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TKR: Post-op swelling & required blood drain
I had tkr surgery 08/05/2022..there has not been a time where I thought that I was glad I had this done..quite the opposite..I tried to see the surgeon about the pain I was having early on and was told it would be better in a year then he would see me..he did send me to his physician assistant 2 times before August 5 2023...the surgeon finally seen me when I got my year in..he drained blood off my knee 40cc and it felt really good for about 9 days then the pain set in again and soreness..I went back and he drained 40cc of blood again then sent me to physical therapy for 3 weeks which didn't help..he drained another 40cc of blood off my knee again which did not help...I seen him again three weeks later because of more pain and swelling..he drained 30 cc of blood off my knee and said that he had a gut feeling that it was going to get better the made an appointment for me with his PA again ...he did send the blood off for analysis and said that the inflammation count was 1000 which he said was nothing to worry about...what could be causing this blood problem.? Should I get a 2nd opinion or keep bugging the original surgeon...I'm really discouraged..
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I had a TKR complication and after 17 months I went to a new doctor in another state and the problem was identified immediately. You should get another orthopedic opinion since your current doctor is not helping you.
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1 ReactionThank you
You had pain and he said come back in a year ? what doctor does that. He had a good feeling you would get better ? where did you go for the TKR because this seems like a doctor that does not care about your health. Did over the counter medicine take care of your pain ? constant blood over that period of time. Get another opinion from a physician that cares.
I had the same ordeal in 2020-21. Went to 4 surgeons besides original and after 28 months of swelling, pain and 3 blood draws, on doctor asked if I had any allergies. I said not that I know of. He sent me for testing and found I am very allergic to Methacrylate- the stuff the cement they put the tkr in with contains!!! I immediately started taking antihistamines (Claritin generic) and within a week swelling and pain gone. I have since climbed Machu Picchu and hike 5-8 miles a day in CO mountains in the summer. Told this was very rare- but have heard of a couple other people. They do not do pre-testing for it.
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3 ReactionsWow...glad you found out
Give it a try. They also said it is same cement used in teeth capping (don’t have any yet!)
Good luck
I think I have this problem: chronic inflammation, swelling and stiffness. I had the surgery in May 2022 and these systems persist. I too want to climb Machu Pichu
Sorry about your pain. I tried everything they said- ice, pt, pain pills, anti-inflammatory meds. It turned out to be an allergy which caused the swelling and the swelling caused the pain. One visit to get fully tested for allergies (bunch of scratches on my back) and the only thing testing positive was the Methacrylate which has been controlled by antihistamines. Good luck and Happy travels.
Going to see a new orthopedic surgeon next week for my other knee next week and will address this with her.
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1 ReactionOthers have said it, and I agree - find a new ortho surgeon. I recently moved and needed a Dr. to replace both knees. My criteria - a surgeon in his/her mid 30s to mid 40s with a solid pedigree from a good medical school and residency (Mayo, Cleveland Clinic) and someone who uses a robotic assistant in TKR like the Stryker/Mako product. I'm a 68 y/o male, did a lot of exercises both pre and post op. Results were terrific. One knee done in 3/2022 and the other in 7/2023. I'm in the gym 6 or 7 days a week and do resistance training and rowing and spinning for cardio. Knees look and feel great and I feel great.
All the best to you and everyone else thinking about a TKR or a revision. And there are surgeons who specialize in revisions.