Pain after recent Knee Replacement. What is normal? For how long?

I had a knee replacement 3 months ago in SC (Mechanical). I know something is wrong and DR. just keeps ignoring me. PT says its a sensation because my leg was valgus but has been corrected to 100% straight. Does anyone know how long it will take for this horrible " sensation to go away. sometimes its just very stiff and other times I cannot even walk because it feels like Im walking with rocks in my knee. How long do I wait before going for a second opinion? I understand they can correct with sensors but I cannot find out who uses sensors in my area. Any advice...

I understand Marc and I'm sorry for what you're going through. I ran 25 marathons (my life's passion) and my surgeon has been explicit, as is my research, no running on a knee replacement.

Tennis may be different, but I'd do my own research if I were you. I don't know what "manipulation" is. I know sometimes they will put patients under anesthesia and perform myofascial release to beak up scar tissue. But I don't know if that's the problem.

Ask your surgeon a lot of questions. Make a list. Google playing tennis after TKR. Please stay positive and let us all know how you're doing because we care about you.

All the best,

Joe

@achy71, welcome. I moved your questions about how long people have dealt with pain, stiffness and "feeling of rocks" in your knee to this existing discussion where @pgcdds raised similar issues. See:

- Pain after recent Knee Replacement. What is normal? For how long? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/posterior-pain-9-weeks-after-total-knee-replacement-surgery/

I did this so you can read past posts and connect easily with members like @tbw @jakethepeg @heyjoe415 @ezas123 @sprinrosa64 and many others.

Achy, it sounds like you are taking steps to address your recovery with PT. Can you share a bit more about sensors to which you refer?

Hi @marc919
I hope you can get back to playing tennis, I know of people who did, and if your doctor encourages you, that is reassuring.
I'm guessing you have already done the more extreme stretching and bending exercises. The most helpful of these for me was using our stair steps several times a day to force my knee into a forward bend. Standing on the bottom, put the TKR foot two steps up and bracing your arms on the steps above, push forward into as deep a bend as you can stand, hold for 30 seconds, relaxing and sinking deeper forward as you hold. It's been 1 and 2 years since both my knees were done, but I still do this whenever I think of it.
We have a poorly designed house with a full flight of stairs up to the kitchen and living room, so I was forced to do a lot of stair climbing during recovery just for daily chores, which probably helped regain flexion.
Sounds like you are considering MUA to try to get added range, if your doctor approves, I would go for it!

My passion is tennis. My Dr told me singles is not possible but doubles is fine. I see him again in Oct., I hope I can make some progress. I will have a manipulation done if I have to. Thanks to you guys for support. I sit and cry occasionally thinking about no more tennis. What a weenie, I guess. Thanks!

Yes, when I stand and bend the knee I get sharp pain in the calf and outside of the knee. With all the PT it is still there. 🙁 For a while I would get pain up the back of my leg when I sat down. This is not easy.

Yes, SO when I did some research I guess their are two ways to do TKR , Mechanical and kinematically. I went with the first and the oldest style to do my knee, Which has caused my issues because it sets your knee in a straight line regardless of how your other knee is or how your previous knee was. The same sensors they use in the procedure for the second style which basically alligns your knee the same way of your old knee. Theses same sensors are also used in correction for your knee if you have problems with the soft tissue when you have mechanical procedure and end up with soft tissue issues such as mine. The sensors slide in and send signals to a monitor that the surgeon uses to tell him/her what is the problem. They then use this information to make corrections (revisions) The problem lies with finding a surgeon in my area who uses these sensors and if I can not find one is it possible that if I wait long enough will my leg ever feel like its not sewn on backwards...lol " using sensors to evaluate revision TkA" or William Leone' these are keywords if you are still interested in these sensors.

Yes, I still have this pain. I had to sit down with my surgical leg in front of the other or I would get sharp pain up the back of my leg. This is better thank God, my big issue now is I still can't bend the knee like I want to. I am stuck at 115 degrees of flexion. This is ok but still want more bend. 🙂

@heyjoe415 : I realize that most people come to this site because they have major problems with surgeries and the results. I also was grateful to find some day-to-day helpful hints to deal with issues resulting from assorted shoulder/knee surgeries. But, I’m with you that there are absolutely success stories as well. I had plain Jane, run of the mill, knee replacement in September of 2018, dumped walker within 2 days, started 1/2 mile walks around neighborhood on day 7. Biggest issue was zero straight knee - took almost 3 months. Flex topped out at 137, official measurement. Has still improved since then, I think. I can do child’s pose to the level of 95% knee bend. Yes, I am bragging. Also, extremely grateful for my surgeon. Also, I paid for all this progress in effort, pain, and tears. Many tears. And much pain. And stubborn persistence.

Wow 137 degrees of flexion in GREAT! I topped out at 130 after five weeks. Well that was the last time it was measured. I can do anything I want except running.

Glad to hear of your results. Well done!!!!!!

Joe