2+ years post TKR tendonitis or ?

Posted by cecilsmichie @cecilsmichie, Mar 7, 2023

I'm 66, had right TKR July 2020, left TKR December 2020 for osteoarthritis. Both surgeries went well as did rehab. Both knees bend well. The problem I have is a tight burning feeling around the knees, one or both, ( that I would compare with tendonitis ) that occurs after some activities : taking lots of stairs, shoveling snow, walking up and down hills. I have a series of stretches that I do. I have taken ibuprofen on occasion. I have never had swelling or sharp pain. Over time it resolves but then it comes back again. My knee implants are bi-cruciate retaining, so I have all my ligaments. I wonder if they ( ligaments ) are still adjusting ? Reluctant to see a surgeon and mine has since retired. My main physical activities are cycling, walking/hiking. I would like to increase my cycling and hiking but this discomfort happens frequently enough that I feel stuck in place. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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brescher | @brescher | Mar 12, 2023

In reply to @cecilsmichie "Thanks for the suggestion of dry needling." + (show)

My first two needling was no change…. However the third one in more targeted areas seem to get a bit more relief…
Trying again next week….
Not covered by most insurance…
I am still hopeful!!

cecilsmichie | @cecilsmichie | Apr 8, 2023

In reply to @brescher "My first two needling was no change…. However the third one in more targeted areas seem..." + (show)

So I read up on dry needling and found that it's basically western medicine's take on acupuncture. I have started seeing an OMD for acupuncture and am hoping for improvement.

brescher | @brescher | Apr 8, 2023

In reply to @cecilsmichie "So I read up on dry needling and found that it's basically western medicine's take on..." + (show)

I hope the acupuncture will help…. I will consider that if the pain medication doesn’t help…thanks for your reply!!

dmk | @dmk | Apr 9, 2023

Actually dry needling is different from traditional acupuncture. The needle when inserted into a painful muscle cause twitching of muscle which is not fun but then the muscle relaxes

dmk | @dmk | Apr 9, 2023

I get dry needling done every 3 weeks for my RTS as my muscles that take over for all the missing muscles do get cranky , achy and painful so it helps me along with taping as I don’t want to take any medication for it insurance no longer covers it since 2020

kwblair | @kwblair | Apr 21, 2023

I'm 71 years old that had single TKR on 09/2021, I have to date 04/2023 been in constant knee pain 24/7 for 20 months, always focused on the outside of my knee, especially bad with stairs, most painful going down stairs. I can take a walk fine for about 20 minutes, lately I'm feeling a new pain shooting into my hip so bad I have to sit down, can't stand to painful.
After surgery OS has indicated x-rays look great, he's basically finished his job successfuly and provided zero input regarding pain management.
OS comment was I've been doing this for 20 years and am perplexed, he thinks maybe since I went from initial x-rays March 2021 showing osteo in cartilage, afterwhich (March) he drained my knee and gave me a cortizone shot, I had a bad painful flare-up, I told him no mas on future shots.
I returned in (June) and amazingly OS indicated new x-rays showed absolutely no cartilage left, completely gone to bone on bone, his comment was since my cartilagde disappeared so rapidly he thinks my knee bones didn't get a year or two of cortizone shots which would allowed the bone on bone action to deadened the nerves in the knee area thus I wouldn't be having these extended pain.
Disappointed in pain management, I tried maximum doses of Ibuprophen, Aleve, Motrin, etc., none have offered any help with the pain.
Just living with the pain is not the end of the world but not a very healthy lifestyle.
P.S.
I went through numerous months of PT, it went well flexion was great, but always had issues with up/down the stairs pains that have never stopped to date.
I recently had x-rays of lower back per OS, nothing there age related minor disc bulges.