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Swelling and stiffness, 3 years after total knee replacement

Posted by bengalady @bengalady, Oct 9, 2019

I had knee replacement 3 years ago. It is worse than previous knee pain, and getting worse as more time goes by. My surgeon (in another state) says everything normal based on X-ray. Ortho doc here says the same, and said I’m having pain and he referred me to pain clinic for possible nerve block. I want to know WHY am I having pain, although I didn’t call it pain. ROM is 100. They can’t see everything on X-ray. I want an MRI. Want to go for second opinion. Should I tell new doc I’m there for second opinion, I don’t think that’s necessary......I think that would cause some bias, ie they would just say same thing.
Has this happened to anyone ? Thoughts ?
TIA

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Moderator
Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Oct 26, 2020
In reply to @eeppeerr88 "I had a TKR Sept 2015 since then I"ve had swelling and pain, I"m 5ft 10"..." + (show)
@eeppeerr88

I had a TKR Sept 2015 since then I"ve had swelling and pain, I"m 5ft 10" and weigh 185. My problem is in the last 3 weeks on Sunday The knee swells and I"m in pain and on chutches for 2 days and then it does it again. for no reason.The Dr drained blood and said no infection. Any ideas please.
;

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Hello @eeppeerr88. I noticed you had posted to this discussion a few days ago on this topic so have moved your question back to this discussion to bring you back to members such as @bengalady @donmckibben and @ellerbracke who may wish to connect with on this topic.

When did your doctor drain your knee and what was his/her continued care recommendations?

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1 reply
eeppeerr88 | @eeppeerr88 | Oct 26, 2020

Hi Amanda I saw the Doctor 2 weeks ago when he drained my and he sent it to labs to see if there was a infection. Which there was not. He stated to try and rest and he would see me in 2 weeks. I have that appointment this Thursday. This needs to be repaired and I will keep everyone updated on the situation.

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ardis3 | @ardis3 | Oct 27, 2020
In reply to @missylaineous "I just turned 50 and am about 25 pounds overweight. I never recovered from my initial..." + (show)
@missylaineous

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!!!!

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Would your share your revision doctors info. I need to have a revision also. Thank you

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pattyp845 | @pattyp845 | Oct 27, 2020

I have seen 4 orthopedic surgeons that told me to lose weight. I did and it didn't help. Finally one surgeon said that the patella was rubbing on the femur and he could do surgery. I'm 72 and in good health. I can hardly walk up steps and have a lot of pain bending over when I pull weeds in my yard. My knees swell even more. Ice, rubs and PT has not helped in the last 10 years. What should I do? Surgery? Pat

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2 replies
Moderator
Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Oct 27, 2020
In reply to @pattyp845 "I have seen 4 orthopedic surgeons that told me to lose weight. I did and it..." + (show)
@pattyp845

I have seen 4 orthopedic surgeons that told me to lose weight. I did and it didn't help. Finally one surgeon said that the patella was rubbing on the femur and he could do surgery. I'm 72 and in good health. I can hardly walk up steps and have a lot of pain bending over when I pull weeds in my yard. My knees swell even more. Ice, rubs and PT has not helped in the last 10 years. What should I do? Surgery? Pat

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Hello @pattyp845 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a community of members sharing experiences and supporting one another through a variety of healthcare issues. It sounds like you are very motivated to find a solution to your pain and swelling. Congratulations on losing weight to start, that is a great accomplishment that will likely help you in many ways, if not your knee.

What are your thoughts/concerns on the surgery suggested?

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Oct 27, 2020
In reply to @pattyp845 "I have seen 4 orthopedic surgeons that told me to lose weight. I did and it..." + (show)
@pattyp845

I have seen 4 orthopedic surgeons that told me to lose weight. I did and it didn't help. Finally one surgeon said that the patella was rubbing on the femur and he could do surgery. I'm 72 and in good health. I can hardly walk up steps and have a lot of pain bending over when I pull weeds in my yard. My knees swell even more. Ice, rubs and PT has not helped in the last 10 years. What should I do? Surgery? Pat

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Hello @pattyp845, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @amandajro and other members. You will notice that we merged your discussion with a similar discussion so that you can meet other members who have the same or similar symptoms.

@ardis3 @eeppeerr88 @bengalady @donmckibben and @ellerbracke may have some information they can share with you.

Did you have a chance to discuss your concerns or questions with your doctor or surgeon?

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eeppeerr88 | @eeppeerr88 | Nov 2, 2020
In reply to @amandajro "Hello @eeppeerr88. I noticed you had posted to this discussion a few days ago on this..." + (show)
@amandajro

Hello @eeppeerr88. I noticed you had posted to this discussion a few days ago on this topic so have moved your question back to this discussion to bring you back to members such as @bengalady @donmckibben and @ellerbracke who may wish to connect with on this topic.

When did your doctor drain your knee and what was his/her continued care recommendations?

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I saw the doctor thursday waiting for a MRI the doctor says he believes there is tears in my knee and muscles draining blood into the knee. This he believes is causing the pain and swelling. I will keep you updated after the MRI.

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1 reply
Mentor
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor | @artscaping | Nov 2, 2020
In reply to @eeppeerr88 "I saw the doctor thursday waiting for a MRI the doctor says he believes there is..." + (show)
@eeppeerr88

I saw the doctor thursday waiting for a MRI the doctor says he believes there is tears in my knee and muscles draining blood into the knee. This he believes is causing the pain and swelling. I will keep you updated after the MRI.

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Good afternoon #eeppeerr8, We are making progress. And I am glad your clinician is talking to you and taking everything seriously with a sense of "let's get 'er done" to quote those who shovel snow. Good for you. The tear that you mentioned.....is it a meniscus tear? I just had a couple of those which were resolved with MFR and some success in moving the inflammation fluid up and over the knee. I am being very careful now. I Will look forward to your "after MRI" report. Please make sure I am on the list.

May you be safe and protected,
Chris

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eeppeerr88 | @eeppeerr88 | Nov 3, 2020

Hi artsscaping I will no more after the MRI about the tears. MRI scheduled for the 23rd of November but I'm on the fast track if someone cancels.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 27, 2020
In reply to @monielove "I had right knee replacement surgery 5 weeks ago. After surgery my whole leg including my..." + (show)
@monielove

I had right knee replacement surgery 5 weeks ago. After surgery my whole leg including my foot was numb. As I walked around I could not feel anything I was told that it would get better through the weeks everytime that I mentioned this to my doctor. At first his response was during surgery nerves get challenged due to the surgery. Then the second time I was told that if I had back problems that would cause the numbness in the foot, I was getting a manual manipulation of the knee that morning. Is it possible that a nerve could have been cut causing the numb and tingling feeling?

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Hello, and welcome to Mayo Connect. We are community of people living with a variety of health conditions, who share our experiences and try to help each other along the way.
I cannot speak personally about numbness after knee replacement, but here is what I do know. I had ACL/MCL surgery after an injury 25 years ago, and nerves were damaged in the process, leading to numbness in my lower leg, and a feeling of not knowing where my foot was. Afterward, I progressed to a period of tingling, and finally after about 1 1/2 years, the nerve healed. At one of my 5 hip replacement surgeries, a nerve in my leg was cut or damaged and that took over a year to heal - that wasn't quite as bad because only my thigh was numb. My sister-in-law had a knee replacement last November, and her leg had numbness that progressed to needle-like pain over several months. When I saw her in October she said feeling is back except in a small part of her lower leg.
I am going to suggest to the moderator that she move this discussion to the joint replacement group so people who may have experienced this can join in.
Sue

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