Total Knee Replacement

Hello Knee Replacement Patients!
I am a new member of this group and what I've been reading has been so comforting. I had left knee replacement in early October of 2023 and my recovery has been so very difficult. While my flexion is nearly 130 and my extension is -1, the swelling, stiffness, tightness (feels like my knee is in a vice) general pain has been present daily and I am exercising till the cows come home. My surgeon has told me that all these symptoms can last up to 6 months and my PT's tell me 12 months - UGH. I'm still in PT 2X per week, scheduled until early February. My husband has been amazing helping me through this experience, but this is tough. Any suggestions this group may have to "speed" this healing process up would be so helpful. Also, my surgeon has just put me on gabapentin, but I don't think it's really helping.
Happy New Year!

Frustrated in Chicago...

Hi my first TKR was Oct 11 2022 on the right. I did very well. Then I had left TKR on may 23, 2023 which recovery is taking way longer than I thought it would I did pre Hab swimming etc I did all my PT 3 x week now I’m back at the ymca therapy pool. It does help a lot. I’ve also found a medical masseuse who just works on my legs and knees. 7 months out still having trouble with one thing. Sit to stand function. I had no trouble with my right! I’m bummed but still working hard. Good luck to you

Hi Cheryl,
I had knee replacement on my right knee in September of 2020. Like you, my recovery was extremely difficult! The surgery was done by a top Boston surgeon. In my lifetime, I have had several surgeries, along with two babies, and I *never* experienced pain like I did with TKR! I told this to my dr and he said “Knee surgery is the roughest surgery that you will ever have”. So, so true!!! My biggest problem was that I was allergic to several of the pain meds given to me. The first med was just “okay” but it didn’t begin to touch the pain that I had. It just didn’t help! The next two meds I either had severe nausea or broke out in hives all over my body. So…….they told me to just take Extra Strength Tylenol!!! Forget it!!!! It did *nothing* for my pain! I could not do the in-home PT exercises because I was in such pain, so my recovery was very slow. I lost my appetite (along with 18 pounds!) and I felt so depressed because I wasn’t getting better. I couldn’t sleep at night due to the pain. It was awful! Finally, I started PT at a facility near me and those therapists were just so encouraging! They completely understood my pain and worked with me, slowly but surely, to build up strength in my quads. It took a long time…..I went for PT twice a week for six months!!! My knee is now just “okay”……I can’t kneel on it and it sometimes gives me stiffness and some pain. I will *never* go through another knee replacement!!! My left knee is also bad but I won’t put myself through that ever again! I will rely on cortisone shots every 3-4 months, along with over the counter gels, Advil, and a knee brace. I am thinking of you and all that I know that you are going through! Don’t give up because you *will heal* eventually, but just know that it is a long recovery. Be patient, do all that PT tells you to do, and it will get better with time.

Thank you for your lovely reply -- I will definitely look into a medical masseuse as it might help with the swelling and stiffness.
I hope your sit to stand function improves.

The masseuse worked on lymphatic drainage and definitely decreased swelling. She showed me what to do at home myself too

Hello Knee Replacement Patients!
I am a new member of this group and what I've been reading has been so comforting. I had left knee replacement in early October of 2023 and my recovery has been so very difficult. While my flexion is nearly 130 and my extension is -1, the swelling, stiffness, tightness (feels like my knee is in a vice) general pain has been present daily and I am exercising till the cows come home. My surgeon has told me that all these symptoms can last up to 6 months and my PT's tell me 12 months - UGH. I'm still in PT 2X per week, scheduled until early February. My husband has been amazing helping me through this experience, but this is tough. Any suggestions this group may have to "speed" this healing process up would be so helpful. Also, my surgeon has just put me on gabapentin, but I don't think it's really helping.
Happy New Year!

Frustrated in Chicago...

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me! It was very helpful and I'm sorry you went through so much pain and anguish with this surgery. I truly had no idea how tough this surgery is and I probably didn't do enough research prior to prepare myself! Like you, my other knee is a hot mess and at this point, surgery is not in its future.
You are so very on spot about PT -- the therapists I am working with have been key in my recovery and they know SO much about this surgery and the recovery. And if I have to go for several months, I will.
What over-the-counter gels are you using? I cannot take ibuprofen, as I have high blood pressure but I was cleared to use Voltaren (which really doesn't do much for me). If you found one that is a keeper, please tell me!
Thank you again for your help and encouragement - it has made my day today!

