My Knee Replacement Surgery Experience

Is it possible to get the leg straightened? I don't know anything about it but I'd certainly ask the surgeon.

All the best to you.

Joe

Many thanks Chris for a very informative and detailed answer. Let me answer the questions your were asking. I am not currently playing doubles racquetball or doubles pickleball. The whole purpose of the replacement was to fix the knee so i can resume those 2 activities. I am hoping that I would be able to do this and the doctor had discussed this and had said i would be able to.

I have done some reading on the Bakers Cyst and when the doctor inspected it, they didnt see this. Typically there would be a ball like shape behind the knee and i dont have this.

I dont do the yoga pause with the leg up the wall and was doing the regular PT until it swelled up more then normal. I am elevating when i can with the knee elevated and the head flat down so the fluid can drain backwards. But there is hardly any progress.

Its interesting you mention MFR, i started to look into this and will call a few places that advertise this and hope this can help. Many thanks for this.

Hanif.

First post for me but really need some guidance. Had total knee replacement in Feb 2021 minimally invasive. Everything was going good ROM & extension good. November 2021 other knee completely gave out. Bakers cyst, partially torn meniscus & bursa issue. Had cortisone injection couple times & so far dealing with it. Surgeon said I need total replacement on that knee now. Which I agree & understand but I have been having trouble with BOTH knees since November. I have a tightness that I feel below both knees now. ROM on surgical knee has decreased. Also have tightness on both feet. Have feeling and no tingling so I have been told it's not neuropathy. I am able to walk but stairs are extremely difficult. Pain right below the knee on both is where it is making it difficult to do stairs.

I have had various tests done. MRI on the back do have degenerative disc disease , also have what they refer to as a spondy at l4 and l5. But back specialist says not coming from my back. I am totally at the end of knowing what to do. I want to have the surgery but definitely afraid due to what happened. Has anyone else had the tightness below the knee? Could it be tendon or muscle issues. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Hello. I am a 61 year old woman who just had a total knee replacement. I have peripheral neuropathy and fibromyalgia in addition to factor five Leiden, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism and I have had multiple surgeries in the past due to mostly genetic issues. In 2 years I had three shoulder surgeries with the last being a total replacement. I breezed through those surgeries. My left knee had been replaced in 2009. The surgeon that did my most recent surgery, while well known in this area as being one of the best sadly refuses to discuss my past history, my interactions physically with medications and issues that I am dealing with currently. I am feeling that I am alone in this healing process and do not have the support I am looking for. Because of new research dictating that physical therapy begin the day of surgery, I have experienced excessive swelling and extreme pain in the knee. I reacted to multiple medications prescribed to me and have finally found one that I don't react to and I'm holding off on taking it every 5 hours. My biggest issue is the extreme pain I experience when trying to bend my knee or lift my leg using my upper thigh. I cry out in pain even 12 days out of the surgery and I'm totally dependent on the Walker for Mobility. I have always wondered if my neuropathy and fibro may be a contributor to this excessive pain? I saw this feed online and wanted to join in hopes that others may have some suggestions that helped them if they experienced the same thing? As I mentioned I have repeatedly expressed my concerns to my surgeon but he's telling me that the pain stems from a mental anxiety which I know is not true. My physical therapists are wonderful and working with me but I cannot seem to get past the simple Act of bending my knee without it causing me to feel physically sick. I would so welcome any stories of success you may have if your story reflects mine and what you did to get Mobility back. Thank you so much ahead of time.

Greetings @laurajrc1961 and welcome to Connect. My goodness, you have what to me seems like a frightful medical history. I thought mine was pretty involved with 14 orthopedic surgeries due to falls and injuries. That also includes 3 right shoulder surgeries that ended with a Reverse Replacement. I have started with the first surgery on the left shoulder and it appears that I may be looking at another reverse soon. I am glad your shoulder surgery was successful.

Last year I had my second TKR for the right knee. It was quite a "dream" experience compared to the first one 10 years ago. I attributed the recent positive recovery to pre-surgery exercise, Mako Robotic processing, and the combination of post-surgery PT and MFR, myofascial release therapy. Are you familiar with my "success" list? If not, I will be more thorough for you.

