Severe Pain after 2nd TKR

Hi @mclgracie - You have been suffering with this problem for a terribly long time. Having had two TKR's I know its not easy, but again, I didn't have anything like the problems you are experiencing. I've read posts from many people who did have problems with scar tissue. Here are a couple of threads that might help you:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/scar-tissue-after-knee-replacement/?commentsorderby=DESC#chv4-comment-stream-header
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
The last one is on myofascial release. Some people swear to getting great relief from myofascial release and/or acupuncture. Have you tried either of those methods or any other alternative therapies?

I'm not exactly sure what he meant by abnormal blood work. No I don't think that he have done any testing for metal and cement allergies, but I am going to ask him when I go back. No I have not tried myofascial release and/or acupuncture. I don't think I can deal with the acupuncture because I can't handle the needles I hear that it really hurts. I will check out the links that you sent me thanks everyone for your advice and comments.

@lynnwade54 With all you have been through I can certainly understand your reluctance to put yourself through that again. If you do get a point where the pain from not having a TKR is really bad you may change your mind. If that happens, make absolutely sure you research your orthopedic doctor and that he is excellent. The doctor who did my second TKR has pretty much all great reviews on the rating sites and when I did have more pain that anticipated after the TKR he was seeing me frequently because he too was concerned!
So, ask people, and definitely check reviews. I do not give credence to reviews if there only a few but if the doctor has been around long enough to have many you can usually trust them. If you wait too long to have a TKR, I have heard the recovery is more difficult. I did that with my first TKR and I was limping badly and in pain all day every day so I took the first doctor I could get.

I had to delay the second TKR and during that time I exercised a lot building up the supporting muscles. That made a huge difference in my discomfort. The knee had gotten so good I had to wonder if I should go ahead or not, but I did. So please do leg exercises that will help to build those muscles up, like bike (I ride my recumbent bike), walking, either regular or on a treadmill, and using an elliptical.

Are you getting synvisc injections for the "good knee"? I found them to help a lot. There is at least one other brand also that I had one time but I found for me that the synvisc seemed to work better.
JK

@lynnwade54 - No acupuncture doesn't hurt. I hate needles too, but it doesn't even feel like a pinprick. After both of my TKR's, I did acupuncture to help reduce the inflammation and swelling. It really helped, and I've read of others who had the same result. Now, I'm not saying it would help with severe scar tissue build up, but it did help me recover my ROM more quickly. Will you let us know when you learn what the doctor says?

Sounds awful. Was it done by same doctor? Now I'm scared, I'm having my second replacement, left knee, done next week!

Hi everyone, to answer your questions; no I am not getting synvisc injections for the "good knee" I'm really afraid to have anyone do anything to the right (good) knee.

Hi everyone, to answer your questions; no I am not getting synvisc injections nor acupuncture to either knee, my surgeon nor therapist never mentioned acupuncture or injections to me. At this point I am so afraid of letting anyone do anything else to me right until I can get some relief for this left knee. Yes all this was done by the same doctor he said if he does not get the results he is looking for he is going to refer me to another surgeon for a 2nd opinion. Yes I will keep you all informed once I get my results from the test.

@zakcat i'm not sure who you are replying to, but if you have selected the doctor well then you have no reason to be concerned. Your first TKR finally got better, although it took longer than you anticipated, correct? Since your first knee was good then I am sure your second one will be too.
Although I opted for the Conformis knee because I read that it has an easier recovery since it is made to be the same as your natural knee was, I have pretty much heard that the biggest difference in recovery is in the skill of the surgeon. I think of my recovery as being great and the knee never hurts except occasionally a little twinge when I have overdone exercise.
I hope your second TKR goes well, let us know how you are doing when you are feeling up to corresponding.
JK

@lynnwade54 I am pretty sure that synvisc could not make anything worse and it could really help to have one leg that feels better. If this has not come up with your surgeon you might want to ask him. It honestly did wonders for my knee. The only caveat being that if you do schedule a TKR on that knee at some point you can't have any injections for a certain amount time prior to it. I can't remember if it was 3 months or 6 months. For most people this would not be a problem because their orthopedic surgeon would be the same doctor who you would get shots from, but I go to one doctor for simple things like that, and I went to a different doctor for the TKR, someone who had an impeccable reputation and who used the Conformis knee.
JK

@zakcat - Don't be scared. I had my 2nd TKR in January of this year and it was a huge success. It's better than my first that was done in 2017. I'm pulling for you. Will you keep us posted? What are you most scared about?