Fluid retention after a knee replacement

@clark1955

I am not aware of a reason but I have not heard of hip/knee replacement surgeons doing pre-surgery testing for metal allergies. One solution: my surgeon prefers (for other reasons) the Smith & Nephew CORI (robot) and Journey II (implants) system and the Journey II is made of oxidized zirconium and is allegedly biocompatible.

I have symptoms similar to yours, postTKR but it turns out the swelling was caused by Blood draining into my knee socket. When you have had swelling, have they aspirated the fluid and tested it to see exactly what it is? The test I had involved three tubes. Keep searching.

Yes, I went through exactly the same thing at the present time. This is my third orthopedic surgeon and he is the one that told me the same thing that they told you that this is the best that it’s going to get that I should be happy. I’m walking the job that they did replacing my knee worked. I’m able to walk unfortunately he has many patients that he says that go through this with the fluid and the swelling he goes. You’ll need to check with a heart and vascular doctor and then when I asked him for a referral, he had none. I don’t know what to do. Maybe I’m on my feet too much. I don’t know. It’s kind of scary. I don’t know how to check for a nickel allergy. I’m reading all these comments here and then they say you have to operate again oh my.

@clark1955 I am really curious as to why you’re seeing in Orthopedic Group are they that good that you thought you think that they’re going to handle your situation that’s great I have had nobody even give me an MRI and I said shouldn’t you do more of a scan to see if there’s any problems and everybody says no I’ve seen three orthopedic surgeons already basically what the last one told me and he seems so uncaring was that their orthopedist to learn in charge of putting the knees in what happens afterwards you know they can’t do anything about the swelling that’s what I was told that they deal with the bone I would have to see a vascular doctor or a heart doctor

@bjw1948 who did these tests for you and what state are you in? Are you in Pennsylvania?

thundergirl1129 Blood was removed from my knee by needle aspiration by the surgeon who did TKR. The cause of bleeding still has not been discovered. Exploratory surgery on April 8th , in Oregon
to try to find and repair the cause of bleeding. Good luck to you! Keep us updated?

@thundergirl1129
According to an NIH report, I read last year, there was a ten year study of 5000 people who had TKR. 13 people had internal bleeding after surgery. One person died of other causes, and twelve people were treated with GAE, Genicular Arterial Embolization and problem solved. I have had two embolizations but recurrent internal bleeding continues for 4 years. Now have to use a walker to get around. Anyone else with this experience? Your solution?

@thundergirl1129
Vascular surgeon did test to determine that I did not have blood clots, causing the swelling and pain. Interventional radiologist did the genicular arterial embolization twice to determine if I had leaky veins like a garden hose that was causing the problem.But that wasn't the fix. Orthopedic revision surgeon, who will do arthroscopic surgery and go inside my knee with tiny cameras to see if it's the synovial lining is causing the bleeding. And if so, he'll shave off the lining and it will grow back. Another revision surgeon that I talked to said he got lucky. And when he opened up the knee, the leaking artery was spurting, and he was able to fix it. I am in Oregon, and will give an update after April 8th exploratory surgery.
As for the nickel allergy, it is a simple blood test, and you're primary doctor should be able to refer for that. My doc also ordered a blood test for "senior onset Hemophilia" plus rheumatoidoid arthritis. Dont give up!!!

@thundergirl1129
Great question as to why my long time primary care physician has attempted to go back to the orthopedic surgery specialty for a solution. We’ve played stump the chump with cardiologists, vascular specialists and I’ve been to the top arthritis doctor here in seattle who ran a full work up of possible forms of arthritis including tests to see if my knee inflammation was due to a metal allergy. Dead end. Sub radiological specialists consulted out of UCLA why works as an interventional (?) radiologist who uses a pretty technical treatment involving placement of (layperson terms by me) of targeted form of micro beads into specific areas of the knees to essentially block the every key growing blood vessels in both my knees. Plug off key ones that cause the branch of vessels to atrophy. Reduce the vessel that cause excess synovial fluid and bone spurs. When I found out if it works it is good for maybe 6-8 months. If something goes wrong a bead could travel down the leg to the ankle foot and cause damage. Not ready to experiment. Just dealing with the symptoms. Don’t need to make it worse

It’s as if what I thought was a healthy body to still react 3 years after my TKR’s as if they were still healing and repairing themselves.
So I’ve been referred to professional sports medicine orthopedics- the professionals who have to follow up with their patients (their careers depend on it) and my primary care physician had been hopeful I wasn’t this outlier. That they had seen it before. They all responded with fresh tests and X-rays with a “no” or they would consider me as a patient but it would require me in one case to fly across country and live in NYC for in person exam and any treatments. Oh, and all private pay.
Your sediments are now mine. Surgeons to their specialty and if the work was done correctly they consider their responsibilities ended.
I’ve now started with a nutritionist and keeping to an anti-inflammation diet (essentially the Mediterranean diet) and avoiding known contributors to inflammation….. all alcohol and highly processed foods.
If anyone else had gone down this path I would love to know if it helped

@b13moore I am one year post surgery with initial swelling that resolved, only to start having swelling/edema in shin and knee at 6 months, that whole area feels tight. Blood test for infection were negative. Surgeon says I'm doing great, x-rays look great, etc. and that I just needed reassurance. Like yours, my surgeon seemed very uninterested in helping me find the cause or solution. All he told me was to take 1200 mg ibuprofen daily to help, which I have for 6 months, but it didn't help. I've been wearing the compression stocking I had right after surgery, icing, elevating etc. but no relief. I have considered lymphathic massage and myofascial. I asked doctor about that or restarting PT and he said neither would help, I just had to "be patient it will take time." Before surgery he told me I'd be golfing at 3 weeks, now I need to give it more time! UGH. If you try massage, I REALLY hope it works for you! I think I'm going to try too...not much to lose at this point but the time and money.