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Debilitating pain 6 months after knee replacement

Joint Replacements | Last Active: Feb 22, 2023 | Replies (117)

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@ddsack

@tahoerider1 - "Are there lots of good results out there?"

Yes, as Sue said there are thousands of good outcomes which get people back to near normal use of their knees, otherwise doctors would quit doing these surgeries. But there are no 100% guarantees on any surgery, so it's mostly those with problems who post here.

I had my right knee done two years ago, and my left knee done one year ago. Though my knees will never feel the same as real bone, I am happy with the lack of pain and there are no limits to what I can do, other than common sense. I can kneel on a cushion for gardening if I keep most of the weight back off the knee cap itself, which pushes back like the hard metal object it is. I can do light jogging if I need to, but don't feel that is a good use for my artificial joint because of wear and tear. But there are serious runners who run with TKR's, knowing they may need future successive replacements.

Before I had my 2nd knee done, I noticed in photos that I was standing very pigeon toed, and asked my surgeon if there was a way to straighten that leg with the TKR. He said he would, and a bonus result was that I quit having the sciatica pain on my left side, which was likely influenced by the leg twist and side tilt in my gait before surgery. In three weeks, I am scheduled to go in for reverse shoulder replacement with the same surgeon, and I hope that will be as successful as my knees have been.
I think the key to having a good outcome is first, a good surgeon, second, knowledgeable physical therapists, and third, making yourself put in lots of time and effort in doing the all the prescribed rehab exercises even when you are hurting and don't feel like it. The exercises I hated most and was tempted to skip were probably the ones I needed most. Before surgery, I faithfully did the toe flex and knee back tighten exercises they told me to do at home before the TKR, and continued to do them in the hospital bed after surgery, and for weeks at home at night when I was trying to go to sleep. If I did enough repetitions they dissipated some of the unused energy in my legs and I could fall asleep a little better.

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Replies to "@tahoerider1 - "Are there lots of good results out there?" Yes, as Sue said there are..."

Thanks lots for the info, I'm trying to do as much pre-hab as possible, if this one goes OK, I'm on to number 2 shortly after.