1. < Joint Replacements

total knee replacement

Posted by Susie2 @susie2, Nov 16, 2011

I had a failed knee replacement elsewhere, and went to Mayo for a second opinion. I am considering having a knee revision and would appreciate hearing the experiences of those who have had a revision.

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JK | @contentandwell | Jan 2, 2019
In reply to @ellerbracke "What a difference 2 weeks can make! Pain much less now. Perhaps too much pre-holiday cooking,..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

What a difference 2 weeks can make! Pain much less now. Perhaps too much pre-holiday cooking, cleaning, shopping, baking and decorating. Had even started to creep into my hip on the same side. Calmed down now.
Questions: does the crunchy feeling and sound in the knee ever lessen? I know it’s here to stay, but hoping that when some joint fluid regenerates it might become better? With a BMI of 21 there’s no padding on the outside, and obviously nothing lubricating on the inside yet.
Also: how intense and how long do average TKR patients (no complications with scar tissue etc.) keep up their exercise routine? I have exercise fatigue. After arthro surgery October 2017 I kept up exercising for almost 8 months with no improvement. After 2018 September TKR PT told me at discharge that as long as I keep the major muscles strong (squats, lunges, bridges, step-ups, and do heel slides and quad sets), he leaves it up to me what I want to work on. Current routine is 15 minutes of back and knee exercises, followed by either a very brisk 30 minute walk, or, alternately, another 10 to 15 minutes of knee exercises in a pool, ending with a quarter mile swim. Most days another mini exercise session mid afternoon. Some days adding 15 minutes on recumbent bike or treadmill. Weather permitting, 1 1/2 hours of fairly strenous yard work 3 days/week in addition.
Compared to many posts on this and related sites I seem to be on the very low end. However, I definitely have at least 130 degree flexion and generally function pretty well. I did notice that the work is not done when I lugged a 2 gallon pump sprayer upslope over uneven ground to spray weeds, but that’s not something I’d do every day anyway.

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@ellerbracke Wonderful that the pain is getting to be less. I never had a crunchy feeling or sound so I can't answer that.

I would think with 130 flex you could back off a bit now as long as you are still exercising your knee doing something. You sound like you are really are exercising a lot. I thought I was doing well with about an hour and a half a day generally. Your doctor is obviously pleased with your progress if he said at this point to do what you want, I would accept that.
JK

REPLY
Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Jan 3, 2019
In reply to @ellerbracke "What a difference 2 weeks can make! Pain much less now. Perhaps too much pre-holiday cooking,..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

What a difference 2 weeks can make! Pain much less now. Perhaps too much pre-holiday cooking, cleaning, shopping, baking and decorating. Had even started to creep into my hip on the same side. Calmed down now.
Questions: does the crunchy feeling and sound in the knee ever lessen? I know it’s here to stay, but hoping that when some joint fluid regenerates it might become better? With a BMI of 21 there’s no padding on the outside, and obviously nothing lubricating on the inside yet.
Also: how intense and how long do average TKR patients (no complications with scar tissue etc.) keep up their exercise routine? I have exercise fatigue. After arthro surgery October 2017 I kept up exercising for almost 8 months with no improvement. After 2018 September TKR PT told me at discharge that as long as I keep the major muscles strong (squats, lunges, bridges, step-ups, and do heel slides and quad sets), he leaves it up to me what I want to work on. Current routine is 15 minutes of back and knee exercises, followed by either a very brisk 30 minute walk, or, alternately, another 10 to 15 minutes of knee exercises in a pool, ending with a quarter mile swim. Most days another mini exercise session mid afternoon. Some days adding 15 minutes on recumbent bike or treadmill. Weather permitting, 1 1/2 hours of fairly strenous yard work 3 days/week in addition.
Compared to many posts on this and related sites I seem to be on the very low end. However, I definitely have at least 130 degree flexion and generally function pretty well. I did notice that the work is not done when I lugged a 2 gallon pump sprayer upslope over uneven ground to spray weeds, but that’s not something I’d do every day anyway.

Jump to this post

@ellerbracke - My ortho surgeon told me in advance that many people have that crunchy noise and that it diminishes but may not go away completely. Thankfully, I didn't have it. But I think you could expect some diminishment. As to exercise, after 12 weeks, I was back to my normal routine of exercise. It think you can back off. You are doing great. Also, congratulations on your 130 degree flexion. You are a rockstar! Is the pain still in you hip some? Every now in then when I overtire myself, I have some hip discomfort. I personally believe it's because I shift my body to ease the pressure on my knee and therefore stress the hip. Good luck!

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1 reply
ellerbracke | @ellerbracke | Jan 4, 2019

Debbra: you are lucky that your knee never had the crunch issue. It is pretty annoying! One of my Sciatica stretches involves lying on the floor, bending the left (good) knee at a 45 degree angle, resting the right (TKR) ankle on said knee and pulling the bent right knee diagonally toward my left shoulder (to stretch the tendons and muscles on the outside of the right hip). It takes as second for the tendon?muscle? of the right knee to audibly slide across the patella before I can do that motion. The noise I don’t care about, the crunch/click feeling I very much dislike! And yes, hip still acts up quite a bit, and I agree with your reason for that.

