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failed total knee preplacement. surgery 6/11/2026. fracture bone
surgery sent well according to the surgeon. Post-op I could not walk 50 feet without the knee buckling twice. sent me home in a brace.
69 days later (today) I still can't get my knee past 95 degrees. getting a ct scan latter today to further view possible fracture. swelling, bruising, pain, stiffness all present. I'm a very fit 71 yo. No health issues and weight is 133 going into surgery. I was playing league tennis!
I'm scared my surgeon is not taking my care seriously. Since my surgery I have been clear with my ongoing issues. Yet I feel I'm getting a "cookie-cutter" pipeline treatment. What can I do?
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2nd opinion?
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4 ReactionsYes, please and try to see the most qualified surgeon with lots of experience in knee replacement, excellent education, and high ratings.
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3 Reactions@maryjbrooks2017 Please do your research and get a 2nd opinion. Blessings & Prayers....
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3 ReactionsI had to get a knee replacement in 2001. Fractured bone from when I was younger eventually went necrotic on my lower portion of a condile. That took at least 5 years to get back to where I was comfortable. And sort of forgot about it.. I played heavy tennis up to that point in my life. But no more.. Twenty five years later, it's still not perfect. So I would say with your recovery time period take a year off and go to the gym.. You're a nowhere close to healed. There's physical therapists out there that will slow you down and help you with this recovery.
Have you had a serious discussion with your physical therapist? Good ones are golden. Mine recommended a different surgeon for my other knee replacement. Best recommendation, even though the surgeon who did my left knee was good, but older and very close to retirement. I agree with b tgebother suggestions about a second opinion, but maybe get the recommendation from a medical person you trust. If you are seeing a reputable PT, they probably have ideas about why you are experiencing those symptoms.
I think too many surgeons do exactly what you fear. But you may not have that surgeon. You are scheduled for a CT scan. Most of the horror stories I have seen on this forum were that the surgeon looked at x-rays and then said everything looks ok, go away. Yours, apparently, scheduled a CT scan which is a better alternative.
Your ROM is barely above the minimum. Do you know what it is on your good knee. Your surgeon and PA should be striving to get your ROM to around what you used to have and I find it hard to believe that a tennis player would have had a ROM anywhere near yours. So you have two issues (at least): a slow recovery or ROM and knee buckling.
Are you happy with your PT? There are two players here (surgeon and PT) and you need both working well.
Has your surgeon been working with you to here on these issues and what has he been saying during the earlier 68 days?