TKR problems

jilly

Hi everyone , I have'nt been around much lately but i have been reading the posts . I hope you are all doing ok and not in to much pain.
I had a TKR about 6 months ago and it is bending well but i am still getting a lot of pain when i bend it . I also find it feels very tight in the knee cap , I wondered if anyone else as had this trouble after 6 months .
I have already had my other knee replaced and not had any problems with it , I have other problems with my joints so could do for this to sort out , thanks for reading my post ....jilly xx

calcass

Hi Jilly,
I've just seen ur post and have every sympathy for you. I had a few problems with my 1st TKR resulting in prolonged periods of pain, and I know it's not a good place to be - lets face it we expect the TKR to get rid of the pain and give us another lease of life! On the plus side though you've got good movement which is half the battle after the op!!
The best suggestion I can offer is to contact your surgeon and the hospital physio if that's possible (I know some hospitals have specialist physio teams for orthopaedics who it's poss to stay in touch with for queries such as this)
I'm sorry for not being more helpful but would be interested to know the outcome.
(I have had my kneecaps re-surfaced but not sure whether you're describing the same kind of pain so wouldn't speculate that that was a cause or not)

Good luck & get in touch with your consultant
Cal x

lindalegs

Hi Jilly,

It might be that your soft tissue is still healing and giving you pain afterall six months isn't that long after a major surgery. It may also have been in a worse state that your other knee replacement and therefore it's taking longer to settle down.

I'm on my third knee prosthesis and I must say that my first TKR right knee always gave me pain although I had a good bend but I put that down to my right ankle being fused. When that prosthesis failed after eleven years and I had it redone last year I've not had any problems with it at all and so it's led me to believe that I had a better surgeon this time.

If you're unhappy with it, it might be an idea to ring your surgeon's secretary and ask for appointment to see him/her so you can discuss it.

Luv,

stickywicket

In your situation I'd be doing what Calcass has suggested ie ringing the physio team from the ward I was on and asking them for advice. However, not all hospitals offer this so you could either ring the surgeon's sec, as Legs suggested, or, if you trust your GP, get his/her opinion. (You could still go for either of the other two later.)

jilly

Thanks Cal ,Lindalegs and stickwicket after reading your posts it as left me thinking perhaps it as something to do with it being on the same side as the THR i have also had . I did walk strange before i had the last TKR and am 1 inch shorter on one side perhaps it is that which is causing me to have the pain in the new knee .
I also have trouble with the other hip and my back sometimes i dont know where the pain is coming from . I will give it a little longer as you say Cal perhaps it is still healing ...thanks again for the advise .....jillyx

stickywicket

That's a different matter entirely, jilly.

Being on the same side as a THR shouldn't, I think, make any difference in itself but when you say one leg is 1" shorter than the other, do you have special shoes to counter this? If not, I'm sure that will be putting a strain on your new knee. If you do have special shoes, please ask an orthotist to check that they are still right for you. It's very hard for surgeons to get leg length exactly right when different prostheses come into play. I'd to have my surgical shoes adjusted after my knee revision.

elnafinn

I had a hell of a load of pain with both TKR's done two years apart but both times excellent movement and knee bend. It took me at least 9 months b oth times before I was good friends with both new knees. My surgeon told me it could take one year to 18 months. He always emphasised a TKR was a major operation. At least you have good movement and I am sure in time the pain will diminish. If you are continuing with your exercises and getting on with your life then I feel if you are still having problems 6 - 12 weeks on, to go and see your surgeon and see what he has to say. The pain you are experiencing could well be the difference in leg measurement due to your hip op and perhaps that should be looked at by a professional with perhaps a shoe insert/heel built up. I understand this can happen after a hip op.

Elna x

babytiger

Hi Jilly,
Sorry to hear your still in a lot of pain after 6 months but at least you seem to have a good bend ,it seems it takes 1 year for the knee to actually heal (so says my new surgeon) I have a lot of problems with my hips and back now,pain wise but think its probably due to the way I walk or waddle (as I call it nowadays) Do hope you get it sorted Take care
Love Eileen xx

jilly

Stickeywicket ..... yes i do have a built up shoe and they have raised it by another 6m last month . I have found it difficult to get used to but it as not helped the pain in my knee. I do have a lot of other problems with my ankles and feet included so i surpose they could also have something to do with it .
I had hoped having the knee replaced would help me walking but as yet i am still struggling . After getting the advise tonight i think i will have to give it a little longer and see if it sorts out .....thanks to everyone for the advise ....jillyx

jilly

Hi Eileen , I understand the waddle thats how i walk. It did take 12 months with the other knee but it was'nt the same sort of pain this seems to go stiff and it my kneecap that really hurts badly . thanks for the help .....jillyx

dreamdaisy

Oh jilly, I am so sorry to hear this. It would seem from reading the forum that a TKR is a 'simple' operation - we gaily fling these light-hearted abbreviations around - and the surgeons always play up the benefits (and rightly so). I think that what they (and maybe us, as patients) fail to take into account is that this is major surgery, it constitutes a huge shock to the whole body and although (from the surgeon's point of view) we are done and dusted in the hour or two we are on his table, actually the recovery time takes a deal longer. I also think that the general 'fitness' of the muscles supporting the joint is also of importance and if you were having trouble before then no wonder your recovery has been so lengthy.

When I had my first open synovectomy I was told I could not leave hospital until I had accomplished a particular exercise - I talked my way out of that and was damned glad I did as mastering that exercise took nearly two years, such was the damage caused by the inflammation and the surgery. Healing takes time and - dare I say it - the older one is the longer it can take. Be patient, do the exercises as best you can and in a way that suits you, rest, eat well, tell your chickens all about it (they will understand ) and I hope you begin to pick up soon. I wish you well. DD

jilly

Thanks DD You are quiet right , I shall have to be a little more patient and carry on with the exercises . I think we do expect everything should be sorted after having the op done . My hubby is always saying to me " do you realize what they have to do to replace your joints it takes time for the body to get over it " they do so many we tend to think it is simple .
I only have 2 chickens left now but they have a nice life running around the garden, they have not attacked me for the food since .
thanks again for the advise , I hope you are not in to much pain...jillyx

skezier

Hi Jilly,

Oh flower you put so much faith into the replacements and sometimes they don;t work as well as you had hoped.

Your not alone, a couples of others have had trouble and hopefully they will see this and post.

Its major surgery and it does take time to settle fully with the soft tissue, especially if its been out of kilt for some time prior to replacement.

That said I think the advice to phone someone is something I echo. I think its the best idea be it your consultant (I think that's who I would try and get hold of to be honest) or the physio's. Good luck and keep us posted please? Hey are your hens laying well? Cris xx

diamond

Hi Jilly i am 7months post tkr on one knee and 6 weeks on other.I am still in pain with first one think possibly due to trying to take weight of second knee.I reckon it is still early days yet as first knee is also still in recovery.I was told it can take up to 12 months to recover as it is a major op.Hope you can get sorted out soon.xx