1. < Joint Replacements

total knee replacement

Posted by Susie2 @susie2, Nov 16, 2011

I had a failed knee replacement elsewhere, and went to Mayo for a second opinion. I am considering having a knee revision and would appreciate hearing the experiences of those who have had a revision.

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JK | @contentandwell | Jan 24, 2019
In reply to @ellerbracke "JK: you seem to have been on the TKR sites for a long time, so you..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

JK: you seem to have been on the TKR sites for a long time, so you probably heard it all....... question: I was traveling a few days ago, long plane ride, followed by 2 train rides. The second ride, getting off, I suddenly had a really sharp pain in my hip on the TKR side, and I was limping for the rest of the day. My guess is that the extra weight (body weight about 128, backpack and carrying a full size suitcase + heavy winter clothes roughly 40+ lbs., so almost an additional 1/3 of my body weight added), caused my knee to refuse the load and transfer it to the hip? I can still feel it 2 days later, very stiff and uncomfortable in the morning, easing up some after exercise and slow walking. Knee itself is a little grumpy, but not bad............

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@ellerbracke Actually, I have not heard that before but I think your own suspicions are probably accurate. That's a lot of sitting too. When I have been sitting that long I always feel it afterward. They recommend getting up and walking every half hour on airplanes but frankly, I am not doing that since they also say there are fewer germs if you take a window seat, so I generally do opt for the window seat. Not catching germs since I am on immunosuppressants is more of a priority for me. I realize the walking is also to avoid clots but I do wear compression stockings when I am flying and I do get up generally every hour or so.
I am sure your knee and hip will be where they were within a couple of more days. Your suitcase doesn't roll? The way I pack that's a necessity.
Sounds like you must be on vacation. Enjoy.
JK

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ellerbracke | @ellerbracke | Jan 25, 2019
In reply to @contentandwell "@ellerbracke Actually, I have not heard that before but I think your own suspicions are probably..." + (show)
@contentandwell

@ellerbracke Actually, I have not heard that before but I think your own suspicions are probably accurate. That's a lot of sitting too. When I have been sitting that long I always feel it afterward. They recommend getting up and walking every half hour on airplanes but frankly, I am not doing that since they also say there are fewer germs if you take a window seat, so I generally do opt for the window seat. Not catching germs since I am on immunosuppressants is more of a priority for me. I realize the walking is also to avoid clots but I do wear compression stockings when I am flying and I do get up generally every hour or so.
I am sure your knee and hip will be where they were within a couple of more days. Your suitcase doesn't roll? The way I pack that's a necessity.
Sounds like you must be on vacation. Enjoy.
JK

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Yes, suitcase rolls - but not on the steps getting on and off old-fashioned trains. That’s when the stress happened.

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JK | @contentandwell | Jan 25, 2019
In reply to @ellerbracke "Yes, suitcase rolls - but not on the steps getting on and off old-fashioned trains. That’s..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

Yes, suitcase rolls - but not on the steps getting on and off old-fashioned trains. That’s when the stress happened.

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@ellerbracke Ahh, gotcha. I have trouble with my massive suitcase too when I have to actually lift it. I really wanted to buy a new one, a little bit smaller before going away again, but I have not. Thankfully my husband can lift it. When I do get around to buying a new one I will definitely be looking at weight. As it is with the one I have now I have to weigh my suitcase before flying to make sure it's not overweight.
It really does sound as if having to lift it is the cause of your hip/knee problems. If you are still in traveling mode, maybe you could get a young, strong, gentleman to lift it up those steps for you. I have seen people ask others to do that and I am sure they do not mind, I know my son would not.
JK

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Debbra Williams, Alumna Mentor | @debbraw | Jan 25, 2019
In reply to @jimk849 "I moved-up my apt. with the ortho and went to see him yesterday. X-rays taken and..." + (show)
@jimk849

I moved-up my apt. with the ortho and went to see him yesterday. X-rays taken and he said my implant has healed perfectly. Bone has grown around new knee and kneecap is perfectly aligned and all angles are perfect. He showed me how my quad muscle has actually atrophied even after all the hard work that I have done. His first thought was to do more pt but I told him I have everything I need to do the same things at home or the gym and that I already had eight weeks pt after surgery last June. So he agreed that I need to go back to basic pt exercises at home using ankle weights etc. Then he told me he is going to order me a device called the e-vive CyMedica ortho garment. It is a electric pulse device worn on leg that is designed by an ortho surgeon and used by athletes and people like me that need to build quad muscle. I was really surprised to see my left quad is measurably smaller than my right side. The doc said it is pretty common post tkr and that this new pulse therapy plus a re-doubling of my own pt will build my quad muscle and will eliminate the pain of climbing stairs. I look forward to getting on with it and I'm very happy to see that the implant is perfect as I was wondering if some thing loosened. I will post after the e-vive arrives and I have used it for awhile. Has anyone else heard of this or tried it?

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@jimk849 - the Evive product sounds interesting. Any idea of the expense? I'm having a TKR next Tuesday. This sounds promising!

