One knee replacement and will never have another one!

Different people have different experiences. If you are still in pain, or if the TKR was not successful, shouldn’t the original surgeon be responsible to remediate it? Although one may have lost confidence in them. Have you looked into revision?
I didn’t know until I had to choose between several options (my insurance uses a service to optimize options for quality and reasonable cost) that you can ask for references from surgeons. You can look to online ratings. I thought you just were lucky to find someone, anyone. Now, I know better but you do take your chances.
I have had 2 TKRs and 2 THRs and each had a different recovery - even the 2 that were done by the same surgeon. All ended up good and successful for relieving pain. Don’t give up.

look into gAE genicular artery embolization.

@mayo99824 I completely agree with you that different people have different experiences. My experience was not good yet I have two friends who had very good luck. I have sought out second and third opinions. My first surgeon was dismissive and the office told me to “contact my primary care” for continued support.My second opinion dr had me do a special imaging test to look at the knee replacement and it is fine, with the exception of some scar tissue. My left knee is very painful so my “third opinion orthopedic dr. He told me about a recently developed procedure called “genicular ablation” so I will look into it.

@mabfp3
Stay strong! Good luck with number 3. If it doesn’t work tho, look for number 4. You deserve to not be in pain.

@nobend
My experience mirrored yours. I specifically asked repeatedly in the pre surgery visit about the recovery process and possible complications. My surgeon refused to answer my questions, saying that "we don't like to dwell on things that might go wrong." I did not know at the time that she was required by law to answer my questions. Patients have a legal right to the information before any procedure. So for anyone else out there who is deciding about surgery, please make a list and challenge the surgeon for factual answers. If they won't answer, find another surgeon. "If I had only known" is not good news once it's too late.

I cannot imagine going through the surgery and recovery with only Tylenol. Do note Voltaran is an NSAID as well.

My surgeon and his staff provided me with excellent pain control pre-operatively, after surgery, and the subsequent physical therapy recovery time. I was very nervous about addiction after all in the news, when oxycontin was prescribed. However, after my joint was not cooperating, and I subsequently went through months of PT, including the MUA at 11 weeks post-op I realized that I need something to help with PT. All of this I could not have done without a prescription renewal. I only took 5 mg an hour before PT, but I most certainly needed that. In the beginning I took it around the clock as ordered.

What really helped with pain was when a friend gave me her ice machine from her surgery. Every Dr. should be prescribing these for total knees. It helped immensely.

Now, almost a year out, my other knee is acting up terribly. I know I will have to do something about it eventually. I am not sure I can go back to original Dr. as I have aged out of that insurance plan, and it was a benefit to go to this center of excellence in another city. I have too many questions about the follow-up care as well (or lack there-of, being out-of-town he did not communicate with my PT at all- it was based on what I was saying. How was I to know what progress should have been?). BUT- what Dr. team will order pain medicine like what I had? That is a big concern, as I too have heard Drs in my area "allow" up to 2 weeks post-op only. I will need to know ahead from any team that my pain will be managed, along with all the aspects of a huge surgery like this. I have since attended a local seminar on joint replacements. This surgeon was the one stating 2 weeks, and then onto Tylenol! If my body makes scar tissue and the 2nd replacement has these complications... I will need pain management again. I was religious to exercises and PT before and after my first surgery.

How do I interview potential teams in the future without sounding like a drug-seeker? I never took narcotics before my surgery, and most certainly do not now.