Spacer replacement 4 years after TKR

Yes I suffered for close to two years. From the beginning of my first it never felt stable and always had a lot of play in it doing lateral movements. It was hard to stand for long. After a year of the run around from first doctor I seeked a different opinion and wanted nothing to do with the first guy anymore. had my second knee done by a new surgeon who did an excellent job. From day 1 knew it was right from the moment I walked on it. Anyway the new surgeon felt my first knee replacement and knew it was loose but wanted me to wait until my second knee got stronger so it could support everything so had a spacer change 7 months later. He didn’t know until going in if it would just be a change or a total do over based on how bad I was feeling and the symptoms. Anyway it does feel more tight and stable. I’m 10 days po. As of now I do have times of bad pain like the initial tkr especially when I have my pt days and since starting exercising again. I’m guessing the pain is normal for this but hopefully a shorter recovery time. I had to do the surgery no choice. I couldn’t function well kept feeling like I was going to fall, my knee would want to bend due to the looseness. I was also walking with the cane still at close to 2 years later when outside of the house. I’m lucky I never had a fall I was very very careful.

I had the spacer replaced 10 months after TKR because it was too thin and causing pain and me to hyper-extend. I did not find the recovery much less worst than TKR. I really do not want to ever do it again though it still seems too thin but I can deal with it. It has almost been 5 months since revision and I still have balance and pain issues, especially when standing more than 5 minutes.
something for everyone considering surgery:
After revision I wept for two days from pain because none of the opioids (oxy, dilaudid, others given in hospital) worked on me and the surgeon was completely dismissive. Come to find out that in certain individuals who take particular anti-depressants- in my case, Wellbutrin- opioids may not help with pain. Just be aware of this. I cannot believe the two dismissive and condescending doctors didn't know this. I sent them both two med school research articles on the topic. I do not use alcohol or drugs. I ended up taking regular Tylenol which helped some. good luck to everyone. I hope your surgeries go well.

@bambiwallace - I had a left tkr in October 2024. I’ll need a spacer changed as soon as I can be scheduled. During my recoveries of joint replacements, I felt no relief from oxycodone and I, too, take Wellbutrin. Tramadol seemed to help, however. Did you find an effective alternative in your research?

I only took and take regular Tylenol. I cannot take Tylenol 3 or Advil. however, surgeon prescribed something akin to Advil. My knee still hurts.

How did everything go with your spacer change recovery?

Can I ask what kind of pain have you experienced during this recovery. I’m two years out from tkr and just had a spacer change 2 weeks ago. I didn’t expect it to be so painful at times and still hard to stand in place for more than a few minutes. It’s weird like my knee feels stiff but then when doing a heel slide or small bending I still feel popping in certain positions feels like it’s shifting like before I had this done. I do have swelling of some fluid in the knee but doctor said it should dissipate. It was checked during surgery for correct size and doesn’t hyperextend anymore feels stable it’s just the certain positions the weird feelings freak me out. maybe it’s just me not giving this the time it needs and being inpatient. I’ve been through so much between both of my knees in the past two years especially this one that was just got revised. The original surgeon from august 2023 put too small a spacer 7mm and it was not right the whole time, it shifted, caused me pain and was unstable and hyperextending very very early on like weeks I knew it wasn’t right so it was nothing I did. The new surgeon put in a 14 mm spacer

Try Anand Patel in Westfield or Florham Park he is excellent. Which doctors have you seen in NJ

I had a PKR 4 years ago and all was well (some light pain after over exertion or a long drive but nothing more) until last weekend when it buckled from under me and thereafter couldn’t put weight on it, bend or straighten my leg properly, loud clicking and lots of pain /swelling. I’m in UK and had it X-rayed immediately and saw doc today who advised the spacer is out (it was also obvious to me looking at the X-ray), bone on bone etc and they are operating tomorrow to hopefully put in a new spacer rather than TKR. I knew it was not good but it was a bit of a shock. Anyone else had the spacer pop out and what happens next?

Hi doodles. Just wondering if you ever had the surgery to have your spacer replaced and if so how are you doing? I'm 15 months out and have had very uncomfortable palpable clunking since surgery. Had arthroscopy to remove scar tissue 3 weeks ago which seemed to exasperate the clunking. I'm so disappointed. You?

I had bilateral TKR 4 yr ago. Years of complaining about sharp pain. Tests always came back normal. More PT.
June 23,2025 had left knee revision. Bone cement didn’t hold on femoral bone. Since that revision loud popping and clunking in knee with swelling. Heading to surgery 10/6 to have polymer spacer replaced. Anyone with similar experience? Outcome?