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Swelling and stiffness, 3 years after total knee replacement
I had knee replacement 3 years ago. It is worse than previous knee pain, and getting worse as more time goes by. My surgeon (in another state) says everything normal based on X-ray. Ortho doc here says the same, and said I’m having pain and he referred me to pain clinic for possible nerve block. I want to know WHY am I having pain, although I didn’t call it pain. ROM is 100. They can’t see everything on X-ray. I want an MRI. Want to go for second opinion. Should I tell new doc I’m there for second opinion, I don’t think that’s necessary......I think that would cause some bias, ie they would just say same thing.
Has this happened to anyone ? Thoughts ?
TIA
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Hi, Chris,
Thanks for responding to me.
Yes, I have stiffening of my knee when sitting and standing for a long period. I use a yoga strap for stretching. I do step up and step down in squats when I exercise. I’m still utilizing a walking cane when I walk. I’ve been to two physical therapists since I had my surgery. I still have stiffness in my knee and sometimes pain and discomfort. The x-ray of my left knee is identical to the one of your left knee. I have been to two different orthopedic doctors to look at my knee and they all say the same thing your x-ray looked great but no one ever address the soft tissue around my knee. I wish someone would be honest and just tell me that this is good as it’s gonna get and I can deal with that but I just keep looking for things and hoping things will get
better.
Good afternoon @leslie7. I am glad that you responded so that we can continue to examine your situation. You mention "soft tissue". I would appreciate it if you would take the time to review the two videos I am attaching. They are all about the soft tissue. The titles are Strolling under the skin and are extraordinarily well done in France, I believe.
The tissue and other elements that have been disturbed during your surgery take a long time to completely heal. And any incident of overusing or interfering creates additional symptoms.
Take a look and let me know what you think. These two appear to be the same. I think they may be slightly different or provide additional information. However, that's my guess. I have been using these for several years and no one has made a remark about them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW0lvOVKDxE&t=86s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW0lvOVKDxE&t=86s
May you be free, safe and protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris
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2 ReactionsThanks, Chris. The videos are interesting.
I can really understand what you're going through. I myself had a TKR in 2019 and I tried PT 2x months out for pain and stiffness and most recently just went again to another PT who had me do exercises for about 60 minutes and it literally made me feel sick and disoriented - I must mention I also have fibromyalgia and told the therapist if I overdo PT I'll pay the consequences. Well that did happen and now I am seeing an orthopedic knee surgeon (not the one I used because he has since retired) on Monday morning. Of course I want it xrayed but wouldn't it pay to get other imaging as well? When the knee hurts, it's the entire knee front back and sides!
Any advice or feedback?
Chris,
Extremely interesting, but also densely packed and highly technical video. Perhaps I missed it, but is the extremely complex and intricate network of sliding subcutaneous tissues throughout the body what's known as "Myofascial tissue"? And is the fluid seemingly lubricating this network of such tissue "Hyaluronan fluid"?
Scott
I am new to this site, but not new to post total knee replacement pain. Never did get the outcome I expected and had a lot of pain around the upper and outer side or the knee cap. I was having a spinal procedure done at Pain Management and told the doc "Forget my back, my knee is killing me." He took one look, listened to me and told me he could do something for me. I set up a "genicular", as they called it. Three injections around the knee with an xray guided fluoroscope. It gave me a lot of relief and I could straighten my leg complete for the first time in several years. I later moved on to a peroneal nerve block which helped the intermittant cramping and shooting pain on the outside of the knee going down the leg. Not all of the time, but enough to stop me in my tracks. I have had periodic treatments at Pain Management with success but the injections do not last more than 6 months or so. I had xrays, and just had an MRI since the last nerve block a month ago did nothing at all. I just read the MRI report and they find no problems with the appliance, but it was obliterating some of the tissue. Well, that's where the problem is. Thankfully, the fake knee has not shifted position. I am going to seek an orthopod and then probably some PT to gain back some of the muscles I have lost in favoring that leg. Knee hurts, then foot hurts and then hip hurts. Everything seems out of alignment and the docs believe the knee is the culprit. Perhaps a good PT doc will allow me to try to guild up my quads and other large muscles to help support the weak and wobbly knee. ALSO, big discovery, a week ago, I got some kinesiology tape., which is used in the military as well as in sports. youtube has a lot of PT folks describing how to apply it. I put it on as directed for the area of my pain and instability, and it WORKED to stabilize the knee, sort of like an outside force, doing the work of stabilizing, thus allowing me to have a straight leg at the knee and walk properly. when I take t he tape off every couple of days, it still wobbles, but while it is on, I have relief and while my muscles are being built up, I think it is helping me. Building up those muscles to support that area is probably what I need to do. We'll see when I see the ortho guy. Don't give up! also, try not to PIVOT on your leg, making the knee take all of the motion. Just an observation. I hope all of this helps someone. I can only share what I know has worked for me int he past and what path I am taking now. I am 75 now and I am NOT down and out. I want to be the best I CAN be for as long as I can. I can't give up, but I can slow down and allow myself to not overdo things and hinder healing. that's all for now. Thanks for allowing me on this site. I'll be back!
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7 ReactionsThank you for your comments...I am a little over a year out and my leg hurts so much. The knee is stable, great ROM and I can straighten it and it feel best straight. However, I have hip and lower back pain and pain not on the side of the knee. Maybe more like stiffness and extreme soreness. I've been in PT twice and both times a month or so after being dismissed I"m back to where I was before. I do walk lots, exercise, ride a recumbent bike and do stretching. It seems t more I do the more sore I am, but I'm just as or if I do nothing. Seems like I just can't strengthen the muscles. Ortho is finished with me as everything seems to in place and good with the joint replacement. I won't give up either and I'm 62. Very active as well.
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2 ReactionsSO Did you have hip and lower back pain before the TKR?
I had some lower back pain but definitely not like this where I hurt to where I walk bent over and I had no hip pain whatsoever, I've had IT band issues as well as some foot tingling as well. It seems the new knee has created some other issues due to walking differently is what I'm thinking.