Does "bending my knee" mean ROM to you? Have you achieved the recommended 120 degrees? Are you able to do any "Sit to Stand" exercises? Some folks call them squats. I guess I better ask how long ago you had your surgery. Sometimes, we tend to get ahead of ourselves before our bodies are ready.

What have your PTs told you about the discomfort/pain in your knee at this time? My PT managed the physical exercises and left the pain resolution up to my MFR therapist. They actually chatted with each other and presented a pretty supportive program. I don't know if that is possible for you. However, it is worth looking into.

It amazes me that anxiety is called the culprit, especially when you have already recovered positively from a previous TKR. However, I take anti-anxiety medication for my SFN (small fiber neuropathy) and MCI (mild cognitive decline) so maybe that did help.

I put together some posts from my recent TKR that may have some clues. Let me see if I can provide the link for you.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tkr-2-lessons-i-am-learning/
I want to make sure you are icing and elevating as needed. Those two suggestions are really mandatory much longer than the first two or three weeks.

Hopefully, this response will get you started. And remember, I am here for you……so don't hesitate to ask for clarification. I do need an idea of your time since surgery and your home support activities.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

Hello and thank you for your response. My surgery was April 19th of this year. My last surgery was my shoulder replacement which was September 1st of 2022. By bending my knee I mean any type of Bend whatsoever is very painful. My knee feels like a cement block and even if I'm able to do some type of bend, each time I go to sit down or even try to walk with the Walker, it feels as if it's the first time I've attempted to do so. I take many different vitamins to help control my neuropathy. Neurontin or Gabapentin proves to do nothing for me. I have never had anxiety before or after surgical procedures and yes, it's quite insulting for this surgeon to continue to Gaslight me instead of acknowledging that I am truly experiencing this level of pain. I am icing and elevating all through the day and night. I have been sleeping in a recliner because my bed is elevated and I am not able to get in and out without assistance. I have been doing the exercises given to me by my physical therapy center and even though they are very painful to do I work through it multiple times daily. During my knee replacement in 2009 I never experienced this level of pain nor it taking so long to get Mobility. My real question with this is asking whether or not neuropathy and fibro can impede healing?

Could be a ligament issue which they cut during TKR. Get more opinions.

Hello again @laurajrc1961. Thanks for responding. Immediately, I calculated that it has just been two weeks since your surgery. I remembered that I had the same type of pain. First thing I did was start walking around the house with a walker. I remember the days when it felt like a cement block. When I read that you are exercising multiple times a day I became concerned. I am not a medical professional. However, what I have done in the past was become too anxious to go, see, and do. Just recently, I had to reschedule a follow-up stability and balance appointment because I overworked my knee and especially the muscles in my upper thigh. It was quite painful.

Regarding the impact of other conditions on your TKR recovery, I can't imagine that neuropathy symptoms would just stay away while you recovered. I have SFN, small fiber neuropathy, and it impacts me every moment of every day. Remember that neuropathy is a progressive condition. That may mean that the frequency and intensity of your neuropathy has increased and is playing a bigger role in this recovery. And I don't know about fibro. Give it some thought…..slow down a bit and see if that helps.

Perhaps some other TKR patients can share their experiences with you. Let's hear from other Connect members.

May you be safe, protected and free of inner and outer harm.
Chris

I am 83 yrs. old. I had a left knee replacement about 10 years ago. I developed neuropathy about 15 years ago. My sugar range from 100-125. I am told I need to have a knee replacement on the right knee now. I am scheduled to have this done in one month. Is this safe for me at my age and the fact that I have neuropathy. I do have back pain but the Doctor feels that it is coming from the bad knee. I need opinions because I do not want to be a wheel chair survivor. Please send me something that would help this decision.

Hi @valko194

I don't envy you making this decision. There are so many variables in each surgery, no one can predict success 100% of the time. How do you feel about your previous left knee replacement? Did you handle the surgery well, and have a good outcome you have been happy with for the past 10 years? Remembering your previous experience, do you think you'll be able to handle the rehab exercises on the new TKR? If you had a positive experience before, that would tip me towards doing the surgery, but make a list of your concerns and have a serious talk with your doctor and/or surgeon and insist they explain why surgery would benefit you, given your other physical problems.