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jimk849 | @jimk849 | Jan 26, 2019
In reply to @debbraw "@jimk849 - the Evive product sounds interesting. Any idea of the expense? I'm having a TKR..." + (show)
@debbraw

@jimk849 - the Evive product sounds interesting. Any idea of the expense? I'm having a TKR next Tuesday. This sounds promising!

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The company called me on Tues. and said they were waiting for ok from my insurance to ok it. Had not heard anything by yesterday so I called rep in late afternoon and got voicemail. I really don't know what the cost is as of now. It may be on their website. On a side note Rep told me wearing this garment on leg for 20 minutes is the equivalent of doing 100 squats. Good luck to you on Tues. I will post again when I finally get fitted and start using this thing.

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JK | @contentandwell | Jan 26, 2019
In reply to @ellerbracke "@contentandwell, @jimk849 : both of you impress me with your bicycle routine. 30 to 45 minutes..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

@contentandwell, @jimk849 : both of you impress me with your bicycle routine. 30 to 45 minutes seems like major punishment to me. My old butt hurts after 15 to 20 minutes, so I get myself into the pool for more exercises and swimming. I’m only using the level 3 resistance, but keep my heartrate up consistently between 120 and 135, so definitely a cardio workout. The knee does not seem to like the recumbent bike too much, even though I make sure it is adjusted correctly, and that I keep the knee aligned. Perhaps in a few more weeks or months things will be different.

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@ellerbracke Are you using a recumbent bike? The seats are more comfortable on them. The little seats on the spinners do not look comfortable to me.
JK

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jimk849 | @jimk849 | Jan 30, 2019
In reply to @jimk849 "The company called me on Tues. and said they were waiting for ok from my insurance..." + (show)
@jimk849

The company called me on Tues. and said they were waiting for ok from my insurance to ok it. Had not heard anything by yesterday so I called rep in late afternoon and got voicemail. I really don't know what the cost is as of now. It may be on their website. On a side note Rep told me wearing this garment on leg for 20 minutes is the equivalent of doing 100 squats. Good luck to you on Tues. I will post again when I finally get fitted and start using this thing.

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Was measured and received my E-vive muscle stimulator yesterday. It is a rechargeable battery operated leg garment that has 3 electrodes fastened with Velcro straps to your thigh. The device is controlled thru an app downloaded to your cell-phone. After you put some electrode gel on leg you power on the device which has two different adjustable degrees of stimulation. One setting is for lower thigh and one for upper thigh. You adjust the current yourself on a scale of 1-100. I use about a 25 setting for both but you can use different settings for upper and lower if you are more comfortable. It feels like a combination of sting buzz and vibration. each session last 20 minutes controlled by the app. You can actually see your muscles flex and release alternating upper and lower. The cost to me was zero as I have Medicare and a BCBS supplement. You own the unit there is no returning it when finished. It falls under durable medical eq. I think.

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flowers8 | @flowers8 | May 21, 2023
In reply to @liza "I am also considering a knee revision. Was the consult at Mayo helpful?" + (show)
@liza

I am also considering a knee revision. Was the consult at Mayo helpful?

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Hi everyone I'm new to this group.
I'm 80 years old with a heart condition afib.
My left knee was replaced in 2015 exactly 8 yrs ago.
I have been having pain in the knee and felt something was wrong. Went o.s. Had drag that showed a loose Femoral component. The surgeon explained the decision surgery would be longer as well as recovery. I would like to hear from some of you that had the revision.

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1 reply
ezas123 | @ezas123 | May 22, 2023
In reply to @flowers8 "Hi everyone I'm new to this group. I'm 80 years old with a heart condition afib...." + (show)
@flowers8

Hi everyone I'm new to this group.
I'm 80 years old with a heart condition afib.
My left knee was replaced in 2015 exactly 8 yrs ago.
I have been having pain in the knee and felt something was wrong. Went o.s. Had drag that showed a loose Femoral component. The surgeon explained the decision surgery would be longer as well as recovery. I would like to hear from some of you that had the revision.

Jump to this post

I hate to say but revision surgery is the same as having tkr all over again …. But for me the choice to stay with no flexion and the pain that went along with it was not an option … so for me was worth it …. My only regrets was my first choice of surgeon that put in wrong size knee …. My revision went well but I will always have issues with tightness and extra scarring because of first failed tkr…. So good luck it is a lot to weigh out ….

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1 reply
flowers8 | @flowers8 | May 25, 2023
In reply to @ezas123 "I hate to say but revision surgery is the same as having tkr all over again..." + (show)
@ezas123

I hate to say but revision surgery is the same as having tkr all over again …. But for me the choice to stay with no flexion and the pain that went along with it was not an option … so for me was worth it …. My only regrets was my first choice of surgeon that put in wrong size knee …. My revision went well but I will always have issues with tightness and extra scarring because of first failed tkr…. So good luck it is a lot to weigh out ….

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Thanks for your reply. It was good to hear the revision went well.
The Orthopedic group I went to is having problems keeping their doctors.
The doctor that was going to do my surgery left the practice 10 days after I saw him. I was scheduled 8/30/23. I'm finding out some doctors do not want to do a revision when TKR was done by another doctor. So I'm searching!

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