Hi Cheryl,
I am using Voltaren, which doesn’t do a lot for me either but it seems to take the edge off. I ran into a friend of mine recently who has bad knees. She told me that she started using Voltaren four times a day and it helped tremendously. After a time, she cut down to twice a day and she said that she feels so much better. She is now continuing with twice a day, every day. When I used it, I only put it on once a day and it didn’t do much but I may start using it twice a day and see if that helps. I also take Advil, which doesn’t do a whole lot, but takes the edge off a little bit. I really think that the best thing you can do for yourself is strengthening the quads because they support the knees. My PT gave me some good exercises for that and I should be more faithful to them because they do help! Keep going to PT for as long as you can! All of my best wishes to you with your recovery! MaryAnn from Boston

Hi Cheryl,
I am using Voltaren, which doesn’t do a lot for me either but it seems to take the edge off. I ran into a friend of mine recently who has bad knees. She told me that she started using Voltaren four times a day and it helped tremendously. After a time, she cut down to twice a day and she said that she feels so much better. She is now continuing with twice a day, every day. When I used it, I only put it on once a day and it didn’t do much but I may start using it twice a day and see if that helps. I also take Advil, which doesn’t do a whole lot, but takes the edge off a little bit. I really think that the best thing you can do for yourself is strengthening the quads because they support the knees. My PT gave me some good exercises for that and I should be more faithful to them because they do help! Keep going to PT for as long as you can! All of my best wishes to you with your recovery! MaryAnn from Boston

HELLO, THIS IS GREG. ITS GOOD TO READ THAT YOUR FLEXION IS 130 AND EXTENSION AT NEG 1. SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE OTHER SYMPTOMS. IM GOING TO GIVE YOU ALITTLE INFO ON MY SURGERIES, YES THAT IS PLURAL. I WENT DOWN FOR KNEE REPLACEMENT IN FEB OF 2021, I HAD GOOD FLEX AND EXTENSIONS BUT PAIN AN INFLAMATION WERE STILL THERE. IT TOOK ALMOST EIGHTEEN MONTHS AND SEVERAL REFERALS UNTIL I GOT ANOTHER SURGERY OR REVISION. BOTH TOP AND BOTTOM IMPLANTS DAMN NEAR FELL OUT WHEN THE KNEE WAS OPENED UP. MY NEW SURGON WASNT MILITARY, NO OFFENSE. MY NEW IMPLANTS WERE DRILLED 3 INCHES INTO THE BONE AND I WAS TOLD THEY WOULDNT GO BAD. ALMOST 6 MONTHS LATER THEY TO WERE STILL SWOLLEN AND HURT. DOCTOR WHEN IN AGAIN AND FOUND THE BOTTOM LOOSE AND CHANGED IT OUT. 6 MONTHS LATER IM STILL SWOLLEN AND IT HURTS MORE. I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT AND WENT ON MANY WEBSITES, UNTIL THIS ONE GAVE ME THE ANSWER. MOST IMPLANTS ARE MADE OF PRECIOUS METALS, TITANIUM, CHROMIUM, NICKLE, ETC..
APPARRENTLY I AM ALERGIC TO NICKLE AND MOST IMPLANTS AND IMPLANT CEMENT HAS NICKLE IN IT. I ASKED MY DOCTOR IF I COULD BE ALERGIC AFTER THE 2ND SURGERY AND HE SAID IT WAS VERY RARE, AND A METAL PATCH TEST IS NOT THAT RELIABLE, I HAD IT DONE. THERE IS A PLACE OUT OF CHICAGO AND DOES THE BLOOD WORK TEST, YOUR DOCTOR SHOULD KNOW, PHONE NUMBER IS 312-733-7121. THEY ARE ORTHOPEDIC ANALYSIS. PLEASE IF THIS STILL PERSIST HAVE THAT TEST DONE, DONT GO THROUGH SEVERAL SURGERIES LIKE ME. IM SCHEDULED FOR MY 5TH SURGERY ON THE SAME KNEE IN 4 DAYS. THEY CAN INSTALL A CERAMIC COATED KNEE IMPLANT. THEY COST ALOT MORE, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS SEVERAL SURGERIES COST. I WISH YOU THE BEST AND HOPE THIS HELPS YOU AND ANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME CONDITION. GREG AT MECHACFT@GMAIL.COM