Connect
← Return to Swelling and stiffness, 3 years after total knee replacement
Discussion
Swelling and stiffness, 3 years after total knee replacement
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Apr 3 5:43pm | Replies (218)Comment receiving replies
Hi, I had a TKR in 2020. It’s now 2023 and I’m still having problems with my knee…buckling and stiffness of my knee. I’ve been to two different Orthopedic doctors and they both look at my x-ray and said everything’s looks good. I feel like I’m walking with two different legs. I feel hopeless.
My doctor and his staff talks about me.
All I want, is to walk normal again
Replies to "Hi, I had a TKR in 2020. It’s now 2023 and I’m still having problems with..."
I can really understand what you're going through. I myself had a TKR in 2019 and I tried PT 2x months out for pain and stiffness and most recently just went again to another PT who had me do exercises for about 60 minutes and it literally made me feel sick and disoriented - I must mention I also have fibromyalgia and told the therapist if I overdo PT I'll pay the consequences. Well that did happen and now I am seeing an orthopedic knee surgeon (not the one I used because he has since retired) on Monday morning. Of course I want it xrayed but wouldn't it pay to get other imaging as well? When the knee hurts, it's the entire knee front back and sides!
Any advice or feedback?
Connect
Good evening @leslie7. Welcome to Connect. Folks on this forum believe in and practice sharing relative experiences. I just opened the discussions tonight and landed right on your first post. When I read your statement I immediately remembered that I had my first TKR on my left knee in 2011, My second one on my right knee was done in August of 2021.
Certainly, the recent one responded better. It was a Mako Robotic with the latest technology and a team that insisted on both pre and post-surgery therapy. The materials used were plastic and not metal.
To be honest, I have always had a bit of trouble here and there with my first TKR knee. After about three years, I still had scar tissue which was released by a few weeks of MFR (myofascial release therapy). Even now, if I overdue my exercises or take a longer walk, the knee lets me know.
The most recent TKR has been less problematic. And yet, every once in a while it squawks at me. I have also had some buckling and what I call "giving way" when the knee just stops working.
Are you experiencing significant pain along with stiffness? What kind of exercise are you doing to keep the knee flexible and cooperative?
I don't know the why's and wherefores of this behavior. I do know that after a couple of days during which I pay attention to the knee.....all of a sudden a day or two will go by without any issue.
Perhaps a physical therapist would be able to help you by analyzing your exercises and home care. I am going to share with you an image of both of my knees so you can see the obvious difference.