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TKR revision surgery and problems
I fell and hurt my knee in March 2017. MRI showed meniscus damage. DR did surgery to repair meniscus in June of 2017 - removed most of left meniscus and removed affected area of right meniscus. Knee continued to swell and was very painful. Tried more PT, cortisone shot = no improvement. Had a TKR on 9/26/17. Right after surgery my knee would buckle while still in the hospital. DR said PT would take care of it. Knee continued to swell and buckle and be painful. In December of 2017 I returned to DR and he ordered more PT. Unsuccessful in correcting buckling, swelling and pain. DR did revision surgery on 2/19/18 - replaced 4mm liner with 10mm liner. Buckling greatly improved, however, I still have pain, kneecap pain, swelling and stiffness. Returned to DR and he said that recovery can take a year and to continue to elevate and ice my knee as needed. I’m now 11 months out from the revision surgery and am no better off. My regular Dr did X-rays and bone looks good. 2 years of limping has caused tendon issues in my hip (hip MRI done in Dec). Before the original injury I walked 3 miles every day. I’m now lucky to walk 1 mile without stiffness, pain and swelling. Consequently I’ve put on a lot of weight. I’m 69 years old, frustrated, fat and wondering what, if anything can be done. My yellow lab is also frustrated with my lack of mobility:-)
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I feel your pain …. I have had issues sine I had my tkr in august of last year…..I have done mfr since 3 month in and continuing to do so…the only thing that has helped with pain and swelling……my new dr is doing revision surgery july 28 I must say I am anxious . Just praying I get more rom. Like I said my new dr feels confident by doing the revision will give me the right size knee it will improve rom….anxious because not looking forward to the pain I had pain the moment I woke up from surgery….. so any prayers I will take lol … good luck to all going through surgeries
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1 ReactionIn my opinion any replacement surgery ( I have had a RTS and TKR) requires so much more than a top notch surgeon. It requires an excellent physical therapist who uses a variety of modalities to include education, exercises, mua, reduction swelling, cupping, electrical muscle stimulation, dry needling, water aerobics and last but not least us the patient working hard. It definitely is not easy and with my TKR suffered a setback but with therapists help got through it. Once surgery is over and X-rays look good a great physical therapist can and do address all issues and a good one will know when you need to go back to surgeon for a particular issue. Therapy before surgery got me through therapy post op quicker.
I had knee revision surgery three years ago. My prosthetic has become dislocated 9 times since then. Each time I can't walk and have to be driven to the nearest emergency room where they put me to sleep with propofol and two or three doctors get on top of me and pull the knee joint back into place. That has happened to me, for example, sitting at my desk or eating in a restaurant. If I move the wrong way, it can cause the pin to get dislocated. My surgeon said that is almost unheard of but there you go. The only option is for a hinge to replace that prosthetic but he says that will cause me more problems. It hasn't happened in more than a year but twice in the last week it has become dislocated but I managed to pop it back into place. I used to walk three miles but can't now and have put on weight. Not sure what to do.
Hi @scholar and welcome!
I moved your post to this discussion so you could connect with people going through a similar situation.
TKR revision surgery and problems
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tkr-revision-surgery-problems/?pg=7#comment-741229
Have you researched the specific prosthetic that your surgeon used? Has that model had any complaints or recalls?
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2 ReactionsI had a liner/spacer revision 14 months after the original TKA. For me, the revision was an easier recovery. Dr. warned that it was gonna be equally as hard as the first. Maybe it was because it was just the spacer change.
I'm sorry. When you say "the pin" do you mean the metal shaft on the tibial prosthesis? That extends down into your tibia, and it's hard to see how that gets loose.
Did you have the prosthesis cemented? I didn't because the bone was healthy. But maybe ask your doctor if a cemented revision would help. It's a pain to have to go through surgery again, but might be worth it.
Stay strong! Joe
I'm so sorry to hear this. This sounds rare but unfortunately for you it's not. If the x-rays are all looking good, double down on your efforts to lose weight. I know that's easier said than done but it will likely help. Our weight goes through our knees and feet and is magnified 4 times when we walk. So losing weight is crucial.
I'm sorry I don't have a better answer but think this will help.
Joe