Any TKR graduates out there with noisy knee?

Posted by ellerbracke @ellerbracke, Apr 14, 2019

I mentioned this in a post several months ago: my new knee clicks pretty audibly with every step I take. It’s a somewhat disconcerting feeling, although there is no pain, and the knee works really well. Last time I brought this up, there was one single person who also admitted to some clicking. When I checked with my favorite PT, who has been in practice locally for at least 10 years that I know of (shoulder surgery 2009!), he told me that close to half the people he deals with after TKR have some noise in their knee joint, some temporarily, many permanent. So am I really the unfortunate exception, and does one EVER get used to it? Can’t sneak up on grandsons any more when playing hide and seek!!!!

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@mpirruccel

Thanks for your reply. I tried cortisone twice and hyaluronic acid before surgery which did nothing. They usually inject lidocaine for pain. Is your procedure considered arthroscopy or is there a specific name for it? Is this person a specialist in doing this? Any information will help, thanks.

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I believe u r correct. Lidocaine for pain but I'm not an md. I had arthroscopic surgery in Dec (6 months post TKR) to remove scar tissue but that didn't last long. Three weeks later the click was back. This latest attempt is known as Ultrasound Guided Injections by Dr. Denq, Banner in Tucson. I found this article on the internet (attached). Ideally, there would be a database of every procedure used to address knees along with rates of success & failure. AI could then predict the outcome but such concentrated data does not exist as far as I know and I have asked every doc I've worked with over the last 10 months. The second photo is a knee where the tendon prob broke (not me). That's what I'm trying to avoid so I have modified my exercise so I don't rip the tendon. The third attachment photo is from the internet (not me).

Shared files

Pros and Cons of Ultrasound-Guided Injections (Pros-and-Cons-of-Ultrasound-Guided-Injections.pdf)

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I had TKR two years ago this coming September. I have to say that the recovery from it was absolutely brutal and I will not go through this surgery again for my other knee (which does need it!). I will continue with the cortisone shots every three months for that knee. Just in the last week or two, I have been noticing a “popping” or “snapping” noise from my surgical knee. It usually happens when I am getting in and out of bed. When it happens, it hurts a little bit and after that, the outer part of my knee feels sore. The soreness does go away after a while. Wondering what could be causing this after two years???? Would appreciate any thoughts on it! Thank you in advance. MaryAnn from MA

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My knee clicks are not audible unless I am swimming backstroke. can feel them when walking but no sound. I had an injection with lidocaine and then cortisone on the popliteal tendon which I thought was the pain producing problem. However effect lasted only 3 days so sports medicine doc said that was not my problem. Am following up with an osteopath regarding the fabella bone ( suggested by another blogger).

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@tkr1

I am 11 months post TKR. Clicking and clunking started about 3 months post op. It has continued and the knee clicks,clunks or makes crunching noises with every movement. Some leg movement feels like appliance is shifting around in my knee. No pain but extremely annoying. Doc blows it off and PT wasn’t concerned.

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If, when sitting, I lift my bent leg and swing the foot from side to side, it thumps terribly. I just say that my tie rods are loose. It does not hurt but it rather disconcerting.

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I am 1 year post TKR and have the popping noise. At times I notice more than other times. Bothered me at first cause I thought something was wrong. PT told me it was expected:) I still have some trouble adjusting to the noise and get embarrassed thinking others can hear it:). LOL

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@sr108

I am 1 year post TKR and have the popping noise. At times I notice more than other times. Bothered me at first cause I thought something was wrong. PT told me it was expected:) I still have some trouble adjusting to the noise and get embarrassed thinking others can hear it:). LOL

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I am also one year post op TKR. Popping, clunking and feeling of appliance shifting back and forth when my foot is on the ground and I wiggle my leg back and forth. Minimal pain , good ROM, but disappointing that my surgery knee feels so different than my other knee. Doc says it’s normal. 😞

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I'm at 18 days post op and my knee snap, crakles, and pops all the time. Not every step but definitely often. I asked my surgeon and he said it was normal because I have a, "car part for a knee". I thought the hardware was suppose to get rid of the rough stuff and move smoothly not make noise.

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I just recently started to notice some sounds from my knee (done 9 months ago). The sound is almost like a crunching or crackling. It occurs intermittently, usually when my knee has been in a flexed position for a while - like when sitting - and the sounds happen as I straighten the knee. I don't hear sounds when walking, and the knee feels okay. But it is a disconcerting thing. Does anyone have any explanation for why this happens??

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@mpirruccel

My knee clicks are not audible unless I am swimming backstroke. can feel them when walking but no sound. I had an injection with lidocaine and then cortisone on the popliteal tendon which I thought was the pain producing problem. However effect lasted only 3 days so sports medicine doc said that was not my problem. Am following up with an osteopath regarding the fabella bone ( suggested by another blogger).

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No progress on my knees although I am getting closer to requesting arthroscopic surgery as I am tired of the pain which limits my activity. Hurts to walk and swim in particular which are supposed to be ok after tkr. Going to 4th orthopedic consult next month. Considering Mayo

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25 mo po. Yes to clicking. Hurts. Lousy replacement. Mine is a ligament that behind the knee we have a piece of plastic which I never knew about. That gets caught up. My ortho got fired, everyone is under a gag order. But on the new X-ray you can see a slight shadow of the plastic. Knee is too large and revision would be devastating. He was top in the area and forefront for Robiotic. They think mine was not Robiotic!!! Sloppy job. Had every procedure pain Mgt can do. On meds small dose rest of my life. Ugh. Grrr. Too late for med mal.

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