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1 reply
ellerbracke | @ellerbracke | Jan 4, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "@ellerbracke - My ortho surgeon told me in advance that many people have that crunchy noise..." + (show)
@debbraw

@ellerbracke - My ortho surgeon told me in advance that many people have that crunchy noise and that it diminishes but may not go away completely. Thankfully, I didn't have it. But I think you could expect some diminishment. As to exercise, after 12 weeks, I was back to my normal routine of exercise. It think you can back off. You are doing great. Also, congratulations on your 130 degree flexion. You are a rockstar! Is the pain still in you hip some? Every now in then when I overtire myself, I have some hip discomfort. I personally believe it's because I shift my body to ease the pressure on my knee and therefore stress the hip. Good luck!

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PS. Of course the knee also cricks and cracks with every step I take, and while this is not painful, I think the constant reminder that this is not “my” knee makes me subconsciously favor it more than is necessary in this stage of recovery and progress.

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JK | @contentandwell | Jan 4, 2019
In reply to @ellerbracke "Debbra: you are lucky that your knee never had the crunch issue. It is pretty annoying!..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

Debbra: you are lucky that your knee never had the crunch issue. It is pretty annoying! One of my Sciatica stretches involves lying on the floor, bending the left (good) knee at a 45 degree angle, resting the right (TKR) ankle on said knee and pulling the bent right knee diagonally toward my left shoulder (to stretch the tendons and muscles on the outside of the right hip). It takes as second for the tendon?muscle? of the right knee to audibly slide across the patella before I can do that motion. The noise I don’t care about, the crunch/click feeling I very much dislike! And yes, hip still acts up quite a bit, and I agree with your reason for that.

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@ellerbracke I am sure that must be annoying, it would make me crazy! I was not aware that this happens with some people after knee replacements, and as I said before, I never had it after either TKR. I hope yours goes away in time. I used to have a boss whose hip clicked. They did a recall on that hip and he could have had a new one put in but he did not want to go through surgery again.
JK

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JK | @contentandwell | Jan 4, 2019
In reply to @franciesusan "I had mine 2 months ago, still painful" + (show)
@franciesusan

I had mine 2 months ago, still painful

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@franciesusan How is your knee doing now? Is the pain gone? I had a lot of pain for about 6 weeks but it very suddenly resolved. I hope yours has also.
JK

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jimk849 | @jimk849 | Jan 4, 2019
In reply to @maryann1753 "I am one year out from a total knee revision. Pain is still present and no..." + (show)
@maryann1753

I am one year out from a total knee revision. Pain is still present and no better than before I had the revision although the tibial portion of my original TKR had become debonded so my knee was very unstable before the revision. It is more stable now, but I am plagued by chronic pain

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I still have pain sometimes 5 or 6 when I come down stairs. No pain walking riding recumbent bike lifting or doing weight machines. Stairs hurt every day sometimes better sometimes worse. I have an apt. with ortho on Feb 4th. going to ask for x-rays to make sure nothing is loose. Have good flex and straightening everything went fine in pt just can't shake the pain on stairs. Still a little swollen and warm at times.I know they say it can take up to a year for full recovery.

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2 replies
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 4, 2019
In reply to @jimk849 "I still have pain sometimes 5 or 6 when I come down stairs. No pain walking..." + (show)
@jimk849

I still have pain sometimes 5 or 6 when I come down stairs. No pain walking riding recumbent bike lifting or doing weight machines. Stairs hurt every day sometimes better sometimes worse. I have an apt. with ortho on Feb 4th. going to ask for x-rays to make sure nothing is loose. Have good flex and straightening everything went fine in pt just can't shake the pain on stairs. Still a little swollen and warm at times.I know they say it can take up to a year for full recovery.

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@jimk849 I think stairs are one of the last things that feel good. It took a long time for me to be able to walk up and down stairs without holding the rail, and at times, for instance when I am particularly tired, I still feel a bit unsteady. When you go up or down a stairway all of your weight is on one leg then the other, so it does make sense. How long ago was your knee replacement? I am sure this will gradually get better with time.
JK

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1 reply
jimk849 | @jimk849 | Jan 4, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@jimk849 I think stairs are one of the last things that feel good. It took a..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@jimk849 I think stairs are one of the last things that feel good. It took a long time for me to be able to walk up and down stairs without holding the rail, and at times, for instance when I am particularly tired, I still feel a bit unsteady. When you go up or down a stairway all of your weight is on one leg then the other, so it does make sense. How long ago was your knee replacement? I am sure this will gradually get better with time.
JK

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6 months ago. I should have stated that sorry.

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1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 4, 2019
In reply to @jimk849 "6 months ago. I should have stated that sorry." + (show)
@jimk849

6 months ago. I should have stated that sorry.

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@jimk849 Six months is not that long. It will improve, I am sure of that. You are able to do just about everything else, so it must just be the weight on stairs I think. Of course, who am I to know? I'm glad you have an appointment coming up with your doctor.
JK

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