I am one year out from a total knee revision. Pain is still present and no better than before I had the revision although the tibial portion of my original TKR had become debonded so my knee was very unstable before the revision. It is more stable now, but I am plagued by chronic pain

Hi @maryann1753 – I'm sorry to hear about your level of pain – especially a year after the revision. It must be terribly frustrating. Are you doing any physical therapy? I hear people saying that sometimes forcing themselves to be active helps reduce the level of discomfort. I had a TKR in April 2017 and I'm having the other knee replaced next month. Fortunately, I didn't have a lot of pain – certainly by 3 months there was very little discomfort. I'm wondering how long it's been since you've checked back in with your doctor? I believe I would see what advice he might have – and if its not satisfactory, seek a second opinion.

I worked with an experienced personal trainer 3x a week for 6 mos after PT and now see the trainer 2x per week. I went to a respected Ortho surgeon for a 2nd opinion just last week. He told me up to 20% of people have pain following the procedure and encouraged me to do daily leg lifts to continue strengthening the VMO area of the quad muscle. It is very frustrating as I should have my left knee partial redone to a total, but I am very fearful.

@maryann1753 – I can totally see why you are fearful. This would be so scary. Clearly you've worked hard to get back to "normal" and the pain is still there. I am so sad for you. Is the pain diminishing any at all?

@susie2 Hi Susie. Sorry to be reading your post so late. I have had two TKRs but never a revision but I know people who have had them and have been very happy with how things turned out. You say you had a "failed" knee replacement. How did it fail? If it really is bad then it is worth having a revision I think.

I recovered very quickly after my first TKR but never reached the flex that they like to see — 120°. I had a lot of pain for about six weeks after my second TKR, enough that it put tears in my eyes frequently, but then the pain suddenly lifted and things were great. My knee replacement was on October 17th last year, and on December 8th I was walking all over NYC, pain-free! That knee also did not reach as much flex as I would like though, but there is no pain there now at all, ever. The knee that was replaced first, in 2012, still is a bit painful after a lot of exercise.

I think if you have a really good doctor that I would get the revision. I think both the doctor and the brand of knee make a big difference. I researched more fully before my second TKR than I did before my first one because I was in pain 24/7 when I scheduled the first. I took whoever could do me first basically. I should have realized that was a stupid move.
JK

@franciesusan How is your knee doing now, any less pain? I know for some people it can take quite a few months but hopefully, then things will be great and you will be thankful that you had it done.
JK

@franciesusan I hope by now that the pain is gone or at least greatly reduced. If not you should contact your ortho. When my serious pain persisted beyond a few weeks my ortho was having me come in weekly to check on things. He was quite concerned.
JK

@hellothere Your flex is impressive, I wish I had that much flex. That's terrible that you have not been sleeping well though. Has that improved?
I am not at all familiar with effusion and demineralization. What causes that?
JK

@golfshrink I doubt you can gain much ROM at this point with just exercise but I am also more than a year out and there is a minor procedure that can be done where they make two 1/2" incisions and go in and snip something, the adhesions I think, which can improve the ROM. I am planning to get that done in the next month or so, when I can find the time. If I do I will let you know how it turns out.
JK

@ellerbracke That really sounds unacceptable to have so much pain at this point that you are having trouble sleeping. Have you spoken to your ortho about it?
As I mentioned in a different post, I had very severe pain for about six weeks and it very suddenly got better! I hope the same happens to you. Are you feeling any improvement?
JK

@maryann1753 I agree with @debbraw, it may be time to speak to your ortho again or to have a consultation with a different orthopedic surgeon. I really do not think you should be in such chronic pain.
I think if I had read all of these posts prior to my TKRs I may not have had them, I would have been too scared! I feel very thankful that my pain did not persist for that long, my only problem being a bit less flex than optimal.
JK

I contacted my ortho and he said the effusion (swelling) is common postop and demineralization would improve with increased weight bearing. Since I was having trouble sleeping, he did give me a prescription for Tramadol. I have used it for five nights now and have been getting great sleep. I plan to try 1/2 tablet tonight along with an Aleve and see if that works so I can cut back. I am doing my regular postop exercises along with walking 40-60 minutes per day and biking 30-40 minutes per day. I am doing pretty well and am sore, especially from standing, so I have to rest a lot. I take an Aleve once or twice per day and the Tramadol at night. Hopefully, I can get off of the Tramadol soon. Is this everyone else's experience? How long before I have no pain- I am 8 weeks postop now.