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Swelling and stiffness, 3 years after total knee replacement
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Apr 3 5:43pm | Replies (218)Comment receiving replies
I just turned 50 and am about 25 pounds overweight. I never recovered from my initial TKR in 2018 in spite of my extensive pre and post-op PT. I endured constant pain, stiffness, fever in knee, and swelling. Doc kept telling me that nothing was wrong because the x-rays looked 'normal'. I never got out of brace for 10 straight months. NO DOCTORS WOULD SEE ME FOR A SECOND OPINION because it hadn't been 1 year post-op. Crying every day, sleepless nights, emotionally drained, and knowing that something was SERIOUSLY wrong,,,but no one--not even my PCP--could or WOULD do anything. Then, when my doc had an emergency immediately before my appt, I was seen by another doc in his group. He took one look at my botched surgery and IMMEDIATELY contacted another surgeon and--within days--I saw a superb Ortho Surgeon in Philly who only does TKR Revision; Mine was the worse case of failure he'd seen. The Revision went well but it's starting to give me new trouble. Have chronic bursitis that I'm doing PT for and it's helping. LESSON=You have to be your own advocate. If it doesn't feel right, it's NOT right--and don't let anyone tell you otherwise because most docs only care about getting you in and getting you out. I was lucky to find my TKR R-S, but my knee (and my LIFE) will never be the same. Good luck to you!!!!
Replies to "I just turned 50 and am about 25 pounds overweight. I never recovered from my initial..."
Know how you feel. Been on my operation travels since 2012. Had four operations in left knee and one in the right knee. First operation left my knee stiff. Wished I stopped there. He did a revision on that knee and left it nearly in two separate sections. Knew there was something seriously wrong, so went to a different hospital. Spacers were put in to remove infection for Five Months, it’s usually six weeks. Then rods were put down that leg. Steadied the knee but at the cost of severe pain. Still suffering the pain. He said my right knee needed attention, as it was bone on bone. Agreed, but again suffered severe pain and stiffness, but not as bad as the left.
The problem is the growth of dense scar tissue on both knees. It is particularly bad in the left knee. Forget about X-rays you need scans to show the true extent of the damage. I have been refused them, and all I get is anger and tantrums. I saw two perfect X-rays for both knees, yet any person can feel the nodules. Once this pandemic is over, if at all, I will organise scans on my left knee. Expensive but at least I will have the proof. Age unfortunately will take over, so who knows about the future!!
Thinking about you!
Would your share your revision doctors info. I need to have a revision also. Thank you
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Would you mind sharing the Doctors name and phone numbers who did your TKR Revision. I may need a revision. Thank you