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Second Knee Replacement……Never say “never”!
Hello to all of my fellow knee sufferers! I had my right knee replaced in 2020 at a very reputable Boston hospital. It was a brutal recovery because the pain meds didn’t help me, or I had a reaction to them. My surgeon’s office was not all that supportive and told me to call my primary. She helped me out a great deal but only using Extra Strength Tylenol, as the surgeon’s office suggested, was useless in dulling the pain. I had such a hard time doing the exercises with PT because I was in such pain, and I think that set me back and made my recovery longer. I said “Never Again” to anyone who would listen on another knee replacement!!! I also received great support and advise from this group at the time. So…….now I am back again, taking back my “never again” words, and having TKR on my left knee on Oct 1st. This time, it is with a different top Boston hospital and a different surgeon who comes highly recommended. He can perform “minimally invasive surgery” and I told him that is what I want. Hopefully, once he gets inside my knee, it can be done. The “pain center” from the hospital called me and spent about an hour going over all of the different pain modalities that can be used if one or another doesn’t work. They assured me that I would be kept comfortable this time in order to exercise with PT. I am hoping for a much better recovery, but I am really nervous about going through all of this again. However, it’s been six years since my right knee was done and my left knee is now painful, along with the x-rays showing further deterioration since 2020. I have done cortisone shots for years and they no longer work. I tried gel shots and they didn’t work at all. I’ve done every OTC pain meds and creams etc. It is just bad osteoarthritis and the only relief down the road for me will be once I am healed from knee replacement. I know that ice, elevation and movement are the best things that I can do once I am home but if anyone has any further suggestions for me, I would welcome them! I just wish that I could quiet this anxiety and queasy stomach that I am now having every day in preparation for this surgery again. My husband will be my caregiver but it was *not* easy for him in 2020. I was depressed, had no appetite, and lost 18 pounds in two weeks, along with being in agony!!! Thanks very much to all on this wonderful forum for all of their help, support and input on so many health issues! MaryAnn from Boston
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Hi MaryAnn. I’m also thinking of doing my left knee. It took me two years to be really happy I did the right one. One thing I figured out last time was to take 200 mg of Trazodone every night. It’s an old, benign anti-depressant with a somnolent effect. I’ve been taking it at night to sleep for 35 years. My usual nightly dose is 100 mg, but I needed 200 mg to override the pain and sleep after TKA. You can start at a lower dose and figure out how much you need to sleep. No pain killer ever worked for me, including the opioids. Good luck.
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3 ReactionsVery interesting and useful post. I lived in Boston but it has been something like 27 years since I did. I have heard good things about the replacement team at New England Baptist. I am curious, was that one of your surgeries and if so, which one?
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2 ReactionsMaryAnn,
In August 2024 I had my left TKR done at age 76,
I came home and found that I could walk without a cane or walker.
We live in a 3 level home and stairs were not a problem.
I would take the cane on outdoor walks just as a safety measure.
In two weeks post surgery I was able to walk two miles in a day, split up into two segments.
I was doing PT on my own though and not doing a good job of getting the bend I needed. Probably as all of my activity really made my knee swell up too much. They prescribed oxy and Tramadol, both of which made me vomit all night instead of sleep, so I stopped taking it. I should have called my physician to try something else as Tylenol was not helping with the pain. Long story short, was able to get back to Tennis, Golf, Pickleball at three months, but could feel every rotation of the pedal when biking. Hiking with the group was out of the question, as could not keep up with their pace, and needed extra time managing the rocks. So ten months out I asked for an MUA and at that time they were unwilling to do it. Fast forward to 2026 and this time they listened and did the MUA. Now I can bike with the group 22+ miles and very little discomfort. So I am resigned that I will have to do some PT on that knee forever to keep the bend that I need. And my right knee was supposed to be done first, as on the views it was the worst. But the left knee hurt the most so we went with that. So now looking at the Right TKR and there are things I will do different to have a better outcome. So yes Never say Never and learn from your previous experience as to what works for you. Good luck to you.
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4 Reactions@steveinarizona Yes. My difficult surgery was at the Baptist.
@karenheller Thank you so much for that advice on Trazodone for sleeping. Right now, I do take 50 mg of it to help me get to sleep, but maybe I should increase it after the surgery. Good luck with your decision on your left knee. As it gets closer, I keep second guessing myself am I doing the right thing.
@abuelitadee Thanks so much for your reply and for telling me about your previous experience. It sounds like you did so well initially! Good for you, being so active! I do know someone who stopped PT too early and never got a great bend back. All of my best wishes to you as you decide to do your right knee. You are so right to say to learn from your previous experience!
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1 Reaction@mabfp3 I've been doing a lot of second guessing myself. I was scheduled for my second TKR on Sept. 28. I decided to postpone it and see if I can avoid it by returning to PT, eating more joint friendly foods/supplements and applying frankincense. May not work but I'm not in constant pain and feel able to manage the pain I do have. We'll see.
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2 ReactionsThanks so much for your reply. I am sure that you are feeling a sense of relief now that you have postponed it! I’m not in pain when I walk but when I go up and down the stairs, it’s brutal! I am 77 and my concern is that I don’t want to have to face this four or five years from now. PT is a great idea to strengthen the muscles. I’ve been doing exercises for my quads here at home and off and on at Planet Fitness. I did try the frankincense quite a while ago but it didn’t help me. Good luck with the path that you are choosing for now! I’m sure that it was a hard decision. I think that anyone who has experienced it once is not in any big hurry to go through it again!
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2 Reactions@mabfp3
Interesting. And Unfortunate.
Where was your successful surgery done? Mass General or Brigham? Or somewhere else?
@mabfp3 I was 80 when I had my right knee replaced. I wouldn't worry about age. Just do it when it makes sense for you.
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