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My Knee Replacement Surgery Experience
Joint Replacements | Last Active: May 8, 2023 | Replies (40)Comment receiving replies
H, I am 60 years old and am a racquetball/pickleball player. I had knee injury from soccer 45 years ago and it wasn't repaired due to various reasons. I managed to live with them until but had to get the right knee replace as it was bone on bone and deformed. I did this on Aug 10, the surgeon put a smith and nephew knee (journey 2), the recovery has been ok. Walking is fine and I have done PT religiously everyday. However the swelling is an issue. It starts ok in the morning but gets worse in an hour and stays that way. No matter how much icing and elevation I do. Has anyone had this experience and is it just a matter of time. I was using it regularly until about 2 weeks ago when the swelling increased and the knee had fluid which they drained and it came back. I have no pain but swelling makes it restrictive. Please share your experiences especially with swelling.
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Good morning @tzraquetball, I am so glad to know that you have been a proactive patient about your medical issues. Even though we tend to become more aware of this kind of issue as we age, it is still discouraging to have to give up some activities that we really enjoy. So, if I interpreted your welcoming post correctly, you no longer play racquetball of pickleball because of the recurring swelling.
I have read about your Journey 2 replacement and it had considerable research regarding activity post-surgery. So I understand your concern and disappointment.
My first TKR was 12 years ago and other than one bout with swelling and pain, it has been fine. My second TKR was in August of 2021 and that was a Mako Robotic replacement. I am now 80 and still walking 2 miles a day.....doing Yoga and also special PT for balance and stability. What I had to realize was that my prior life which included "trekking" around our world with a group of friends had to come to a halt. I replaced that with more modest activities like Mahjongg. I also lived in the mountains at about 6000 ft. I found that walking uphill was fine but going downhill was a sure way to wear out my knee replacement. The swelling was an active deterrent.
First question: are you sure this is not a Banker's Cyst of some kind?
Second question: do you do the Yoga pose "legs up the wall"?
Third question: is there any chance you have experienced MFR, myofascial release therapy?
Even though my recovery from the second TKR was "textbook", I still must be careful. When the swelling occurred my MFR therapist was able to move the fluid up my leg so that it could be released upon urination.
MFR is discussed on Connect right here: http://www.connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and pain.
Please give that a read and for more member information just go to the search bar at the top of this screen and enter "MFR". Press the magnifying glass at the end of the search opening and that will show you every post in which MFR is discussed.
Let me know what you think and if you have any questions.
May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris