told x-rays and says everything is fine!
Well, I'll post again after surgery to see if pain improves.

@steveinarizona

Thank you!!

I agree whole-heartedly on every point except the last. My left knee had a torn ACL that gave me discomfort, but I was still mobil. My Orthopedist explained that the x-rays showed I was almost bone-on-bone we can kill two birds with one stone by doing a TKR. That was eight ago, and I have suffered with pain, limited ROM, and a bad limp requiring a cane to get about. So much for Good news that your knee will feel a lot better.

@steveinarizona
I was so impressed with steve's story that I called Dr. Chow; I was going to drive across several state lines to see him. But Dr. Chow's office told me that he was no longer taking any insurance. I just did not find that that was a way that I could go financially. Maybe the office told me incorrect information or maybe this will change; I hope so.
Thank you Steve for helping us and keeping us up to date.
It is very difficult to compare doctors and the types of surgeries which they do. If you call the office and wait for days for a call back then the nurse just says "oh yes he does everything" and then you drive half a day, sit in an office for sometimes hours and the first thing out of the surgeon's mouth is "no, I can't do that, and no I don't know anyone who can handle that". Sigh
I have a nickel allergy and I am waiting now on a Panel 2 blood test to check for other allergies. I did find a surgeon to do the test, but he specializes in 3 d prothesis but doesn't do a nickel free 3d prothesis.
If anyone has a doctor which they could recommend I would so appreciate the information.

Sorry. I should have added that he doesn't take insurance nor Medicare. However, everything other than his fee was covered by my insurance (Medicare Advantage PPO plan) -- the facility, use of the facility's robot, a custom brace, physical therapy, etc. Just his fee which covers his time, services and his immediate staff.

But for someone traveling, that person should check and see if her insurance covers out of state non network services. Mine is a PPO plan but HMO plans might not work in any other state and the surgeon list might be limited.

I do not have a metal allergy (my three year old hip is made of titanium) but Dr. Chow uses the Journey II implants and they are made of oxidized zirconium and are allegedly biocompatible.

I am 9 months into my TKR and it is as sore as it was 4 months after. It is still swollen and is very painful.

@anncgrl
I'm happy for your successful outcome but your recommendations go on deaf ears. You are fortunate, but there are many TKR recipients, like myself, who followed all the advice and recommendations, only to have an unsuccessful TKR. Sometimes during the weeks of painful PT it's recognized that all the PT in the world is not going to overcome a bad surgery.

@carol4911 My left TKR was done in 2009, leaving me in more pain than before surgery. Three years later the surgeon thought I may have an allergy to the small amount of nickel in the titanium replacement, wanted to do a revision. When my primary physician found this out she referred me to an allergist for metal and resins testing. I am allergic to the bone cement. The only words the allergist said to me were, “I don’t envy you.” Now my plastic has worn out, have loosening of the replacement. It has been a total nightmare.