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After 13 months TKR knee still warm and slightly swollen

Posted by zoobird1 @zoobird1, Mar 18 4:02pm

I’m 70 years old and had total left knee replacement February 16, 2023. I had a partial right in 2019 and with both I did very well in Rehab. With this left one I was told it could take a year to fully heal.
Since the surgery I’ve always had some tenderness from above my knee to half way down my calf. It just feels bruised and scraped and I still have some pain in my knee area.
For a few weeks last fall it finally felt pretty good and at times the warmth was almost gone. Then in December it flared back up and at my year checkup appointment I saw my PA who said my x-rays look good. She was concerned about the warmth and tenderness and ordered a Sed Rate and C-Reactive Protein blood tests, both which came back fine. She put me on a 15 day regimen of Prednisone which helped a bit for a couple weeks but now I feel just as bad as before. Also I now have two bony knobby places that aren’t on the right one
Is this normal after 13 months?

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rae1954 | @rae1954 | Mar 19 8:36am

I’m 15 months out and still experiencing pain, tenderness, warmth and very limited use on things like stairs, hills etc. I had an mri, bone scan, Ct scan, and X-ray. All look good other than inflammation of tendon and soft tissue. I had a partial replacement of both knees. Rt knee is perfectly fine, works like it should and no pain or swelling. My doctor wants to do a total knee replacement on the left. I’m hesitant because no one can tell me what is wrong with the first one. So how do we know if another surgery will even help? I don’t know how long I can handle the immobility and pain but definitely do not want another surgery. It’s a conundrum.

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2 replies
zoobird1 | @zoobird1 | Mar 19 3:46pm
In reply to @rae1954 "I’m 15 months out and still experiencing pain, tenderness, warmth and very limited use on things..." + (show)
@rae1954

I’m 15 months out and still experiencing pain, tenderness, warmth and very limited use on things like stairs, hills etc. I had an mri, bone scan, Ct scan, and X-ray. All look good other than inflammation of tendon and soft tissue. I had a partial replacement of both knees. Rt knee is perfectly fine, works like it should and no pain or swelling. My doctor wants to do a total knee replacement on the left. I’m hesitant because no one can tell me what is wrong with the first one. So how do we know if another surgery will even help? I don’t know how long I can handle the immobility and pain but definitely do not want another surgery. It’s a conundrum.

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So sorry you’re going through this too and that sounds similar to my issues. Does ibuprofen or Tylenol help? Please keep me posted here on what you decide.

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1 reply
rae1954 | @rae1954 | Mar 19 3:55pm
In reply to @zoobird1 "So sorry you’re going through this too and that sounds similar to my issues. Does ibuprofen..." + (show)
@zoobird1

So sorry you’re going through this too and that sounds similar to my issues. Does ibuprofen or Tylenol help? Please keep me posted here on what you decide.

Jump to this post

I can’t take ibuprofen because I was put on blood thinners for blood clots in my lungs after my last Covid shot. That also complicates another surgery. I use Tylenol and ice - which helps though not much. Ice is more effective with compression. Mostly at this point I whine a lot………….

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1 reply
greenacressoon | @greenacressoon | Mar 19 6:41pm

Have they tested you for MRSA? My brother-in-law had pain, swelling. and warmth in his total knee replacement for 5 years after his surgery. He was told that he just needed to learn to live with it. He finally got a second opinion. The new doctor drew off some fluid from the knee and determined that he had MRSA.

He had the knee replacement removed and replaced with a temporary knee. After a month of antibiotics, the MRSA was gone. He then went on to have a new knee replacement. He was back in the tennis court 2 weeks later.

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3 replies
cindymattern | @cindymattern | Mar 20 5:10am

I am also 16 months out and have the same issues....I feel tightness over the top of my knee and feel like I have a baker's cyst sometimes but my CT showed no baker cyst. Hardware is good and there is a very small effusion on top of the knee and then vascular calcification. Seeing vascular for an ultrasound next month, going to ask pain management what to do as I can't take nsaids, pain pills, Cymbalta or Lyrica (Extreme constipation), so what do I take for inflammation. I feel I still have inflammation. I'm so done with this knee replacement. somedays are better than others. I do take Tylenol 'arthritis with some relief but not much.

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2 replies
ezas123 | @ezas123 | Mar 20 6:47am

Osmo patches are amazing for inflammation . I put one on back of my knee overnight 2-3 times a week as needed and wrap ace bandage lightly around …. If you have not tried definitely worth a try.

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1 reply
lmc | @lmc | Mar 20 8:44am
In reply to @ezas123 "Osmo patches are amazing for inflammation . I put one on back of my knee overnight..." + (show)
@ezas123

Osmo patches are amazing for inflammation . I put one on back of my knee overnight 2-3 times a week as needed and wrap ace bandage lightly around …. If you have not tried definitely worth a try.

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What is an Osmo patch?
I had TKR 9 months ago and still experience pain, stiffness, and an incision that is still looks like a purple worm! Two surgeons told me to live with it.

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1 reply
codynike | @codynike | Mar 20 9:37am
In reply to @cindymattern "I am also 16 months out and have the same issues....I feel tightness over the top..." + (show)
@cindymattern

I am also 16 months out and have the same issues....I feel tightness over the top of my knee and feel like I have a baker's cyst sometimes but my CT showed no baker cyst. Hardware is good and there is a very small effusion on top of the knee and then vascular calcification. Seeing vascular for an ultrasound next month, going to ask pain management what to do as I can't take nsaids, pain pills, Cymbalta or Lyrica (Extreme constipation), so what do I take for inflammation. I feel I still have inflammation. I'm so done with this knee replacement. somedays are better than others. I do take Tylenol 'arthritis with some relief but not much.

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I am into my 6th week post op and still have a lot of pain. Not only my knee but my hip and ankle. I do physical therapy 3x a week and probably should walk more. I am so worn out with the pain. Hoping to get a refill of tramadol. All those people that said to me you will be so happy you did it are full of it. Also who are these people that say by 6 weeks you will be back to your regular activities! REALLY?

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1 reply
ezas123 | @ezas123 | Mar 20 10:36am
In reply to @lmc "What is an Osmo patch? I had TKR 9 months ago and still experience pain, stiffness,..." + (show)
@lmc

What is an Osmo patch?
I had TKR 9 months ago and still experience pain, stiffness, and an incision that is still looks like a purple worm! Two surgeons told me to live with it.

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You can go online check them out they very helpful with information…. Use to only b able to buy from Australia now you can get on Amazon but I still get from Australia better deal
https://www.osmopatch.store/
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1 reply
shawndm | @shawndm | Mar 20 10:55am
In reply to @greenacressoon "Have they tested you for MRSA? My brother-in-law had pain, swelling. and warmth in his total..." + (show)
@greenacressoon

Have they tested you for MRSA? My brother-in-law had pain, swelling. and warmth in his total knee replacement for 5 years after his surgery. He was told that he just needed to learn to live with it. He finally got a second opinion. The new doctor drew off some fluid from the knee and determined that he had MRSA.

He had the knee replacement removed and replaced with a temporary knee. After a month of antibiotics, the MRSA was gone. He then went on to have a new knee replacement. He was back in the tennis court 2 weeks later.

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two weeks? I could barely walk at two weeks. Lucky him.

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