Total Knee Repair Revision: A Success Story

Hi all little over 5 weeks out from revision… doing good my flexion is 90 pushing 95 … I am shy like 3-4 degrees of extension….I am so happy …. I exercise three times a day ….. once in a while I still get swollen when I start new exercise so I take a break for day or two….my gait is getting better with chiropractor help also the severe deep muscle pain is now at 80 percent improved …. Walking better has also helped that muscle heal the last two weeks …. I am still working on gluts I lost a lot of muscle over the year hence exercise 3 times a day …. But so far so good ….. I still have some pain days I have to get thru where my knee aches and stiff but I get thru I see the light at end of this tunnel ….I hope this helps or gives you hope if you are having tuff time … I was there …..

Good morning 48 days and going …. I seen dr yesterday he released me I am shy 5 degrees of being straight flexion is 95 relaxed…. I have to work on getting little straighter…. My flexion if I push a little almost 100 but I am little swollen right now….I have 10 more session of pt approved ….I have mentioned before I have a team I call it that has helped me to get where I am ……I have had no swelling in my knee since beginning of revision because of my mfr therapist she has been on vacation for three weeks hence I am little swollen this last week lol…. I am so happy with my surgeon and his team they were amazing and continue to be …. They keep in touch with you everyday in an app called force ask your pain and if you exercised also keeps track of your steps….. if I had any issues I can message which I did through the app and someone got back to me by end of day they also have an awesome team …this revision surgery has saved me thank god for putting the people I needed in my life…..I hope others looking find what they need ….

I'm really happy to hear about your results. With a good surgeon and PT team, and a lot of hard work on your part, TKRs usually have amazing results.

I know that's not true for everyone here. Exercise before surgery and follow PT in-clinic and at home every day until you get your ROM around 120 degrees and extension as close to zero as possible. Ice and elevate.

Great to hear your story!

Joe

My surgeon used the Mako robotic assistant on both TKRs with amazing results. The first week post-op is the hardest but 1) get in shape BEFORE surgery and 2) get into PT immediately AFTER surgery and 3) ice and elevate and in three or four weeks you'll almost certainly be glad you had the surgery. No more bone-on-bone grinding!

Yes Joe I totally agree my dr used mako robotic first time around other dr did not …..exercise for me has been non stop for over a year even with bed knee keep trying …. Now 3 time a day … I know at some point I won’t have to do 3 times a day but like you said joe until I get straight and 120 flexion have to keep pushing on ….right now the swelling a little hampering but I continue what I am doing … just wish ice would help ….my mfr therapist is coming back on Tuesday she has been the one that has keep the swelling down to minimal though out this whole revision so look forward to that visit…. Joe question when did you stop having pain I know is different for everyone for instance when you exercise? Thank you Joe

Hi ezas,

Well I had great recoveries and was in great shape before the surgeries. I was also very serious about post-op rehab.

Pain diminished over a two to six week period after surgery. The ankle slides for range of motion hurt for at least two weeks. I had trouble climbing steps w/o pain until six weeks. By eight weeks, the swelling was pretty much gone.

But again, even my surgeon said these were near perfect recoveries. Don't compare your recovery to mine or to others. Do the work your surgeon suggests. I'm also 67 y/o and in good to excellent physical condition. I used to run marathons (one reason for the TKRs!).

I wish you the best, and keep me posted on your progress.

(Also, most of the pain I had was the first week post-op when I took oxycodone and used a lot of ice. I stopped oxycodone after 7 to 10 days and relied on Celebrex for inflammation and Tylenol for pain. Worked well. Don't take oxycodone for very long. It's addicting. I also had a great PT. And I still use ice whenever I work on my legs at the gym.)

Joe

That’s awesome Joe …. I hope I am as fortunate as you are to soon be out of pain with all my hard work ….thank you for sharing Joe

I'm confident your hard work will pay off and I wish you all the best! Joe

Hi all 57 days out now …. I have been stuck at 100 flexion but I reached out on Mayo ….I have gotten some wonderful new twist on some exercises that I am incorporating into my workout ….my mfr therapist is back from vacation so I feel better about pushing myself harder and not worry about swelling …. I am so grateful I have 100 few months ago was no where near now I know it is in my grasp to regain it all …. So with my team I will make this push and I will regain the rest …..

I'm impressed with your attitude. That will take you far. You could complain, but you don't. Work hard and keep us appraised of your continued success!

Joe